News

‘Justice Now A Commodity’ — Don Blasts Nigeria’s Legal System

Published

5 months ago

April 25, 2026

Nigeria’s justice system has strayed from its moral foundation, operating instead as a “judicial jungle” where procedural rules often take precedence over fairness and truth, according to Professor Kazeem Olajide Olaniyan.

He made this statement while delivering the 8th inaugural lecture at Fountain University in Osogbo, where he emphasised the increasing disconnect between the ideals of justice and the realities of Nigeria’s legal system.

The lecture, which was titled “The Just, Justice and the Judicial: A jurisprudential Journey In the Justicial Jungle”, Prof Olaniyan, in his lecture, explains the difference between “the just” (moral truth), “justice” (legal outcomes), and “the justicial” (the system), arguing that Nigeria has perfected legal procedures while losing sight of fairness.

He warned that the justice system has gradually shifted away from its moral purpose, reducing fairness to a matter of procedure rather than principle.

“Justice, which we all hold dear, has become a commodity, a procedural conclusion, rather than a moral end,” he said.

According to him, the imbalance within the system has created a situation where the weak are unequally punished while the powerful manipulate legal processes. “A man who steals a loaf of bread spends years awaiting trial, while the man who steals a billion manipulates the system,” he said.

Prof. Olaniyan noted that while justice is often perceived as absolute, its application within legal systems is influenced by human judgment, institutional structures, and societal conditions. He pointed out that legal outcomes do not always reflect true fairness due to various structural and procedural limitations, emphasising the need for a system that prioritises equity alongside legality.

Beyond the inequality, Prof Olaniyan revealed that a significant portion of inmates in Nigerian correctional facilities are awaiting trial, with many spending longer in detention than the maximum sentence for their alleged offences. He argues that this dire situation reflects a system where justice is not only delayed but effectively denied, particularly for those who lack the resources for unnecessary and lengthy legal battles.

“Thousands remain in custody for periods exceeding the maximum sentence; over 68% of the total inmate population in Nigeria consists of awaiting trial detainees,” he said.

In his lecture, Prof. Olaniyan identifies the Nigerian Police Force as the starting point of many of the system failures, describing it as the primary gateway into the criminal justice process. He noted that inefficiency, corruption, and lawlessness in the police force usually delay justice early, compromising investigations and damaging cases long before they get to court.

According to him, these early failures create a bad effect across the entire justice system, from wrongful arrests and delayed prosecutions to overcrowded correctional facilities. Furthermore, he stressed that for the system to restore credibility, they need to move away from confession-based investigations towards forensic-driven policing, arguing that modernising investigative processes is a critical step to repairing the public trust in the system.

To address these challenges, Prof. Olaniyan emphasised the importance of ethical responsibility among legal practitioners and the need for a more human-centred approach to the dispensation of justice. He also explains that increasing police salaries alone is not enough.

“What Nigeria needs is the political will from both federal and state levels, to make the police receptive, efficient, and effective within the constitutional framework”. Competence without will, he stressed, changes nothing.

Prof. Olaniyan urges the system to stop worshipping process and start honouring the person, stating that when the justice sector exists merely to maintain power rather than preserve equity, it has already forfeited its legitimacy.

In her remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Ramota Karim, commended the inaugural lecturer for his outstanding lecture and described him as the “man of the people”.

News

Six Corps Members Receive N10m Grants To Boost Agribusiness

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have received a total of N10 million in grants to expand their agribusiness ventures under the Farmers for the Future Programme.

The programme was organised on Monday by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture and develop sustainable businesses.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged Corps members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses.

Nafiu said agribusiness remained a viable avenue for young people to build sustainable enterprises, create employment and generate wealth.

He also stressed the importance of value addition to the success and sustainability of business ventures, while commending BATNF for placing Nigerian youths at the centre of its entrepreneurship initiatives through value-chain development, employment creation and its partnership with the NYSC.

“I charge you to spread the news around. We have seen the outcome, and it is a good idea,” he said.

The beneficiaries are Dominic Olufemi (FC/25C/1143), who received N3 million; Temitope Adewole (ED/26A/2251), N2 million; Abdulwaheed Bala (ED/25B/1402), N2 million; Olanike Mayungbe (OG/26B/1037), N1 million; Kingsley Udoeyen (KG/26A/1735), N1 million; and Lorember Lorsue (JG/25B/1742), N1 million.

Speaking on the selection process, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, said the programme began with an online registration portal through which Corps Members engaged in agribusiness submitted their business plans.

She said nearly 3,000 Corps members applied and underwent a rigorous selection process that produced 20 finalists.

According to her, the finalists participated in a boot camp and a final pitching session, which produced the 10 best presenters before the six ultimate winners were selected.

Shopeka said the beneficiaries had also been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products.

She added that Corps Members who did not make the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF.

The BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

“We are happy with our collaboration with the NYSC, and it will continue,” he said.

Odusanya explained that BATNF was an independent organisation established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.

He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was instituted in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage Corps Members to venture into agribusiness and become job creators.

He added that the beneficiaries would be attached to mentors who would guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.

According to him, the programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Corps Members.

News

CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 23%

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced the reduction of the interest rate, also known as Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 23 percent.

Briefing the media in Abuja, the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said at the 307th MPC meeting held on September 22, 2026 agreed the resetting of the MPR and recaliberation of the monetary policy market.

According to Cardoso, the committe is satisfied with the disinflation progress, adding that members noted stable banking sector following successful recapitalisation.

Meanwhile, according to Nigerian Tribune, reports that that the MPC, at its 306th meeting in July 2026, disclosed its resolution to retain the interets at 26.5 percent.

According to the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, “the Committee’s decision to maintain the current policy stance followed a thorough assessment of the balance of risks. Although headline inflation moderated marginally in June 2026, global uncertainties have heightened, due mainly to the renewed hostilities in the Middle East.

“In view of the evolving developments, maintaining a cautious monetary policy stance remains appropriate. In arriving at its decision, the Committee noted the recent resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East, with particular attention to its spillover effects on global energy prices and the potential pass-through to domestic inflation.”

News

NURTW: KWAM1 Settles Long-time Rift Between MC Oluomo, Tafa Sego

Published

3 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, has brokered a peace deal between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and the Lagos State Chairman of the union, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Tafa Sego.

The reconciliation took place at Ojusagbola in Ijebu, Ogun State, where several NURTW chieftains gathered for the meeting.

The development was announced on Tuesday on KWAM1’s digital media page on Instagram, alongside photographs from the meeting.

According to the post, the two union leaders have resolved their differences after years of strained relations.

“After years of an age-long rift, MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego have finally settled their differences. And from what we know now, this is final,” the post said.

The musician was said to have intervened as the Mayegun of Yorubaland, with the aim of bringing an end to the longstanding disagreement between the two NURTW figures.

“K1 acted in his role as the Mayegun of Yorubaland by seeking an end to the long-standing rift, once and for all,” it said.

The post also described the meeting as a significant step beyond previous public displays of reconciliation.

“This time, it was not just another handshake for the cameras. The two old friends and colleagues came together at Ojusagbola, with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) playing the peacemaker.”

Both MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego were reported to be pleased with the outcome of the intervention.

“Both parties are delighted about the new development,” the post said.

The two men had previously been allies and prominent figures within the Lagos NURTW before their relationship became strained amid disagreements linked to leadership of the union in the state.