Nigeria’s legal education regulator has approved new law faculties, expanded admission quotas at existing universities, and imposed sanctions on institutions found to have violated regulatory procedures, in a sweeping set of decisions aimed at tightening oversight of legal training in the country.

The Council of Legal Education (CLE) reached the decisions during its first quarterly meeting of 2026, held Wednesday at its headquarters in Abuja and chaired by Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN.

Following facility verification and accreditation exercises, the Council approved the commencement of law programmes at five universities, each with an initial admission quota of 50 students. The newly approved institutions are Azman University in Kano State, Rayhaan University in Kebbi State, Confluence University of Science and Technology in Kogi State, Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University in Imo State, and Ave-Maria University in Nasarawa State.

The approvals were granted after the Council said it was satisfied with the institutions’ infrastructure, staffing levels and compliance with prescribed academic standards.

At the same time, the CLE approved upward revisions of admission quotas for four universities, allowing Bayero University, Kano, to admit 230 law students, Madonna University, Okija, and Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, to admit 100 each, and the University of Ilorin to raise its quota to 210.

In a clear warning to institutions operating outside the rules, the Council placed three universities—Paul University, Awka; Clifford University, Owerrinta; and the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti—on a two-year moratorium for commencing law programmes without prior approval.

The Council also considered disciplinary matters, approving sanctions against students found guilty of examination misconduct during the July 2025 Bar Final Resit Examination, as well as disciplinary measures for staff involved in misconduct.

In addition, the CLE approved promotions across the Nigerian Law School system, including five staff elevated to the ranks of Deputy Director and Director, 34 academic staff, 136 administrative and technical staff, and 42 personnel converted or promoted across various cadres.

The meeting also marked the final Council appearance of the outgoing Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, whose eight-year tenure ends on January 9. A valedictory session was held in his honour, with Council members praising what they described as his transformative leadership and institutional reforms.

In a parting gesture, Chiroma announced a ₦5 million endowment to fund an annual cash prize for the Best Student in Corporate Law in future Bar examinations.

The Council formally congratulated Dr. Olugbemisola Titilayo Odusote on her appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the new Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, effective January 10. Members expressed confidence in her ability to consolidate reforms and strengthen legal education under her leadership.

The resolutions underscore the Council’s renewed push to balance expansion of access to legal education with stricter enforcement of standards—an effort likely to shape the future of Nigeria’s legal profession.

Less than a year after the infamous CBEX collapse drained N1.3 trillion from Oyo State investors, Ibadan is reeling again after a new fraudulent investment scheme allegedly duped more than 950 people, leaving them collectively out of over $200,000.

The platform, operating under the names Agape Trade and Agape Thrift, is linked to the deaths of two victims and several hospitalisations stemming from shock and stress, DAILY POST reports.

At a press conference in Ibadan, aggrieved investors described how they were lured by founder Enoch Adeoye and his associates with promises of “mouth-watering returns” for a minimum investment of $200.

Spokesperson Abiodun Ayobami Mustafa told journalists, “We were initially drawn to Agape Thrift and Agape Trade through street marketers, flyers, and persuasive online ads. We were made to believe it was a government-recognised investment scheme, not a Ponzi scam. Not one-tenth of the investors received returns beyond the first two months, which initially ran into millions of naira. After that, the operational office at Ago Tapa, Mokola, was locked, and the whereabouts of the man in charge remain unknown.”

The victims have formally petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), urging a thorough investigation and prosecution. According to the petition, signed by Dapo Akinosi of Swift Magnate Solicitors, the investors are scattered across Nigeria, and many have been waiting over a year for their funds. “This act is not only illegal but criminal,” the petition states.

This latest disaster comes on the heels of the CBEX digital asset platform collapse in April 2025, which shook Ibadan and Oyo State, leaving 27 investors hospitalised from shock and emotional breakdowns. Cryptocurrency expert Amusa Salami Taiwo explained that CBEX siphoned an estimated $847 million in USDT, often converted into Ethereum, leaving investors with empty dashboards. Despite repeated warnings, many Nigerians were lured by promises of 100% returns and failed to verify regulatory approval.

“The recurrence of these scams underscores the vulnerability of Nigerian investors to fraudulent online schemes and highlights the urgent need for stronger regulatory oversight,” Taiwo said.

At Wednesday’s press conference, Mustafa emphasised the human toll of the scam. “Two people have lost their lives. Several others are bedridden from shock. Many are traumatised and humiliated by the failure of the founder to return their investments. This is a matter for EFCC to investigate and prosecute,” he said.

Investors are now demanding urgent action to prevent future schemes and hold perpetrators accountable, warning that the culture of financial scams continues to undermine public trust and destabilise Nigerian communities.

