News

FG Files Nine Fresh Grounds To Oppose Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

Published

3 years ago

April 27, 2023

The Federal Government, on Thursday, secured permission from the Supreme Court to file nine fresh grounds of appeal to oppose the release of the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.

The apex court granted FG’s request to include the fresh grounds in its amended notice of appeal dated October 28, 2022.

The ruling followed an application that was moved by a government lawyer, Mr Tijani Gadzali, SAN, who equally sought an adjournment to respond to Kanu’s request to be transferred from the detention facility of the Department of State Services, DSS, to the Kuje Correctional Center.

Gazzali, SAN, told the court that he would need time to file a counter-affidavit to oppose Kanu’s request.

Consequently, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Inyang Okoro adjourned the case till May 11 for definite hearing.

It will be recalled that the Court of Appeal in Abuja had in a judgement it delivered on October 13, 2022, ordered Kanu’s release from detention.

In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, the appellate court equally quashed a 15-count terrorism charge that FG entered against the detained IPOB leader, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The court said it was satisfied that FG flagrantly violated all known laws, when it forcefully rendered Kanu from Kenya to the country for the continuation of his trial.

It held that such arbitrary use of power by the Nigerian government, divested the trial court of the jurisdiction to continue with Kanu’s trial.

However, dissatisfied with the judgement, FG took the matter before the Supreme Court.

It further persuaded the appellate court to suspend the execution of the judgement, pending the determination of its appeal.

Meanwhile, at the resumed proceedings in the matter on Thursday, Kanu’s legal team, led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, drew the attention of the apex court to an application seeking the release of their client on bail, pending the conclusion of the hearing of the appeal.

Ozekhome, SAN, said there was a need to also transfer his client from the custody of the DSS to where he could get proper medical attention in view of his deteriorating health.

He, therefore, applied for an accelerated hearing of all the pending applications as well as the substantive appeal.

Kanu had earlier asked the apex court to strike out FG’s appeal against his release.

Specifically, he applied for an order of the apex court, “striking out and/or dismissing the Respondent’s Appeal No: SC/CR/1361/2022, for want of diligent prosecution”.

As well as an order setting down his own cross-appeal for hearing.

The IPOB leader contended that going by Section 6 (1) of the Supreme Court (Criminal Appeals) Practice Direction 2013, FG had only 10 days within which to file and serve him with its brief of argument, upon the service of record of appeal.

He further argued that Order 2 Rule 29 (1) & (2) and Order 6 Rule 9 of the Supreme Court Rules, as amended in 2014, empowered him to seek the striking out of FG’s appeal for want of diligent prosecution.

According to him, “Parties were served with the record of appeal since the 2nd November 2022.

“The ten (10) days stipulated under the Fast Track Rules of this Honourable Court for the Respondent to file its Appellant’s Brief has since elapsed.

“The Respondent is not diligent in prosecuting its appeal.

“The purpose of this Honourable Court’s Rules and Practice Directions is to provide fair, impartial and expeditious administration of criminal appeals, especially in relation to offences of terrorism, rape, kidnapping, corruption, money laundering and human trafficking.

“On the 28th day of October 2022, the lower court while relying on the Notice of Appeal filed by the Respondent, granted the Respondent’s application for stay of execution of the judgment of the lower court, and consequently stayed the execution of its judgement delivered on the 13th October, 2022, which discharged the Applicant and prohibited his further detention.

“The Respondent, which obtained an order of stay of execution of the judgment of the lower court, on the basis of this appeal, has not demonstrated any good faith in prosecuting the said appeal

“Owing to the pendency of the instant appeal, the Applicant who was discharged by the lower court since the 13th October, 2022, is still in the custody of the Appellant/Respondent’s State Security Service (SSS), where he has been held in solitary confinement since the 29th day of June, 2021.

“Striking out and/or dismissing the Respondent’s appeal will serve the best interest of justice and fair trial, having particular regards to the fact that the Applicant’s right to liberty was stayed by the lower court on account of the pendency of the Respondent’s abandoned appeal.

“The Applicant has filed his Cross-Appellant’s brief and same has been duly served on the Respondent.

