The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch invites submissions for adverts and goodwill messages for the 21st Annual Gani Fawehinmi Lecture 2025, themed: “Bretton Woods and the African Economies: Can Nigeria Survive Another Structural Adjustment Program?”
This prestigious event, honoring the enduring legacy of Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN, will hold: 📅 Date: January 15, 2025 🕙 Time: 10:00 AM 📍 Venue: Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos
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• Advertisements should be in high-resolution format and ready for publication. • Goodwill messages should not be more than 850 Characters
The Federal High Court recently offered a rare and profound commendation to High Chief A.A. Malik, SAN, for his unwavering commitment to integrity and professionalism. The event, which unfolded in Abuja on November 19, 2024, coincided serendipitously with the birthday of the celebrated Senior Advocate of Nigeria, making the occasion even more significant.
It could only have happened in the days of yore, when the title, “My Lord, Honourable Justice bla bla bla, and the equally honorific epithet, Learned gentlemen of Bar, were most deserving and indeed, honorific for the Bench and the bar. No thanks to the current magma of the cancerous monster of corruption spreading and eating away and ossifying every fabric of the legal profession, to a stand still!
And so, whether by waywardness of fate or force of circumstances of the special day that it happened, I cannot tell, but from the very bowel of justice today at the Federal High Court, came the sombre remark and revelation, unsolicited, of what hitherto, had been uttered in hushed tones in the legal profession: the unmaking of the Bench by the Bar in the saga of corruption rocking the judiciary!
What elicited the foregoing was uncannily characteristic of the biblical advocacy of Paul before King Festus, who, after listening to Paul make his submission, could no longer trust himself enough to be able to withstand the switch to which Paul’s oratorical prowess had predisposed him, jerked himself back from the dangerous revelry effect Paul’s address had on him, thus:
“Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.”
However, on this day, as High Chief A. A MALIK SAN, took his stand in his elegant signature gait, making one of those electrifying submissions like the biblical Paul, before My Lord, Honourable Justice Omotosho, unlike King Festus, it was a different reaction to same electrifying submissions by the “Kings”. This time round, midway into his submission, just as King Festus interjected Paul, My Lord Justice Omotosho of the Federal high Court, paused A. A Malik, SAN and made the earth-shattering revelation:
“Malik, you are among a rare few in this profession that I have great respect for and proud of. I am saying this for other Juniors here to learn. Malik is among a very few lawyers in Nigeria who have appeared before me in several matters but who have never visited me nor engaged me privately or in any manner whatsoever to interfere in the performance of my work. I have a record of those lawyers involved in such unethical practices, and I am keeping that record till my retirement when I will personally invite those lawyers and mention their names.”
And so, on this day, the 19th of November, 2024, coinciding with the birth day anniversary of High Chief A.A MALIK, SAN, My Lord, Honourable Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, made the above remarks, unbeknownst to my Lord that the day is the birthday anniversary of High Chief A.A Malik, SAN!
A 30-year-old man, Daniel Onyejekwe has been arrested in Sapele, Delta State for allegedly killing one Christian Goodluck, who he accused of quarrelling with and assaulting his mother.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Delta, SP Bright Edafe disclosed this in an X post on Sunday.
Edafe said Onyejekwe claimed to have met Goodluck quarrelling with and assaulting his (Onyejekwe’s) mother.
According to the police spokesman, both men engaged in a fight during which broken bottles were used.
“He (Onyejekwe) stabbed the deceased with the broken bottle which later led to the death of the deceased,” Edafe said.
He urged members of the public to control their temper in 2025.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Lagos on Monday, January 6, for Accra, the capital of the Republic of Ghana, to attend the inauguration of President-elect John Dramani Mahama on January 7.
Mahama, who served as the 12th president of Ghana between 2011 and 2017, was reelected in December 2024. He will succeed President Nana Akuffo-Addo ( 2017-2025).
President Tinubu’s trip to Accra is at the invitation of the president-elect, who had visited the Nigerian leader earlier in December.
Mahama and President Tinubu have a longstanding personal relationship, just like Nigeria and Ghana maintain a longstanding bilateral relationship.
President Tinubu, as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, will join other African leaders at the ceremony.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and other senior government officials will accompany President Tinubu on the trip.
In a dramatic move, President Bola Tinubu has subtly taken aim at former President Olusegun Obasanjo as he praised former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, for his decisive role in thwarting the infamous third-term agenda.
Though Tinubu never directly named Obasanjo, the insinuation was clear. Obasanjo, who had been the mastermind behind the controversial attempt to amend the constitution and secure a third term in office, faced an unambiguous rebuke from the President during his visit to Enugu.
