By ENITAN ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA, mnipr

The High Court of Imo State has issued Form 48: Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Court Order to several prominent members of the Neo Black Movement (NBM) of Africa for allegedly defying a valid court order.

The court action comes on the heels of a controversial parallel convention reportedly held last weekend by a faction of expelled members of the NBM in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State and lekki lagos state despite a standing interim injunction barring such gatherings pending the determination of a substantive suit.

The restraining order was earlier granted on July 25, 2025, by Hon. Justice Mike Onyekachi of the Ahiazu-Mbaise Judicial Division, following an ex parte application brought by the Registered Trustees of NBM of Africa, alongside Olorogun Ese Kakor and Zonal Coordinator Kechi Opara. The suit, marked HAM/156/2025, sought to halt the factional activity threatening the unity and legal integrity of the movement.

However, in apparent defiance of the court’s directive, some individuals allegedly proceeded with the disputed event. As a result, the court swiftly moved to enforce its authority by invoking Form 48, a statutory notice warning of the grave consequences of contempt of court.

“Take notice that unless you obey the directives of this court contained in the said order, you shall be guilty of contempt and liable to be committed to prison,” the Form 48 explicitly states.

Those named in the contempt notice include:

Osagie David Igbineweka

Barr. Hope Aliu

Tochukwu Okeke (aka Owo)

Chukwuma Madike (aka Bobo)

Bemigho Eyeoyibo (aka Bemuda)

Dr. Anthony A. Orunkoya AKA Tony Masaka

Elder Ikechukwu Ikechi A. Ozurumba

Apostle Ese Eruedoja

Scadela Ekhator

and Isimeme Iriogbe

The issuance of Form 48 signals the court’s readiness to pursue contempt proceedings against any individual or group that flouts its orders. Legal experts say if found guilty, the accused could face serious penalties, including imprisonment.

The next hearing of the substantive suit indicate that where the court is expected to hear arguments on the motion for interlocutory injunction and determine further legal consequences for alleged violators.

End

The South-South Professional & Transparency Initiatives (SSPTI) has applauded the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Police Service Commission for their recent recommendation of CSP Aliyu Shaba and SP Sentome Obi, for accelerated promotions, describing the move as a major step toward institutionalizing ethics, professionalism, and merit in the system.

Speaking in a statement issued in Yenagoa, Chairman of SSPTI, Dr. Ugochukwu Alozie, said the recognition of CSP Shaba as the 2023 and SP Obi as the Police Officer of the Year 2024 recipients not only validates the virtues of integrity and discipline but also sends a powerful message to other officers across the country.

“This is a watershed moment for the Nigeria Police Force, ”Dr. Alozie stated. “Rewarding upright officers like CSP Shaba and SP Obi, with not just national acclaim but concrete promotions will inspire a new culture of service rooted in ethics, especially in a time when public trust in institutions is fragile.”

Dr. Alozie particularly praised Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, for hosting SP Obi, a Bayelsa-born officer who refused a $17,000 bribe in the course of investigating a sensitive financial crime. The event, held on July 23, 2025, in Yenagoa, included the symbolic presentation of a brand-new Toyota Corolla and a fully furnished three-bedroom bungalow to the celebrated officer — a gesture widely described as unprecedented.

Describing SP Obi as a pride of the South-South region, Dr. Alozie said the officer’s steadfast commitment to integrity, even under immense pressure, is a shining example of the kind of leadership and values the SSPTI has long advocated for within Nigeria’s public service.

“SP Obi’s conduct aligns squarely with SSPTI’s mission — to promote transparency, accountability, and professionalism within institutions,” the chairman added. “His story is a bold reminder that honour still exists in uniform.”

The SSPTI also endorsed the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for leading a transformative agenda within the Force, including the introduction of a merit-based promotion framework and the decision to display portraits of outstanding officers at all major police commands, including the Force Headquarters in Abuja and the Nigeria Police Hall of Fame.

According to the IGP, rewarding officers who demonstrate excellence is not just commendation—it is a cultural shift.

