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Amupitan: Anambra Election is My First Test, We Will Deliver a Credible Exercise

•IG warns IPOB, ESN, says attempt to disrupt poll will be met with stiff resistance

•Soludo: all candidates are my friends, we’ll abide by peace accord

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka and Linus Aleke in Abuja

Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, has said the Anambra State governorship election, scheduled for November 8, will be his first major test in office, and he is ready to deliver a credible exercise.

Amupitan gave the assurance yesterday during a peace accord signing ceremony for all the 16 political parties in the contest, their candidates, and state chairmen.

Inspector General of Police (IG) Kayode Egbetokun, who was represented at the signing ceremony by Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Benjamin Okolo, assured the people that the police would ensure maximum security during the election.

Egbetokun warned separatist groups, like Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN), saying any attempt to disrupt the election will be resisted.

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, who spoke on behalf of the governorship candidates, assured that the parties and their candidates would adhere to the peace accord. Soludo said Anambra had a history of fighting dirty during elections, but the candidates would always meet at the weekend to wine and dine together.

The peace accord signing ceremony, a pre-election ritual in Nigeria, was organised by National Peace Committee (NPC), under the Kukah Centre. It was aimed at ensuring that all participants in the Saturday election abided by peaceful conduct.

The INEC chairman, who expressed happiness at the peace accord signing initiative, said, “As INEC chairman, I’m proud to be part of this peace accord signing for Anambra 2025 off-cycle election.

“I was appointed recently and this is going to be my first assignment and I’m committed to ensuring that this election is fair, credible and free. As much as we are committed to peace, we can only succeed if we have corresponding support from all the stakeholders.

“After witnessing the national peace accord signing five years ago, we decided to devolve it to involve not just the presidential election but states. This was because of the violence that had followed some elections in the past.

“We have had this several times and this is the second time it is happening here in Anambra. Parties have always honoured the accord and we have always had peaceful election.”

Amupitan added, “Today, we gather just days to the election and as an election body, I want to assure you that INEC is ready to deliver global best practices. It is not the signatures on this papers that bring peace, it is the commitment of those involved.

“So as you append your signature to this, ensure that the message cascades to all your supporters. By signing the peace accord, you are not only agreeing to this but showing that democracy can only thrive where peace prevails.

“Let us work together to ensure that the coming election is remembered for peace. Anambra is a microcosm of Nigeria and this election will be significant to other elections that are coming up.”

The INEC chairman urged voters to expect significant improvement in election day logistics, saying the election would be an improvement in every area.

According to him, a total of 2.8 million voters would decide the winner of the election, and the commission would ensure full participation by extending the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to Sunday.

Amupitan assured that his mandate was to deliver credible election and any individual trying to subvert the will of the people would be firmly resisted.

Egbetokun pledged maximum security by the police during the election. He warned separatist elements to steer clear, as they will be resisted.

He stated, “This address is to show that the police are committed and ready to present a free, fair, level playing ground to all. Ahead of the forthcoming election, we will ensure order. The Nigeria Police Force stands prepared to ensure that the exercise happens under a free fair and credible atmosphere.

“We will be civil, yet firm and any attempt to undermine public peace will be met with stiff resistance. We remain alert, and we warn the proscribed IPOB and ESN that the peace of Anambra State shall not be negotiated.”

Speaking on behalf of the candidates, Soludo said, “The candidates are all my friends. The roforofo (fight) will end on Thursday and by Sunday we will all go for thanksgiving. It is the Anambra way. When we fight, we fight as if there is no tomorrow, but after that we get back and begin to dine and wine together.

“I thank the Kukah Centre for initiating this. This is my second time participating in this, and reading through the wordings, it is quite important to our democratic process and we hope that we internalise all the wordings.

“To my colleagues, what we signed today is something we should go home with and give to our campaign partners. What we have signed today is a secret oath. As we go home, let us try to domesticate the oath we have taken.

“We will cooperate with the INEC to ensure that this is the best election ever in terms of transparency, due process, integrity and all. “To the police, I say we have 5,720 polling units. You will secure the state and secure the electoral process.

“We are committed to one man, one vote. Let people vote, count the votes and announce the votes. My party, the APGA, and I, will be happy to abide by this.”

Earlier, the chairman of NPC, Gen. Abdulsalami Abukakar (Rtd.), who was represented by Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, called for peace throughout the period of the process.

He said, “We are gathered here above all rising ambition and party interests, but for the security, dignity of Anambra people. Democracy can only thrive where there is restraint and where life is held sacred. Anambra is a special place in our country, rich in heritage and innovation.

“As an example of maturity, today’s commitment is not in words only but in discipline and actions. To our respected traditional rulers and religious leaders, we recognise your role as custodians of wisdom and unity.

“Your voices of guidance will be needed to uphold peace within our communities. To the media, we appeal for reporting that informs and not reporting that fuel division.

“Let us all remember that democracy is at its best when it truly reflects the will of the people. It must be expressed freely, peacefully and with dignity. When we honour these principles, we protect not only the value but the peace and stability of our society.” All 16 candidates of the political parties contesting the election and chairmen of their parties signed the peace accord

•IG warns IPOB, ESN, says attempt to disrupt poll will be met with stiff resistance •Soludo: all candidates are my friends, we’ll abide by peace accord David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

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Stock Market Loses N246bn, Nigeria’s Bonds Fall, Over Trump’s Threat, Analysts Allay Fears

Ndubisi Francis in Abuja, Nume Ekeghe and Kayode Tokede in Lagos

The Nigerian stock market lost N246 billion yesterday as investors traded cautiously following U.S. President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged widespread killings of Christians, rising religious intolerance, and his further threat of military action if the government fails to curb the violence.

Following the development, financial analysts have called for calm, stressing that the fundamentals of the Nigerian economy remain strong.

At the stock market, investors’ profit-taking in fundamental stocks dragged the market capitalisation to N97.583 trillion at the close of trading activities, a 0.25per cent or N246 billion decline from N97.829 trillion the stock market opened for trading this week.

Consequently, the Nigerian Exchange Limited All-Share Index (NGX ASI) closed for trading at 153,739.11basis points, a 0.25per cent or 387.35 basis points decline from the 154,126.46 basis points the stock market closed for trading last week.

Capital market analysts attributed the downward movement in the Nigerian stock market to speculative trading by investors.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump had said he had instructed the Pentagon to “prepare for possible action” and warned of an immediate suspension of United States aids to Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and an OPEC member.

In his reaction, President Bola Tinubu had rejected Trump’s comments, calling them a misrepresentation of Nigeria’s “consistent and sincere efforts to safeguard freedom of religion and belief for all Nigerians.”

To the Managing Director, Globalview Capital Limited, Mr. Aruna Kebira, who spoke in a chat with THISDAY, investors’ profit-taking in Aradel Holdings Plc, among others impacted on the stock market performance.

“If the stock market maintains its downward trend throughout this week, it can easily be linked to threats by President Donald Trump.

“The stock market is meant to react to market forces as witnessed in investors’ profit-taking in Aradel Holdings and 38 others.

“We cannot conclude that investors reacted to President Donald Trump’s threats. Possibly it is going to happen is uncertain,” Kebira added.

Speaking also, the Vice President, Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adnori, stated that investors on the NGX traded with caution, stressing that the Nigerian market, currently dominated by local investors, could withstand external shocks.

