The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has urged security agencies to uphold court orders and respect human rights.

Expressing concern over the increasing disregard for judicial rulings by some law enforcement agencies, she warned that such actions undermine the justice system and erode public confidence.

According to a statement on Sunday by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Tobi Soniyi, the CJN made this appeal when the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and his team paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja.

Read Also: Alleged Money Laundering: Yahaya Bello’s Name Not On Property Documents – EFCC’s Witness

Justice Kekere-Ekun stressed that adherence to the rule of law requires full compliance with court decisions, warning that disobedience to judicial orders weakens trust in both law enforcement and the judiciary.

She urged the IGP to issue directives ensuring that court rulings are respected and promptly executed. She also raised concerns over threats to judges, court officials, and litigants, particularly in politically sensitive cases, calling for greater protection of judicial officers from intimidation.

The CJN recommended increased police presence at court premises in areas prone to violence, strict enforcement of constitutional safeguards such as the right to legal representation, and better protection for vulnerable groups, including women, children, and persons with disabilities.

She also emphasized compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, highlighting provisions against unlawful arrests, mistreatment of suspects, and the mandatory electronic recording of confessional statements.

Justice Kekere-Ekun reminded the police that Section 7 of the ACJA prohibits arresting family members or associates in place of a suspect.

She called for internal disciplinary measures to curb unlawful practices within the Nigeria Police Force and mechanisms to prevent police brutality, ensuring officers who violate the law are held accountable.

She further noted that poor investigative processes, inadequate case preparation, and delays in prosecution contribute to prolonged trials and prison congestion.

She advised law enforcement agencies to conclude investigations before filing charges to prevent cases from being dismissed due to lack of evidence.

The CJN called for better coordination between the police, the Ministry of Justice, and the judiciary to ensure efficient prosecution of cases, ultimately strengthening the nation’s justice system.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to March 6 and 7, 2025, following proceedings led by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The adjournment came after the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), presented two witnesses, one of whom appeared under subpoena.

The first witness, Segun Adelakun, the General Manager of EFAB Properties Limited, testified that Bello’s name did not appear on ownership records for two properties located at 1, Ikogosi Road, Maitama, and another in Gwarinpa.

He recounted that in 2020, his chairman, Chief Fabian Nwora, introduced him to a man named Shehu Bello, with whom he discussed the property purchase.

When asked about his interactions with Shehu Bello, Adelakun stated he had seen him three times—first for introduction, second for payment, and third for signing legal documents related to the EFAB property.

The EFCC lawyer also inquired about a property on 5th Avenue in Gwarinpa, to which the witness responded that it was purchased for N70 million by one Nuhu Mohammed via bank transfer. However, he could not recall which bank facilitated the payment.

During cross-examination, defense counsel Joseph Daudu questioned whether Adelakun had acted solely on instructions from his chairman, to which he affirmed.

He also confirmed that he did not personally initiate discussions with Shehu Bello, nor did he witness him signing transaction documents. Additionally, he stated that the defendant’s name did not appear on any transaction records.

The prosecution then presented a second witness under subpoena, Williams Abimbola, a compliance officer at United Bank for Africa (UBA). She submitted a subpoenaed document, which was admitted as “Exhibit 1.”

The witness detailed financial records requested by the subpoena, including the Kogi State Government House account statements from January 1, 2016, to January 31, 2024, and account statements of Maselina Njoku from January 1 to December 31, 2022. Other documents admitted in evidence included account opening details and statements for the American International School from September 1 to September 30, 2020.

Following these testimonies, Justice Nwite adjourned the case to March 6 and 7, 2025, for the continuation of the trial.

Lucky Aiyedatiwa has been sworn in as the governor of Ondo State, officially beginning his first full four-year term after succeeding the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who passed away in 2023.

The inauguration ceremony was held on Monday at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure, the state capital, two months after Aiyedatiwa secured victory in the governorship election under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He took the oath of office at approximately 12:59 pm, shortly after his deputy, Olayide Adelami, was sworn in.

