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Uzodimma Targets $1trn Imo Economy

Uzodimma Targets $1trn Imo Economy

ony Icheku in Owerri 

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma has announced an ambitious economic agenda targeting N1 trillion economy in the State as he unfolded details for the hosting of Global Economic Summit and Tourism Revival Projects from December 4th and 5th, 2025 in Owerri.

Uzodimma, speaking at the weekend, in Owerri, after the Feast of Christ the King, stated that the economic and cultural initiatives would reposition Imo State as a major national and international hub with plans for scheduled World Investment and Economic Summit that would  host prominent global leaders.

The Governor also sent warning signals to those constituting themselves as obstacles to the ongoing Light Up Imo Project, noting that such obstacles would not deter his government from linking the State electricity infrastructure to the national grid.

We cannot spend billions on power infrastructure and fail to distribute electricity to our people. By next week, we will take decisive steps, the Governor said.

Uzodimma expressed gratitude for public support and emphasised the importance of unity and collective progress.

When we eat and work together, our blessings come faster, he said.

He disclosed that the Investment and Economic Summit was intended to build a N1 trillion economy in Imo State; and that the event would play host to the former Secretary General of the United Nations, the immediate past Prime Minister of Britain, Boris Johnson; President Bola Tinubu and a couple of African Heads of State and leaders.

It is a thing of joy, we want to announce Imo State to the world, Uzodimma stressed.

He further revealed that Imo State would host the Ahiajoku Lecture Series between November 27th  and 28th, 2025. 

The Ahiajoku Lecture Series, he said, has remained a cultural legacy established by former Governor Sam Mbakwe.

Describing the festival as one of the tourist indicators of Imo States economy, the Governor said that his administration was doing everything to rehabilitate and promote the festival as a long-term tourism asset.

This monument will be one of the key tourist indicators of our State economy, he noted, urging citizens to participate.

Ideas rule the world, and we are ready to rebuild the circle of excellence our state once represented, he added.

The Governor explained that insecurity and political interference had previously delayed these lofty initiatives.

He criticised individuals who vandalised public propertyincluding a recent incident involving an unauthorised alteration of a government-built roundabout.

Government property is not anybodys property. Conduct is part of success. We must begin to behave ourselves as responsible citizens, he added.

The Governor outlined ongoing efforts to rebuild Imos public sector, emphasising that prosperity depends on functional public schools, hospitals, transportation systems, and infrastructure.

He noted that even substantial wage increases cannot compensate for the high cost of private healthcare and schooling, making government services essential for affordability.

If our schools and hospitals work, a civil servant can run a household comfortably, he said.

On the ongoing Light Up Imo Project, he vowed to confront any federal-level political obstacles preventing the State from connecting its completed power infrastructure to the grid.

The Governor urged citizens to prioritise the States collective interest over personal or political differences, calling on residents to stand together for the future of Imo State.

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ony Icheku in Owerri  Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma has announced an ambitious economic agenda targeting N1 trillion economy in the State as he unfolded details for the hosting of

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Musawa: FG Targeting Creative Economy as Africas Growth Engine

Musawa: FG Targeting Creative Economy as Africas Growth Engine

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to repositioning Nigeria as the cultural and tourism hub of Africa, describing the creative economy as a major catalyst for trade, investment, and sustainable growth across the continent.

Speaking at the maiden edition of the Africa Tourism and Creative Economy Expo (ATCEE) held in Abuja on Sunday, the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammad Yawale, said the Tinubu administrations Renewed Hope Agenda is prioritising the creative sector as a strategic pillar for economic diversification and job creation.

Musawa said the government is pursuing a broad policy framework to develop creative clusters and innovation hubs, revitalise heritage and tourism sites, and expand access to credit for entrepreneurs in the sector through partnerships with financial institutions, notably the Bank of Industry.

She added that the ministry is also strengthening cultural diplomacy to enhance Nigerias global reputation and soft power.

We must move beyond the rhetoric of potential to the practicality of implementation, Musawa said. The creative economy is not just a sector; it is a catalyst for innovation, job creation, and continental identity.

The minister noted that with Africas youthful population and growing digital economy, the continents cultural and tourism assets could serve as a powerful driver of intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

She commended Afrocultour Limited, organisers of the Expo, for providing a platform that connects government, private investors, and innovators to unlock opportunities within Africas creative and tourism ecosystem.

In his opening address, the Managing Director of Afrocultour Limited and convener of the Expo, Mr. Chuks Akamadu, said the initiative was designed to address Africas low contribution to global trade, which stands at less than three percent despite its vast resource endowments.

He unveiled a new evaluation mechanism tagged Cultourmetre – a continental tool developed in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC), AfCFTA Secretariat, Afreximbank, and a global audit firm – to measure and rank the performance of African countries in mainstreaming culture and tourism into their national economies.

Africa cannot continue to sit on her fortunes while remaining a destination for foreign aid, Akamadu said. The Cultourmetre will help track measurable progress and ensure accountability across the continent.

Also speaking, the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Her Excellency Pascaline Gerengbo Yakivu, applauded Nigerias leadership in promoting African cultural identity and regional cooperation through tourism.

She noted that the D.R. Congo has intensified efforts to attract investment through cultural showcases and tourism fairs that celebrate its music, biodiversity, and national landmarks.

The Africa Tourism and Creative Economy Expo, themed Optimizing Africas Comparative and Competitive Advantage for Accelerated Trade and Economic Growth, drew policymakers, investors, diplomats, and creative entrepreneurs from across the continent to explore strategies for unlocking Africas cultural and tourism potential as engines of inclusive growth.

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Folalumi Alaran in Abuja The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to repositioning Nigeria as the cultural and tourism hub of Africa, describing the creative economy as a major catalyst

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$18bn: FG Applauds BPP for Saving Nigeria from Huge Contract Frauds

$18bn: FG Applauds BPP for Saving Nigeria from Huge Contract Frauds

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The federal government has commended Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for saving the country from losing trillions of naira to fraudulent contracts in the past year.

It would be recalled that Nigerias anti-corruption agencies had estimated that about $18 billion was lost every year to corruption and financial crimes in public procurement. 

At the 2025 Mandatory Continuous Public Procurement Capacity Training Programme, organised by Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and Bureau of Public Procurement, in Port Harcourt, yesterday, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said corruption in government thrived through procurement malpractices. 

Represented by his Technical Adviser, Olusegun Adekunle, Akume said such abuses directly stole development from the Nigerian people, stressing that a transparent and well-regulated procurement system is one of the most effective anti-corruption tools. 

He said public procurement was recognised globally as a crucial instrument for good governance and corruption prevention, saying by enforcing open and competitive bidding, due diligence, and oversight, avenues for kickbacks and collusion are closed off.

According to the SGF, It is estimated that the share of the leakages in our public budget occurs during the contracting of public projects. This is why the anti-corruption agencies have observed that contract and procurement fraud accounts for roughly 90 per cent of all corruption cases in the public sector.

The lesson is that whatever the percentage, corruption in government thrives through procurement malpractices. Such abuses directly steal development from our people because every naira lost to a fraudulent contract is a naira taken away from building a school, hospital, road, or water supply that citizens desperately need.

Akume stressed, A transparent and well-regulated procurement system is one of the most effective anti-corruption tools. Globally, public procurement is recognised as a crucial instrument for good governance and corruption prevention.

In Nigerias case, the reforms introduced by the Public Procurement Act 2007 and the establishment of the BPP have been yielding positive results.

Through diligent prior review of contracts and insistence on due process, the BPP has saved the nation huge sums of money that would otherwise have been lost.

Akume stated that by convening the capacity-building exercise, they were fulfilling a legal and moral duty to equip the procurement officers with the skills and ethics required to manage public resources effectively.

He stated, It is also pertinent to recall the policy directive issued by this office in June 2017, which prohibited unqualified personnel from performing procurement functions in any MDA where a career Procurement Officer is available.

That circular directed MDAs without qualified officers to engage with BPP for training and to ensure such staff undergo conversion or induction into the procurement cadre.

The intention and objective include underpinning public procurement as a specialized profession, and to ensure that only trained, certified officers oversee this critical function.

This will help us in the quest for professionalization, protect the sanctity of the procurement process and uphold the standards of our profession.

Akume urged all public sector agencies that were still in default of the policy to change course, warning that the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation, in conjunction with BPP and anti-corruption agencies, had begun the process of auditing compliance.

