The Court of Appeal has commenced a special one-week sitting in Lagos, with 360 appeals slated for hearing as part of activities marking the court’s 50th anniversary.

Announcing the development on Monday, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, said the exercise involves 40 Justices drawn from various divisions nationwide, sitting in 16 panels to reduce the backlog of cases in the Lagos Division.

She explained that the special session underscores the court’s resolve to enhance efficiency in the administration of justice, noting that Lagos continues to carry a significant share of appellate litigation in the country.

According to her, the initiative is aimed at addressing the growing volume of appeals and ensuring quicker dispensation of justice.

Justice Dongban-Mensem cautioned legal practitioners and litigants to ensure that their cases are ready for hearing, stressing that the special sitting should be taken seriously.

“This exercise is not a vacation. Counsel are expected to appear fully prepared so that we can make the best use of this opportunity,” she said.

She also appealed to the media and the general public to support the judiciary through accurate reporting and by fostering public confidence in the justice system, noting that judges rely on evidence and the cooperation of parties to deliver justice.

Speaking on behalf of the Bar, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, commended the initiative and pledged the cooperation of lawyers to ensure the success of the special sitting.

He assured the court of the Bar’s commitment to speedy and effective hearings, while also calling for improved funding and infrastructure for the judiciary to strengthen justice delivery across the country.

Dr Pedro Obaseki, a cousin of former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, has announced plans to institute legal action over an alleged public abduction and assault he said he suffered in Benin City.

According to Obaseki, the incident occurred on December 28, 2025, at Uwa Primary School, where he had gone to play football.

He alleged that suspected thugs attacked him at the venue, forcibly dragged him to the palace of the Oba of Benin, and subjected him to physical abuse and public humiliation.

Obaseki claimed he was compelled to crawl before some chiefs, while videos of the incident, which later went viral, showed the attackers chanting hostile slogans.

He further alleged that he was beaten, stripped naked, threatened with death and paraded through major streets in Benin City as his ordeal was filmed and live-streamed.

In a statement, Obaseki said his decision to approach the court followed extensive consultations with his immediate family, members of the Obaseki clan, senior legal advisers and respected elders.

He stressed that the action was not motivated by revenge or political considerations but by a desire to ensure accountability, deter future abuses and uphold human dignity.

He described the incident as a blatant violation of his fundamental rights and said the acts amounted to terrorism-related violence under Nigerian law, citing the alleged use of armed force, threats to life and public intimidation.

However, Obaseki acknowledged that the Benin Traditional Council had publicly denied any involvement or authorisation of the incident, adding that he accepted the council’s position and welcomed its clarification as part of the public record.

To pursue the case, Obaseki said he has engaged renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, as lead counsel.

He disclosed that both civil and criminal proceedings would be initiated concurrently, in line with Nigerian and international legal standards, while respecting the presumption of innocence.

Obaseki also revealed that, given the gravity of the allegations and their implications for public safety and the rule of law, he has formally notified and is engaging with international human rights organisations and partners.

Workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration and the Federal Capital Development Authority on Monday commenced an indefinite strike, leading to the shutdown of major government offices across Abuja.

The industrial action resulted in the closure of key administrative facilities, including the FCTA Secretariat, as employees stayed away from work in compliance with the strike directive issued by their unions.

Security personnel were deployed to affected offices, while residents seeking government services were turned back at entry points.

The strike was declared by the Joint Union Action Congress, which represents workers in various departments of the FCT public service, following the expiration of an ultimatum issued to FCTA management over unresolved labour and welfare issues.

In a statement jointly signed by its president, Rifkatu Lortyer, and secretary, Abdullahi Saleh, JUAC accused the FCTA authorities of ignoring repeated demands to address long-standing grievances.

According to the union, workers were directed to withdraw their services after management failed to respond meaningfully to their concerns.

The grievances include non-payment of promotion arrears, delays in career progression, and the alleged failure to remit pension and National Housing Fund contributions, which the union warned could jeopardise the future welfare of affected staff.

JUAC also criticised the conduct and outcome of the 2024 promotion examinations, describing the exercise as largely unsuccessful and unfair to many workers.

The union further expressed concern over the continued extension of service for retired directors and permanent secretaries, noting that the practice was hindering the career advancement of serving officers.

Ahead of the strike, JUAC circulated a notice titled “Code Remain at Home,” urging full compliance from workers and warning that a task force would be deployed to ensure adherence.

The union leadership called on members to remain steadfast, insisting that the strike would continue until all demands are met.

This is the latest in a series of labour actions by FCTA and FCDA workers.

In June 2025, the workers staged a protest and shut the gates of the FCTA Secretariat over similar complaints, including poor working conditions, stalled promotions, non-payment of overhead costs, lack of staff training, and irregular salary payments.

Although the union had earlier issued a 21-day ultimatum and temporarily suspended protests after some concessions were made, it said most of its core demands remain unresolved, prompting the current strike.

