The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Justice John Tsoho has revealed that a total of 144, 910 cases are pending before the court in new legal year.

The Court in the last legal year had 15, 025 cases filed before it by litigants out of which 12, 870 were effectively disposed off leaving a balance of 2, 155 suits.

At the opening of the legal year of the Court in Abuja on Monday, the Chief Judge explained that the court carried over 142, 755 cases from 2021 to the 2022 legal year, adding that in the 2023 legal year, 15, 025 fresh cases were filed by various categories of litigants.

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He noted that the Court would be going into the new legal year with the 144, 910 suits but expressed optimism that judges would rise up to the challenge of disposing the cases as quickly as possible.

The breakdown of the carried over cases showed that 42, 784 are civil cases, 36, 061 criminal matters, 41, 447 are motions while 24, 618 are fundamental rights enforcement suits.

Justice Tsoho who put the current number of judges on the bench of the Court at 95, thanked them for the speedy manner pre-election cases of the 2023 general elections were handled within the time allowed by law.

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“We must dispense justice with integrity and without bias, we must display utmost competence and courage as well as dispose cases speedily.

“The Federal High Court will surely rise to the challenges of the future with the same tenacity and commitment that have defined its path thus far,” he said.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria says more firms would shut down operations if the federal government failed to address the challenges such organisations face in the country.

Director General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, disclosed this on Monday while reacting to the planned exit of Procter & Gamble (P&G) from Nigeria in an interview on Channels Television.

He attributed it to the numerous challenges manufacturers face in the country’s difficult operating environment.

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“We received the news with sadness but it was not unexpected.

“Manufacturing in any economy is a strategic choice and the government must decide if it wants the country to be industrialised. If so, it must take all necessary steps to remove the binding constraints that hinder the sector’s performance. Nigeria has not done so, so we see closures.”

Ajayi-Kadir stressed that the exit of P&G is just the latest in a string of manufacturers leaving the country. He noted the need for the government to take immediate action to address issues like poor infrastructure, inconsistent policies, and limited access to finance.

“Gamble, it’s news because it’s GlaxoSmithKline; it’s news because they have been in the country for a very long time,” he said. “But several others have quietly closed down, and the reasons are avoidable.”

While expressing regret over the departure of the large companies, Ajayi-Kadir said it was an opportunity to focus on promoting local manufacturers. He believes empowering existing manufacturers will result in a more sustainable and enduring industrial sector.

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“I think there is a strong lesson to be learned here,” he said. “The big ones leaving are the multinationals, which should send a clear signal to the government. We need to be strategic in what we promote. He is unlikely to go anywhere if you have a challenged local manufacturer. That is why we say foreign direct investment is excellent, but it should come secondary to empowering the local investor, the existing manufacturers because that is what is enduring.”

The MAN DG reiterated his concern about the future of the manufacturing sector in Nigeria.

He urged for clear and decisive action from the government to prevent further exits and ensure the sector’s long-term success.

DAILY POST reports that nearly 5,000 jobs are threatened as P&G plans its exit from Nigeria.

Seven students of the Federal University of Lafia (FULAFIA) in Nasarawa State, who were abducted four days ago, have been released by their captors.

They were released on Sunday 10th December 2023.

The students’ freedom was secured through the efforts of a team comprising the military and other security forces.

The President of the Student Representative Council, Ibrahim Ogabo, confirmed the positive development to newsmen.

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The students, consisting of three females and four males, were said to be at the school’s clinic, receiving necessary medical attention and support.

DAILY POST reports that the abduction occurred on Wednesday night when the students were taken from their off-campus accommodation in Gandu village, prompting immediate protests by their fellow students.

The demonstration saw calls for the release of their peers and intensified security measures in the vicinity.

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Gandu, a village close to the University houses a huge number of students and lecturers of the institution.

Unfortunately, Gandu has been a focal point for criminal activities, including kidnappings and robberies, affecting both students and local residents, as well as businesses.