Acknowledging Nnamani’s pivotal role, Tinubu stated that Nnamani and his colleagues’ intervention saved Nigeria’s democracy from those who sought to derail it with the third-term agenda.
The meeting in Enugu on Saturday was part of Tinubu’s official visit, where he met with South East leaders to discuss critical issues concerning the region’s development.
In the same breath, the President reiterated his administration’s commitment to completing the Eastern Rail line, connecting Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, a project that remains a key priority.
Tinubu also expressed firm support for the development of the Anambra Basin, an area believed to hold substantial energy reserves, including an estimated 1 billion barrels of oil and 30 billion cubic feet of gas.
This move, he assured, would drive Nigeria’s energy future forward.
The President responded to calls from various leaders, including former Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, and Enugu State’ Chris Ugoh.
Nebo urged Tinubu to prioritize completing the remaining sections of the Eastern Rail line, emphasizing the link’s potential to significantly boost Nigeria’s non-oil exports and economic growth.
Ugoh, in his plea, pointed to the untapped energy potential of the Anambra Basin, calling on the federal government to harness this resource not only for the Southeast but also for the Middle Belt and the North.
Security also featured prominently in discussions, with Onyemauche Nnamani, National Commissioner for the Police Service Commission, recommending modern security strategies for the region, similar to the advanced CCTV systems and surveillance patrol vehicles already implemented in Enugu.
Nnamani urged the government to reduce reliance on checkpoints and roadblocks, citing their inefficiency and the heightened risks to security personnel.
Responding to the calls, Tinubu assured that efforts were already underway to address these issues. “This is a work in progress,” he affirmed. “I inherited these critical problems, but I am committed to solving them.”
On the issue of energy infrastructure, Tinubu stressed that gas would be key in Nigeria’s transition from petrol. “We will invest in it, and we’ll do it together. I’m fortunate to have strong governors by my side,” he declared confidently.
With his leadership, Tinubu is charting a new path for Nigeria’s development, one where security, infrastructure, and energy resources are central to the country’s growth.
The Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has launched an investigation into a violent altercation involving some lawyers at the Samuel Ilori Courthouse in Ogba, Lagos. The incident, reportedly triggered by a dispute over clients, has sparked serious concerns within the legal community.
In a statement released on Friday and signed by the Branch Secretary, Ayodeji Olabiwonnu, the NBA condemned the altercation as an embarrassing event that undermines the reputation of the legal profession. The statement partly reads:
“The Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, expresses deep concern over the recent arrest and arraignment of individuals, including persons alleged to be lawyers, for breach of public peace following a brawl. This unfortunate occurrence brings significant embarrassment to the Branch and the profession at large.”
The incident, which allegedly took place in full public view, reportedly involved lawyers openly competing for clients, a scenario the association described as detrimental to the public perception of the legal profession.
While the identities of the lawyers implicated remain undisclosed, the NBA assured the public of an impartial and thorough investigation. The association emphasized the fundamental principle of the rule of law, affirming that all parties involved would be afforded an opportunity to defend themselves against the allegations.
The NBA further stated that if the investigation substantiates the allegations, strict disciplinary measures would be taken. These include filing appropriate petitions before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to address any professional misconduct.
The Ikeja Branch reiterated its unwavering commitment to upholding the integrity and dignity of the legal profession, assuring stakeholders of its resolve to address the matter decisively.
Mr Biodun Ogunleye, Commissioner for Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, says many parts of Nigeria’s power transmission network are outdated and require substantial investment for upgrades and maintenance.
Ogunleye disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos, while reacting to the frequent grid collapses that plagued the country in 2024.
NAN reports that the country’s national grid collapsed 14 times between January and December 2024.
Ogunleye pointed out that the collapses were partly due to insufficient funding, which hampered the execution of critical infrastructure projects.
He also noted that delays in acquiring right-of-way for new transmission lines, as well as issues like vandalism and theft of transmission equipment, disrupt power supply and escalate operational costs.
To enhance the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s (TCN) capacity and efficiency in 2025, Ogunleye emphasised the need for prioritising investment in grid expansion and modernisation.
He also recommended the implementation of advanced grid automation technologies to improve system reliability and efficiency.
The commissioner added that the Nigerian power sector faced numerous challenges in 2024, which impacted the reliability and affordability of electricity.
He specifically cited unreliable gas supply to gas-fired power plants as a major issue affecting the power value chain.
Looking ahead to 2025, Ogunleye proposed a combination of technological and community-based solutions to improve the security of critical power infrastructure.He suggested deploying advanced surveillance systems, such as AI-powered CCTV cameras, to monitor infrastructure and detect suspicious activity.