Police in Bauchi State have arrested a 28-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting his eight-year-old daughter in Alkaleri Local Government Area, in a case that has sparked renewed outrage over child abuse in Nigeria.

The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib. According to the police, the case was reported at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Alkaleri after the child’s ordeal came to light.

Habib said the suspect allegedly lured his biological eight-year-old daughter into a bathroom and subjected her to repeated sexual abuse. Following the report, detectives led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Kadiri Danjuma, immediately visited the scene, ensured the child received medical attention at the General Hospital in Alkaleri, and took the suspect into custody.

The police spokesperson disclosed that the suspect confessed during interrogation, adding that the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has ordered a full investigation into the case.

In a separate development, the Imo State Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old man, Wisdom Onyeaju, in connection with the alleged defilement of a 15-year-old girl, following widespread public outrage triggered by a viral video on social media.

The video, posted on January 3 by the victim’s sister, alleged that the suspect forcibly entered the girl’s home during the Christmas period, threatened her with a weapon, and assaulted her. The post also accused officers at a police station near the Government House in Owerri of demanding ₦100,000 before agreeing to document the complaint.

Confirming the arrest on Thursday, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, said Onyeaju, a native of Umuekweye, Irete, in Owerri West Local Government Area, is currently being investigated at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Okoye also confirmed that police officers accused of misconduct in the handling of the case have been identified and detained. An orderly room trial has been scheduled to commence on Monday, January 12, 2026, in line with established police procedures.

The Imo State Police Command reiterated its commitment to professionalism, transparency, and accountability, assuring the public that both the criminal allegations and the claims of police misconduct will be thoroughly addressed.

The two cases, unfolding in different parts of the country, have renewed calls from rights advocates for stronger child protection mechanisms and stricter accountability for offenders and law enforcement personnel alike.

An FBI investigation is underway after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shot a woman in southern Minneapolis, an incident that has ignited a political and public clash between federal officials and city leaders.

The shooting occurred just before 10:30 a.m. Wednesday near the intersection of 34th Street and Portland Avenue. The victim was identified as 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who was behind the wheel of an SUV when she was shot.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Good had interfered with ICE officers during an enforcement operation. Noem claimed Good ignored repeated commands to exit her vehicle and attempted to ram an officer, describing the SUV as a “weapon.” She said the officer fired three shots in self-defence.

Local officials strongly disputed that account.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said video footage contradicts the administration’s claims, calling the federal narrative “bullshit” and demanding ICE leave the city. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said Good’s death was a “predictable” outcome of what he described as the White House’s reckless deployment of federal agents into Democratic-led cities.

Walz urged protesters to remain peaceful while pledging that the state would pursue accountability. By nightfall, thousands of demonstrators had gathered near the shooting site, filling several blocks.

A Pattern of Deadly Encounters

The Minneapolis shooting is at least the fifth fatal incident linked to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations, according to The Associated Press.

Other deaths include a Mexican line cook shot during a traffic stop near Chicago, as well as multiple individuals who died while fleeing immigration authorities in California and Virginia.

Who Was Renee Good?

Good described herself on social media as a poet, writer, wife and mother originally from Colorado who had recently moved to Minnesota. Family members told local media she had a six-year-old child.

Her mother, Donna Ganger, said Good was likely terrified at the time of the shooting and rejected claims that her daughter was involved in any confrontation with officers.

City Leaders Demand ICE Exit

Eleven of the 13 members of the Minneapolis City Council issued a joint statement calling for the arrest and prosecution of the ICE officer involved.

“Anyone who kills someone in our city deserves to be arrested, investigated, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the councillors said, demanding ICE immediately leave Minneapolis and urging residents to support immigrant communities.

Separate Shooting in Toronto Kills Nigerian National

In a separate incident, Canadian authorities confirmed the death of a 46-year-old Nigerian man following a shooting at a Toronto bus terminal.

Toronto Police said officers responded around 7 p.m. on Sunday, January 4, to reports of a shooting at the Yorkdale GO Bus Terminal. Investigators allege the suspect shot the victim on a bus before fleeing on foot.

Despite life-saving efforts, the victim—later identified as Osemwengie Irorere, a Nigerian national—was pronounced dead at the scene. Police arrested Tyrel Gibson, 40, of Toronto, shortly afterward and recovered a firearm.

Gibson has been charged with first-degree murder and was scheduled to appear at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre on January 5.

President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Nkanu Nnamdi, son of renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege.

The renowned author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, on Wednesday lost one of their twin sons, Nkanu Nnamdi.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by Omawumi Ogbe, on behalf of the family, the 21-month-old baby passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, after a brief illness.

The statement said the family is devastated by the loss and requested that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.