“This tells every officer that integrity is not just expected but rewarded,” the IGP declared.

Under the new policy, officers who have received national or IGP commendations in at least two consecutive award cycles will be considered for accelerated promotion—a move SSPTI describes as “a long-overdue reform to reshape the reward structure in the Force.”

Dr. Alozie concluded by calling on other state governments and professional bodies to emulate Bayelsa State’s example by honouring ethical public servants and reinforcing a culture of merit.

“The future of policing in Nigeria rests on transparency and public trust. Celebrating officers like CSP Shaba and SP Obi is not just a moral imperative — it is a strategic investment in national security.”

As the Nigeria Police charts a new course under the current leadership, stakeholders like SSPTI continue to play a critical role in amplifying best practices and championing a new generation of public servants grounded in ethics and excellence.

End

by Mike Odiegwu
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nyesom Wike, has advised Nigerians to reject the coalition and its platform, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) describing its new leaders as naysayers and unpatriotic.

Wike said the coalition was only interested in grabbing power from President, Bola Tinubu, despite all of them having no records of achievement in the various past positions.

He said Tinubu on assumption of office took some painful but necessary decisions that would eventually turnaround the country for good insisting that some intoads had been made.

Wike spoke at the university’s 35th Combined Convocation and 50th Anniversary of the University of Port Harcourt shortly after the institution decorated him with Honorary Doctor of Science degree in Political Science.

To further honour the Minister, the university named its Convocation Arena, which was built by Wike in 2024 after him.
The arena was officially inaugurated by the Rivere Sole Administrator, Ibok Ibas as part of activities of the university’s 35 Combined Convocation and 50th Anniversary.

The University also conferred on the Adamawa Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri an honorary doctoral degree
The Minister observed that members of the coalition were preoccupied with peddling lies and hate against Tinubu and his government.

But he said some of the policies of the administration had started yielding fruits citing the steady drop in the price of fuel and others.

Wike said: through his Renewed Hope Agenda he has with the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund among other remarkable initiatives starting the dramatic transformation of tertiary education landscape in such a way that soon no willing child will be denied access to qualify education because of economic hardship.

”Our country is undoubtedly on the path of positive ascendency and very soon the impact will be visible even ro the blind and obvious even to the cynically minded”.
Addressing the coalition, he said: “We must resist the purveyors of lies, hate and division who seek to destroy our country.

“These men and women who coalesce under the banner of so called Coalition and propelling a division of grandeur and perpetual fight for relevance and political power.

“If you interrogate their profiles will find that they have been in office for almost all their lives. Yet they have nothing concrete to show of their achievements in building an enduring nation

” In only two years of this administration they are congregating and aerigating to destroy rather than build and rather than reconstruct our hithero battered country for which most of them have been active dramatis personae in the willful destruction of our politics and economy which they painfully orchectrated in their respective tenure in office.

Wike’s visionary leadership, relentless pursuit of progress Inspiring – Rivers Reps Caucus

“We know these naysayers and you are enjoyed to reject them and their unpatriotic drum beats of division and failed propaganda”.

The FCT Minister said his support for the University of Port Harcourt both as Governor and a Minister, was borne out of the positive influence the federal institution had on him as an alumnus.

Wike said: “It is in the light of the foregoing that I have always strongly believed that every alumnus should give back to the university as a mark of pure gratitude.
“This also explains why I freely give to this institution whenever I have had the opportunity to so do”.

Wike recalled that throughout his duty tours, he had always referred to himself as a happy alumnus of the UNIPORT insisting that all his positive gestures were a deliberate pursuit of commitment to gratitude for a university he said gave him a lot.

He said: “To this extent, you would recall that even though this university was established in 1975 as a conventional university, there was no Law faculty in this university.

“So when I became a Minister of State (for) Education, I saw it as an opportunity that we must have a faculty of law.

“I’m glad that the Vice-Chancellor said it here today that today, we have a Faculty of Law. I did not only end at that; I said there must be a befitting faculty of Law building, and I insisted, and today, we have that faculty of Law,” the former Rivers State Governor stated.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, recalled that the first convocation of the university in 1982, was held in the old arena.