A Bloomberg report yesterday indicated that Nigeria’s dollar bonds suffered losses following remarks by Trump.

It had revealed that, “Nigerian dollar bonds fell across the maturity curve, comprising all 10 of the worst performers in emerging markets worldwide as of 9:50 a.m. in Lagos. The notes maturing in 2047 were down most, falling 0.6 cents on the dollar to 88.26 cents.”

However, traders and analysts who spoke to THISDAY said the initial market reaction was largely emotional and short-lived, stressing that the underlying fundamentals of Nigeria’s economy remain intact.

A fixed-income trader who preferred not to be named explained that the selloffs, though noticeable, presented an opportunity for bargain hunters.

“Yes, there were selloffs, but they created good entry points for investors who understand the market. The initial panic was more of a knee-jerk reaction than a reflection of Nigeria’s true risk profile,” the trader said.

Echoing this view, Head of Consulting at Agusto Consulting, Jimi Ogbobine, said markets are naturally jittery over geopolitical statements of this nature but added that such tensions are typically resolved diplomatically.

“President Trump’s comments, focusing on Nigeria’s security crisis and leaving room for speculation around military intervention, are certainly unsettling to markets.

“However, we believe this will be settled diplomatically. Nigeria and the U.S. have long-standing trade and security relations that are too strategic to be derailed by rhetoric,” Ogbobine noted.

He further observed that Nigeria’s government and private sector have historically maintained strong ties with the United States, particularly in oil, gas, and investment sectors.

“America remains one of the leading players in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, and both countries share significant economic interests. These will continue to guide engagement on both sides,” he added.

In a similar vein, the Chief Executive of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf, urged the federal government to respond through strategic diplomacy rather than public confrontation.

“Nigeria must adopt a strategic and proactive diplomatic response. This should include immediate high-level bilateral discussions with the U.S. government to clarify facts and de-escalate rhetoric.”

He urged that Nigeria deepen collaboration with Washington and regional partners on intelligence, counterterrorism, and peacebuilding, while strengthening domestic policy fundamentals to reinforce resilience against external shocks.

“While Nigeria must continue to strengthen internal security architecture and governance, any external engagement should be cooperative, not coercive,” Yusuf emphasised.

“Unilateral military action would destabilise Nigeria’s economy, threaten regional stability, and aggravate humanitarian conditions. The way to go is dialogue, not threats. We must project calm, reinforce investor confidence, and protect Nigeria’s economic stability through proactive diplomacy.”

Ndubisi Francis in Abuja, Nume Ekeghe and Kayode Tokede in Lagos The Nigerian stock market lost N246 billion yesterday as investors traded cautiously following U.S. President Donald Trump’s designation of

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Oyedele: Low-income Earners, SMEs to Reap Benefits of Tax Reforms Effective January

•Pension assets, minimum wage earners, capital gains, education, agriculture, others to enjoy exemptions

James Emejo in Abuja

Chairman, Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, has said the new tax laws will provide several reliefs and exemptions for low-income earners, average taxpayers, and small businesses, from January next year.

In general, Oyedele said there were about 50 tax exemptions and reliefs designed to benefit the masses.

He said pension funds and assets under the Pension Reform Act (PRA) were tax-exempt, including pension, gratuity or any retirement benefits granted in line with PRA.

Compensation for loss of employment up to N50 million will also not be liable to tax under the new regime, he said.

In addition, under the Capital Gains Tax (CGT), sale of an owner-occupied house, and personal effects or chattels worth N5 million are tax exempt, he said.

Others, according to Oyedele, included sale of two private vehicles per year, gains on shares below N150 million per year or gains of about N10 million, pension funds, charities, and religious institutions (non-commercial), as well as gains on shares above exemption threshold, if the proceeds were reinvested.

An update by the presidential tax reforms committee further clarified that the new tax dispensation also provided for allowance deductions and reliefs for individuals.

Among others things, pension contribution to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), National Health Insurance Scheme, and National Housing Fund contributions will not be subjected to tax.

Similarly, interest on loans for owner-occupied residential housing, life insurance or annuity premiums are tax free.

Also, 20 per cent of annual rent of up to N500,000 will be exempted from tax obligations.

Furthermore, effective January, individuals earning the national minimum wage or less, and annual gross income of N1.2 million (translating to about N800,000 taxable income) are tax exempt.

Oyedele said the reforms further reduced PAYE tax for those earning annual gross income up to N20 million as well as exempted gifts from tax.

Small companies whose turnover are not more than N100 million and total fixed assets N250 million will pay zero tax, while eligible start-ups are tax exempt, he said.

He said there was also compensation relief – 50 per cent additional deduction for salary increases, wage awards, or transport subsidies for low-income workers, as well as employment relief, involving 50 per cent deduction for salaries of new employees hired and retained for at least three years.

Under the proposed tax regime, there is provision for holiday for the first five years for agricultural businesses (crop production, livestock, dairy among others), Oyedele said.

Also free from tax are gains from investment in a labelled start-up by venture capitalist, private equity fund, accelerators or incubators.

Others are exemptions of small companies from four per cent development levy as well as exemptions of manufacturers and agriculture businesses from withholding tax deduction on their income.

Small companies are further exempted from deduction on their payments to suppliers.

Oyedele stressed that the tax reforms also granted zero per cent exemptions on basic food items, rent, education services and materials, health and medical services, and pharmaceutical products.

He said small companies will enjoy VAT exemptions on turnover less than N100 million, diesel, petrol, and solar power equipment among others.

Electronic money transfers below N10,000, salary payments, intra-bank transfers, transfers of government securities or shares and all documents for transfer of stocks and shares are not subject to tax, Oyedele said.

•Pension assets, minimum wage earners, capital gains, education, agriculture, others to enjoy exemptions James Emejo in Abuja Chairman, Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, has said

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FG Urges Resident Doctors to Call off Strike as Talks to Resolve Dispute Continue

•Task force to ensure normal services at hospitals

•To pay salary increment arrears within 72hrs

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The federal government has appealed to striking Resident Doctors to return to work and allow both parties to use the opportunity of the ongoing negotiations to resolve all outstanding issues holistically and sustainably.

It stated that the Ministry was setting up a Task Force to monitor service delivery at various federal government-owned health facilities nationwide, to ensure that the strike does not cause major disruptions.

However, the Resident Doctors have insisted that they would not suspend the industrial action unless their demands are met.

Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the government has substantially addressed most of the items contained in the 19-point demand by the Resident Doctors.

“Mr. President has expressly directed that we should do everything possible and legitimate to ensure that doctors are brought back to their duty posts,” he said.

Salako took time to explain efforts being made by the Ministry to address most of the issues agitating the minds of the doctors.

On the payment of arrears of salary increment, the minister said: “We agreed that we are owing them seven months arrears of this, 25 percent and 35, percent Wage Award. And I’ve explained to you that in August, the total sum, I think, comes to about N41 billion, and we have paid N10 billion. As of Thursday, N21 billion has been paid. Another almost 12 billion is being processed from it, so that covers the entire arrears that is being owed.”

On the whole, Salako said the federal government has paid 66 percent of the total arrears and was processing the remaining arrears of about 33 percent to be paid within the next 72 hours.

