News

Edo CJ Frees 4 Awaiting Trial Inmates In Correctional Centres In Benin

Published

2 years ago

April 17, 2024

The Chief Judge of Edo State (CJ), Justice Daniel Okungbowa, on Tuesday, freed four inmates in Oko and Old Benin correctional centres in the South Districts of the state.

Three inmates were set free unconditionally from the Oko Medium Custodian while one from Old Benin custodian center.

The four inmates that regained their freedom were
Emmanuel Marcus, 35, Innocent Eze, 25, Benedict Oko, 27, and Obasogie Caleb, 27.

Marcus, an Akwa- Ibom State indigene was charged for raping a 17-year-old girl and has been in detention since Jan. 20, 2023 without trial while Eze, a native of Delta State was charged for Armed Robbery, and had spent 1 year and five months without a case file.

Oko, also a native of Delta State who was charged for kidnapping, and had spent one year and four months, while Caleb a native from Edo State was charged for robbery and murder, and had also spent 1year and four months without trace of case files.

Justice Okungbowa released and discharged the four inmates for the lack of case files and evidence against them, saying that the inmates cannot be in detention, waiting for the police to find their missing case files.

Justice Okungbowa urged the beneficiaries of his gesture not to abuse the privilege but rather to see it as another god-given opportunity to turn over a new leaf.

Earlier Edo CJ had said, “Today is especially significant to me for the very obvious reason, that it is my very first visit to Correctional Centres in Edo State in my capacity as Chief Judge and Chairman, Edo State, Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC).

“Although it must be said that I have previously visited these facilities for jail delivery exercises such as this, many times with my predecessor(s) in office.

” Section 470(2) of Edo State, Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2018, has entrusted the ACJMC with the mandate to ensure that criminal matters are speedily dealt with and congestion of criminal cases in courts are drastically reduced.”

Justice Okungbowa avowed and unalloyed commitment that no one is made to remain here one day longer than necessary unless as prescribed by law.

Reacting, Mr Osogun Olusegun and Mrs Idowu Enodiakemhe
both deputy controllers of corrections, Medium Security Custodial Centre Oko and Old Benin respectively, appealed to the government for more vehicles to enable them to take inmates Sto courts in distant areas without much stress.

They noted that the correctional centres were currently serving about 60 various courts in the state.

They also appealed for court cells where inmates can be kept temporarily during court sittings before taking the inmates to the correctional centers.

They said it would enhance safety and avert the possibility of bold escape in court premises.

News

JUST IN: NLC Gives FG Four Weeks To Resolve ASUU Crisis

Published

2 hours ago

October 20, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Labour Congress has resolved to issue a four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government should it fail to conclude negotiations with all tertiary institutions-based unions.

The NLC also condemned the no-work-no-pay policy introduced by the government as a form of sanction to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities for daring to embark on a nationwide strike.

The president of the NLC, Joe Ajaero made this known in an ongoing interactive session with labour correspondents in Abuja.

The interactive session followed the meeting between the NLC and leaders of tertiary institutions’ based unions at the NLC headquarters in Abuja.

“We have decided to give the federal government four weeks to conclude all negotiations in this sector. They have started talks with ASUU but the problem in this sector goes beyond ASUU.

“That is why we are extending this to four weeks. If after four weeks this negotiation is not concluded, the organs of the NEC will meet and take a nationwide action that all workers in the country, all unions in the country will be involved so that we get to the root of all this.

“ The era of signing agreements, negotiations and threatening the unions involved, that era has come to an end.

“The policy, the so-called policy of no work, no pay, will henceforth be no pay, no work. You can’t benefit from an action you instigated. We have discovered that most, 90% of strike actions in this country are caused by failure to obey agreements,” Ajaero said.

The Nigerian higher education system has been faced with chronic instability, the latest leading to the closure of universities nationwide due to the ongoing strike by ASUU.

Recall that ASUU National President Professor Chris Piwuna announced the strike at a press briefing at the University of Abuja on Sunday, following the expiry of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the government on September 28. The union cited unresolved issues relating to staff welfare, infrastructure, salary arrears, and the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement.