He said: “We are proud today, to celebrate the 35th convocation in our 50th year of existence in this fantastic edifice, built two years ago by Rivers Government during Wike’s administration,” he said.

In his remarks, Ibas lauded the contribution of Wike to the development of the institution saying that the conception and construction of the arena under Wike’s stewardship, reflected his enduring legacy in infrastructural and educational development.

He said: “The ultra-modern convocation arena, now proudly inaugurated, is a testament to what is possible when vision is aligned with commitment. Your Excellency, we honour your foresight.
“This arena, both in design and purpose, is not only a venue for convocation, it is also a sanctuary where dreams are validated; where academic journeys culminate in triumphs; and where future leaders will be publicly honoured.

“It will involve policy dialogues, innovation exhibitions and ceremonies that shaped the character and capacities of generations to come,” he said.

Ibas said that the edifice was symbolic, adding that it represented continuity and a bridge between legacy of excellence and the promise of tomorrow.

BY INVESTINGATOR

Fresh controversy has erupted in Delta State following damning allegations leveled against the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, over his alleged role in diverting funds meant for a government-sponsored seminar for community newspaper publishers.

The accusations stem from confessions reportedly made by Prince Joseph Orhomonokpaye, also known as Prince Joseph, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Community Newspapers. In conversations overheard by journalists and associates, Orhomonokpaye Prince Joseph claimed that the SSG took a substantial “cut” from the ₦10 million approved by the Governor for the Delta State Council of the Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN) to host a seminar.

According to Orhomonokpaye Prince Joseph, Dr. Emu allegedly demanded a portion of the seminar funds to be routed through his private hotel, Benizia Hotel Asaba, where the event was held. He also claimed that no political appointee in the state could access government funds without the SSG receiving a share, a practice he said dates back to the previous administration of Ifeanyi Okowa.

“These funds cannot move without him,” Orhomonokpaye Prince Joseph allegedly said. “Even files meant for the Governor must pass through him first. That’s why everyone worships him.”

Orhomonokpaye Prince Joseph, who faces a vote of no confidence from the ACNPN over allegations of mismanagement, abuse, and fraud, also told journalists he couldn’t challenge the SSG publicly because he still had pending financial deals requiring Dr. Emu’s approval.

The claims have cast a shadow over the office of the SSG, raising questions about transparency and the level of influence wielded by Dr. Kingsley Emu in financial decisions involving political appointees.

However, many journalists have dismissed Orhomonokpaye Prince Joseph’s statements, describing him as an unreliable and self-serving character unfit for his current role. “He’s a chronic liar, a blackmailer, and a disgrace to the media profession,” said one member of the association. “But his revelations, if true, expose a rot that goes beyond him.”

The ACNPN has formally passed a vote of no confidence on Prince Joseph following what they described as the hijacking of the May 20, 2025, seminar meant for 40 community newspaper publishers. The association alleged that the seminar, bankrolled by the Governor, turned into a “private jamboree” for Orhomonokpaye Prince Joseph’s friends and loyalists, many of whom had no links to journalism.

According to their findings, most ACNPN members were denied proper accommodation, training materials, and transport allowances. Some were housed in seedy hotels while others were completely excluded. It was also revealed that the seminar bags, allegedly meant for participants, were instead distributed to government officials to fake legitimacy of the program.

The association condemned Prince Joseph Orhomonokpaye’s continuous pattern of insults and threats to publishers via text messages and accused him of undermining the Governor’s good intentions for the community media sector.

“The Governor meant well, but his appointee has abused that goodwill,” the ACNPN said in a statement. “We appeal to His Excellency to redeploy Mr. Orhomonokpaye from this sensitive portfolio, as his continued presence is detrimental to the integrity of community journalism in the state.”

Despite the firestorm surrounding both the SSA and the SSG, the state government has yet to issue an official response to the allegations.