He said, I find it compelling to remind you all that public procurement is the backbone of public service and national development. Virtually every government policy or development plan, from building roads and power stations to providing healthcare and education, relies on procurement to succeed.

Studies have shown that public procurement is an essential part of good governance and efficient service delivery. 

Statistics similarly show that it accounts for an estimated 1025 per cent of our GDP. This means that a significant portion of our nations economic activity and development budget flows through procurement processes. How well we manage this process directly impacts our development outcomes.

The SGF reminded the participants that Nigerias current National Development Plan had ambitious targets, which included massive investments in infrastructure and services, adding that It similarly envisions a total expenditure of hundreds of trillions of naira by 2025. 

Akume stressed, The effective implementation of these plans hinges on a robust procurement system that ensures every naira is spent wisely. The Plan emphasises the need for strong governance and accountability frameworks which only a transparent procurement system can provide.

The National development plan cannot achieve goals like job creation, poverty reduction, and infrastructure expansion without procurement processes that deliver value for money. 

He stated that the procurement officers played a crucial role in national development because their skills and decisions determined whether public projects were delivered on time, on budget, and to specification. 

Explaining that President Bola Tinubu had clarified that public procurement was central to governance, especially in times of economic challenges, the SGF said, Even as we navigate fiscal constraints, the publics expectations for services and infrastructure remain high and urgent. 

Therefore, a well-functioning procurement system should as a matter of course, hasten the delivery of critical services and projects to citizens thereby bridging the gap between policy promises and actual outcomes.

In doing so, we must however ensure that speed must never come at the expense of transparency and accountability. It will be your duty to balance efficiency with due process, ensuring that fast-tracking development does not open the door to abuse.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Executive Secretary of PTDF, Ahmed Galadima Aminu, said they had trained more than 15,000 Nigerians through both local and international scholarship programmes. 

Aminu said through collaboration with tertiary institutions, PTDF had completed the upgrade of 26 departments in various universities and established 214 ICT centres across the country. 

He said the interventions included the construction, furnishing, and equipping of specialised laboratories, all strategically targeted at strengthening academic programmes that supported the oil, gas, and energy sector.

He stated, Our commitment to quality education also extends to strengthening secondary education in Nigeria, as reflected in the soon-to-be-launched PTDF STEM Programme, which is designed to address foundational weaknesses in the delivery of STEM Education in 1,000 secondary schools across the 774 local government areas in the pilot phase.

We also recognise that the long-term sustainability of our programmes requires the domestication of our training efforts in order to deepen local content and save foreign exchange for the country. 

This is why the PTDF established two Centres of Excellenceto ensure that Nigerians can access the same high-quality learning experience available in top institutions abroad, right here in Nigeria.

Director-General of BPP, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, commended Tinubu for his commitment to institutional strengthening, procurement reform, and transparency, which had granted the bureau the political mandate to elevate professionalism and position procurement as a strategic engine of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Adedokun also thanked the Rivers State government for its hospitality and for hosting the programme, saying the partnership exemplifies the collaborative spirit that underpins the shared quest for improved service delivery.

He added, This training is therefore not merely an event, it is a solemn commitment to fortify the capacity to deliver public projects with fidelity, efficiency and transparency.

Adedokun stated that the training was the 16th edition since its commencement in 2009. He said about 1,000 persons had applied, but 350 participants were selected for the training.

He urged the participants to engage fully, to ask probing questions, to sharpen your expertise and to reaffirm your ethical resolve, stating that Nigeria needs procurement officers who are competent, confident and courageous enough to uphold due process at all times.

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Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The federal government has commended Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for saving the country from losing trillions of naira to fraudulent contracts in the past

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Wike Warns Ground Rent Defaulters May Lose Property

Wike Warns Ground Rent Defaulters May Lose Property

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has warned ground rent defaulters in the territory that they risk forfeiture of their property over the default in meeting extension deadline.

He issued the warning yesterday while addressing journalists shortly after inspecting ongoing key infrastructure projects in Wuse and Life Camp areas of the FCT.

The minister warned that there would be no further extension on the payment deadline of today, noting the two-week and the presidential grace periods granted defaulters four months ago had long elapsed.

He threatened that officials of the FCTA would seal up the premises of defaulters, while the properties would revert back to the FCT Administration.

Wike said: If you have not paid, we will seal up the premises and the property becomes the property of the FCT Administration.  

It is unfortunate that most Nigerians who complain dont want to abide by the rules. You realize that when we started this enforcement, we also had a presidential intervention to give them two, three weeks more.

But its more than four months now and we cannot carry out projects without people paying their taxes.

We did also make publications of extending the deadline and of course, you know they like to rush. If you dont go and enforce it, nobody will pay. So, we believe that this is the last time. We are not going to extend any further.

He also disclosed that the ongoing procurement process for the Abuja bus terminals would be completed before the end of the year, adding that the administration was also assessing those that have applied to run it as well as the number of buses in their fleet.

We believe, by the grace of God, before the end of the year, that we will have rounded up. So, it is a matter of getting things done by the way they are supposed to be, by following due process, he said.

He also provided updates on the infrastructure projects he inspected, including the Transit Way N2 connecting the Central Business District to Wuse District and the Arterial Road N5 (Obafemi Awolowo Way) from Life Camp Junction to Karmo.

He expressed satisfaction with the progress and quality of work and noted the contractors assurances of timely completion.

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Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has warned ground rent defaulters in the territory that they risk forfeiture of their property over the default in meeting extension

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Alliance Calls for Ethical Reforms Over Worsening Insecurity

Alliance Calls for Ethical Reforms Over Worsening Insecurity

Sunday Ehigiator

The Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics Ltd/Gte has called for urgent national action, noting Nigeria stands at a crossroads as insecurity, corruption, and the misuse of religion continue to threaten the countrys stability.

In a statement titled A Call to Action: Rebuilding Nigerias Future Through Ethics and Unity, the organisation noted that the country remains a nation blessed with immense potential but was hindered by a crisis of ethics, fueled by insecurity, corruption, and the misuse of religion to perpetrate violence.

The group noted that, Banditry, insurgency, and kidnappings have left communities shattered, while distrust in institutions deepens. We cannot build a prosperous future in the midst of fire.

According to the organisation, Nigerias challenges are not as a result of faith, but stem from failure of responsibilities. We have allowed greed, division, and impunity to thrive, while our places of worship, meant to be sanctuaries of peace, are overshadowed by the cries of the vulnerable. Enough is enough.

The Alliance called for action across all sectors, beginning with government, urging the Federal and state governments to enforce laws without fear or favour, prosecute perpetrators of violence, corruption, and hate speech, and strengthen security infrastructure by equipping troops, supporting state police, and enhancing community policing.

It also urged authorities to, invest in education and jobs and to promote transparency by publishing budgets and ensuring accountability, including efforts to tackle corruption in religious institutions.

For religious leaders, the organisation asked them to preach peace, not division, reject extremist narratives, and lead by example through humility and service to the vulnerable.

To citizens, it urged Nigerians to demand accountability, reject corruption, and promote unity across ethnic and religious lines.

Politicians were advised to put nation above self, end political violence, and stop arming militias, while supporting reforms to address root causes of insecurity such as injustice and unemployment.

On the security forces, the statement said, must protect with integrity, uphold human rights, avoid extrajudicial actions, and remain neutral, professional, and committed to safeguarding all Nigerians.

The organisation added: Faith without works is empty; governance without accountability is tyranny; security without justice is oppression.

The Alliance also listed recommendations to government, including the call to establish a National Ethics Commission, launch a nationwide interfaith peace initiative, increase funding for education, healthcare, and job creation in vulnerable regions, ensure swift justice for crimes linked to terrorism and corruption, and encourage community-led peacebuilding and reporting mechanisms.

While warning that we must act now, before the fire consumes us, the organisation stressed that Nigeria is not beyond repair. Let us choose unity, transparency, and compassion. Together, we can turn the tide.

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Sunday Ehigiator The Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics Ltd/Gte has called for urgent national action, noting Nigeria stands at a crossroads as insecurity, corruption, and the misuse of religion

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Nnamdi Kanu: From Agitation to Life Imprisonment

Nnamdi Kanu: From Agitation to Life Imprisonment

After a ten-year intricate legal battle, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which has been agitating for the actualisation of the state of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, was convicted for charges bordering on terrorism last Thursday, November 20, 2025 and sentenced to Life Imprisonment by Hon. Justice James Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division. Was life imprisonment the expected outcome of the case? Would the judgement have been different if Nnamdi Kanu hadn’t  decided to take over his defence himself, which he refused to open, insisting that he wasn’t charged under any known law? What options are left to the convicted IPOB leader? These and many more questions are the subject of this Discourse by Aikhunegbe Anthony Malik, SAN; Kunle Edun, SAN;  P.D. Pius; Ifeanyi Ejiofor; Major Ben Aburime (Rtd) and Marx Ikongbeh

‘Show Me the Law’: The Saga of  Kanu’s Trial

Aikhunegbe Anthony Malik, SAN

Introduction

The just concluded trial and conviction of Nnamdi Kanu at the Federal High Court qualifies, by all parameters, as a saga of a sort. Like every other saga, it was not without the usual accompaniments of variegated interpretations and narratives of the factual realities, conspiracy theories and the residue of the old wives tales.

 The judgement [proceedings] that ordinarily ought to signpost the climax of the entire saga and the denouement thereof and, as well, quench the thirst for justice, soon became the talking point for further rabble rousing. Thus, from nowhere, the refrain of “show me the law” and “you don’t know the law…”, rent the air of solemnity and sacrosanctity that normally characterise the climate of court proceedings, was made to breathe the hollow airs of indecorum and ordinariness as if it was another town hall platform for the resolution of intra clan disputes. It is, therefore, the “show me the law” byword from the proceedings, which has now become the talking point for both the mischief makers and the genuinely ignorant folks out there that has compelled this intervention.

Clarification 

From the outset, I wish to asseverate that in offering this clarification, I will resist every temptation to be drawn into the groove of the gossip mill and the conspiracy theories regarding allegations not borne out of facts, but etched only on sheer perceptions. In fidelity with this self admonition, I will disregard all such mendacious and tendentious suggestions or narratives in the public space, that the judgement delivered Omotosho, J. of the Federal High Court was written by some faceless persons, but only handed to his Lordship to read or apply in court. How disingenuous can anyone be?

It does not require much efforts to understand that such vicious allegation and the buy-in to the “show me the law” refrain currently being held on to, as talking points, are the orchestration of the rabble rousers [to which, it does appears, even Nnamdi Kanu himself is a victim of], woven to muddy up the stream of justice by reactionary forces. To them, Nnamdi Kanu was unfairly prosecuted, denied fair trial, incorrectly found guilty, wrongly convicted and unjustifiably sentenced. 

 To the category of genuinely ignorant persons whose imagination of judicial proceedings is not anything different from their village meetings, where there are little or no rules of procedures regulating the conduct of meetings, but as the chairman or elders in council may decide at their whims, I offer my clarifications: now, here is the law. 

Long before the commencement of the trial, there was a procedure Nnamdi Kanu went through. It is called arraignment. In it, all the 7 counts in the charge under which he was impleaded in court were individually read to him, one after another, alongside the law alleged to have been violated thereby. After each count was read out to him, he was asked whether he understood same. Unequivocally, he answered in the affirmative. Thereafter, his arraignment crystallised, when he entered a plea of “not guilty” to the entire charge. At this point, the obligation of the prosecution to lead compelling evidence, pointing ineluctably to the guilt of Mr Kanu in relation to the allegations embodied in the charge, kicked in. As has now been established vide the court’s judgement, the prosecution discharged this burden through the several witnesses it fielded, and who gave viva voce evidence anchored on documentary proof.

 Many of those criticising the Judge today may be surprised to learn here that, Nnamdi Kanu, actually articulated his defence indirectly through his Lawyers vide the legal mechanism of cross-examination of all the prosecution witnesses with the aim of discrediting their testimonies and eliciting evidence therefrom, in support of his case. Thus, even as it may appear that Nnamdi Kanu elected not to defend the charge, his acceptance to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses, is in itself a form of defence. At the conclusion of the cross-examination of the prosecution witnesses, the prosecution closed its case to await Nnamdi Kanu’s defence. 

 At this stage of the trial, Nnamdi Kanu was left with the option of entering his defence and follow the same procedure as the prosecution or raise what is called a No Case Submission, which is essentially a short circuited procedure of defence suggesting that the entire evidence as led thus far by the prosecution were either not sufficient to convict him, or were so discredited under cross-examination that no reasonable tribunal or court could rely on them to convict him. Interestingly, Nnamdi Kanu opted for the latter, warranting a ruling by the court, which ruling came out unfavourable to him, to the effect that contrary to his application for a No Case Submission, the entirety of the evidence as led by the prosecution disclosed a prima facie (on the surface) case against him requiring further explanation or refutal in defence.The court, thereafter and expectedly, offered Mr Kanu the opportunity to put up a [further] defence. At this stage, Nnamdi Kanu decided to sack his defence team, opting to defend himself- a right that the law guarantees him – despite the Judge’s admonition to him to allow his Lawyer do so. Thus, for six weeks, the court indulged Nnamdi Kanu with several adjournments, just to enable him offer a defence to the charge. For reasons within the exclusive preserve of the Defendant, he elected not to. Thereafter, the court was left with no further option than to foreclose him and adjourn for judgement.

On judgement day, and while the judgement was being read, Nnamdi Kanu chose to apply to the court to allow him come up with a Final Written Address, which is nothing other than the application of the law to the summation of all the evidence led, from the perspectives of the respective Counsel on each side. At this stage, only an application for arrest of judgement may fly. Fortunately or unfortunately, the practice of arresting a court’s judgement has been roundly deprecated by the appellate courts. Betwixt and between, he was seen interjecting the court proceedings with the refrain, “show me the law”, “you don’t know law” and “Omotosho, you are reading rubbish…”.

Conclusion 

The above synopsis of what transpired in the trial and the subsequent ripples out there, communicate veritable lessons to litigants that the court of law is sui generis in its operation and procedures. Over time, the wall of the court has been fortified against emotions and sentiments of any kind, no matter how convinced one may be of his cause. To the question, where is the law? the surrounding facts in the entire trial saga already beg the question with an answer, or how else could the court have shown the law to a person to whom the charge was read and who indicated that he understood the charge, pleaded not guilty and even went ahead to cross-examine the witnesses called by the opposing side? 

You, be the Judge!

Aikhunegbe Anthony Malik, SAN

Nnamdi Kanu’s Conviction: Was Justice Served?

Kunle Edun, SAN

The case of the Federal Republic of Nigeria v Nnamdi Kanu, Charge No. FHC/AB/CR/383/2015 has been an interesting case The case took 10 years to conclude, after going around several Judges of the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, until it was recently transferred to the Court of Honourable Justice J.K. Omotosho. The trial Judge granted accelerated hearing, and concluded the case in less than a year. I commend the dexterity, case management style and judicial probity of the trial Judge to every other Judicial officer in Nigeria. The Judgement of the Court was released on the day it was delivered, which is not the norm in our courts. Even judgements of the Supreme Court, take a longer time for the parties to obtain. 

Was Justice Served?

The issue of whether justice was served, can only be considered from the prism of a reasonable and objective man who followed the proceedings. It was a criminal trial. The Prosecution witnesses testified and were cross-examined by the Defence Counsel, then led by the eminent silk, Kanu Agabi, SAN who had in his team other Senior Advocates of Nigeria. The Defence was given the opportunity to make a no-case submission after the prosecution closed its case. Subsequently, the Defendant exercised his right to terminate the brief of the eminent Counsel that were conducting his legal representation. 

The trial Judge adjourned the matter several times, to enable the Defendant to do wider consultation on his intention to represent himself. The trial Judge offered to deploy a Counsel from the Legal Aid Council to represent him, but it was not accepted by the Defendant. Several opportunities were given to the Defendant to open his defence; the trial Judge practically pleaded with him to open his defence. I do not think that any reasonable person conversant with the proceedings, will say that the trial Judge did not give the Defendant a fair chance to prove his innocence. Many Judges wouldn’t go the length the trial court went, in ensuring that the Defendant was availed all opportunity to put his defence forward. It is a settled principle of law that, when a Defendant fails to open his defence, automatically he will be held to have rested his defence on the case of the Prosecution and that is a very dangerous strategy to adopt by any Defendant. 

Justice as we all know, is a three-way-traffic. The Judge must always consider the interest of the Defendant, the Prosecution and the public; So, how each of these will see justice is what the trial Court must balance. To be too fair to just one party, might be considered as an injustice to the others. The duty of the Court is to strike a balance that will achieve fairness to all.  

A trial Judge is never concerned about the politics of the case he is handling. In fact, his eyes and ears are closed to the politics of a case and the social media. His only duty is to determine, as in the instant case, whether the Prosecution has led evidence beyond reasonable doubt implicating the Defendant in the charge against him. Period. This does not detract from the fact that the Prerogative of Mercy Committee of Federal Government cannot, through the instrumentality of State Pardon, recommend to the National Council of State chaired by the President, Federal Government of Nigeria to exercise its powers and grant the Defendant a pardon. Convicted looters of public treasury have been granted pardon, even without returning the money they stole.  

Rumours that Hon. Justice Omotosho J. didn’t Write the Judgment?

I was not a Counsel in the case. However, any person that has appeared before Hon. Justice Omotosho and understand his pattern and style of writing judgements, should be able to know if he didn’t write the judgement . In the absence of any credible evidence that My Lord didn’t write the Judgement, the Judgment of the Court being a public document, it enjoys a strong presumption of regularity. We should give our Judges some respect. 

Reading the judgement in this case, I observed that there were some authorities and reasoning reached by the trial Judge that did not depart from his position in the earlier cases that he delivered judgement in, and other cases that he conducted even before he became a Judge of the Federal High Court.  

There are similarities in the authorities he cited and opinion rendered on specific points in the present judgement with earlier judgements. Those that are academically-minded should look at Page 35 of the judgement in FRN v NNAMDI KANU, Justice J.K. Omotosho cited the case of NIMR v AKIN-OLUGBADE & ORS (2025) LPELR-80313(SC), HABU v SULE & ORS (2024) LPELR-63002(SC). These two cases were also cited at page 17 in his earlier judgement in Suit No.: FHC/PH/CS/51/2025 Belema Briggs & Ors.  v President, FRN delivered on the 2nd of October, 2025. Also cited at pages 12 and 13 in the judgement delivered in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/856/2016: Dr Ted Iseghohi Edwards v FGN & Ors, delivered on the 3rd of October, 2025. The same cases were also cited at page 15 in the judgement in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/133/2025: Techico Resource Solutions Limited v VFD Microfinance Bank Ltd delivered on the 3rd of October, 2025. And also cited in the Ruling delivered on the 26th of September, 2025 on the No Case submission made by Nnamdi Kanu. 

At page 36 of the judgement delivered against Nnamdi Kanu, Honourable Justice J.K.Omotosho also cited the case MFA v Inongha (2014) 4 NWLR (Pt.1397) 343 at 375 which my Lord relied on in the earlier judgements he delivered in Suit No.: FHC/ABJ/CS/1728/2023 BMO Central Park Abuja Ltd v National Inland Waterways Authority delivered on the 3rd day of October, 2024 at page 36 thereof; see also page 33 of the earlier judgement in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1458/2024: Moses Gamzhi Chiroma v National Judicial Council delivered on the 21st day of May, 2025. I found out that Honourable Justice Omotosho participated in the case of Segun Ogunsanya v State (2011) 12 NWLR (PT. 1261) 401 from the trial stage to the Supreme Court when he was a Deputy Director of Public Prosecution with the Ogun State Ministry of Justice. My Lord cited this particular case in the judgement in the Nnamdi Kanu’s case; Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/478/2024 Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu v The Inspector General of Police delivered on the 17th of July, 2024 (pg. 48); Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1386/2021: Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda v National Broadcasting Commission delivered on the 23rd of November, 2023 (pg. 24). There are several instances of other similar cases and reasoning in the Nnamdi Kanu’s judgement and earlier judgements that he delivered. The trial Judge is well-read, and I think it will be an insult to his personality to ascribe the writing of the judgement to another person. 

 Lessons for IPOB and other Ethnic Agitators? What Implication for the Nigerian polity?

Nigeria is a Federation of more than 300 different tribes, joined together by Britain without the consent of the natives being sought. 300 tribes with different cultures, orientation and reasoning. Sir Henry Willinks recognised the diversity of the country and the need for official policy to protect the rights of the minority tribes, hence, the Willinks Commission was set up. There are now several laws that passed by the National Assembly that guarantee the protection of the rights of every Nigeria. Section 42 of Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, guarantees every Nigerian from official discriminatory policies, actions and practices. Therefore, I may say that in terms of laws, we have enough to protect and give every Nigerian a sense of belonging. But, is that enough? 

The problem has always been with the manner in which these laws are being implemented. I see no reason why we should still be having quota system for admission into Unity Schools, and Federal character in employment into public offices and sharing of offices; more than 65 years after attaining independence. Are we really moving backward or going forward? These policies have been abused and used to replace merit, competence, integrity and transparency with mediocrity, impunity and misfits in sensitive positions of power. Merit has now been sacrificed. This may be the reason why the country is still under-developed, in spite of the huge natural and human resources. Trump just called Nigeria a disgraced country. We have a duty to prove Trump wrong, by doing the right thing and to stop the agitations by the various groups. 

However, resorting to violence and threats that will cause a breakdown of law and order, should not be encouraged in any form. With what is happening in Libya, Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria and other failing countries, Nigeria cannot afford a security breakdown. It will overwhelm Africa. Therefore, the people, through their political, traditional and religious leaders must continue to agitate for devolution of both political and economic power. Nigeria is too big, to be controlled every time from Abuja. The Governors must stop shamelessly worshipping Abuja, and start acting as Governors. Nigerians must stop electing jokers and criminals, into public offices. State Police is a must, to stop the increasing wave of insecurity, since it is obvious that the Federal Government is overwhelmed.

Kunle Edun, SAN, former NBA National Publicity Secretary, Warri, Delta State

Show Me the Law! Simplification of Issues in Nnamdi Kanu’s Conviction 

P. D. Pius 

There is no doubt that the Defendant, Nnamdi Kanu, who is now a convict, repeatedly kept challenging the court, court officials, prosecutors, security men and media to show him the law upon which he was being tried on. He appears to suggest that there is no existing law upon which he can be tried, since the Terrorism Law upon which his charges were drafted has been repealed. Is he correct? Let me simplify this as ABC.

Familiarity With the Law is Crucial

If you commit an offence in 1970, you will be charged under the law that existed in 1970. The Government cannot charge you under a law made in 2022. This is because, criminal law does not bend backward. In this case, the Terrorism Law that was in existence at the time Nnamdi Kanu committed the offences, is the 2013 law. This means that even though the law was repealed or changed in 2022, he has to be tried under the 2013 law that was in existence. He has to stand trial based on the law that existed at the time of the offence, not the current law that did not exist at the time of the offence.

Interestingly, Section 98 of the 2022 Terrorism Law mentioned that all charges or cases that were already going on under the 2013 law shall not be affected by 2022 law, but shall continue normally. What should be clarified is this, whenever you are standing trial, you must be familiar with the procedure of a court case, or how cases are conducted in court.

You cannot ask the Judge or Clerks or Prosecutors or media, to show you the law upon which you are tried in every court sitting. While the Prosecutor will, at the beginning of the case state in the charge sheet the law upon which you are tried, he is not obligated to keep telling you on each day of the sitting that this is the law. As for the Judge, his duty is to listen to both sides and their witnesses. A Judge will only talk or air out his position at the end of the case, after hearing both sides. That is what is called judgement. It is during his judgement that the Judge will tell you whether there is a law or not, upon which you are being tried. If the law exists, you may be convicted; otherwise, you will be set free to go home.

When you don’t have a Lawyer to properly guide you on the procedure in court, you may shortchange yourself by always asking where is the law during court sittings, instead of planning your defence or calling witnesses in your defence. Remember that, court sittings are not a shouting match. You don’t even need to raise your voice. You can win your cases without raising your voice, or talking back at the opponent. Everyone will be given time, to make his/her point fairly (right to fair hearing).

In this case, the convict had a chance of walking free, if he had stuck with the strategy of his eminent and experienced Lawyers. I have read the certified true copy of the judgement. I saw the kind of questions that the defence Lawyers asked the prosecution witnesses, before the Lawyers were fired. I am very convinced that they had laid a foundation for a defence, that if they were not fired they may have succeeded in calling evidence that may cast doubt on the prosecution’s case. For instance, they had established that there were killings in the North and South West that were not as a result of the Defendant/Convict’s act. One of the witnesses admitted that it was the Police that investigated the death of Ahmed Gulak, and not the DSS. The destination may have been that they wanted to establish by calling evidence, that killings in the South East were similarly carried out by criminals just like in the North and South West, and not necessarily because of the enforcement of the sit-at-home command of the Defendant. However, this was not achieved, as the Convict fired all his Lawyers and accepted the testimony of the Prosecution witnesses, that killings in the South East were carried out on his orders against those that violated the sit-at- home order. The death of Ahmed Gulak was one prominent case cited as an example, amongst many others. Unfortunately, there was no Lawyer to properly direct the court, that if it was Police that investigated Ahmed Gulak’s murder, then DSS is not competent to testify about the cause of his death, thereby disconnecting the Defendant from the death of Ahmed Gulak.

Again, a Lawyer is trained to attack and destroy incriminating evidence, that may have been tendered against you. The video evidence, radio interviews and broadcasts of the Defendant that were used as evidence of his inciting violence, were not attacked from the record of the judgement. Of course, it will be difficult for a layman to properly attack these exhibits, if he is not well grounded in the law of evidence. There is a saying amongst trial Lawyers that, “if the facts are against you, argue the law, and if the law is against you, argue the facts, and if both are against you, then bang the table”.

Reliance on Sahara Reporters Interview: Government Blowing Hot and Cold

The interview with Sahara Reporters, was also crucial in the conviction of the Defendant. As I read the judgement I wondered, why is the Government attempting to cripple or take out Sahara Reporters, if they will be relying on their interviews to secure conviction of Terrorist? The Sahara Reporters interview captured the Defendant’s stand, that he wants to achieve Biafra by any means including violence. The Government should not be prosecuting Sahara Reporters as irresponsible media or illegal media, and turned around to rely on their interviews in securing conviction. That is like blowing hot and cold at same time.

Some of these strategies may have assisted the defence. While a Defendant can represent himself, it is a big gamble to do so. There is however, something I find very strange and shocking in the case. Come with me. 

Ex-Parte Order Declaring IPOB to be a Terrorist Organisation 

There was an ex-parte order declaring the IPOB a terrorist organisation. From the record of the judgement, there is no indication that any IPOB member or Lawyer, or anyone at all, had challenged that ex-parte order, or applied to set it aside or appealed against it. It will be a very bad strategy to say that IPOB is not a terrorist organisation, and at same time, failed to have challenged the ex-parte order declaring them a terrorist organisation. This is because all orders of court must be obeyed, until set aside. Thus, as long as the ex-parte order subsists, anyone who accepts that he is a member of IPOB without more, can get life imprisonment or death penalty. I am still surprised that no evidence was called, to show that the ex-parte order declaring IPOB a terrorist organisation was challenged or appealed against. Well, let me leave it at that. 

Different Terrorism Offences in Nigeria

One more point to clarify is that, there are so many different kinds of Terrorism offences in Nigeria. Some attract 20 years imprisonment, some life imprisonment and some attract up to the death sentence, among others. Where a Defendant decides to cooperate and admit his guilt immediately without wasting the time of the court or dragging the government through years of trial before conviction, he may get some reduction in punishment that may be given. Again the prosecutor may, based on available evidence, choose the kind of Terrorism offences he believes he can prove against you. So, two people can do the same act, but, based on available evidence or their decision to go to trial or admit their offence immediately, will likely result in separate kind of charges. It is like Yahoo boys who often plead guilty in EFCC cases that get option of fine, but, those that go through trial getting years of imprisonment if later found guilty after trial. 

Note that, trial usually costs the government a lot to secure conviction. In this case, the Government had to go for a skilful, experienced and senior Lawyer, Chief Adeboyega Awomolo, SAN and probably pay for his services to assist them with the prosecution, as they may not be comfortable with an ordinary Lawyer in Ministry of Justice to do handle such an important case properly. These are all factors that will affect the choices, that may further affect the punishment. When you hire a big masquerade, you should expect a big performance. 

The convict is very lucky to have been given a life sentence, when his prosecution was done by a distinguished senior Lawyer, while he had no Lawyer at all to defend him. It would have been very strange for a non-Lawyer, to defeat a revered SAN in this trial.

There are many other issues to talk about, but I will stop here and take your reactions or queries. 

P. D. Pius, Abuja

Nnamdi Kanu’s Avoidable Ordeal: How Amateur Legal Showmen Led a High-Profile Case into a Judicial Ambush

Ifeanyi Ejiofor ( Kanu’s Former Lawyer )

When Justice Became a Performance: The Tragic Consequence of Turning Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial into Content

I had genuinely intended, out of sheer exhaustion and out of respect for the sensitivity of this moment, to refrain from revisiting this saga. But, the avalanche of calls, messages, and trembling voices from our people has made silence no longer an option. I am therefore, compelled to offer sober introspection, especially as someone who successfully steered this very case for nearly a decade, securing landmark victories, unassailable legal milestones, and enduring a long trail of threats, assassination attempts, and brushes with death. Through all of this, Grace remained my only constant protection.

However, after Thursday’s spectacle, correcting the wild conjectures, poorly manufactured narratives, and brazen misinformation now circulating like a digital epidemic, has become absolutely necessary.

The First Revelation They Won’t Tell You

 During the period our team handled this matter, from 2015 to December 2023, up until Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, assumed leadership of the legal team in 2022; we were on the threshold of securing yet another major relief for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, particularly after the Court of Appeal discharged him in 2022. Sustained pressure, strategic diplomacy, and airtight legal manoeuvring had placed us on the verge of another monumental breakthrough.

 Regrettably, certain sensitive details of this progress were, perhaps, innocently, disclosed by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to some of these clueless clowns. Rather than support a strategy they barely understood, they seized the information as an opportunity to derail the entire process and treacherously orchestrated a change in the status quo. Consequently, we exited the team, gloriously, and with our integrity intact.

Let Us Speak Plainly

A high-profile, internationally sensitive criminal trial, is not a circus ring. But, once these bloated, delusional entertainers-in-wigs inserted themselves into the process, everything degenerated into a grotesque parody of legal representation. Instead of crafting legal strategy, they crafted Instagram stories. Instead of mastering case law, they mastered camera angles. At every court session, their priority wasn’t research or preparation, it was posing, filming, updating, grandstanding, and “going viral”.

Meanwhile, the accused man’s fate hung by a thread.

The Most Tragic Part of it All

 Even after the court explicitly warned that self-representation in a complex constitutional and criminal matter was dangerous, these “consultants” encouraged it, clapping like paid spectators in a village arena.

 And So, the Unthinkable Happened

1. A trial that could have been paused, or avoided ab initio, had the proper methodology and engagement being applied.

2. A conviction that could have been prevented.

3. An outcome that was entirely avoidable, yet, allowed to proceed under the guidance of legal lightweights intoxicated by social-media relevance.

They railroaded him, knowingly or unknowingly, into the savage pit of a full criminal trial, fully aware that other lawful avenues existed.

Even while the trial was ongoing, they busied themselves with dishing out falsehoods, half-truths, and misleading “updates” to an unsuspecting public. Every lie told outside the courtroom became a landmine inside the courtroom. Every exaggerated “update”, became a contradiction the prosecution gleefully documented. Every camera stunt, became a professional embarrassment.

 And now, instead of remorse, they have resumed their post-trial routine: fresh videos, fresh lies, fresh false hopes, desperate for clicks.

The tragedy continues, because the vulnerable still believe them.

The Greatest Puzzle of All

How did foremost legal minds, globally respected Senior Advocates of Nigeria such as Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, and other erudite members of the Inner Bar; men fully versed in the anatomy of high-wire criminal litigation, become disengaged at the most critical moment of the trial, only for mediocre adventurers to hijack a matter of international significance and reduce it to a TikTok legal carnival?

 Who replaces world-class physicians, with herbal storytellers during brain surgery?

Who replaces strategic diplomacy, with reckless grandstanding?

Who replaces law with theatrics?

Only a system already preparing for disaster.

Where We Go from Here

For any meaningful rescue effort by globally respected legal experts, the first task must be to clean up the monumental damage inflicted by these self-advertising jesters. A comprehensive review of methodology, effective engagement, and drastically reduced publicity must precede any intervention. Only then, can a coherent, sophisticated legal and political strategy be fashioned.

This is not the time for comedy.

Not the time for inflated egos.

And, certainly not the time for social-media theatrics.

It is time for soberness.

Time for competence.

Time for real advocacy.

 Enough is Enough.

Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, (KSC), Nnamdi Kanu’s former Lawyer

Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial, Conviction and Sentencing: Nigeria and Its Unending Film Productions

Major Ben Aburime (Rtd)

Nigeria appears to be fighting hard to overtake the Nollywood Film Industry in the scripting, production and directing its national movies called incidents. There are various topics I had wanted to write about, before the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu case again overtook my thoughts.

Now, talking about the trending Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, MNK, debacle, my thoughts are simple. First and foremost, I’m aware of the United Nation’s provision that a people shall have the right to seek to breakaway from any union, and be on their own. So, the desire of a majority of tribes and clans desiring a severance from the present-day Nigeria, is not illegal. What may be illegal, is the methodology to achieve that purpose. Amongst what will constitute illegality is resort to armed struggle or acts of terrorism. 

We should be careful to dispassionately address the complex issues, leading a largely successful people to want to seek a breakaway. That there has been a systemic marginalisation of the Igbo race since the end of the Nigerian Civil War, is not in dispute.

With the activities of the armed Fulani Herdsmen nationwide, the body language of their leaders while hiding under Islam, with the vexatious and arrogant utterances of the likes of Sheikh Gumi, the disdain for the nation was thinly veiled, thus, birthing the Nnamdi Kanus, Sunday Igbohos and other separatists alike. This was the prevailing situation before the series of Donald Trump tweets changed the narrative. Suddenly, a 10-year of trial has finally and dramatically come to an end, fuelling the narratives.

Nnamdi Kalu was ostensibly tried and convicted for treason. Was his rendition from Kenya, another sovereign country legitimate? I cannot, in clear conscience, say it was, especially coming from a Muhammad Buhari’s notoriety for freighting human cargoes across extra-territorial jurisdictions, Alhaji Umaru Dikko in mind. Can Buhari or his son-in-law, Malami, be said to be acting in the best interest of the nation? That will be difficult to believe, given the fact that Buhari’s eight years in power can only be remembered for the dialogue about RUGA, grazing routes, importation of his Fulani kinsmen from all over the world, and disarming Nigerians before the emergence of the Fulanis armed with state-of-art military arms and hardware. Viewed against this background, one’s sympathy will always be with MNK and those thinking like him. So, his trial and conviction will naturally attract speculations. This area is what I majorly want to interrogate, while still struggling to understand Britain’s silence, given MNK’s dual nationality.

I have heard of several conspiracy theories, about how the judgment was written, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 agenda and how he hopes to use MNK as a bargaining chip for the Igbo votes through a possible Presidential pardon and all that.

To me, he, MNK, is convicted for refusing or failing to enter a defence to his case. In law, no breach of rule of law and/or breach of right of fair hearing has occurred, since the court gave him ample opportunity to counter the prosecution’s case, but he freely elected to convert his trial to content creation and display of anger. Since the evidence against him was largely built on his alleged videos and briefings, in this era of open Artificial Intelligence, AI, it would have been possible to discredit the evidence, claiming doctoring, proper custody, animations and simulations, and all that. It would have at least cast some shadow of doubt on the prosecution’s case, but, he didn’t take that route. Perhaps, it was wise that he did not too, because if he had disputed his earlier utterances, it would have only served to demystify him in the eyes of his followers. To that extent, he was wise and smart.  

As I said earlier, the case of the prosecution was built majorly on MNK’s videos and press briefings, so that he was lucky to avoid the death penalty. That is the stark reality. He isn’t bigger or greater than the likes of Nelson Mandela and Obafemi Awolowo, two great Lawyers who were convicted and jailed on treason charges, no matter how unfounded. To my mind also, no true Igbo leader really wants him released because of the alleged security threat he poses to that region, following the blind followership he has among the [un]enlightened, just like the Almajaris and Talakawa ko mutanes of the North, especially Kano and old Sokoto areas. Many families who lost loved ones in the Southeast owing to IPOB and ESN/Unknown Gun Men killing them for allegedly being saboteurs, will forever hate Nnamdi Kanu, despite his being a national symbol to some for liberation and freedom. Whether he truly sanctioned those killings, is another question. 

While I recognise his right to seek a breakaway from a dysfunctional Nigeria, his alleged methodology is highly most curious. Persuasion and not offer of violence or threat of violence was what the likes of Mahatma Ghandi, a sound Lawyer, employed to unthrone British rule. Martin Luther King Jnr, also gained large followership by strong persuasive and laudable leadership. Violence will always beget violence. We’re he dealing with a military government, he would have been quietly poisoned like Fela Kuti, SM Yar’adua, MKO Abiola, TEC Chiefe, etc, I can guess. This is the sad nature of our country, like it or not. 

Lastly, Tinubu doesn’t need him to capture the Southeast; he has already successfully carried out a total and complete State-capture. The NASS and Judiciary are directly under him, or why else will the popular anthem, ‘on your mandate we stand’, be sung at State functions?. He’s also in charge of all the security agencies. President Tinubu personally controls the press, thereby controlling the national dialogue and debate. Has he therefore, a viable opposition come 2027? No. Not Atiku or Peter Obi, even merging together, can constitute a formidable opposition against him as it is today.

The I-must-rule mentality of some Igbos, brings them in direct conflict with other tribes and peoples they continually insult, thereby demarketing the good leaders that region boasts of. So, I think Nnamdi Kanu helped build Nigeria’s case against him, even setting back the march to a Biafra nation.

By the way, I know Hon Justice James K Omotosho very well. He isn’t the type of Judge you can influence. I can freely name several Judges and Magistrates I have no love or respect for, judging by their nature. Not the likes of JK Omotosho, J. It’s apparent that where there’s nothing to put on the opposite side of the scale of justice, a court will act upon the credible evidence before it. That is a principle of law, not perversion.

Major Ben Aburime (Rtd), Lawyer, Lagos

FRN v Nnamdi Kanu: Is there Justice in the Judgement?

Marx Ikongbeh

The judgement of Omotosho J, of the Federal High Court of Nigeria on 20 November, 2025 in the case of Federal Republic of Nigeria v Nnamdi Kanu, was long awaited. Irrespective of which side of the spectrum, it seems it was expected as it turned out. Those who do not favour Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s style expected this conviction, and feel it is well justified. Those on the other aisle also seemed to have expected the conviction, but feel it is unjustified and a product of bias.

As with most emotive subjects, people approach it with a narrow lens and reject anything that does not suit their taste. A great part of the challenge, is the vast ignorance of how the criminal justice process works. This seems to underline many of the narratives.

Reading the 144-page judgment of Omotosho J, it is easy to appreciate that a judgement was delivered, but was justice delivered? This is another question. It is JS Okutepa, SAN, a senior Lawyer who has recently put a spotlight on the distinction between judgment and justice. The goal of a judgement is to attain justice, but as with any aspirational science, it is not always the mark is obtained.

A judgement is simply the reasoned decision of a Judge after hearing a case in which he finds for one party against the other. But, justice is more elusive. It defies any precise definition. It remains somewhat of an utopian ideal. It can be said to be a state of affairs that perfectly gives all parties involved precisely what they deserve based on the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Quite a tall order!

To attain justice takes more than a sound and unbiased Judge, it requires the full facts and the whole truth to be before that Judge. Another ingredient is for competent Lawyers who hold their duty as ministers in the temple of justice over and above their partisan allegiance to the client to be on hand to assist the Judge in unravelling the truth and the law relevant to the enquiry.

Looking at the Nnamdi Kanu Judgment, while people aligned with Kanu might scream that there was a failure of justice due to bias of the Judge, that conclusion is difficult to accept when one takes an educated look at the situation. Even if there was a failure of justice here, then the fault lies with the Defendant, who failed to put forward his own version of the facts to enable the Court have a full view of the truth. Secondly, if there was any failure of justice, we can also blame it on the legal or rather “consultant” team (whatever that means) that the defence employed at the end of the case. Their allegiance clearly did not lie as Minister’s in the temple of justice. They rather carried on as content creators in the temple of social media, as Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who was formerly on the team of Lawyers for Kanu stated when he issued a blistering criticism of his former teammates after the judgement.

The strategy for want of a better word, to describe the shambolic approach of the defence to the case at its latter stages was most unfortunate. Assuming the defence was convinced that the Judge was biased against them and they could not secure justice in his Court, the best way to expose bias is to put up a solid case, so that contrasted against the backdrop of the case they have put up, the bias would stand out starkly on appeal. Rather, by needless rigmarole, filibustering, and refusing to present any cogent defence, they risk leaving the impression on appeal that their hue and cry of bias is merely an attempt to hide their lack of a substantive defence.