Negotiations in recent weeks failed to avert industrial action. Education Minister Tunji Alausa said two weeks ago that talks had reached a final phase, noting the government had released N50bn for earned academic allowances and allocated N150bn in the 2025 budget for a needs assessment to be disbursed in three instalments. However, ASUU rejected these measures as insufficient.

The union is demanding full implementation of the 2009 agreement, release of three-and-a-half months of withheld salaries, sustainable funding for universities, protection against victimisation, payment of outstanding promotion and salary arrears, and release of withheld deductions for cooperatives and union contributions.

The NLC emphasised its full solidarity with ASUU and other tertiary education unions, calling for robust participation from all union leaders.

It also highlighted the principle of a converse stance, “No Pay, No Work”, urging the government to honour collective agreements and respect the rights of workers.

The emergency meeting is expected to chart the next steps for industrial action and explore strategies to safeguard the welfare of university staff, as well as the quality and continuity of public tertiary education in Nigeria.

News

JUST IN: NLC Begins Meeting With ASUU, Other Unions Over Strike

Published

2 hours ago

October 20, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Labour Congress has commenced a meeting with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics among others over the ongoing strike in universities and other concerns raised by workers in tertiary institutions nationwide.

The meeting is currently holding at the NLC national headquarters in Abuja.

Recall that the NLC in a letter invited all union leaders across various tertiary institutions of learning nationwide to a meeting to find lasting solutions to issues stemmed from failed negotiations with the Federal Government.

Nigerian higher education system has been faced with chronic instability, the latest leading to closure of universities nationwide due to the ongoing strike by ASUU.

The NLC emphasised its full solidarity with ASUU and other tertiary education unions, calling for robust participation from all union leaders. It also highlighted the principle of a converse stance, “No Pay, No Work”, urging the government to honour collective agreements and respect the rights of workers.

News

Witchcraft: FIDA Sensitises Stakeholders On Accusations In Bauchi

Published

4 hours ago

October 20, 2025

Editor

The Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Bauchi State Chapter, has engaged members of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Council in a one-day sensitization programme on alleged witchcraft accusations.

The event was conducted in collaboration with the Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AFAW), a Non-Governmental Organisation.

Speaking at the event, the Chairperson of FIDA Bauchi, Barr. Hauwa Ahmed Abubakar, said the initiative aimed to curb harmful beliefs and practices that often result in trauma, violence, and disunity among families.

She said the practice continues to endanger the lives of innocent people.

“Today’s engagement focuses on enlightening community members about the dangers of stigmatization and harmful traditional beliefs.

“We brought together traditional leaders, women, youth, and other stakeholders to discuss how to end these practices and promote peace and mutual respect,” she said.

Abubakar explained that the campaign seeks to protect vulnerable individuals, especially women, and prevent abuses linked to witchcraft accusations across communities in Bauchi State.

“There is nothing like witchcraft in our laws, neither in the constitution nor in the state’s statutes.

“But because people are unaware of their rights, they resort to jungle justice. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse; anyone who harms or kills another person over witchcraft claims will be prosecuted,” she explained.

The Programme Manager of AFAW, Mr. Dooyum Dominic Ingye, condemned the persistent persecution of women and children over witchcraft allegations, describing it as a “deep-rooted human rights violation” in Nigeria.

He said the sensitization campaign was organized to raise awareness about the dangers of witchcraft-related stigma and to promote respect for human rights within communities.

One of the victims, Mrs. Hannatu Yakubu, shared her painful experience, recalling how her mother was taken away by some youths in 2020 after being accused of witchcraft.

“In 2020, we heard a loud noise around our area, and my mother was taken away by some youths. Since then, life has not been the same, but I am grateful that help eventually came,” she said.

Another community member, Mr. Haruna Musa Gital, a community leader, narrated how a young man suffered emotional distress after his wife was falsely accused of witchcraft by his own brother.