“It is in the interest of justice and fair trial to set the Applicant’s cross-appeal down for hearing.

“The Respondent which is not desirous of prosecuting its appeal, will not be prejudiced by the grant of the instant application”, Kanu added.

News

MOWAA: Why I Will Not Appear Before Edo Assembly Panel — Obaseki

Published

8 minutes ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

The immediate past governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has given reasons he would not appear before the Edo State House of Assembly Ad-hoc Committee set up to investigate funding and ownership of the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) and the Radisson Blu Hotel.

The Edo Assembly set up the panel following a request by Governor Monday Okpebholo that the Assembly should probe funding and ownership of the projects.

Amongst what the governor requested the Assembly to investigate is the state government’s N3.8bn investment in the MOWAA and N28bn in Radisson Hotel.

Former Governor Obaseki is scheduled to appear before the Committee on Thursday, December 4th, 2025.

The Committee, had in a letter signed by its Secretary, Bekisu Oshone Wilson, said attendance by Obaseki and others were required as part of the committee’s investigation.

Obaseki, who spoke through his media adviser, Crusoe Osagie, said it was offensive and laughable for the Assembly to invite him over a matter that was already in court.

He said the Edo Assembly should learn to know how the law works.

The former Edo Governor said he could not be subjected to answering separately on the same issue.

“It is subjudice for the former Governor to appear before the Edo Assembly in a matter already in court.

“Why subject him to another round of questioning on the same issues?”

Management of MOWAA had also refused to appear before the Edo Assembly Ad Hoc Committee.

Its Counsel, Olayiwola Afolabi, said the Assembly could only make recommendations but that the Court would make the final decision on the issues.

News

FULL LIST: Approved Physical Verification Centres For CDCFIB 2025 Screening

Published

1 hour ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) who hav now closed portal, extended application deadline, Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) who important update to applicants, Civil Defense, Immigration, Correctional and Fire Service personnel as jobs opening on CDCFIB recruitment portal,

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board has officially released the comprehensive list of physical verification centres for the 2025 recruitment exercise.

Contents
ABIA
ADAMAWA
AKWA IBOM
ANAMBRA
BAUCHI
BAYELSA
BENUE
BORNO
CROSS RIVER STATE
DELTA STATE
EBONYI
ENUGU
EDO
EKITI
GOMBE
IMO
JIGAWA
KADUNA (Two Approved Centres)
KANO (Two Approved Centres)
KATSINA
KEBBI
KOGI
KWARA
LAGOS (Three Approved Centres)
NASARAWA
NIGER
OGUN
ONDO
OSUN
OYO
PLATEAU
RIVERS
SOKOTO
TARABA
YOBE
ZAMFARA
FCT (Four Approved Centres)
This development is important for all shortlisted applicants under the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Correctional Service, Federal Fire Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The physical verification stage remains one of the most decisive phases of the recruitment process. It is where the board confirms each applicant’s identity, validates documents, and verifies physical fitness before allowing candidates to progress to the final stage of selection.

Full List of Official CDCFIB Physical Verification Centres Nationwide
Below is the full and verified list of approved centres for the 2025 CDCFIB screening exercise across Nigeria in all 36 states.

This list includes centres for all four services:

ABIA
NCoS State Command, Along Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway, Mgbarakuma Ubakala, Umuahia

ADAMAWA
NIS State Command, Adamawa

AKWA IBOM
NCoS State Command, Plot 11 Block C Attan Offot, Uyo

ANAMBRA
NCoS State Command, Federal Secretariat Complex, Awka

BAUCHI
NCoS Zonal Office, Bauchi

BAYELSA
NCoS State Command, Capt. Amangala Street, Ovom, Yenagoa

BENUE
NIS State Command, Makurdi

BORNO
NCoS State Command, Baga Road, Maiduguri

CROSS RIVER STATE
NCoS State Command, Murtala Muhammed Highway, 11/11 Bus Stop, Calabar.