Political observers now watch closely to see whether Governor Oborevwori will launch an internal investigation or reshuffle his team to address growing concerns over accountability within his administration.

by Samuel Akpan
Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended governor of Rivers state, has congratulated Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), on the confirment of an honorary doctorate by the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).

Wike was bestowed with the honorary doctor of science (D.Sc) during the University of Port Harcourt’s 50th anniversary and 35th convocation ceremony held in Port Harcourt on Saturday.

In a congratulatory statement, Fubara described the honour as “well-deserved”, citing Wike’s legacy of service as a two-term governor and his current role as minister.

“This distinguished recognition is not only a celebration of your illustrious accomplishments, but a testament to your contributions to education, governance, and the betterment of society,” he said.
Fubara said Wike’s contributions have positively impacted countless lives and rekindled public confidence in leadership.
“It is only fitting that your alma mater honours you for your outstanding dedication and the strategic role you continue to play in shaping Nigeria’s future,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Wike said he always gives to the institution whenever he has the opportunity.
“You would recall that even though this university was established in 1975 as a conventional university, there was no law faculty in this university,” he said.
“So when I became a minister of state [for education during Goodluck Jonathan’s administration], I saw it as an opportunity for us to have a faculty of law.
“I’m glad the vice-chancellor said we have a law faculty today. I did not end at that, I said there must be a befitting faculty of law building, and I insisted, and today, we have that faculty of law.”
On June 26, Wike and Fubara said they have agreed to work together for the state’s peace.
They made the comment after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, alongside some members of the Rivers assembly.
TheCable had reported that Tinubu agreed to reinstate Fubara as the governor of the state — but with the condition that he would not seek re-election in 2027.
On March 18, Tinubu declared emergency rule in Rivers over the political crisis and instability in the state occasioned by the feud between Wike and Fubara.
The president suspended Fubara and Rivers assembly for an initial period of six months and appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as the sole administrator.

by Simon Kolawole
After what seems to be a long lull, the hydra-headed campaign for “true federalism” via a brand-new constitution is back in full swing. It’s been a while, really. The Patriots, a group of eminent Nigerians, says it is working on a draft constitution for the country. The group criticised the 1999 Constitution, saying it was “written by the military” without consultation with “the people” and that it “entrenches an overly centralised system of governance, stifles federalism, and fails to reflect Nigeria’s ethnic and regional diversity”. The Patriots attributed “systemic issues like insecurity, youth unemployment, poor public services, weak institutions, and resource control disputes” to constitutional deficiencies.
There are two matters of interest to me here. The first is the falsehood that has been perpetrated for decades that the military wrote the 1999 Constitution. This has been so repeated that it is now taken as the fact and not the fiction — or the brazen exaggeration — that it is. I was a full-grown adult in 1999. I will never buy the lie. To keep repeating the fiction that the military wrote the constitution and did not consult Nigerians is pure desperation to win an argument. Two, I remain of the opinion that although there is nothing wrong with seeking to improve the constitution — Americans have amended theirs 27 times since 1798 — there is still absolutely no substitute for good governance.
I have said again and again and again — and will continue to say this until I draw my last breath — that the military did not write the 1999 Constitution. While people can be telling me stories and fables about political developments in Nigeria before I was born, I was old enough to be a father when the 1999 Constitution was produced and I will continue to counter the false narratives around it. Anyone who is genuinely interested in history should take the pains of comparing the 1979 and 1999 constitutions. They are available on the internet. They can also google the history of the drafting processes before joining the bandwagon of those singing “military wrote the constitution”.
First, the context. When Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar became head of state in June 1998 after the death of Gen Sani Abacha, transition to democracy was topmost on national agenda but there was no constitution to guide the process. What system of government would we choose? Would it be presidential, parliamentary or a hybrid? That is a key question that only a constitution can answer. Abacha was yet to enact the 1995 Constitution which was written by the conference he set up in 1994/95. The conference, made up of a mix of appointed and elected Nigerians, was boycotted by the Yoruba mainstream politicians who were still fighting for June 12 and Bashorun MKO Abiola.
The first thing the military does after taking power is to suspend aspects of the constitution that may impede their dictatorship. They rule by decrees. Whenever they embark on a transition programme, they kickstart the process of producing a new constitution that will become fully operational when they hand over to a democratically elected government. The Murtala/Obasanjo regime left us with the 1979 Constitution. Gen Ibrahim Babangida used the 1989 Constitution to conduct his ill-fated transition programme. Abacha never allowed us to see the 1995 Constitution. He rolled out decrees to do his own transition and had done only council and legislative elections by the time he died.
That was the situation the Abdulsalami found himself in 1998. He had options. One was to set up another constitutional conference and spend a much longer time in office to produce a new constitution. You start the process usually by conducting elections to elect some members into a constitutional conference. The conference will usually sit for more than one year. Their report will be subjected to further public debate and fine-tuning. It could take two years to complete the process. Abdulsalami’s second option was to adopt the 1995 Constitution, derided as “Abacha Constitution” by June 12 activists. Nigeria had already been crippled for five years because of the June 12 crisis.
Guess what would have happened if Abdulsalami had adopted the “Abacha Constitution”? You guessed right. To avoid the awkward situation and the inevitable Afenifere/NADECO backlash, Abdulsalami set up a 25-member Constitution Debate Co-ordinating Committee (CDCC). It was chaired by the late Justice Niki Tobi, then a Court of Appeal judge. Read it again. I didn’t say Maj-General Niki Tobi. His deputy was the late Dr Suleiman Kumo, a law teacher at the Ahmadu Bello University. Not Brig-General Suleiman Kumo. The committee was inaugurated by Abdulsalami on November 11, 1998. It was mandated to co-ordinate national debate on the 1995 Draft Constitution.
I recall that the CDCC held hearings across the country. Tobi supervised the zonal debates in Benin, Enugu, Jos, Port Harcourt and Maiduguri, while Kumo co-ordinated Kaduna, Kano, Ibadan, Lagos and Sokoto. In Enugu, the late Prof Ben Nwabueze, a constitutional expert, sent a memo as secretary-general of Mkpoko Igbo. He proposed that Nigeria should be a federation of six regions instead of 36 states, suggesting the names and capitals as Eastern (Enugu); Western (Ibadan); Central (Jos); North-Eastern (Maiduguri); and North-Western (Kaduna). He said the capital of the Southern Region should be mutually agreed upon, obviously as he had somehow moved Port Harcourt to the Eastern Region.
Nwabueze, who later co-founded The Patriots, supported the creation of the National Judicial Council (NJC), which was not in the 1979 Constitution but provided for in the 1995 draft. It must be noted that the highly respected professor of law served as secretary-general of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo between 1978 and 2004. In Port Harcourt, individuals who spoke or submitted memos included Dr Clement Isong, former governor of the CBN, who led the Ibibio Elders Council; the Movement for the Survival of Eastern Nigeria and Niger Delta Indigenes (MOSENNDI); the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers; Prof Chitoro Achinenwu; Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye; and Dr Gesiye S. Angaye.
In Ibadan, the Modakeke community, represented by Mr Abiodun Sowande, a lawyer, wanted the Land Use Act retained. In Sokoto, Prof Ibrahim Mukoshy of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, opposed power rotation. He said he was speaking on behalf of the people of Sokoto state. In Lagos, the Group for True Federalism (GTF) demanded a return to regionalism and “true federalism”. Mallam Garba Shehu (yes, you know him) made submissions on freedom of the press, saying the constitution needed to be stronger on the issue. He was once president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors. Nigerians in the US met in Washington, DC to make their own input. These are facts!