The statement reads, “We’re deeply saddened to confirm the passing of one of Ms Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr Ivara Esege’s twin boys, Nkanu Nnamdi, who passed on Wednesday, 7th of January 2026, after a brief illness. He was 21 months old.

“The family is devastated by this profound loss, and we request that their privacy be respected during this incredibly difficult time.

“We ask for your grace and prayers as they mourn in private.

“No further statements will be made, and we thank the public and the media for respecting their need for seclusion during this period of immense grief.”

In a personal statement issued Thursday, President Tinubu described the loss as devastating, drawing from his own experience of losing a loved one.

“As a parent myself who has suffered the loss of a loved one, no grief is as devastating as losing a child,” the President stated.

He said he empathised with the family during this difficult period and mourned the sad loss alongside them.

Tinubu acknowledged Adichie’s global literary contributions, describing her as “a literary icon who has brought joy and light to many homes globally.”

The President prayed that the Almighty would grant the family strength during this trying time.

“My prayers are with the family,” he added.

Adichie, author of acclaimed works including ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’, ‘Americanah’, and ‘Purple Hibiscus’, is one of Nigeria’s most celebrated contemporary writers and has won numerous international literary awards.

PUNCH

Abuja—A Federal High Court order temporarily seizing 57 high-value properties allegedly linked to former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, SAN, has ignited a broader debate about accountability, asset recovery, and how Nigeria repurposes wealth suspected to have been acquired through corruption.

On Tuesday, Justice Emeka Nwite granted an interim forfeiture order sought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ruling that the properties—spread across Abuja, Kano, Kebbi, and Kaduna—are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity. The assets include luxury hotels, duplexes in Abuja’s most exclusive districts, shopping plazas, warehouses, and hundreds of hectares of land.

The order authorises the Federal Government to temporarily take possession of the properties while inviting any interested parties to show cause within 14 days why a final forfeiture should not be granted.

But as the legal process unfolds, a new proposal has entered the national conversation.

In an open letter addressed to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, Dr Tonye Clinton Jaja, Secretary of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), urged the anti-graft agency to convert at least five of the forfeited Abuja properties into permanent headquarters for federal justice institutions that currently operate without their own buildings.

“These agencies enforce the law, protect rights, and defend the vulnerable—yet they remain crammed into unsuitable spaces,” Jaja wrote. “This is a rare opportunity to turn alleged proceeds of crime into public assets that strengthen justice delivery.”

The agencies listed include the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Nigerian Copyright Commission, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), National Human Rights Commission, and the Nigerian Law Reform Commission—bodies that all fall under the Federal Ministry of Justice but lack purpose-built headquarters.

Jaja, a former chairman of the Nigerian Copyright Commission governing board, recalled unsuccessfully petitioning Malami during his tenure to allocate confiscated properties to justice agencies. According to him, those requests were repeatedly ignored.

Meanwhile, the forfeiture order has intensified scrutiny of Malami, who served as Nigeria’s chief law officer from 2015 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The EFCC is prosecuting Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering totalling ₦8.7 billion. Prosecutors allege that the defendants used corporate fronts and indirect transactions to conceal the origin of funds and acquire assets across multiple states over ten years.

Court filings accuse the former minister and his family of violating Nigeria’s Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts by disguising illicit funds through bank accounts and property purchases. One count alleges that over ₦1 billion was concealed through a corporate account between 2022 and 2025.

While Malami has not publicly responded to the forfeiture order, legal analysts say the scale of the seized assets makes the case one of the most significant corruption probes involving a former attorney general.

Justice Nwite has scheduled January 27 for a report on compliance with the publication of the forfeiture notice—a critical step before the court determines whether the assets will be permanently transferred to the state.

For advocates like Jaja, however, the case goes beyond prosecution.

“If these assets are finally forfeited,” he wrote, “they should not disappear into bureaucratic limbo. They should visibly serve the public interest—especially institutions tasked with justice, human rights, and legal reform.”

As Nigerians watch closely, the question remains whether the forfeiture will mark a turning point—not only in the fight against corruption, but in how recovered wealth is returned to the people it was taken from.

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has vowed to pursue justice for two professionals—a lawyer and a nurse—who were killed in separate “one chance” attacks in Abuja in January, warning that the resurgence of criminal transport syndicates poses a grave threat to public safety in Nigeria’s capital.

The victims were identified as Chinemerem Chukwumeziem, a nurse attached to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, who was killed on January 3, and Princess Mediatrix Chigbo, a lawyer and former Treasurer of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja Branch, whose body was later found dumped along the Kubwa Expressway.

Addressing a world press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, Chairperson of FIDA Abuja, the organisation described the killings as a chilling signal of deepening insecurity and pledged sustained advocacy to ensure accountability.