He suggested deploying advanced surveillance systems, such as AI-powered CCTV cameras, to monitor infrastructure and detect suspicious activity.
The Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation on Saturday, Wale Akinlosotu, has confirmed the death of the Secretary to the State government, Tayo Oluwatuyi.
Oluwatuyi who died on Saturday at a yet-to-be-disclosed hospital, was involved in accident on December 15 while tavelling to Ibadan.
The Ondo top official popularly known as Tukana, who was appointed by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa since January, 2023, was said to have in a coma since he had the accident.
Confirming the passing away of the SSG in a statement on Saturday, Akinlosotu, said, “It is with profound sadness that the Government of Ondo State announces the passing of Hon. Temitayo Oluwatuyi, Secretary to the State Government, on January 4, 2025.
“He was involved in a ghastly car accident on Sunday, 15th December 2024, while travelling to Ibadan and was subsequently hospitalised.
Hon. Oluwatuyi was a dedicated public servant whose unwavering commitment to administrative coordination, policy advisory, and implementation had a significant impact on Ondo State.
“He served with distinction and played a crucial role in the state government, working closely with the Governor and other top officials of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
“Having served the government in various capacities, including as Chairman of Akure South Local Government, Commissioner and twice as SSG, Hon. Oluwatuyi will forever be remembered for his invaluable contributions to the development of Ondo State.
“The Government of Ondo State extends its deepest condolences to the Oluwatuyi family of Akure, friends, and associates during this difficult time.”
The impeached Chairman of Esan Central Local Government Area in Edo State, Hon. Paul Iyoha, has accused the state’s Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, of orchestrating his removal from office as part of a political vendetta.
In a press briefing held on Friday in Benin, Iyoha faulted the impeachment process, claiming that neither he nor any other local government chairmen in the state were given a fair hearing before the Edo State House of Assembly suspended them. According to Iyoha, council chairmen were neither properly investigated nor given an opportunity to defend themselves.
Iyoha expressed that he had carried out his duties effectively, including ensuring the timely payment of salaries and allowances to both councillors and staff, and insisted that the actions against him were politically motivated. He asserted that his “sin” was his allegiance to Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate for the 2024 elections. Iyoha described the impeachment as an unjustified act driven by political differences rather than any legitimate governance concerns.
“My only offense was standing by my party’s candidate, instead of supporting Governor Okpebholo, who comes from the same ward in Esan Central as I do,” Iyoha said. “As a loyal member of the PDP, it was my duty to support my party’s candidate. It is not a crime to work for one’s party, but the governor has taken my political stance personally and is using his office to punish me.”
Iyoha further alleged that Governor Okpebholo had publicly vowed that he would never be reinstated as chairman, citing a video in which he claimed the governor was seen stating that he would not return to his position due to his political opposition. “The governor told people that I would never return to my position because I opposed him politically. This is unfair and undemocratic,” he added.
In recounting his experience during the Edo governorship election, Iyoha revealed that he had faced multiple challenges, including intimidation, an attack on his home, the abduction of his brother, and threats to his safety. He claimed these incidents were part of a broader campaign to suppress opposition voices within the state.
Despite these challenges, Iyoha mentioned that he attended the governor’s inauguration and sent a congratulatory message as a sign of respect for the office. However, he criticized the current administration for politicizing governance by involving party figures in official state matters.
Iyoha expressed confidence that the judiciary would provide him with fair redress as he continues to pursue legal action against his impeachment.
The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA Effurun Branch last December celebrated her members in what was described as giving back to members.
In a statement made available to BarristerNG last December, the branch members noted that such gesture was first of its kind.
Below is a statement from the branch Chairman
The End of Year is here and it is a season of love and sharing amongst family, friends and loved ones.
For the first time in history, the NBA Effurun Branch distributed End of the Year/Christmas Packages to members of the Branch. These packages were warmly received by members who were appreciative of the kind gesture. Please find attached interviews of some of the members expressing their gratitude to the Branch.For the first time in history, the NBA Effurun Branch distributed End of the Year/Christmas Packages to members of the Branch. These packages were warmly received by members who were appreciative of the kind gesture. Please find attached interviews of some of the members expressing their gratitude to the Branch.
The Branch further reached out to some aged and challenged members within the Branch by delivering their packages to their doorstep.
The present Branch Administration has been able to answer an aged long question amongst of “what is the NBA doing for us?”
Onoriode William Ewenode FMIC ESQ. Chairman, NBA Effurun Branch.