DELTA STATE
NCoS State Command, Km 6 Asaba–Benin Expressway, Asaba

EBONYI
NCoS State Command, No. 21 Nnorom Street, Mile 50, Abakaliki

ENUGU
Correctional Training Service, Enugu

EDO
NCoS State Command, Reservation Road, Off Sapele Road, Benin City

EKITI
NCoS State Command, Fayose Estate, Off Ado Road, Ado Ekiti

GOMBE
NIS State Command, Gombe

IMO
Correctional Armed Squad Training School, Onitsha Road, By Assumpta Press Junction, Irete–Owerri

JIGAWA
NCoS State Command, Along Takur Site, Dutse

KADUNA (Two Approved Centres)
Centre 1: Correctional Service Staff College, Barnawa
Centre 2: Correctional Training School, Independence Way

KANO (Two Approved Centres)
Centre 1: Immigration Training School, Kano
Centre 2: NCoS State Command, No. 1 Mission Road, Bompai, Nasarawa

KATSINA
NCoS State Command, Room 41, Dandagoro, Near Mega Filling Station, Federal Secretariat

KEBBI
Correctional Training College, Birnin Kebbi

KOGI
NIS State Command, Lokoja

KWARA
NCoS State Command, Behind Old Herald Newspapers Office, Flower Garden Area, Ilorin

LAGOS (Three Approved Centres)
Centre 1: Correctional Training College, Kirikiri, Apapa
Centre 2: NIS Zonal Headquarters, Old Secretariat Road, GRA–Ikeja
Centre 3: Federal Fire Service Training School, Western Avenue, Ojuelegba

NASARAWA
NIS State Command, Nasarawa

NIGER
NSCDC Zonal Office, Old State Secretariat Complex, Minna

OGUN
NSCDC College of Security Management, Abeokuta

ONDO
NCoS State Command, Opposite NDELA Office, Alagbaka, Akure

OSUN
NCoS State Command, Adjacent Osun State House of Assembly Complex, Osogbo

OYO
NCoS State Command, Opp. State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan

PLATEAU
Civil Defence Command and Staff College, Jos

RIVERS
Immigration Training School, Ahoada

SOKOTO
Immigration Command and Staff College, Sokoto

TARABA
NCoS State Command, Off Specialist Hospital Road, Jalingo

YOBE
NSCDC State Command, Federal Secretariat Complex, Damaturu

ZAMFARA
NCoS State Command, Temporary Office Malam Yahaya, Federal Secretariat Complex, Gusau

FCT (Four Approved Centres)
Centre 1: Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau Hall, NCoS HQ, Airport Road
Centre 2: Mohammad Babandede Conference Hall, NIS HQ, Airport Road
Centre 3: FFS FCT Command, Kubwa Metropolitan Fire Station
Centre 4: Dr. Ade Abolurin Auditorium, NSCDC Headquarters, Airport Road

News

Tunde Smooth, Opudu, Lawuru To Grace Ijaw Media Conference As Preparation Enters Top Gear

Published

4 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

All is now set for the second edition of the Ijaw Media Conference scheduled to hold on December 17, 2025 in Warri, Delta State. The first edition was held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital on December 13, 2024, attracting dignitaries both far and near in the Ijaw.

The second edition of the annual conference with the theme: ‘Safeguarding Niger Delta’s Natural Resources for Future Generations’, is organised by the Ijaw Publishers Forum.

Amongst dignitaries to grace this year’s conference are the Bolowei of Niger Delta, Chief Tunde Smooth, who is expected as father of the day while
the Chairman Delta, Waterways and Land Security, Chief Boro Opudu, and Delta-born billionaire, High Chief Promise Lawuru are expected as guests of honour respectively.

The Chairman, Central Working Committee of the conference Arex Akemotubo, said the event was aimed at discussing the challenging facing the Niger Delta region and the Ijaw nation in particular, and charting a course through the media.

According to Akemotubo, this year’s theme was chosen out of concern for the growing strain on the region’s land and waters, and discussing the way forward.

The Publisher of WaffiTV stressed that the Ijaw Publishers Forum is poised in strengthening public understanding, supporting honest reportage, and encourage leaders to protect what the Niger Delta holds for the next generation.