In all, the CDCC received over 400 memoranda. Submitting its final report to the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC), Nigeria’s highest ruling body, in December 1998, Tobi said: “In the light of the memoranda and the oral presentations on the 1995 Draft Constitution, it is clear that Nigerians basically opt for the 1979 Constitution with relevant amendments. The common denominator in the mouths of Nigerians is the 1979 Constitution with relevant amendments. They have copiously given their reasons for their choice… So, we have recommended to the Provisional Ruling Council the adoption of the 1979 Constitution, with relevant amendments from the 1995 Draft Constitution.”
Thereafter, the text of the draft 1999 Constitution was published in a dozen national newspapers for Nigerians to read. In my estimation, the 1999 Constitution consists of more than 95 percent of the 1979 Constitution. The variations were minimal, mostly to reflect the prevailing realities — such as the number of states, local governments, change in name of some executive bodies, and addition of those that did not exist as at 1979. Most importantly, the 13 percent derivation payable to oil-producing states was adapted from the “Abacha Constitution” written by the 1994/95 constitutional conference. All things considered, the 1999 Constitution is a duplication of the 1979 Constitution.
And so what? Was the 1979 Constitution itself not also written by the military? This is also another falsehood and propaganda being desperately sold to the public just to win an argument. The 1979 Constitution was produced by an elected Constituent Assembly which sat in 1977/78 to debate, clause by clause, the document drafted by distinguished Nigerians, led by Chief FRA Williams. In Nigeria’s history, no draft has been more robustly debated than the 1979 Constitution. The military was later accused of smuggling the Land Use Act and the NYSC into it, but I wouldn’t know if that is what caused “insecurity, youth unemployment, poor public services, and weak institutions”.
If I may, the same 1979 Constitution was what the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande “used” to turn the fortune of Lagos state around in just a little over four years. If you have never heard or read about the indelible strides of Jakande, you are free to believe the story that it is constitution that develops a society. In truth, the 1979 Constitution did not provide for “true” federalism and “fiscal” federalism (as defined by the agitators of today). There was no 13 percent oil derivation. There was no resource control. There was no regionalism. But Lagos state had the most important driver of development: a competent and patriotic governor whose sole motivation and desire was the progress of the citizens.
My second point on the renewed debate is that there is nothing wrong with seeking a better constitution. As I have already noted, the US has amended its constitution 27 times. No constitution is perfect. Even Americans are still trying to deal with the grey lines after President Donald Trump rolled out a series of executive orders to deal with contemporary issues. The Nigerian constitution has been amended four times since 1999 and there are ongoing moves at further changes. There is, therefore, nothing unheard of in amending a constitution. But even then, no constitution is drafted by citizens. All constitutions are drafted by a few individuals and thereafter debated clause by clause.
But this begs the question: does a perfect “true federalism constitution” automatically deliver good governance? China and Singapore conquered poverty without adopting federalism. They run a centralised system. The Federation of Malaysia is safe without state police. The Federation of Mexico does not have resource control but is still not our mate in development indices. I know the constitution is a critical document that spells out the rules of engagement and can engender the progress of a society, but the UK and Israel developed strong institutions and strong economies without a written constitution. That means we are still missing the real import of good leadership.
AND FOUR OTHER THINGS…
BUHARI’S SHOES
The shocking death of former President Muhammadu Buhari (I still can’t come to terms with it) has opened up an intense struggle to inherit his followers ahead of the 2027 elections. He had an utterly devout fan base (agreed, mainly in the Muslim part of the north), regularly commanding 12 million votes without having to share rice and naira. Not many Nigerian politicians, living or dead, enjoyed this love. But Buhari did not groom any successor. Perhaps, the love of the talakawas was customised for him and could neither be transferred nor inherited. Nonetheless, I expect politicians to use his name hoping that it will do magic among his fanbase. My guess is that it won’t work. Observing…
PETER NON GRATA
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo state caused quite a stir recently when he asked Mr Peter Obi not to come to the state without first informing him — “for security reasons”. Obi had visited the state and donated N15 million to a project, after which there was a reported violence that claimed three lives. Okpebholo said: “This message is for the man who claims he has no shishi. Obi must not come to Edo without security clearance.” Despite widespread criticism, he stuck to his guns, repeating his proclamation that Obi must get authorisation. Even if he means well for Obi (assuming he truly wants to protect him), I find his choice of words obnoxious and provocative. Reckless.
OUT OF ORDER
Is it me or do many court judgments these days increasingly — and maybe deliberately — sound ambiguous? The Supreme Court pronouncements on the leadership crises in the PDP and LP left me wondering what exactly the justices meant by “internal party affair”. The parties could not resolve their disputes internally and asked for judicial interpretation of their constitutions. The justices instead threw things back at them. How does that deliver justice? The same thing has repeated itself in the Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan case. Instead of issuing an outright, consequential order, Justice Binta Nyako said she “believes” the senate “should” recall her from suspension. Believe?
NO COMMENT
Nigeria used to rebase its GDP regularly until 1990. We resumed in 2014, accounting for new entries such as Nollywood and telecoms. The rebased GDP shot Nigeria’s economy to Africa’s No 1 and the newly formed APC described it as a “public relations gimmick” by the PDP-led government. Eleven years on, the GDP has been rebased under the APC-led government. The ADC — made up mostly of former APC members — has described it as “economic cosmetics”. History always repeats itself. I, therefore, predict that if ADC wins in 2027 and the economy is rebased in 2035, its former members, who may have formed ABC by 2034, will describe it as “economic crinkum-crankum”. Hahahaha…

