A yet-to-be-identified woman lost her life on Thursday after jumping into the Lagos Lagoon from the Third Mainland Bridge.

The incident occurred around 4:00 pm near the University of Lagos (UNILAG) waterfront.

Marine Police stationed in the area responded swiftly to the scene, and her body was later recovered at the UNILAG shore slipway.

Confirming the development, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, stated, “She was confirmed dead by a team of UNILAG medical doctors in the presence of a police team from the Sabo Division.”

Her body has been moved to the mortuary at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Yaba as investigations continue to establish her identity and the circumstances leading to the incident.

In a new development in the Kano Emirate leadership dispute, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has put a hold on the enforcement of its January 10 judgment that upheld the Kano State Government’s repeal of the 2019 Emirate Council Law.

This decision will remain in effect until the Supreme Court delivers its verdict on the appeal.

The Court of Appeal in Kano had earlier set aside the June 20 order issued by Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court, Kano, which nullified actions taken by the Kano State Government under the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, including the reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.

The appellate court, which sat in Abuja, ruled that Justice Liman lacked jurisdiction when he nullified the Kano State Government’s decisions under the 2024 Emirates Council Law.

Following this ruling, the Kano State Government challenged the judgment at the Supreme Court and subsequently filed an injunction at the Court of Appeal, requesting a stay of execution while the Supreme Court deliberates on the matter.

On Friday, a three-member panel of justices led by Justice Okon Abang delivered a ruling on the injunction in two cases; CA/KN/27M/2025 and CA/KN/28M/2025, filed by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan against the Kano State Government, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security agencies.

Aminu Babba Dan (Sarkin Dawaki Babba) had submitted an application on February 6, 2025, seeking an order to prevent the respondents from enforcing the appellate court’s judgment while the case remains pending at the Supreme Court.

According to the application, the initial suit in Kano was intended to protect the applicant’s fundamental rights, and the trial court lacked jurisdiction over the matter.

The application also sought to prevent the enforcement of the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, which had dissolved newly created emirates and reinstated Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.

In a unanimous ruling, the panel of justices, led by Abang, determined that the application was well-founded and warranted judicial discretion in the interest of justice.

“The law is settled. The court is enjoined to exercise its discretion judiciously and in the interest of justice,” Abang stated.

He further ruled, “The mandatory injunction is ordered that shall maintain the status quo ante bellum as well as the sheriff of this court and trial court as was the position before the trial court in its delivered on 13/6/2024 in the suit no. FHC/KN/CS/182/2024.”

Justice Abang explained that the applicant had met all necessary legal requirements for the relief sought.

Since the Supreme Court is already considering an appeal, it was crucial to preserve the matter until a final ruling is made.

He also emphasized that the applicant’s legal rights should be protected, noting that he had served as Emir for five years before his removal.

“In my view, I hold that the balance of convenience lies in his favour. It is deserving to protect him pending the determination of the Supreme Court,” Abang ruled.

The court subsequently restrained the respondents from executing the January 10 judgment, which had nullified the Kano State Government’s dissolution of the emirates.

It also maintained the status quo until the Supreme Court delivers its verdict.

Additionally, the applicant was instructed to file an undertaking within 14 days, agreeing to indemnify the respondents in damages should the order prove unnecessary.

The Court of Appeal’s January 10 judgment had previously overturned a Federal High Court ruling that nullified the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024.

This law had reversed the creation of five new emirates and reinstated Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Emir of Kano.

In its judgment, the Court of Appeal ruled that the Federal High Court had no jurisdiction over chieftaincy matters, which fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of state high courts.

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has approved N1 billion for the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme following the State Executive Council’s approval for its formal rollout.

In addition, the governor has appointed Dr. Emmanuel Mereibeole, a retired Permanent Secretary from the Federal Ministry of Aviation, as Special Adviser on Projects to oversee the Abia Airport project.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, and the Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Uche, disclosed these developments during a press briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting.

Kanu emphasized the importance of the scheme, stating: “This is one of the health schemes that underscores the high premium the administration places on the health sector. It’s a scheme that will grant Abia workers and indeed Abia citizenry access to affordable healthcare services upon rollout.”

Professor Uche elaborated on the scheme’s purpose, explaining that it aims to address the healthcare needs of Abia workers and their dependents.

He further clarified the financial structure, noting: “N500 million out of the N1 billion approved by the Governor would be paid in the first tranche, while the balance would be released after six months.”

He also stated that the governor had directed a three-month sensitization campaign for workers to ensure they understand and embrace the initiative.

According to Uche, “As you all know, the basic healthcare provider fund, which provides for the vulnerable groups, is already on. As we speak, over 54,000 enrollees in that basic health insurance fund are already benefiting from the scheme.”

Regarding funding, he explained: “By law, every civil servant is supposed to contribute five percent of his basic salary to the insurance scheme, whereas the state will contribute 10 percent. But the Governor has approved that the state will pay 12.5 percent to start with for the first six months, whereas each civil servant will contribute 2.5 percent.”

Meanwhile, Prince Kanu provided updates on “Project Ekwueme,” an initiative to construct 200 primary health centers across the 184 wards in the state.

He noted: “What that means is that very soon, the project will be completed and ready for commissioning.”

On water projects, he stated that the Ministry of Power and Public Utilities is making steady progress, adding: “I want to inform you that the water project they embarked upon at Aro Ajatakiri is 100 percent completed. The other water projects they embarked upon in Aro Achara in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government and at Umuetigha Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area have reached advanced stages of completion.”

Kanu also highlighted the ministry’s work on the Water Supply and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) Programme, explaining that it involves constructing modern toilet facilities to discourage open defecation.

On the recruitment of teachers, he clarified that the reopening of the application portal from March 8 to 12 was to assist applicants who encountered issues while uploading their bio-data, phone numbers, LGAs, and other necessary details.

Regarding Dr. Mereibeole’s appointment, Kanu stated: “The newly appointed Adviser on Projects, Dr. Mereibeole, had served as Chief Policy Adviser to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.” He added that Mereibeole would play a crucial role in overseeing the Abia Airport project.

Also present at the press briefing were the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media & Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma.