The Supreme Court has dismissed the lawsuit filed by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, seeking to remove 27 members of the state House of Assembly over their alleged defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a ruling delivered on Monday, Justice Musa Uwani-Abba-Aji struck out the case following Fubara’s decision to withdraw the appeal.

The governor, through his lead counsel, Yusuf Ali (SAN), informed the three-man panel that the matter had been overtaken by events and that the lawmakers were now considered allies.

The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, did not oppose the withdrawal but, through its counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), requested the outright dismissal of the case.

Olanipekun argued that since both parties had already exchanged legal arguments, the suit should not merely be struck out but dismissed entirely.

The Supreme Court agreed and dismissed the case, ordering Governor Fubara to pay N4 million in legal costs to the House of Assembly and its Speaker.

Speaking after the ruling, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ken Njemanze stated that the judgment had cleared the way for the 27 lawmakers to fully resume legislative duties.

He further noted that all actions taken in their absence, including the presentation of the 2024 and 2025 state budgets to just three lawmakers, were now void.

The decision aligns with earlier rulings on the matter. On October 10, 2024, the Court of Appeal dismissed Fubara’s appeal on the same issue.

Likewise, on January 22, 2024, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, invalidated the passage of the Rivers State N800 billion 2024 budget by four lawmakers loyal to the governor.

The judge ruled that such an action was unconstitutional and ordered Fubara to re-present the budget to the Amaewhule-led Assembly.

The 27 lawmakers had earlier secured a court order barring the governor from interfering in their legislative activities.

However, Fubara continued to challenge their authority by presenting the state budget without their involvement and allegedly withholding legislative funds.

The governor also ordered the partial demolition of the Assembly complex, preventing the lawmakers from holding sittings.

In his judgment, Justice Omotosho condemned these actions, stating that Fubara had acted in defiance of court orders.

He ruled that all legislative decisions made by the governor’s faction were null and void.

The judge further ordered the immediate reinstatement of the Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the Assembly and directed the Inspector-General of Police to deploy officers to secure the Assembly complex.

Additionally, the court restrained the National Assembly from assuming control of the Rivers State Assembly or entertaining any request from Fubara regarding legislative matters.

The Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) has announced plans to create a comprehensive database of traditional medicine practitioners across the country this year.

The Director General of the agency, Prof. Martins Emeje, made this known during a media briefing, stating that the initiative aims to integrate indigenous medical knowledge into Nigeria’s broader healthcare system.

“The agency is planning to establish research farms across the 774 LGAs of the country,” he revealed, emphasizing the importance of preserving and utilizing the country’s rich biodiversity for medical advancements.

Prof. Emeje also highlighted the agency’s commitment to addressing antimicrobial resistance, training traditional medicine practitioners, and documenting Nigeria’s diverse medicinal resources.

Expressing concern over Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported medicines, he stressed the need to tap into the vast potential of locally available medicinal plants.

“The natural medicine agency boss said it unveiled four indigenous oral medicines in 2024 as part of efforts to provide local solutions to the country’s healthcare challenges.”

A key highlight of the event was the launch of Journalists for Natural Medicine (JONAMED), a coalition of media professionals dedicated to promoting Nigeria’s natural medicine sector.

A former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, has been arraigned on charges of false marriage, adultery, and related offences.

Turaki, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, was granted bail in the sum of N1 million.

The police stated that the case stemmed from a petition dated August 9, 2024, which accused him of deceitfully inducing a belief in a lawful marriage, committing adultery, and engaging in criminal intimidation, offences contrary to sections 383, 387, and 388 of the Penal Code.

According to the charge, “Between December 2014 and August 2016, you, Barrister Kabiru Taminu Turaki (SAN), deceitfully cohabited with Ms Hadiza Musa Baffa at a hotel called Han’s Place.

“You also cohabited with her at Ideal Home Holiday, Asokoro, between August 2016 and November 2021. In November 2021, you rented an apartment for her at No. 12 Clement Akpamgbo Close, Guzape, and led her to believe you were married to her. You continuously had sexual relations with her, resulting in the birth of a baby girl.

“You later abandoned Hadiza Musa Baffa and her child, denying paternity, and threatened to use your influence and position to harm them.”

After Turaki entered his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Chijioke Okorie, requested a trial date.

The defendant’s lawyer, A. I. Mohammed, did not oppose the prosecution’s request but applied for bail, assuring the court that his client would be available whenever required.

Magistrate Abubakar Jega granted Turaki bail in the sum of N1 million, with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and provide proof of residence. The case was adjourned until March 11 for a hearing.

In 2024, Turaki had filed an ex-parte application seeking to restrain the Inspector General of Police and the family members of Musa Baffa, including his wife, Uwani Arabi, and daughter, Hadiza Baffa, pending the determination of a paternity suit before a high court.

The former minister had alleged that Hadiza and her parents falsely accused him of fathering her child.

Access Bank has paid tribute to the late former CEO of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe, his wife, Chizoba, and their son, Chizzy, on the first anniversary of their passing.

The trio tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash in California on February 9, 2024.

In a post on X, Access Bank reflected on Wigwe’s enduring impact, emphasizing that his influence continues to shape the organization.

“A year ago, we lost a visionary leader whose impact still echoes in our lives. Herbert Wigwe was more than a name—he was a force of excellence, resilience, and transformation.

“His legacy lives on in every bold step we take, every life he touched, and every dream he inspired. We honor him not just in memory, but in action.

“Rest on, Herbert. Your vision endures.”

To commemorate their lives, a one-year memorial service was held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lion of Judah Parish, in Isiokpo, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The solemn event was attended by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who was represented by his Deputy, Ngozi Nma Odu.

Additionally, another remembrance service is taking place at Eko Hotel in Lagos, bringing together family, friends, and associates to honor the legacies of Herbert, Chizoba, and Chizzy Wigwe.

The Nigeria Police Force has agreed to comply with the ruling of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) by reinstating officers who were forcefully retired in 2021.

The affected officers, who were members of Courses 33, 34, and 35 of the Nigeria Police Academy, were prematurely disengaged from service despite not having reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 or the required 35 years in service.

Challenging their removal, the officers took their case to the NICN in Abuja, which ruled in their favor in April 2022.

However, despite the ruling, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Police Service Commission (PSC), and the Secretary of the Police Force allegedly failed to enforce the court’s decision.

In response, the officers returned to court, seeking action against the IGP for disobeying the judgment.

The NICN had ordered their immediate reinstatement, yet there was no implementation of the ruling.

Following the NICN’s latest intervention, the police force directed the concerned officers to report to Abuja in August 2024 for documentation, with expectations of their immediate reabsorption into the force.

However, after completing the documentation process, no further action was taken.

During a recent committal proceeding, the claimants’ counsel, Adeleke Agbola, SAN, urged the court to ensure that the officers’ reinstatement was upheld while the contempt case was being heard.

“This is a contempt proceeding. Some urgent issues have come up since the filing of this application. The PSC (Police Service Commission) used a circular that the initial date of entry is what will be used to calculate their (ex-cops’) date of entry, not when they got into the police academy.

The judgment of the court is that the date when the policemen got into the academy.”

Agbola emphasized that since there was no appeal against the judgment, the police must comply fully with the court’s directive.

“There is no appeal against the judgment. I urge the court that the status quo be maintained pending the hearing of these committal proceedings to determine if there has been a breach on the basis that the judgment of the court must be obeyed.”

Responding to the proceedings, the police counsel, Ade Adedeji, SAN, assured the court that the force was taking steps to implement the ruling.

He affirmed that there was no appeal against the judgment and reiterated the commitment of the police to upholding the rule of law.

“We have taken steps to obey the court’s judgment. The judgment is not challenged as there is no appeal. It is final. The circular has nothing to do with the claimants. It is without prejudice to the parties in this matter.

“We do not intend to do anything to overreach the court. We intend to comply with the judgment of the court and have sworn to the affidavit in this regard. All the claimants have been posted. I give an undertaking that all the defendants are law-abiding and will comply with the judgment and the rule of law.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged transparency and accountability in the utilization of the $1.07 billion allocated to the health sector in the 2025 budget proposal.

He warned against the mismanagement of funds, referencing past incidents where public funds were allegedly swallowed by animals such as snakes, termites, and monkeys.

In a statement he personally signed, Atiku criticized the lack of thorough investigations into these bizarre claims and called on the government to ensure proper oversight of health sector expenditures.

“Against the backdrop of dwindling resources that have been exacerbated by the withdrawal of support in certain areas of our healthcare services, it is important that every kobo budgeted for the health sector has to be maximally utilised.

“To this end, the Federal Government has to be deliberate about putting mechanisms in place for public audit and accountability in its $1.07 billion budgetary appropriation in the health sector,” he stated.

Atiku also questioned the government’s failure to provide comprehensive details on how the $1.07 billion would be utilized in the primary health sector.

“We have read that the Federal Government has a plan to expend a whopping $1.07 billion in the primary health sector. This amount is in addition to the N2.48 trillion, which had earlier been proposed for the sector in the initial draft of the budget.

“This development gets even more troubling when the government equally announced that the $1.07 billion it is adding to the health sector at the sub-national level was mainly sourced through foreign loans and a fraction of it being provided through an international donor agency,” Atiku added.

The former vice president further criticized the administration for failing to commit to physical infrastructure projects in the health sector, raising concerns about possible misappropriation.

“Undoubtedly, the Tinubu administration has failed woefully in the health sector because of the poor funding of the sector. The major diseases in the primary health sector remain malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.

“If Tinubu’s administration meant well in its claim to prioritise the health of Nigerians, his government should explain how it plans to spend this intervention fund in addressing these diseases in the primary health sector.”

Meanwhile, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the Initiative for Leadership and Economic Watch in Nigeria have expressed their willingness to collaborate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in monitoring the budget at both national and sub-national levels.

During a courtesy visit to the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, in Abuja, representatives of the CSOs emphasized their commitment to ensuring that budgeted funds are properly utilized.

Speaking on behalf of the CSOs, Splendor Agbonkpolor highlighted their focus on budget implementation and transparency.

“The budget is our major concern. Our mandate is to monitor budget implementation; to assess budget effectiveness, identify budget gaps, advocate for reforms, promote transparency, provide evidence-based reports, collaborate with stakeholders, and support capacity building,” he said.

Agbonkpolor further explained the need for collaboration with the EFCC, stating, “The fight against corruption is not a one-man show. It is not a one-agency business, not a sole business of the EFCC”.

“The EFCC needs Nigerians to assist it in terms of reportage and information. The committee believes that corruption starts with procurement. If corruption is tackled from the point of procurement down to the point of implementation, at the end of the day, the money that would be stolen from the budget would be minimised.

“In our work, over time, we discovered that despite the huge money received by contractors for projects, whenever we get to the site, nothing would be there. If we go on-site and we see that a project that was supposed to be on the ground is not on the ground, we will come to the EFCC and say, ‘Look at this project, look at the amount of money that has been paid, but there is nothing on the ground.’ So, it makes the work easier for the EFCC to just go there and investigate.”

Olukoyede welcomed the partnership, emphasizing the importance of collective action in fighting corruption.

“We can only achieve that by collaboration. I have been saying it and I will continue to say it that fighting corruption is not the work of law enforcement or anti-corruption agencies alone, and that is why I am so much in love with your initiative. I can guarantee you all our support. When I see civil society with us, it gives me confidence that we are succeeding.

“We are all victims of this crime we are talking about. So, we are ready to work with you. Budget implementation and monitoring are very key. We will ensure that our collaboration with you is strong.”