Foremost nationalist and elder statesman, Pa Ayodele Adebanjo, will be laid to rest in his hometown, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, on May 3, 2025.

This was announced in a statement signed on behalf of his family by Ms Ayotunde Ayo-Adebanjo, Mrs Adeola Azeez, and Mr Obafemi Ayo-Adebanjo.

According to the statement, the funeral proceedings will begin with a Day of Tributes and Service of Songs at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The burial ceremony on Friday, May 3, will commence with a Wake at Adebanjo’s Country Home, Isanya Ogbo, Ijebu Ode, followed by the interment and reception for guests at the same venue.

A Thanksgiving service will take place on May 4 at St. Philips Anglican Church, Isanya Ogbo, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, at 10 a.m.

The family urged friends, relatives, political and business associates, and the general public to keep them in their prayers for a befitting farewell.

The statement reads:
“We earnestly seek your prayers and support as we make arrangements to honor him with a dignified burial. We also look forward to your esteemed presence at all events. Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”

The Nigerian military has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, stating that he is currently being tracked and will soon be neutralized.

The Chief of Defence Operations, Major General Emeka Onumajuru, made this known during an interview on Channels Television’s *The Morning Brief* on Monday.

Onumajuru confirmed that the military is aware of **Turji’s whereabouts** but declined to provide further details.

“I want to clarify that there is no back-and-forth between Bello Turji and the armed forces.

“As we speak, he is completely in hiding, and the military is tracking him. The Armed Forces are monitoring his movements, and very soon, he will be eliminated,” he stated.

He urged Nigerians to remain patient, explaining that tracking a bandit leader can take time, but assured that it would not be long before Turji is taken down and his activities in the Northwest brought to an end.

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against disrupting democracy by resorting to self-help in Osun State’s local government administration.

Speaking on Sunday during the swearing-in of the 30 newly elected local government chairmen in Osun State, Makinde urged the APC to refrain from using federal influence to undermine democratic processes.

“Recently, we were in Lagos for the South-West Governors’ Forum meeting, which had both PDP and APC governors in attendance. We came together to address common challenges in our zone, expecting support from all levels of government because governance is about delivering benefits to the people.

“When events in Osun State escalated to the point where lives were lost, we felt the need to intervene and issue a warning. We are aware of history and remember the turmoil that once led to the South-West being labeled as ‘Wild Wild West.’ We do not want a repeat of that situation.

“Our focus is on delivering democratic dividends peacefully. No one should take matters into their own hands. Even if a court judgment exists, due process must be followed. You cannot use so-called federal might to disrupt the system. This is a federal structure.”

Makinde congratulated the newly elected chairmen, urging them to fulfill their campaign promises and serve the people effectively.

“Let me congratulate the newly elected chairmen and chairpersons of all 30 local government areas in Osun State.

“Remember the promises you made to the people. This is an opportunity to make an impact at the grassroots level. With the support of your governor and the state government, I hope you will deliver.

“For some of you, this may be a stepping stone to greater responsibilities, as the reward for hard work is more work.”

Makinde, who attended the event in Osogbo alongside Bauchi State Governor and PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman, Bala Mohammed, stated that their presence was a show of solidarity with Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke.

“The PDP Governors’ Forum chairman and I decided to be here for this significant occasion to support the government and people of Osun State,” he said.

The build-up to the Osun local government elections was marked by controversy While the PDP won all chairmanship seats, the APC dismissed the election.

Both the police authorities and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, had advised the Osun government against proceeding with the polls, citing security and legal concerns.

However, Governor Adeleke stood firm, declaring on Friday that the election would go ahead as planned.

Aliko Dangote, the president of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), has assured that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has sufficient Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, in storage to meet Nigeria’s domestic demand.

Speaking over the weekend, Dangote revealed that the refinery currently holds over half a billion litres of petroleum products, valued at more than ₦600 billion.

“As of now, we have more than half a billion litres. The refinery is producing enough refined products—gasoline, diesel, and kerosene—to fully meet Nigeria’s needs,” he stated.

During a tour of the refinery complex by a Zambian government delegation, led by Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote, Dangote emphasized that the project is not just for Nigeria but for the entire African continent.

“This refinery is not solely for Nigeria; it serves Africa. We must sustain the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative by fostering trade with other African nations,” he added.

Zambia’s Energy Minister, Chikote, commended Dangote’s vision, stating that his visit to the refinery reinforced the business mogul’s commitment to Africa’s broader economic development.

Leading a delegation of energy experts to explore potential partnerships with Dangote Refinery, Chikote expressed readiness to collaborate with the company to address Zambia’s energy challenges.

Following a tour of the Dangote complex at the Free Trade Zone in Ibeju Lekki, which included stops at the Single Point Mooring, the Dangote Jetty, Africa’s largest fertilizer plant, and the world’s biggest single-train refinery (650,000 barrels per day), Chikote said the presentation by Dangote Industries’ Vice President of Oil and Gas, Edwin Devakumar, deeply resonated with Zambia’s energy concerns.

“In Zambia, we have created an environment that encourages private-sector participation in national development. Currently, our petroleum sector is entirely managed by private entities,” Chikote stated.

He noted that Zambia is striving for increased productivity in key industries like mining and agriculture and believes that partnering with Dangote Refinery could provide an immediate solution to the country’s energy needs.

“We aim to foster competition among private sector players. Bringing Dangote on board will ensure efficient, reliable, high-quality, and competitive products—and we want this done as soon as possible,” he added.

Chikote also stressed the need for African nations to trade among themselves to achieve economic self-reliance and reduce dependence on external support.

“We must promote intra-African trade to strengthen our economies. What we have seen here at Dangote Refinery proves that Africa can stand on its own without relying on foreign aid. This visit has reinforced my belief that Dangote has a clear vision for Africa’s future,” he said.

Samuel Maimbo, a member of the Zambian delegation and Vice President of Budget, Performance Review, and Strategic Planning at the World Bank Group—who is also campaigning for the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB)—highlighted the importance of private-sector investment in Africa’s development.

“There isn’t enough development aid or government funding to drive Africa’s growth at the necessary scale. The private sector remains the only viable solution for financing Africa’s rapid development, which is why we are here—to learn and see what an ambitious industrial program looks like,” Maimbo explained.

Meanwhile, Dangote Industries Limited’s Vice President, Edwin Devakumar, reaffirmed that the refinery prioritizes producing high-quality petroleum products.

“The project was designed to refine Nigerian crude and add value. However, we also ensured the refinery has the flexibility to process crude from other African nations and parts of the Middle East,” Devakumar noted.

He further explained that the refinery was built with a maximum value extraction approach, ensuring that every barrel of crude processed yields the highest possible value.

“The refinery’s capacity can fully meet Nigeria’s fuel demand. In fact, only 44% of production is required to meet local consumption, while 56% will be exported.

“Every day, we produce 104 million litres of refined products—57 million litres of petrol, 20 million litres of jet fuel, and 27 million litres of diesel. Since Nigeria’s daily fuel consumption is just about 46 million litres, the surplus 58 million litres will be exported,” he concluded.

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu will secure re-election in 2027, completing an eight-year tenure as Nigeria’s president.

He also predicted that the Southeast region would deliver 99% of the votes for Tinubu’s re-election.

Umahi made these remarks on Sunday during a stakeholders’ meeting on Phase 1 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway at the Eko Hotel in Lagos.

According to him, Tinubu’s bold decision to undertake projects that had been envisioned 45 years ago demonstrates his ability to see them through to completion.

“A man with the courage to bring to life a long-dreamt project is the only one who can finish it,” Umahi stated. “That is why we must vote for him in 2027. By the power of God, the president will be re-elected. Those in support, say ‘hi.’”

The former Ebonyi State governor emphasized that Tinubu has significantly benefited the Southeast since taking office in 2023, making it essential for the region to show its support at the polls.

“We have no reason to halt ongoing projects but every reason to do the right thing. This applies not just to this project but to all others across the country,” he said.

Listing key infrastructure projects in the Southeast, including the Enugu-Abakaliki road and the Afikpo-Abia-Okigwe route, Umahi dismissed claims of sabotage against the president.