Salako said one of the major factors fueling conflict in the health sector was the division among the various professional bodies within the healthcare system.

According to the minister, these professional bodies try to negotiate separate conditions of service to the extent that even where there should be harmonisation, they still go ahead and secure agreements in silos, thereby creating problems in implementation.

He said the present administration was determined to end the era of such confusion in the health sector, adding that henceforth, all the health sector unions are being made to negotiate and resolve issues of commonality under the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

The minister said the ministry had to rescind its decision to approve the appointment of non-doctors to the consultant cadre after doctors raised complaints about it.

He added that the ministry had to also wade into the misunderstanding created by a circular issued with regard to salary increments negotiated by one segment of the health workers after ensuring its withdrawal by the Office of the Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.

“The CBA directed that the Federal Minister of Health and Social Welfare should go back, talk to the health workers to resolve those two issues in-house, and then, having resolved those issues in-house to come back to the CBA so that the CBA can proceed.

“And as a result, we started meeting with all the unions, three of them aggregated. The doctors, aggregated under the Nigerian Medical Association, the nurses, under the National Association of nurses and midwives, and other health workers aggregated under the Joint Health Sector Union. So we started meeting with them around August,” he said.

Salako, explained that the Minister of Labour and Employment, who is heading the CBA constituted to negotiate the health dispute, submitted an interim report which the ministry is studying.

“It is in the course of that temporary suspension of the CBA that the National Association of Resident Doctors came up with their ultimatum.

“Ideally, one of the key requirements of CBA is that it is going on is ongoing. There should be no declaration of industrial issues.

“But despite that, we met with NARD. I met with them twice last week, and the Minister of Finance has met with them. The Minister of Labour and Employment has met with them. Minister of State for Finance has also met with them to try and address all the 19-point issues

“I can tell you that most of these issues are being addressed. First, they spoke about unregulated work hours and prolonged Call duties, mainly due to what they call the shortage of manpower.

“Let me use this opportunity to inform Nigeria that in 2024 alone, the Federal Minister of Health, using a special waiver mechanism that no other sector employs, we were able to engage 14,444 health workers across 64 federal tertiary health institutions. 78 percent of those workers are clinical staff. Out of those clinical staff, 908 are consultants,” he added.

The Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi in Nasarawa state, Dr. Yahaya Baba, spoke on the impact of the strike by resident doctors and the efforts being made by management of the affected hospitals to mitigate it.

He said that all the emergency units of the hospitals have been fully activated and that Consultant doctors are being entrusted with catering for patients in the health facilities.

Meanwhile, the Resident Doctors have responded to the federal government’s offer to release funds for payment of arrears of salary increment owed them, saying that they expect their 19-point demand to addressed.

In a statement jointly signed by its president, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, and Secretary General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, NARD said it was imperative to set the records straight.

“While we acknowledge the Ministry’s attempt to reassure the public, the reality on the ground stands in stark contrast to the optimistic narrative conveyed.

“We do not intend to join issues with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare but for the sake of transparency, truth, and the health of Nigerians, it is imperative to set the records straight, particularly for the sake of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu how may have been misinformed about the true nature of our grievances.

“While the Ministry claims that over N30 billion has been released to offset arrears owed to health workers (with doctors receiving only a small fraction of the total sum), this seems diversionary from the crux of the demands raised by NARD,” it added.

•Task force to ensure normal services at hospitals •To pay salary increment arrears within 72hrs Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government has appealed to striking Resident Doctors to return

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Gov Aiyedatiwa: We’re Investing in Digital Education Infrastructure, to Meet Global Standard

•Declares open 69th National Council on Education Summit

Fidelis David in Akure

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State on Monday disclosed that his administration is committed to investment in digital infrastructure in the education sector and repositioning it to meet the global standard.

The governor who made the disclosure at the opening ceremony of the 69th National Council on Education (NCE) meeting, held in Akure, highlighted the infrastructure development and recruitment of digitally-skilled tutors as part of the efforts.

Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Deputy, Olayide Adelami, said: “We are happy that this 69th summit of NCE is taking place here in our Sunshine state. Ondo state is known for its legacy of excellence, innovation and commitment to human capital development. Education remains the most reliable instrument for social, economic and technological transformation of any society.

“The government of Ondo State recognises the centrality of education in sustainable development. This has been the driving force propelling policy reforms and implementation in the education sector of the state.

“Efforts have been directed at enhancing access and quality of education in Ondo state. Such efforts include but not limited to investment in digital education infrastructure, such as gradual introduction of smart classrooms, digital literacy programmes and technology-based learning tools to prepare our learners for the demands of the 21st-century knowledge economy” the governor reiterated.

Speaking on the theme of the conference; ‘Quality Education Data and Professionalisation of Teaching: Tools for Enhanced National Development’, the governor emphasized the role of educators in nation building.

In his address, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Abel Enitan, stressed the professionalism of teaching as a long-standing goal that has gained renewed momentum in recent years.

“Our collective responsibility is to ensure that teachers are well-prepared, well-supported, and well-rewarded.

“Professionalisation of teaching must go hand-in-hand with improved working conditions and clear career pathways. A teacher who feels valued will in turn inspire students to value learning, and this is the chain of transformation that builds great nations,” Enitan said.

The event had in attendance government officials, including the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, chairman of SUBEB, Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan, chairman of TESCOM, Dr. Oludaisi Oke and some royal fathers, among others.

•Declares open 69th National Council on Education Summit Fidelis David in Akure Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State on Monday disclosed that his administration is committed to investment in digital

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Tinubu Appoints Five Permanent Secretaries for FCT, Imo, Regional Political Zones

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of five new Permanent Secretaries to fill existing vacancies in the Federal Civil Service.

The newly appointed Permanent Secretaries, according to the Director Information and Public Relations, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Eno Olotu, are Ibrahim Abdulkarim Ozi (Federal Capital Territory), Ezemama John Chidiebere (Imo State), Garba Abdul Sule Usman (North Central Geo-Political Zone), Mohammed Musa Ishiyaku (North East Geo-Political Zone) and Ukaire Binyerem Chigbowu (South East Geo-Political Zone).

It said the new Permanent Secretaries would bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their roles, which will further strengthen the delivery of Public Services and support the government’s development agenda.

According to the statement, the appointments followed a rigorous and transparent selection process in line with the administration’s commitment to meritocracy and excellence in the civil service.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, congratulated the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries and commended President Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to entrenching the principles of transparency, meritocracy, and professionalism in the civil service.

She emphasized that these appointments reflected the administration’s dedication to fostering a competent and results-oriented Public Service that meets the needs of Nigerians.

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of five new Permanent Secretaries to fill existing vacancies in the Federal Civil Service. The newly appointed Permanent

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LCCI Urges FG to Postpone Implementation of 15% Petrol, Diesel Import Tax

Dike Onwuamaeze

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called on the federal government to postpone the implementation of the 15 per cent import tax on petrol and diesel.

The LCCI also urged the government to seek a balanced and measured strategic rollout that could ensure a sustainable economic impact.

The Director General of LCCI, Dr. Chinyere Almona, stated yesterday that, “we recommend that the implementation of this tax policy be postponed and that, during the transition period, the government demonstrate its commitment through action by empowering local refiners through an efficient crude-for-Naira supply chain that ensures sufficient crude.

