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Three Anambra Monarchs Strip Ifeanyi Ubah Of Chieftaincy Titles

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The traditional ruler of Aguluezechukwu in Aguata Local Government Area, Igwe F.E. Ebelendu; traditional ruler of Neni in Anaocha Local Government Area, Igwe Onwuamaeze Damian and the traditional ruler of Ojoto in Idemili South Local Government Area, Igwe Gerald Mbamalu, have withdrawn the chieftaincy titles they conferred on the Senator representing Anambra South, Ifeanyi Ubah.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by Christian Aburime, the Press Secretary to the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on Tuesday.

The three monarchs had conferred various chieftaincy titles on Ubah during their respective Ofala and cultural festivals last December.

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Ubah, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress, is said to be interested in contesting the 2025 governorship election in the state.

READ ALSO: Amotekun Arrests 19 Suspected Kidnappers, 17 Others In Ondo

The Anambra State government had through the state Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, earlier suspended the traditional ruler of Neni Kingdom, Igwe Damian Ezeani, following his conferment of the chieftaincy title on the Senator.

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In his suspension letter signed by the state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Mr Tonycollins Nwabunwanne, and dated January 8, 2024, Ezeani was said to have violated the code of conduct for traditional rulers.

According to Aburime, the action by the three traditional rulers was in direct contravention of the State Traditional Rulers’ code.

The statement read, “It has come to the attention of Anambra State Government that Igwe F.E. Ebelendu of Aguluezechukwu in Aguata Local government Area, Igwe Onwuamaeze Damian Ezeani of Neni in Anaocha Local government area and Igwe Gerald Obunadike Mbamalu of Ojoto in Idemili South Local Government Area have respectively apologised to Anambra State Government and withdrawn and cancelled the phantom chieftaincy titles conferred on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, as it contravenes the State Traditional Rulers’ law.

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“This action by the three traditional rulers was in direct contravention of the State Traditional Rulers’ code, which outlines the rules and regulations regarding the granting and revocation of chieftaincy titles.

“Consequently, the titles of Ikemba Ojoto, Odenjiinji Neni and Dike Eji Eje Ogu earlier bestowed on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah have been withdrawn and cancelled by the three Igwes.

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“This was contained in their respective letters of apology to the state government which also confirmed the withdrawal and cancellation of the chieftaincy titles which they variously described as nullity.

“However, it is instructive to note that traditional rulers are kindly advised to adhere strictly to the State Traditional laws and avoid any untoward actions that could contravene the provisions of the law.”

Unah, had earlier slammed the state government for suspending the transitional ruler of Neni, who during the Yuletide, conferred on him the title of ‘Odenjinji’ of Neni, which is similar to the title the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, also holds in his Isuofia community.

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The senator, in a statement, said, “The entire game is all about politics. Soludo is frustrated by my rising popularity.

I am not the only person that received a chieftaincy title. Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, was honoured within the same period; Vice President Kashim Shettima was also honoured; Mr President was honoured in absentia. Why is my own different?

“The governor is frustrated by my acceptance and popularity; he is jittery about the next governorship election, but I leave him to his conscience.”

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Why I Picked Amupitan As INEC Chair – Tinubu

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President Bola Tinubu on Thursday explained that his choice of Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission was based on his apolitical stance, integrity and impeccable record of service.

“President Tinubu told the council that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, North-Central state, nominated to occupy the position and is apolitical,” a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, quoted him as saying.

The President spoke at the State House, Abuja, during the meeting of the National Council of State, which unanimously endorsed the nomination of Amupitan to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose decade-long tenure as INEC Chairman ended on Tuesday.

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Tinubu told council members that Amupitan, a professor of law from Kogi State, North-Central Nigeria, is the first person from the state to be nominated for the top electoral job.

READ ALSO:Meet New INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan

Council members, including serving and former leaders, backed the nomination, describing the professor as a man of proven integrity.

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Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, said Amupitan’s track record “reflects a deep commitment to justice, knowledge, and national service.”

Following the council’s approval, the President is expected to transmit Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation in line with constitutional provisions.