“When officers of the court and defenders of rights are abducted and murdered on the streets of the nation’s capital, it sends a chilling message to every resident—especially women and other vulnerable commuters—who already navigate public spaces under constant threat,” Onyenucheya-Uko said.

FIDA stressed that the attacks were not isolated incidents but part of a disturbing and persistent pattern that has continued despite widespread public concern and repeated calls for action.

The group urged the Federal Capital Territory Administration to immediately declare a security emergency targeting “one chance” operators and to establish a dedicated, multi-agency task force to dismantle the criminal networks. It also called for the urgent installation and activation of functional CCTV and surveillance systems along major transport corridors, drop-off points and known hotspots.

FIDA further demanded the regulation and sanitisation of commercial transportation in the FCT, including proper identification, registration and monitoring of both formal and informal transport operators.

Addressing security agencies—including the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)—the organisation called for intensified intelligence-driven patrols, stop-and-search operations and covert surveillance along known “one chance” routes. It also demanded the prompt arrest, thorough investigation and prosecution of perpetrators and their collaborators.

To restore public confidence, FIDA urged security agencies to provide regular public briefings detailing actions taken, arrests made and prosecutions commenced.

FIDA also turned its attention to the justice system, calling for the swift and serious handling of cases arising from such crimes. “Justice must not only be done,” the statement said, “it must be seen to be done.”

As fear mounts among Abuja commuters, FIDA warned that failure to act decisively would embolden criminal gangs and further erode public trust. The group reiterated its commitment to sustained advocacy until meaningful action is taken and justice is delivered for the victims and their families.

Abuja is once again gripped by fear following the killing of two professionals in separate attacks linked to the resurgence of notorious “one chance” criminal gangs—groups that disguise themselves as commercial transport operators to rob, assault and, increasingly, kill unsuspecting commuters.

The victims, identified as Ms. Chinemerem Pascalina Chuwumeziem, a nurse, and Princess Mediatrix Chigbo, a senior lawyer and former Treasurer of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja Branch, were found dead in different parts of the Federal Capital Territory. Their deaths have sent shockwaves through the city and reignited urgent questions about public safety in Nigeria’s seat of power.

“These were not faceless victims,” the NBA said in a strongly worded statement. “They were professionals, contributors to society, and ordinary citizens whose only intention was to return home safely.”

Princess Mediatrix Chigbo was a respected member of the legal community, an active figure in professional associations, and a former executive of the NBA Abuja Branch. Her body was later confirmed at the Kubwa General Hospital morgue, according to Otu Oka-Iwu Abuja, an association of Igbo Lawyers in Abuja to which she belonged.

Ms. Chuwumeziem, a healthcare worker who spent her days caring for others, was also killed under similar circumstances—another life lost on Abuja’s roads to criminals operating with what many now describe as alarming confidence.

The Nigerian Bar Association condemned the killings as “senseless and horrifying,” warning that the pattern of attacks can no longer be dismissed as isolated incidents. “Criminal gangs masquerading as transport operators have turned daily commuting into a deadly gamble,” NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, said.

For the legal profession, Chigbo’s death struck a particularly painful chord. “She was one of us,” Osigwe said. “Her murder is not only a professional loss but a stark reminder that lawyers, like all Nigerians, remain dangerously exposed in an environment where criminals act with impunity.”

Otu Oka-Iwu Abuja, in a statement signed by its president, Sir. Chidi Udekwe, Esq., described her killing as part of a broader and worsening security crisis, noting that at least two of its members survived similar attacks in recent years, one after months of hospitalisation and lasting trauma. The group said Princess Chigbo’s death followed closely on the heels of attacks on other residents, including the recent killing of the nurse and a string of robberies in Abuja’s Durumi District.

“The FCT is fast becoming a harvest field for criminals,” the group said, warning that insecurity now threatens the city’s social order and public confidence.

Both organizations have called on the FCT Minister, the Nigeria Police Force, and other security agencies to declare the situation a security emergency. Their demands include intensified patrols along known hotspots such as the Kubwa Airport Road and Durumi-Garki corridors, targeted intelligence operations against “one chance” syndicates, and the use of technology—such as phone tracking, bank transaction tracing and surveillance cameras—to dismantle criminal networks.

They also called for transparent, time-bound investigations into the killings and swift prosecution of all those responsible.

“The protection of life is the first duty of the state,” the NBA said. “Citizens should not have to choose between earning a living and staying alive.”

As families, colleagues and communities mourn, both groups warned that these deaths must not fade into statistics. Instead, they said, they should mark a turning point in how authorities confront the growing insecurity on Abuja’s roads.

“This city must not become a hunting ground,” the NBA said. “Justice must not only be promised. It must be delivered.”