“With this, refiners can boost their refining capacity with a stable supply of crude and adequately meet domestic demand at competitive rates.

“At this point, the imposition of an import tax will directly discourage importation and boost demand for the locally refined products.

“With zero importation achieved, the benefits will be seen in the creation of jobs, the conservation of FOREX, a strengthened exchange rate, and increased revenue for the government.”

Almona said while this policy direction aligns with the nation’s long-term objective of achieving energy self-sufficiency and strengthening the Naira, the chamber emphasides the importance of a measured, strategic rollout to ensure a sustainable economic impact.

She added: “Nigeria is already experiencing cost-of-living pressures, supply-chain, and inflation challenges.

“The business community will be sensitive to further cost shocks. Increased fuel costs affect transportation, supply chains, agriculture, logistics, and manufacturing – this, in turn, disproportionately impacts SMEs and trading firms.

“The chamber recognises that discouraging fuel importation is a necessary step towards achieving domestic energy security, stimulating investment in local refineries, and deepening the downstream petroleum value chain.

“However, the chamber expresses concern about the current adequacy of local refining capacity to meet national demand.

“A premature restriction on imports, without sufficient domestic production, could lead to supply shortages, higher pump prices, and inflationary pressures across critical sectors.”

The chamber, therefore, calls on the federal government to prioritise the full operationalisation and optimisation of local refineries, both public and private, including modular refineries and the recently revitalised major refining facilities.

It stated that a comprehensive framework for crude oil supply to these refineries in Naira rather than foreign exchange will significantly enhance cost efficiency, stabilise production, and strengthen the local value chain.

“Our interest lies in a diversified downstream sector where multiple refineries, modular plants, and logistics firms thrive.

“A level playing field and transparency are key,” Almona said.

She added: “Furthermore, the LCCI urges the government to resolve outstanding labour union issues and create an enabling environment that fosters industrial harmony and private sector confidence.

“Ensuring clarity, consistency, and transparency in the implementation of the new tax regime will be crucial in preventing market distortions and sustaining investor trust.”

She said that while the reform is justified from an industrial policy standpoint, its success would depend on practical implementation, robust safeguards, and parallel reforms to alleviate cost burdens on businesses and consumers.

The LCCI also reaffirmed its commitment to engaging constructively with the government and the entire value chain to ensure the realisation the intent behind this policy such as more domestic refining, more jobs, more Nigerian content, and business costs that remain affordable, competitive, and growth-oriented.

It advised the government to address the inhibiting factors against local production and refining before imposing this levy to discourage imports and support local production.

Dike Onwuamaeze The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called on the federal government to postpone the implementation of the 15 per cent import tax on petrol and

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Kaduna Peace Model: How Uba Sani’s Non-Kinetic Strategy Turned Fear into Hope

By Sani Liman Kila

For years, Kaduna’s name struck fear into the hearts of travellers and traders. Once-vibrant local economies in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Kajuru and Kauru became graveyards of opportunity — haunted by abductions, bloodshed and despair. The old “force-first” method — military raids, aerial bombardments and curfews — brought temporary relief but no lasting peace. Instead, it hardened resentments and deepened the gulf between government and governed.

The numbers told a grim story. By the time the kinetic approach reached its peak, hundreds of innocent civilians had been killed or displaced, thousands of children were out of school, and entire markets had collapsed. The countryside was silenced by fear.

Between 2015 and 2023, Kaduna recorded 1,660 security incidents, resulting in 4,876 deaths. In 2021 alone, 1,192 people were killed, 3,348 kidnapped, and 891 injured. The first quarter of 2022 saw 360 killed and 1,399 abducted — in just three months. In frontline LGAs such as Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Kajuru and Chikun, fatalities ranged between 400 and 800 lives per area over the eight-year period. These were not mere statistics — they were human tragedies that tested Kaduna’s endurance and spirit.

But a new doctrine was on the horizon — one that would upend the conventional wisdom of fighting terror with terror. When Governor Uba Sani assumed office, he refused to accept that Kaduna’s destiny was perpetual conflict. Guided by his conviction that “you cannot bomb peace into existence; you must build it with trust,” he launched what is now widely referred to as the Kaduna Peace Model — a bold non-kinetic approach that is transforming the state’s security landscape and winning back hearts long lost to violence.

A Joint Blueprint: Kaduna Govt and ONSA Rewrite the Script

At the heart of this transformation lies a powerful collaboration between the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Kaduna State Government. Together, they established a joint technical committee made up of stakeholders, social scientists, and local administrators. This team didn’t arrive with tanks or drones — they came with empathy, dialogue and data.

In their first major engagement, 58 captives were released by bandits without a single gunshot. Encouraged by trust-building measures, over 80 more hostages were freed in the following weeks. Today, that number has risen to over 500 captives — all released unhurt, a historic milestone in Kaduna’s long quest for peace.

“The peace we are building in Kaduna is rooted in dialogue, not dominance,” Governor Uba Sani once pointed out.

The Turning Point: Dialogue and Demands

The breakthrough came during the second round of sittings between the ONSA–Kaduna special committee and leaders of the armed groups. It was an unconventional negotiation, but one anchored on realism.

The bandits, weary of endless clashes and displacement, tabled their conditions:

1. Re-opening of local markets;

2. Access to schools for their children;

3. Access to medical facilities — particularly in Birnin Gwari, Giwa and parts of Southern Kaduna.

Rather than dismiss these as mere tactics, the government saw them for what they were — the basic needs of citizens trapped between survival and surrender. Governor Sani swiftly approved the reopening of markets and directed the restoration of normal life in affected communities.

The results were immediate and visible. The once-ghostly corridors of Giwa and Birnin Gwari now bustle with activity. Travellers testify that one can journey through these areas “no matter how late” and still arrive safely — something unthinkable two years ago.

Clerics, Turji and the Wider Context

Separately, clerics led by Sheikh Musa Yusuf (Asadus-Sunnah) publicly disclosed that they had held deep-forest meetings with notorious bandit leader Bello Turji and other commanders.

According to a Vanguard report dated August 5, 2025, the cleric revealed that “32 captives were freed and arms surrendered” after dialogue engagements with Turji.

The Ripples Nigeria follow-up article on August 6, 2025, noted the initial peace gesture also included granting farmers access to fields previously sealed by insecurity.

This reporting matters for Kaduna’s model because it illustrates how local stakeholders and local administartors are creating openings for broader, state-level peace-building: releases, permissions for farmers to return to their fields, and limited disarmament that reduce immediate harms on the ground.

From Bandits to Peacekeepers

Perhaps the most striking evidence of this turnaround is the emergence of repented bandits now acting as protectors of the very peace they once shattered.

In Birnin Gwari, the once-dreaded ‘Jan Bros’ now patrols the same forests that hid his men, ensuring no new threats arise. In Southern Kaduna, a notorious figure known as ‘Yellow 1 million’ has become a mediator and peace advocate, preventing violence from resurfacing.

These conversions may sound improbable, but they are the real, raw fruits of a peace process that dared to engage rather than exterminate. As one security analyst put it, “Kaduna has done what many states only dream of — turning former adversaries into custodians of peace.”

Ongoing Engagement: A Living Model

The Kaduna Peace Model is not a one-off experiment; it’s a living, evolving process. Just last week, the special committee met again — this time with bandit leaders, district heads from Kajuru, Kauru, Kagarko and Kachia, alongside traditional rulers and local government chairmen. The meeting, chaired by Asadus-Sunnah, focused on consolidating existing gains and preventing any relapse.

This continuity — of dialogue, trust and surveillance — distinguishes Kaduna’s approach from earlier, short-lived peace efforts elsewhere in Nigeria.

Economic Rebirth: When Peace Pays Dividends

Peace has begun to yield tangible rewards. Farming in Giwa and Birnin Gwari and Southern Kaduna is at its most productive in years. Cattle trading, once crippled by fear, has roared back to life — with 20 to 30 trucks of cattle now plying routes that were sealed off by insecurity for decades.

The revival of commerce is not just economic; it’s symbolic — a reflection of dignity restored.

“Every reopened market is a victory over fear,” Governor Sani declared. “Every child back in school is proof that dialogue can defeat despair.”

The African Parallel: Peace Beyond the Gun

Kaduna’s model resonates far beyond Nigeria. Across Africa, nations have grappled with the futility of purely military solutions. From the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme to Rwanda’s post-genocide reconciliation and Uganda’s talks with the Lord’s Resistance Army, the lesson is the same: lasting peace is never born from the barrel of a gun — it is cultivated through inclusion, empathy and justice.

Governor Uba Sani and the ONSA team have localized this wisdom. Their approach demonstrates that soft power, guided by trust and backed by policy, can reclaim even the most hardened terrains.

Why the Kaduna Model Works

Three core principles underpin the Kaduna Peace Model:

1. Shared Ownership : Peace is co-created by communities, not dictated from government offices. Traditional rulers, youth, women, and security agents sit at the same table.

2. Socio-economic Inclusion : Reviving markets, schools and clinics removes the oxygen that fuels insurgency.

3. Trust through Consistency : Dialogue is ongoing, not episodic. ONSA’s involvement ensures institutional memory and continuity across agencies.

These principles align with public observations by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, who, in an interview with Channels TV on July 29, 2025, praised the unified non-kinetic strategy and confirmed that “hundreds of captives have been freed nationwide through coordinated peace-focused interventions.” Ribadu also noted that the “red-line now is credible intelligence, community involvement and permanent disengagement” rather than simply raids and arrests.

The Road Ahead

Even if sporadic threats still exist, the foundations of peace in Kaduna are firmer than before. Governor Uba Sani remains resolute: “We are not declaring victory; we are declaring commitment. Every day we sustain this peace is a day closer to permanent stability for our people.”

His words now echo across the once-desolate valleys of Birnin Gwari, other parts of Southern Kaduna and Giwa — places where gunfire has given way to the laughter of children and the hum of commerce.

Finally: A Lesson for Nigeria and Africa

The Kaduna Peace Model stands as living proof that even in Nigeria’s most volatile corridor, peace can be brokered through dialogue and sustained through development. It affirms a simple but profound truth — security without humanity is insecurity in disguise.

By partnering with the Office of the National Security Adviser, Governor Uba Sani has shown that the war for peace is not won in forests or airstrikes, but in hearts willing to forgive, leaders ready to listen, and communities bold enough to rebuild.

In Kaduna today, the guns are quieter, the roads are open — and hope is audible again.

•Malam Sani Liman Kila is Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kaduna State

By Sani Liman Kila For years, Kaduna’s name struck fear into the hearts of travellers and traders. Once-vibrant local economies in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Kajuru and Kauru became graveyards of

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Wanted: Holistic Justice for Bamise

This article by Learned Senior Advocate Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, discusses the sad case of 22 year old Bamise Ayanwole who was raped and murdered by Lagos State BRT Driver, Andrew Nice Omininikoron, who was convicted and sentenced to death after a protracted three year trial. Aside from explaining the lessons learned from this unfortunate incident, the Senior Advocate believes that for there to be holistic justice for Bamise, her family must be compensated by the Lagos State Government

Bamise’s Death and Conspiracy

n Friday, May 2, 2025, the High Court of Lagos State delivered judgement in the case of a driver in the employment of Lagos State, who raped and killed a lady passenger in cold blood. He was convicted and sentenced to death ,after a protracted trial that started in 2022. The deceased, Oluwabamise Toyosi Ayanwole was a young Nigerian lady who left her hometown in Ekiti State in search of greener pastures in Lagos, like many other Nigerians. She was 22 years old and the last child of her parents, Joseph and Comfort Ayanwole. She had nine other siblings and worked as a fashion designer, before her untimely death.

On February 26, 2022, after leaving work at Ajah area of Lagos State, Bamise boarded a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system at Chevron, Lekki heading to Oshodi on the Lagos Mainland around 7:30pm, with the intention of going to visit her elder brother’s family to spend the weekend. After boarding the bus, the driver flirted with her and told her to sit at the back. At the time, she was the only passenger in the bus and she observed that the interior was dark. She also noticed that, at least two other male passengers entered the bus afterwards. The driver did not pick more passengers. There were no CCTV cameras, in the bus. She immediately sent voice notes to her friend via WhatsApp, revealing her concerns. She also sent some video recordings of the bus interior with the bus plate number identifier to her friend, who advised her to alight as soon as possible at the next bus stop. Afterwards, further attempts by her friends and relatives to contact her via phone calls were unsuccessful. Prior to this, one of her last recorded conversations with her friend was “… Please, pray for me”. After several failed attempts to communicate with Bamise via her phone, the last known sound heard after a caller picked her phone revealed her struggling with an unidentified man. The following day, she was reported missing. On March 7, 2022, her lifeless body was discovered naked near the Carter Bridge on Lagos Island. An eyewitness stated that Bamise was still alive after she was thrown out of the BRT bus, but, she couldn’t be treated or rushed to the hospital before she died. There are conflicting reports in the media, as to whether her corpse was found whole or mutilated.

Arrest of the Culprit

The driver of the BRT was eventually traced and identified, as 50-year-old Andrew Nice Omininikoron. He kept mute after the incident. After Bamise’s disappearance was made public, he fled and went into hiding in neighbouring Ogun State. He was tracked down and arrested by the Department of State Security Operatives, and handed over to the Police for questioning and custody. He initially confessed to raping Bamise and abandoning her, but, he later changed his story, denying any involvement in her murder. He claimed that his bus was hijacked by armed robbers (referring to the men who entered the bus), who also kidnapped Bamise at gunpoint. His claims were challenged by Bamise’s relatives, friends and Nigerians. Accusations of rape and sexual assault were brought to light, by at least two other female victims of Andrew in similar circumstances. His suspected accomplices are also yet to be identified, to date. Public protests led to the suspension of BRT Transport operations in Lagos State, for some days.

The Criminal Trial

There was considerable public outrage regarding the circumstances leading to Bamise’s death, and demand for justice on her behalf. Initially, some mystery was woven around the incident which tended to mask the truth of what transpired, but, due to the vigilance of Bamise’s family, protest by Nigerians and extensive, relentless media coverage, the Lagos State Government swung into action.