Efforts to reach JUAC’s president for further comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

President Bola Tinubu has directed a thorough investigation into the brutal killing of a housewife, Fatima Abubakar, and her six children in the Chiranci community of Kano State.

In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President condemned the attack as barbaric and extended his condolences to the grieving family.

He also praised the police for the swift apprehension of the main suspects and instructed security agencies to ensure a diligent prosecution.

“The President condemned the action as barbaric and condoled with the bereaved family over the tragedy. He commended the police for the rapid arrest of the principal suspects and ordered thorough investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators,” the statement said.

According to earlier reports, the victims, including the 35-year-old mother and her six children, were attacked at their home in Dorayi Chiranci Quarters on Saturday by suspected hoodlums who used dangerous weapons to inflict fatal injuries.

Confirming the incident, Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa, said the command received a distress call around 12:10 p.m. on January 17 about the attack on the household of Haruna Bashir.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Bakori, promptly deployed a team of officers led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Lawal Mani.

The victims were evacuated to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

CSP Kiyawa added that three principal suspects have been arrested following intelligence-led operations conducted between the night of January 17 and the early hours of January 18, under the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the supervision of CP Bakori.

The President assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, emphasizing that acts of violence would not be tolerated.

The Special Offences Division of the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced a 50-year-old artisan, Olumuyiwa Adjoto, to life imprisonment for the defilement and sexual assault of his wife’s six-year-old niece.

Justice Rahman Oshodi sentenced Adjoto for the rest of his life after finding him guilty of a two-count charge of defilement and sexual assault by penetration under Section 137 and 261 of the Lagos State Criminal Law 2015.

The judge, however, acquitted the defendant of indecent treatment and rubbing hands over the victim’s body, for lack of sufficient evidence.

The prosecutor, Babajide Boye, called four witnesses, including the convict’s wife, Olayemi Hunsa, the survivor, the Investigative Police Officer, and a medical doctor, while the convict testified in his own defence.

In his judgement, Justice Oshodi reviewed the testimony of the convict’s wife, Olayemi Hunsa, who stated that the survivor, her younger sister’s granddaughter, stayed with them in Mowo, Badagry, during the Easter holiday in April 2022.

He noted, “On 22 April, Olayemi left the girl at home around 5 a.m. to go to Idumota market.

When she returned home around 5:00 pm, the prosecutrix’sappearance was not cheerful as usual, and the child remained moody throughout dinner.

“After eating, they went outside for some fresh air. As they sat down, Olayemi placed the prosecutrix on her lap, and the child shouted and jumped down, saying, ‘My bum bum.’ When asked what happened, the child said, ‘It is daddy’.”

Olayemi said she carried the prosecutrix inside and asked what the defendant had done to her.

The prosecutrix narrated that when she was writing, the defendant pushed her on the bed, put his hand in her bum bum, then put his ‘thing” and did her ‘like this.’

When she was shouting, he slapped her mouth and told her to keep quiet.

He then used a white cloth to clean her, bathed her, dressed her, and told her to play with Aliya.

After this narration, Olayemi explained that she examined the child with a torchlight and discovered that she had been “dis-virgin.”
Medical examination done a few hours later also revealed the young girl had been “dis-virgined.”

Defending himself, Adjoto claimed an alibi, stating he was at Premium Pension in Agbara and his first wife’s home in Igborosun until after 8 p.m.

He alleged that marital issues with Olayemi over his first wife prompted the false accusations.”

In his judgment, Justice Oshodi held, “Olumuyiwa Adjoto, you have been found guilty of defilement contrary to section 137 of the Criminal Law, Chapter C17, Volume 3, Laws of Lagos State 2015, and sexual assault by penetration contrary to section 261 of the same law. These are grave offences.

“I have considered your remarks urging me to show mercy toward you, as well as the prosecution’s remarks during sentencing.

“The evidence before this court has established that you defiled and sexually assaulted a six-year-old child who was entrusted to your care. You penetrated her vagina and anus, causing her immense physical and psychological trauma.”

“Dr Olubukola Elizabeth Olatunji, a senior registrar at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, testified about the devastating impact of your actions on this child.

“She explained that the immediate effects include fear, difficulty trusting people, social withdrawal, possible urinary incontinence, and declining academic performance.

“The delayed psychological impacts include depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and difficulty maintaining relationships, including marital relationships.

“You have inflicted upon this innocent child wounds that may never fully heal.

“The punishment prescribed by law for the offence of defilement under section 137 of the Criminal Law is life imprisonment.

“The punishment prescribed for sexual assault by penetration under section 261 of the same law is also life imprisonment. These sentences reflect society’s condemnation of such heinous acts against children,” the judge held.

Accordingly, I sentence you as follows:(a) On count one (defilement), you are sentenced to life imprisonment.

“(b) On count two (sexual assault by penetration), you are sentenced to life imprisonment.
(c) Both sentences shall run concurrently.”

“Furthermore, in accordance with sections 33 and 38 of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law 2021, I order that your name be entered into the Sex Offenders Register maintained by the Lagos State Government”.