He asserted that Tinubu’s goodwill toward the Southeast would translate into overwhelming electoral support.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will secure 99% of the Southeast votes because he has been very kind to the region. In fact, the Southwest will even let us take 99.99% of the votes in 2027,” he added.

Prominent businessman and founder of Coscharis Group, Cosmas Maduka, has expressed the view that Peter Obi would not have pursued policies significantly different from those of the current administration had he won the presidential election.

In an interview on the Mic On Podcast with Okinbaloye, which aired on YouTube Saturday, Maduka stated that Nigeria is progressing despite its challenges, highlighting that essential economic measures, such as subsidy removal, would have been unavoidable under any leadership.

“People have asked me whether Peter Obi would have done anything different if he had won the election, and I said no. He would have also removed the subsidy from day one,” Maduka remarked.

Read Also: 2027 Election: Tinubu Must Be Re-Elected By ‘The Power Of God’ – Umahi

Regarding the concerns about the naira’s devaluation and economic hardship, Maduka acknowledged the difficulty of speaking on such issues as a wealthy individual but emphasized that the government’s focus should be on reinvesting the savings from subsidy removal into infrastructure.

“The government must be disciplined in redirecting the savings from subsidy removal into infrastructure. If you take money from those who profited from the subsidy, including those who flew private jets, and invest it in ventures benefiting the public, there will be progress,” he explained.

He warned, however, that if the government fails to invest the funds wisely, the country will remain stagnant.

“If you move from one tomb to another, you’re still in the same graveyard. You haven’t moved forward,” he added.

Maduka also discussed Nigeria’s debt situation, pointing out that borrowing itself is not the issue, but rather the purpose for which funds are borrowed.

“A country’s borrowing is not the problem. The real issue is what the money is borrowed for. If it’s for capital or infrastructure development, it will pay for itself. But if it’s borrowed for things like taking a second wife or distributing money for poverty alleviation, it deepens our problems,” he noted.

He stressed the need for fiscal discipline in governance, urging the government to curb excessive spending and focus on initiatives that will benefit the country’s citizens.

“There needs to be discipline to control government excesses. Are we heading in the right direction? Yes,” Maduka concluded.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has defended its recent crackdown on counterfeit drugs nationwide, rejecting claims that the agency is against businesses.

The agency’s actions, which included raids on markets and shops where counterfeit drugs were found, have drawn criticism from some individuals who argue that NAFDAC was unfairly targeting non-drug-related sections of certain markets.

However, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, has rejected these allegations, emphasizing that the agency’s primary focus is to “safeguard” public health.

“We are not disrupting business; we are protecting lives. We couldn’t have done this alone without the help of the National Security Adviser (NSA). This is a security risk for our country. The images shared by the BBC are heartbreaking, showing young men whose lives have been ruined,” Adeyeye said in a video posted on NAFDAC’s social media account following the agency’s recent drug seizures.

“What NAFDAC is doing is what we are supposed to do—protecting the public. There’s no politics involved in this operation. Many of the shops we’ve targeted are not registered with the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN), which is the authority responsible for regulating the industry.”

Adeyeye’s remarks came during a press conference in Lagos on Saturday, after NAFDAC sealed over 11,000 shops and arrested 40 individuals in its ongoing effort to eliminate fake and substandard drugs.

She explained that the crackdown, which had been planned for over a year as a covert operation, began on February 10 in major markets such as the Idumota Open Drug Market in Lagos, the Ariaria Drug Market in Aba, Abia State, and the Bridge Market in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The targeted markets supply more than 80 percent of the country’s medications.

“We’re nearing the end of our operations in Aba, having almost completed the evacuation process. Our next step is to inspect individual shops to identify those that are legally registered and those that are not,” the NAFDAC DG stated.

“To date, we have shut down more than 4,000 shops in Onitsha, 3,027 in Lagos, and another 4,000 in Aba since these operations began. In Onitsha, we’ve only completed 20 percent of the work, and we will continue our thorough investigation, as some legitimate traders are not registered with the PCN.”