Working with the Police and the family, investigation was expedited and the rapist killer was arraigned in Court on a five-count charge of conspiracy, felony, sexual assault, rape and murder. At the arraignment, the Honourable Attorney-General of Lagos State made a personal appearance, and vowed to ensure dutiful prosecution. He led the first prosecution witness, one Madam Odezulu, who narrated the vivid details of how Andrew (BRT driver) picked her up in Ajah the previous year on November 25, 2021, and forcefully raped her inside the same bus. In demonstration of the commitment of the Government to the trial, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions was also involved in the trial, as well as other experienced Counsel from the Ministry.

I was present in court on one occasion, to witness the trial proceedings. The Police and the other law enforcement agencies teamed up with the Ministry of Justice, to ensure dutiful prosecution. Mr Kayode Aluko, a Fleet Operational Manager with the Lagos State BRT, also testified in court and identified Andrew as the driver of the bus in question. He was employed in 2021, through an outsourcing company. The case of the prosecution was very detailed and well packaged, such that one could reasonably predict the verdict of the court. On the other hand, the defence was very weak and porous. This resulted in delay tactics and filibustering by the defence to weary the prosecution and prolong the trial, leading to several adjournments, but: the public kept vigil with the court proceedings.

Upon the close of the prosecution’s case, the defence made a feeble no case submission which was promptly dismissed by the trial Court, prompting the Defendant to mount the witness box to testify in his defence. His case was very porous, weak and rather unconvincing. It therefore, did not come as a surprise to all that he was given the maximum sentence by the court, to give a sense of justice to Bamise’s family, to act as deterrent to other Andrews who may be lurking around, and also as a reward for the painstaking investigation and prosecution of the case. In its judgement, the trial court held that the prosecution successfully proved its case, relying on the doctrine of “last seen” and the deceased’s dying declarations to establish Ominikoron’s guilt.

The Lessons from Bamise’s Case

In the course of investigation of this case and the trial, several issues were thrown up, which deserve to be addressed. First, is that there are many unreported rape cases, due mainly to negative public perception and profiling, cultural limitations and religious constraints. Had the first victim Odezulu reported her case to the Police and the BRT authorities, Andrew may have been promptly checkmated.

Second, is the mentality of the Police, and their lame responses to citizens’ complaints. Usually, the Police should be a friendly institution that will encourage victims to speak out, but, that has not been the case. Indeed, there is a trending story that Complainants are forced to pay N50,000 before they are permitted to submit their petitions at a Police formation in Lagos. Then the Complainant has to fund the investigation, which has no standard measure, but is always dependent on the benevolence of the investigating Police Officer and the status of the Complainant. When Odezulu was asked by the defence Counsel during her cross-examination if she reported the case at the Police station, she said she did not do so because she had had a bad experience with the Police at Jakande Police Station, and that if she had reported, they would have insulted her. The common experience of rape victims is to be accused of indecent dressing, prostitution and such other degrading epithets.

Third, is the distrust for public commuting and public transportation generally. If what befell Bamise could happen in a Government facility, what then is the fate of commuters who patronise private operators daily? Hear Madam Odezulu: “After the incident, whenever I’m coming back from work and see any BRT bus, I used to look inside to see if it was him. I have seen him like four times at the Chevron Tollgate when he passed”. Imagine the trauma!

Another major lesson to learn from the Bamise case, is the intolerable delay in the administration of criminal justice. The trial started in 2022 and it was not concluded until 2025, spanning a long period of about three years. In the usual chequered history of trial of cases in Lagos, Bamise’s case is considered to have enjoyed accelerated hearing, perhaps, due to the direct involvement of senior officials of the Ministry of Justice and the public attention given to the case. The lesson here is to develop a mechanism of speedy adjudication of cases in the courts, so that parties will know their fate within a reasonable time.

Holistic Justice for Bamise

Justice in the Bamise case cannot and should not end with the verdict of the court, but should be extended to the family and her survivors. During the trial, the Defendant was confirmed to be an employee of Lagos State, which brings the issue of vicarious liability of the employer into focus. The crime took place right inside the BRT facility, owned and operated by the Lagos State Government. All worthy commendations go to the Governor, the law enforcement agencies and the Ministry of Justice for following up with the case to the end. However, a life has been lost and it cannot be replaced. The concept of justice will not be complete in this case, if there is no compensation for the Ayanwole family, in very reasonable proportions. Governor Sanwo-Olu paid compensation for all victims of #EndSARS, caused primarily by Police officers not under State control. It should therefore, not be difficult for the Governor to pay Bamise’s family in a case which is directly connected to and perpetrated by an agent of Lagos State Government. That will be real justice for Bamise.

Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN

This article by Learned Senior Advocate Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, discusses the sad case of 22 year old Bamise Ayanwole who was raped and murdered by Lagos State BRT Driver, Andrew Nice Omininikoron, who was

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‘Inherited Colonial University Curriculum Requires Recalibration’

The Obafemi Awolowo University is not only one of the oldest in Nigeria, but, also has one of the oldest Law Faculties. The Faculty has birthed some of the most distinguished legal minds, including Judges, Senior Advocates, Academics, Businessmen, Politicians, and still counting. This has no doubt been without some challenges. Last week, the new Dean of this famous first generation Law Faculty, Professor Olugbemi Fatula had a chat with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi on a wide range of issues, expressing his optimism about taking the Faculty to a higher academic pedestal, despite the obvious challenges

rof, you became the Dean of the Faculty of Law of Obafemi Awolowo University, one of the oldest Law Faculty’s in the country, a few months ago. But, a few years ago, OAU lost full accreditation. Has this challenge been overcome? What is the present status? What are your plans/agenda to restore the Faculty to its former glory?

Yes, the Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, did experience a temporary setback when it lost accreditation some years ago. That experience was painful, but also purgative, because it compelled introspection and renewal. I often say that institutions, like individuals, sometimes go through seasons of pruning, in order to yield richer fruits.

I am pleased to say that, through the collective effort of the University management, my predecessors, and our committed Faculty members, the Faculty has long regained its accreditation. National Universities Commission (NUC) visited us last year for accreditation, and we were granted full accreditation. As you know, Law Faculties have two regulators – NUC and Council of Legal Education (CLE). The latter was to visit us shortly after I assumed office as Dean, but the visit was postponed through what I can term divine and transcendental intervention because our readiness was not complete. While some requirements and conditions for accreditation of the two bodies overlap, some notable differences exist in their expectations. For us to sustain the current wave of victorious accreditation outcomes, we are quite hopeful that when the re-scheduled accreditation visit eventually takes place, the outcome will meet our wishes, by the grace of God and the assistance of our distinguished Alumni and other well-wishers.

As Dean, my vision is anchored on three interlocking pillars: academic excellence, institutional renewal, and strategic partnerships. We are reviving and expanding the Ife Law and Allied Publications Series, under which a textbook on Legal Methods has already been published, with chapters contributed by our lecturers. The next in line is Introduction to Law, and subsequently, other core subjects such as Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, and Law of Contract etc.

The book publication project is very dear to my administration, because it presents us another opportunity to showcase the intellectual strength of the Faculty through the publication of high-quality and up-to-date law books. Our targeted audience goes beyond our students. It covers the broader Nigerian and international markets. However, we are constrained by funds. While the books are to be sold with minimal returns, raising the initial capital for production has been tough. Presently the Faculty can boast of five journals which are regularly produced, featuring well researched articles contributed by scholars within and outside the Nigerian state. In addition we are introducing another journal: Ife Journal of Law, Society and Developments. This review is intended to showcase our Faculty’s members contributions to discourse on contemporary topical issues of fundamental impact on law, society and development.