The importance of accurate knowledge of God as the foundation for acceptable worship was a central theme at the 10th session of the Regional Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses, held in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, Delta State.

Delivering a key address, Brother Alfred Okpolokpo stressed that true worship must be based on critical thinking and an honest examination of Bible truths. Citing Romans 12:1, he explained that Christians can determine whether their worship aligns with God’s will by using their “power of reason” to evaluate whether their beliefs are grounded in scriptural truth.

He challenged attendees to look beyond family traditions, material benefits, or personal preferences when choosing a religion, urging them instead to examine whether their faith teaches and lives by God’s high moral standards as outlined in the Bible.

Brother Okpolokpo warned that not all religious teachings about God can be true, emphasizing that for centuries, many have distorted biblical teachings to control others or for financial gain.

Also speaking, Brother Jonathan Ojom, a congregation overseer, highlighted the visible evidence of pure worship in the lives of those who practice it. He noted that the world would be a better place if more people worshipped the true God in a way that meets His standards.

The convention, themed “Pure Worship”, featured Bible-based drama presentations and a baptism ceremony, underscoring the commitment of participants to uphold clean and principled worship in their daily lives.

By ENITAN ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA, mnipr 

Ahiazu Mbaise, Imo State – July 25, 2025

The High Court of Mbaise Judicial Division, sitting in Ahiazu Mbaise, has issued an interim injunction stopping a proposed parallel National Convention of the Neo Black Movement (NBM) of Africa, originally set to take place in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on July 26, 2025.

Presiding over the matter, Honourable Justice Mike Onyekachi granted the restraining order on Friday following an ex-parte motion filed by the Registered Trustees of NBM of Africa, alongside Chief Olorogun Ese Kakor and Ikechi Opara, the organization’s Mbaise Zonal Coordinator.

The court order restrains seven defendants—Bemigho Eyeoyibo, Akeem Zibiri, Barr. Isimeme Jesse Iriogbe, Hope Aliyu, Dr. Anthony Orunkoya (a.k.a. Tony Masaka), the State Security Services (SSS), and the Nigeria Police Force—from organizing, attending, or supporting the disputed convention in any capacity. The injunction also covers any similar gathering that may be planned elsewhere in Nigeria, pending the hearing of a motion for interlocutory injunction.

Justice Onyekachi emphasized that the defendants, including their agents and affiliates, must cease all preparations or participation in the scheduled event, adding that the SSS and the Nigeria Police are mandated to enforce the court’s directive.

Additionally, the court granted the plaintiffs permission to serve legal documents, including the injunction, through substituted means—specifically by publishing the orders in a national newspaper to ensure adequate notice to all parties.

The matter has been adjourned to July 30, 2025, for hearing of the substantive motion.

The ruling marks a significant development in the internal leadership crisis facing the NBM of Africa, a Pan-African socio-cultural movement currently facing  internal divisions.