A close reading of the judgement of Omotosho J, seems to have provided clear answers to the questions that Nnamdi Kanu kept voicing. The judgement showed the law that says Kanu could still be tried under the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act 2013, despite the 2022 repeal. Sadly, his “consultants” could not explain this basic law to him. It is easy to imagine that had he retained his team of seasoned legal practitioners, he would not have been left bereft of understanding on this point.

There are many lessons to be learnt, for other ethnic agitators. Agitating for change is not a criminal act. In the judgement, the Court indeed confirmed that under international law, the right to self determination entitles people to agitate for instance for the creation of their own country. However, such agitation must be done in a lawful manner. The judgement set out statements credited to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu which are quite alarming, and clearly cross the line of freedom fighting and into terrorism. Sadly, because the Defendant did not take the opportunity to open his case, the Court was right to accept that he made those utterances as alleged by the prosecution. To expect that he would not be convicted on the state of evidence before the court, is to be extremely unreasonable.

As it stands therefore, even if there was any injustice in this case, then it is the defence who are the perpetrators of that injustice. The role of the “consultants” to the Defendant, is quite reprehensible. They misled him. They tarred the reputation of the legal profession greatly. It is unheard of that a Lawyer whom a client publicly humiliated and told to shut up and further debriefed, would still come back to present himself as a consultant to the same client. It is indeed, below the dignity of the noble profession. May the sun never rise on such a day again.

For Nigeria, the political lesson in this is that a political solution needs to be found. We have walked down this road before. Ralph Uwazuruike of Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) toed this same line. After holding him for trial and degrading his influence, when he was let go, he became an inconsequential bye-figure, so also Asari Dokubo. It seems the continuous fixation of the Government with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is simply giving him heightened prominence which is what he wants. Perhaps, letting him go will quickly deflate and neutralise him, so that the Government can focus on more pressing challenges.

But, Kanu has a constitutional right to appeal. It is right and actually important he exercises that right, as it will further enrich our jurisprudence on this matter of terrorism as we urge the Government to put its focus on the more pressing terrorist incidents assailing the country. We need strong laws and Judges who can put these terrorists away either by sending them to the gallows preferably, or at least, locking them up in gulag for the rest of their bloodthirsty lives.

Marx Ikongbeh, Legal Practitioner, Abuja

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After a ten-year intricate legal battle, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which has been agitating for the actualisation of the state of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu,

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TINUBU’S ORDER TO WITHDRAW POLICE FROM VIPS

TINUBU’S ORDER TO WITHDRAW POLICE FROM VIPS

President Bola Tinubu’s order to the Inspector General of Police to withdraw all police officers attached to VIPs and redeploy them to mainstream policing is a long-overdue corrective step. The directive recognises an obvious distortion in Nigeria’s security architecture: thousands of officers assigned to individuals rather than to the public they are meant to serve.

The policy is not new. Successive Inspectors General have announced similar withdrawals, each collapsing into empty pronouncements. The problem has never been the absence of directives but the absence of enforcement. Political figures, expatriates, business moguls and wealthy private individuals have all enjoyed the privilege of police protection without transparent criteria. The term “VIP” remains vague, allowing the system to be exploited by anyone with influence or financial leverage.

If Tinubu’s directive is fully implemented, the gains are clear. A significant number of officers would return to core policing duties, improving response times, visibility, and deterrence across the country. But meaningful impact demands more than reassigning personnel. Many police units lack patrol vehicles, functional communication tools, and basic protective equipment. Returning officers to the streets without upgrading operational capacity risks producing little more than a cosmetic change.

The military dimension cannot be ignored either. Soldiers are also routinely attached to private individuals and companies, a practice that weakens professionalism and stretches already burdened forces. Ending such deployments should accompany the police reforms if the government is serious about restoring order to Nigeria’s security sector.

A more durable solution requires legal backing. Deploying police officers as private guards should be expressly illegal, with stiff penalties for both officers and commanders who sanction such assignments. This is the only way to break the culture of impunity and personal influence that has fuelled the misuse of state security assets.

Strengthening the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) offers a realistic alternative for private protection needs. A formal framework should channel all payments for authorised private security into a dedicated Central Bank account, earmarked for NSCDC funding. This would create transparency, ensure proper budgeting, and reduce incentives for diverting police manpower into private hands.

Beyond these structural reforms, public communication will be crucial. Nigerians need clear, accessible information on how many officers are being withdrawn, where they are being redeployed, and what measurable improvements the reforms aim to produce. Transparency will not only build trust but also create pressure on the police hierarchy to deliver results. Without open reporting and citizen feedback, the reform risks being conducted in a black box, shielded from scrutiny and vulnerable to quiet backtracking.

Finally, directives without monitoring are destined to fail. The presidency should establish an independent compliance mechanism empowered to track withdrawals, audit assignments, and publish regular reports. Public scrutiny would help prevent the quiet reversal that has undermined previous attempts. Tinubu’s decision is sound, but its success depends on sustained political will and the readiness to confront vested interests that benefit from the dysfunctional status quo.

Tochukwu Jimo Obi, Obosi, Anambra State 

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President Bola Tinubu’s order to the Inspector General of Police to withdraw all police officers attached to VIPs and redeploy them to mainstream policing is a long-overdue corrective step. The

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• November 24, 2025
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A RENEWED PROMISE OF NORTHERN UNITY

A RENEWED PROMISE OF NORTHERN UNITY

Uba Sani emphasises the importance of inclusive governance, and urged the North to recommit to justice, dialogue, and shared progress, writes ABUBARKA DAUDA

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At the silver jubilee celebration of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna, Governor Uba Sani delivered more than a ceremonial address. He offered a sober, philosophical, and forward-leaning reflection on the identity of Northern Nigeria, the legacy of its founding statesmen, and the task of reconstructing society through inclusive governance. 

The unwavering pan-northern, patriotic disposition of the governor came into focus again. He spoke with clarity, with a deep sense of history, policy, and moral clarity. The ACF jubilee celebration was indeed an outing for the governor to comprehensively articulate his vision for the region. Beyond formalities, it became a moment of introspection for Northern Nigeria, and a road map for the future.

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Governor Sani began by revisiting the origins of the ACF, founded in 2000 at a delicate moment when the North needed coherence and an organised voice. With scholarly precision, he narrated how Sultan Muhammadu Maccido convened northern elders in Kaduna to solve a gathering identity crisis. In the face of fragmentation, they chose unity, harmonising three major regional groups into one formidable body.

The governor’s tone was reverent. He recited the pantheon of Northern statesmen: Sultan Maccido, Yahaya Gusau, Liman Ciroma, Yakubu Gowon, Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu, Sunday Awoniyi, and Tanko Yakasai, whose ideological clarity formed the rock upon which the ACF stands. His emphasis here was deeply intentional: Northern unity was neither accidental nor effortless; it was engineered through sacrifice and statesmanship.

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Sani’s historical framing reminded listeners that Northern Nigeria’s strength has always come from purposeful consensus, not from geography or demography.

While acknowledging Kaduna as the ACF’s headquarters, Governor Sani reframed the privilege as a responsibility. Kaduna, he argued, is not just a central city, it is the enduring centre of northern dialogue, administration, and political evolution. Hosting the ACF is therefore a mandate to continually support a platform that shapes the region’s conscience.

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This reflection cleverly sets the stage for his broader message: that peace, unity, and shared progress cannot be assumed; they must be built and maintained.

In the speech’s most intellectually engaging section, Governor Sani introduced what he calls the Kaduna Peace Model, a systems-based approach to governing a socially diverse and historically conflict-prone state. His thesis was simple but profound: peace does not emerge from declarations; it is engineered.

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He described a security architecture linked to: intelligence-driven engagement, local empowerment, technology-enhanced monitoring, and collaboration with federal security bodies.

The result, he asserted, is a growing sense of calm across communities previously besieged by criminality. The return of farmers to their fields stands as the clearest indicator of restored confidence.

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Sani’s analysis was clear: security is not merely a policing function, it is a development function; and development, if justly distributed, becomes the most durable form of conflict prevention.

One of the strongest thematic threads in the governor’s speech was the moral dimension of governance. He repeatedly tied policy to empathy, responsibility, and justice. His report on Kaduna’s progress since 2023 was framed not as political boasting but as a demonstration of inclusive governance at work.

Furthermore, the governor painted a picture of revived rural economies driven by mechanisation, extension support, improved seedlings, and market access. The subtext was clear: a secure agricultural chain strengthens families, reduces tension, and empowers communities.