Again, we have set the machinery in motion to motivate our M.Phil./Ph.D. students to establish their own journal and submit, some of their already graded seminar papers for publication in the journal to be named Ife Postgraduate Students Law Journal. We are hoping that the maiden volume or part of the journal should be out in 2026.

Furthermore, we are revamping and repositioning the Obafemi Awolowo University Law Reports for productivity and viability. This Law Report, established in the Faculty by our Fathers, must not be allowed to go into extinction. Part of our plan is to engage the participation of private investors, in the production and sale of the journal. We also intend to encourage our students, particularly our postgraduate students and our alumni all over the world, to patronise the journal. Surely, the glory of the journal must be revived and solidified to the glory of God, the Supreme Essence.

Our administration also has certain programmes that we intend to implement, but, because we are yet to start, we wouldn’t want to mention them now, because of our belief as a transcendental Christian mystic that a plan not revealed has a better chance of success when implemented, than a plan revealed before any implementation.

We are also strengthening practical learning through the construction of a Clinical Legal Education Centre, which is being graciously sponsored by one of our eminently distinguished Alumni, who is a well known, public spirited Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN. This centre will bear his name upon completion.

Apart from the above, we have also presented a proposal for the establishment of a CENTRE FOR LABOUR LAW AND INDUSTRIAL STUDIES to be named in honour of another highly distinguished Alumnus of this great University. These are just a few of the steps, taken so far.

Several prizes and endowments have been instituted, to encourage academic excellence among our students. We intend to do more on this.

However, one of my key goals is to reinvigorate our alumni network. We are reaching out to our alumni across Nigeria and in the diaspora, to reconnect with their intellectual home. With their support, we will not only restore Ife Law’s glory – we will surpass it.

Recently, the Minster of Education announced that Mathematics would now be made compulsory for admission into any University, even for those who seek to study courses that aren’t related to Mathematics, such as Law. Has this policy been implemented by your Faculty? What are your views on the policy itself? Why would Law require Mathematics as a compulsory subject for admission?

I have followed the conversation around the compulsory inclusion of Mathematics for all university admissions, including Law, with deep interest. The policy, as far as I know, is not new in my Faculty.

Mathematics is not central to the study Law in reality. I believe that as far as Law is concerned, the status quo should remain.

In my O’ Level and A’ Level, I was in science courses before switching over to pure arts subjects due to several factors, in which inability to cope was not one of them. In fact, I considered and still consider mathematics and mathematically based subjects like Physics, to be easier than pure Arts subjects. The compelling factor is what I now call “Uncle Factor”. As you know, he who pays the piper dictates the tune. My Late uncle of blessed memory, a very kind hearted man, insisted that the family needed a Lawyer more than an Engineer. And, I became the family donation to the legal profession. So, to me, Mathematics is not a big deal. But, the question is:

Is introducing Mathematics as a requirement for admission into Law the solution, and what positive impact would that make on the quality of the legal profession?

It is true that Lord Denning, MR, and a few others, had their foundations in Mathematics and the Sciences. Indeed Roscoe Pound, the respected leading light of the American school of Sociological Jurisprudence had his background in Botany, where he had a Ph.D. But there are many equally great legal and judicial minds who had no background in Mathematics and related subjects. To me therefore, introducing mathematics makes no additional sense. Our policy makers should engage their minds on issues that would make positive impact on the profession. Introducing Mathematics at this stage is not one of them.

I must confess that I wouldn’t know the extent to which my years of flirtation with Mathematics, Physics, Additional Mathematics and Statistics has helped to shape my appreciation of Jurisprudence and Legal Theory. It could be that these subjects sharpened my analytical reasoning faculty, enabling my deep understanding of the logic and science of Law.

Some have argued that the curriculum for Law Students in Nigeria may be outdated. Even the Nigerian Law School, it has been suggested by some that Law should be made a second degree, or in the alternative, Law School should be made a two-year programme. It has also been argued that Law School may fast be becoming redundant, and that maybe it’s time to replicate what is done in US, where students prepare for the exams on their own and take the exams without a formal ‘Law School’ after obtaining the degree in Law. Kindly, comment on this

The debate about the adequacy of Nigeria’s legal curriculum and the structure of the Law School, is both timely and necessary. Law, as a living discipline, cannot be static. It must evolve with society. The curriculum we inherited from the colonial era has served us well in many respects, but, the time has come for a deep recalibration to reflect new realities – technology, artificial intelligence, environmental justice, gender dynamics, and global governance.

As a polyvalent thinker and transcendental mystic, I view legal education, not merely as professional training, but as civilisational formation. Our graduates must be philosophers of justice, architects of social order, and innovators in human governance. To that end, we need a curriculum that integrates law, technology, ethics, and leadership.

Regarding the Nigerian Law School, I would not call it redundant, but, rather, ripe for reform. The idea of making Law a second degree, as practiced in the United States, or extending the Law School to two years, has its merits. However, such proposals must be weighed carefully against Nigeria’s socio-economic realities.

Perhaps, the future lies in a hybrid model – where University Law Faculties are empowered to provide robust clinical and vocational training, and the Law School focuses on professional refinement, standards setting and ethical grounding. What matters most is not the form, but, the transformative quality of the legal mind we produce.

Left to me, the Council of Legal Education should be retained as the regulator and overall examination body. In other words, the point I’m trying to make is that private entities including established and reputable law firms as well as Universities’ Faculties of Law should be allowed to run law school’s programmes, while examinations, qualification criteria, practising requirements, among others, should reside within the purview of the Council of Legal Education. The Nigerian Law School should not be abrogated, but should also be part of the institutions or centres to be supervised and regulated by the Council, as it is currently. In view of the huge capital that the Nigerian State has spent on the establishment of the various campuses and their running, I won’t advocate for its cancellation, but, that it should have competitors while the Council of Legal Education should be the overall regulator. What we are advocating here is a sort of liberalisation of the professional legal education sector, with players drawn from public and private segments.

With this, the Nigerian State would be able to maintain high standards of legal education and practice.

The issue of sexual harassment is one that is everywhere – in the work place, in educational institutions, so much so that a University Lecturer of OAU was convicted and imprisoned a few years ago for harassing a female student. Even within our profession, some senior Lawyers are accused of harassing their female juniors, As a seasoned University Lecturer, can you tell us why this evil has become so prevalent in tertiary institutions? Do you think the laws enacted to curb sexual harassment in tertiary institutions have been effective? What more can be done to stem this ugly tide, which obviously is not peculiar to Nigeria alone?

Sexual harassment is a moral and institutional pathology, that thrives wherever power is abused and conscience is silenced. It is not peculiar to Nigeria; it is a global challenge that reveals the darker side of human relations – the misuse of influence, trust, and authority.

In Universities, the vulnerability of students and the authority of lecturers creates a delicate power dynamic. When ethical restraint collapses, exploitation can occur. But, beyond moral weakness, there is a deeper crisis of values – a failure to see others as sacred beings deserving of respect and dignity.

At Obafemi Awolowo University, we have taken strong measures to curb this evil. The University has policies and mechanisms for reporting and investigating sexual misconduct, and our Faculty upholds a zero-tolerance stance. The conviction of a former Lecturer, was a painful but necessary moment of institutional accountability.