Aged 58, Amupitan hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

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READ ALSO:BREAKING: Council Of State Approves New INEC Chairman

A professor of law at the University of Jos, Plateau State, he is currently the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) and also serves as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.

He obtained his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in law from the University of Jos, after earlier studies at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.

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Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988, Amupitan has built an extensive academic and administrative career spanning over three decades.

He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2014 and has written extensively on company law, corporate governance, and evidence law.

His published works include Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013), and Principles of Company Law (2013).

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READ ALSO:JUST IN: Council Of State Meets As Tinubu Presents Nominees For INEC Chair

Beyond academia, Amupitan has served on several boards, including Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, and the Council of Legal Education.

He was also a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja, between 1996 and 2004.

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The Kogi-born scholar, described by colleagues as “a jurist of quiet influence,” is married with four children.

When confirmed by the Senate, Amupitan will become Nigeria’s 15th INEC chairman.

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Meet New INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan

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President Bola Tinubu has nominated Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The appointment, which was confirmed by the National Council of State on Thursday, follows the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu from the electoral body.

According to a statement issued by Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, Amupitan’s nomination marks the first time a native of Kogi State will head Nigeria’s election management agency.

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The law professor hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi state.

READ ALSO:BREAKING: Council Of State Approves New INEC Chairman

Amupitan, who currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, has spent more than three decades in academia and legal practice.

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He joined the institution in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer and rose through the ranks to become a Reader in 2003 and a Professor of Law in 2008.

Details from the University of Jos website show that the new INEC boss obtained all his degrees, including Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate, in Law from the same university.

He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after completing his programme at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.

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Amupitan’s areas of academic and professional interest include Law of Evidence, Corporate Law, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law.

READ ALSO:Things To Know About Late Elder Statesman Christopher Kolade

He was conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014 in recognition of his contributions to the legal profession.

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Beyond academics, Amupitan has held several administrative and national positions.

He has served as Dean of the Faculty of Law, Head of the Department of Public Law, and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors at the University of Jos.

He has also represented the institution on several boards, including the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, where he served as a member of the Governing Council.

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He was, until his nomination, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.

READ ALSO:BREAKING: Council Of State Approves New INEC Chairman

The legal scholar has authored and co-authored over 50 academic publications, with research spanning corporate governance, electoral law reform, and petroleum industry legislation.

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He has supervised more than a dozen doctoral and master’s students in law.

Professor Amupitan is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Institute of Management, and the National Association of Law Teachers.

Outside academics, he has served on several boards, including Integrated Dairies Limited, Riss Oil Limited, and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council.

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He is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Yemisi Amupitan, and they have four children.

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Elder Statesman Christopher Kolade Dies

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Veteran broadcaster and former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Christopher Kolade, has died at the age of 92.

The family announced the elder statesman’s death in a statement on Thursday.

The statement said the late former Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria died peacefully on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.

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We are thankful for his incredible life of faith and service, and are grateful for God’s abundant blessings,” the statement read in part.

Kolade had a distinguished career as a diplomat, academic, advocate for integrity and corporate governance, among other things.

Born on December 28, 1932, in Erin-Oke, Osun State, Kolade was the son of an Anglican missionary. He attended Government College, Ibadan, before proceeding to Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where he completed his higher education.

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Kolade began his career in broadcasting, eventually rising to the position of Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation.

He later became Chief Executive and Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, where he was widely recognised for his ethical leadership and corporate reforms.

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The deceased also served Nigeria as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, leaving behind a legacy of diplomacy, integrity, and professionalism.

READ ALSO:Retired DIG Parry Osayande is dead

Kolade taught Corporate Governance and Human Resources Management at the Lagos Business School and Leadership & Conflict Management at the School of Media & Communication, both part of Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos.

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Kolade, a former member of the university’s Governing Council, also served as its Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, and was later Chancellor of McPherson University, Ogun State.

Deeply committed to promoting ethical standards in business, Kolade chaired several integrity-driven organisations, including Integrity Organisation Ltd GTE and The Convention on Business Integrity Ltd GTE.

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