On health, he spoke passionately about expanded primary healthcare services, upgraded secondary facilities, and a goal of ensuring that neither distance nor poverty determines access to medical care. This is a sentiment rarely expressed so directly by political leaders.

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Education, in Sani’s words, is not a sector—it is the long-term strategy for peace. This framing captures the governor’s understanding of the causal link between illiteracy, unemployment, and insecurity.

Perhaps Sani’s boldest claim was the equitable distribution of infrastructure across all 23 LGAs. Rather than citing endless statistics, he made a philosophical argument: infrastructure must heal divides, not deepen them. In a region where perceptions of neglect often fuel grievances, this is an important political stance.

Governor Sani highlighted Kaduna’s well-attended Special Town Hall Meeting on the 2026 Budget, where civil society, traditional rulers, faith leaders, business communities, and grassroots citizens shaped policy decisions. With 71% of the ₦985.9 billion budget allocated to capital expenditure, particularly rural transformation, the governor underscored his administration’s commitment to accountability. In an era where public distrust remains high, Sani’s embrace of participatory budgeting places Kaduna among the more progressive subnational governments.

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Sani did not romanticize the region. He listed the problems with stark honesty: insecurity, out-of-school children, unemployment, poverty, climate displacement, and weakened community bonds. These, he said, “transcend borders.”

Here, the governor issued a call to action to the ACF: become the intellectual engine of the North. Not merely a cultural symbol, but a think tank capable of shaping policy and refining leadership.

In a politically astute section, Governor Sani publicly thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for strengthening national security and supporting development in Kaduna. By rooting Kaduna’s success within a national context, Sani signaled an alignment that is both strategic and stabilizing.

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The speech ended as it began with unity. The governor invoked the ACF’s founding creed and urged Northern Nigeria to recommit to justice, dialogue, and shared progress. His benediction—blessing the ACF, Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria, and the entire nation—was unmistakably statesmanlike.

In a region where rhetoric often overshadows substance, Sani’s speech combined both. More than a ceremonial address, it became a manifesto for a new pan-northern consciousness, built on unity, equity, and engineered peace.

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 Dauda writes from Kaduna state

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Uba Sani emphasises the importance of inclusive governance, and urged the North to recommit to justice, dialogue, and shared progress, writes ABUBARKA DAUDA ·  At the silver jubilee celebration of the Arewa

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EDC, Fast Credit Inaugurate Single-digit Financing Initiative

EDC, Fast Credit Inaugurate Single-digit Financing Initiative

The Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Lagos Business School has partnered with Fast Credit to launch a single-digit financing scheme aimed at empowering MSMEs.

Speaking at the unveiling in Lagos, Acting Managing Director of Fast Credit Finance Company Limitde, Yetunde Faulkner, said the essence of the partnership is to ensure that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) become scalable and sustainable through improved access to affordable finance.

“We are here to engage with EDC’s partners, who are SMEs, and provide them the opportunity to access single-digit interest-rate financing through Fast Credit. We are offering any amount of loan, starting with N5 million, under a partnership with one of our developmental finance partners, BOI, at a flat monthly interest rate of 0.75 percent which amounts to nine percent per annum,” she explained.

Faulkner noted that Fast Credit has committed N2 billion to the SME financing partnership, with the goal of helping entrepreneurs grow revenues faster than costs and remain sustainable. She added that the loan offering is expected to enable MSMEs to create more jobs, something the Nigerian economy urgently requires.

“We will be touching lives and families, and that, in itself, is one of the goals of Fast Credit, to make a tangible impact in the lives of everyday Nigerians, especially those in Lagos,” she added.

Director of EDC at Lagos Business School, Dr. Nneka Okekearu, described the partnership as a historic step in bridging the funding gap confronting entrepreneurs.

“We have collaborations with several commercial banks, but the double-digit interest rates at which loans are offered have made it tough for entrepreneurs. Today, we are doing something historic. We are signing an agreement with Fast Credit for single-digit loans for our members,” she said.

Okekearu emphasised that access to single-digit credit will significantly boost business productivity.

Speaking, Business Consultant, Feyikemi Odunuga, applauded the collaboration between EDC and Fast Credit for creating easier access to capital for entrepreneurs.

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The Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Lagos Business School has partnered with Fast Credit to launch a single-digit financing scheme aimed at empowering MSMEs. Speaking at the unveiling in Lagos,

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FAAC Revenue Disbursements to FG, Subnationals Hit N18.5tn in 10 MonthsEmmanuel Addeh in Abuja 

FAAC Revenue Disbursements to FG, Subnationals Hit N18.5tn in 10 MonthsEmmanuel Addeh in Abuja 

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) shared a record total of N18.54 trillion to the federal, state and local governments between January and October 2025, marking the strongest revenue distribution in recent history.

Analysis of monthly FAAC releases from the Ministry of Finance and Office of the Accountant-General confirmed a steady climb in revenue distribution through the 10-month period, reflecting rising statutory inflows.

Checks by THISDAY showed that the revenue for the 10 months has already surpassed that of the whole of 2024 by over N3.2 trillion, a total which the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) recently put at N15.26 trillion for last year.
In March this year, NEITI said the disbursements for 2024 represented a historic high in revenue distribution and a 43 per cent increase compared to the previous year, 2023.

NEITI attributed the surge in revenue disbursements to sustained  fiscal reform policies of the federal government, especially the removal of fuel subsidies and foreign adjustment exchange rate policies which has continued to impact positively on oil revenue remittances.

However, this year’s revenue surge has been driven by substantial increase in oil and non-oil receipts, including Value Added Tax (VAT) collections, electronic transfer levies and periodic augmentation approved to cushion fiscal pressures across the tiers of government.

According to the available documents, this year opened with a strong N1.703 trillion, which was shared in January, while February followed closely with N1.678 trillion, amid a slight dip but still above the N1.6 trillion threshold that has so far emerged as the unofficial baseline for 2025. 

March saw a further easing to N1.578 trillion, the lowest point of the year, as crude output disruptions and a brief slowdown in tax inflows moderated the distributable pool. Despite that, cumulative revenue in the first quarter remained stronger than the corresponding period in 2024, with the authorities attributing the resilience to improved revenue administration and higher remittances from key agencies.

By April, FAAC allocations resumed an upward trajectory, climbing to N1.681 trillion. The boost came largely from statutory revenue and a rebound in company income tax and petroleum profit tax collections. 

Besides, May allocations came in at N1.659 trillion, modestly lower but still consistent with the year’s upward trendline, with attribution to the moderate swings in the second quarter being to seasonal variations.

A THISDAY review showed that the real break in the pattern emerged in June, when FAAC shared N1.818 trillion, driven by a significant rise in statutory revenue and exchange difference inflows. The moment marked the point when the year’s revenue curve decisively tilted upward. 

The next four months confirmed this shift, with July seeing allocations hit N2.001 trillion, the first time in 2025 that the disbursement breached the N2 trillion mark. August surpassed that feat, surging to N2.225 trillion, the highest monthly distribution so far and a reflection of both oil-related earnings and expanded non-oil collection efficiency. 

In the same vein, September and October sustained the N2 trillion momentum. While FAAC shared N2.103 trillion in September, propelled largely by strong tax inflows and an aggressive drive by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to expand the tax net, October followed with N2.094 trillion, driven by N1.376 trillion statutory revenue, N670.3 billion from VAT and N47.87 billion from EMTL.
According to the federal government , the month also benefitted from improved gross crude oil receipts and exchange gains that helped widen the distributable pool. Taken together, these monthly allocations amounted to N18.54 trillion over the 10-month period under consideration. 

By comparison, the entire FAAC distribution for all of 2024 was lower, underscoring the pace at which the federation account has expanded in the current year. 
But the surge in allocations has also reopened recurring questions on how effectively governments deploy shared revenues, because as FAAC releases are rising sharply, the fiscal pressures confronting states remain equally significant, especially with rising wage bills, debt service obligations and mounting infrastructure demands. 

For instance, according to new data from BudgIT’s ‘2025 State of States’ report, the federating units in the country owe contractors and retirees a combined N1.06 trillion in outstanding obligations. BudgIT stated that contractor arrears amounted to N434.87 billion, while pension and gratuity arrears stood at N626.81 billion, bringing total unpaid obligations to the over N1 trillion mark. 

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The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) shared a record total of N18.54 trillion to the federal, state and local governments between January and October 2025, marking the strongest revenue distribution