However, laws alone cannot heal moral decay. There must be cultural renewal, ethical education, and spiritual reawakening. Students must be empowered to speak up without fear; Lecturers must be reoriented to see their vocation as a sacred trust, and their relationship with students as that of loco parentis; and society must stop normalising the trivialisation of sexual misconduct.

As a transcendental Christian mystic, I see this as a call for the restoration of conscience in the academy – the rediscovery of human decency as the foundation of knowledge. When we teach law, we must also teach love, justice, and respect – for without those, the law becomes hollow.

Tell us about the conditions of service of Lecturers? What are ASUU’s grievances? Are they germane? Presently, they have threatened to go on strike again, why?

The conditions of service for Lecturers in Nigerian universities are, frankly, less than ideal. To be a University teacher in Nigeria today, is to live perpetually between vocation and sacrifice. Lecturers are not merely employees; they are the custodians of a nation’s intellectual future. Yet, the economic and infrastructural support that should sustain that sacred duty is often inadequate.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been consistent in drawing attention to this reality. Its grievances, which include poor funding, salary stagnation, lack of autonomy, non-implementation of collective agreements, and infrastructural neglect, are not frivolous. They are germane, and speak to the soul of the University system.

When ASUU threatens to go on strike, it is less out of rebellion than desperation, a cry for institutional dignity. However, strike is avoidable when the Government is more responsive, and truly prioritises the education sector.

As a Faculty, we continue to motivate our staff intellectually and morally. We believe that, even within constraint, we can sustain excellence, but only if the nation rediscovers the value of the mind as its most precious resource.

Cultism has become the bane of most Nigerian Universities. What has been the experience of OAU? How do you control this in your Faculty? How effective is your screening process for new intakes into your Faculty?

Cultism is a tragic paradox. It represents the corruption of youthful idealism into destructive secrecy. The Obafemi Awolowo University has had its own difficult history with cultism, but, we have also developed one of the most resilient systems of prevention and response in the country.

At the Faculty of Law, we emphasise character as much as intellect. Our admission screening process is meticulous; we look beyond grades to the moral and psychological disposition of students. During orientation, we engage new intakes in mentorship programmes, introducing them to the noble ideals of justice, discipline, and community responsibility.

Our students also operate under the close mentorship of the Faculty Student Affairs Committee, in addition to Course Advisers who are close to students and attend to their needs promptly. We equally maintain an open-door policy, where students can confidentially report suspicious or troubling behaviour.

In the final analysis, cultism thrives where there is a vacuum of meaning. Our task, as educators, is to fill that vacuum with purpose, to show young people that greatness does not come from secrecy or violence, but from service and excellence.

Most Law Faculties in Nigerian Universities require their students to attend lectures in court regulation colours of black and white. Does your Faculty have this policy? What is the reason for this policy? Should Law students not be allowed to wear what they like, instead of being forced to dress as if they are still in secondary school?

Yes, our Faculty, like most Law Faculties in Nigeria, requires students to attend lectures in black and white attire. This is not a matter of authoritarian control or aesthetic preference; it is a symbolic discipline, part of the intellectual conditioning of a Lawyer.

The law is not only learned, but lived. It is a culture. The black and white dress code reminds students daily of the solemnity, order, and decorum required of members of the legal profession. It is a pedagogical tool, in character formation.

However, I agree that enforcement must be humane and intelligent. The goal is not uniformity for its own sake, but internal discipline and respect for professional ethos. A Lawyer who learns order in attire, is more likely to express order in reasoning and conduct.

As a Faculty, we also encourage freedom of thought and innovation. But, freedom without form becomes chaos; form without freedom becomes oppression. The black and white attire is our way of inculcating both, that is discipline without dullness.

What is the ratio of pass of OAU graduates at the Nigerian Law School?

The record of OAU Law graduates at the Nigerian Law School, has been consistently commendable. We maintain strong academic rigour at the undergraduate level, ensuring that our students develop not only legal knowledge, but also the critical and moral intelligence required for legal practice. While performance may vary across years, our graduates often rank among the top achievers.

However, we are not complacent. We are strengthening our pre-Law School preparatory sessions, integrating more clinical and problem-based learning, and maintaining mentorship relationships between our alumni in practice and current students. Our ultimate goal is not just to produce students who pass examinations, but Lawyers who transform society.

A few years ago, the Government came up with a policy that University Lecturers are required to earn a Doctorate Degree to become Professors. PhD Professors are said to be seriously depleted. What is the position in your Faculty/University?

The policy requiring a Doctorate Degree for appointment as a Professor, has long been entrenched in our Faculty. Undoubtedly, a Doctorate Degree promotes depth of scholarship and research culture. Today, I can authoritatively state that about 95% of our Lecturers have Ph.Ds, while all our Professors are Ph.D holders. As a matter of fact, this has been the tradition at OAU from the early 1960s, when the Faculty prided itself with the presence of legal juggernauts in the likes of Professors Ijalaye, Fabunmi, Oretuyi, Kasunmu, and Dr Akinola Aguda.

Interestingly, the Faculty enjoys the presence of Ph.D holders who received their postgraduate training within the Faculty and in some from other Law Faculties within the country, while some obtained theirs outside the shores of the country, thereby bringing diversity and depth to our teaching and research.

Post-UTME tests now come with an option to either take the test online or physical test. Which option does OAU Law Faculty adopt? Which is most reliable, and which option does your Faculty prefer, and why?

Technology is reshaping education globally, and universities must adapt intelligently. At OAU, the post-UTME process has evolved and now, it is done entirely online, though with strict monitoring and verification.

The future belongs to the University that can embrace innovations. OAU is positioning itself, to be that University.

The brain drain has become quite exacerbated, with a mass exodus of experienced Law teachers from Government Universities to Private Universities. Also, many have moved abroad. To what extent, has this affected your Faculty?

The brain drain phenomenon, is one of the most painful realities of our time. Many of our finest minds – in law, science, medicine, and the humanities – have sought better opportunities abroad or in private universities. This exodus has thinned the ranks of experienced teachers in public institutions, including ours.

At the Faculty of Law, OAU, we have indeed, felt the impact. Some of our valued colleagues have left. Today, our Faculty is grossly under-staffed and unless urgent steps are taken to rescue the ugly situation, it may constitute a serious threat to our future accreditation. But, not only that, the quality of teaching and research is bound to be negatively impacted, when lecturers are overwhelmed by official responsibilities.

Without exaggerating, our Faculty is the least staffed throughout the country especially in comparison with contemporary Law Faculties of ABU, UI, and UNN. This is in relation to the population of students vis-à-vis that of the teaching staff.

Sadly, the challenge that the Faculty currently faces is not limited to the shortage of academic staff, but, also paucity of funds. Without mincing words, the Faculty needs all the assistance it can get at the moment, especially from the alumni body to surmount the challenge of funds.

Ultimately, I believe no mind that truly loves truth ever leaves the University permanently. They may travel physically, but spiritually, they remain with us. Our task is to build a Faculty so excellent, that even those who left will long to return – to teach, to mentor, to give back.

Thank you Prof.

The Obafemi Awolowo University is not only one of the oldest in Nigeria, but, also has one of the oldest Law Faculties. The Faculty has birthed some of the most