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Doctors said they’re infertile but two sets of twins arrived a year apart

A young couple who were told they may never be able to have children have welcomed their second set of twins – exactly one year after their first.

Now with four children under the age of two, Alisha Young, 25, and Connor Craster, 26, from Hartlepool, certainly have their hands full.

Daily Mail reports that surviving on a maximum of five hours’ sleep a night, the couple said they essentially have quadruplets and spend £18 a day on nappies, with around 50 changes in 24 hours.

‘We’re so happy and so blessed,’ said Ms Young.

‘I always wanted a big family and have always wanted to be a mammy.’

But their journey to this point was far from straightforward.

The couple met while working in a hospital in May 2022 and were engaged in November the following year.

Months later, Ms Young was told she could not have her own children due to her having endometriosis, a condition where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow in other parts of the body.

After struggling with painful, heavy periods and pelvic pain from a young age, she was advised to have a hysterectomy, the surgical removal of the uterus, as she was told she risked losing her right ovary.

‘It’s very difficult with endo, there’s always a lot of information to think about, options to explore and decisions to make,’ said Ms Young.

After deciding to go ahead with the hysterectomy in February 2024, she took a pregnancy test, which revealed she was pregnant.

‘Finding out we were pregnant was such a shock but a huge blessing. I was absolutely gobsmacked,’ she said.

Then, at an eight-week scan, the couple found out that they were expecting twins – months after being told she wouldn’t be able to conceive.

Mr Craster said: ‘I saw two circles on the screen. They were joined by a little line, and it looked like a smiley face.’

The couple discovered they were expecting girls at 16 weeks, and the babies were due on December 27 2024.

Lottie, 4lb 2oz, was born at 5.07am, and Hattie, weighing 3lb 14oz, was born at 5.40am, on November 2, 2024, and they spent 29 days in neonatal care.

And then came their second miracle. Just five months after giving birth, in April 2025, came another positive pregnancy test.

A scan four weeks later revealed they were expecting twins again.

In the UK, the chance of having a multiple birth (twins, triplets, or more) is approximately 1 in 65 pregnancies, or about 2.4 per cent of live births.

If the first set is fraternal (non-identical), the chances of having twins again are higher because the genetic tendency to ‘hyper-ovulate’ (release multiple eggs) persists.

‘We couldn’t believe it,’ said Mr Craster. ‘The first time was so unexpected it just didn’t seem possible.

‘We looked at each other with dropped jaws – we were told we couldn’t have any children and now we were about to have four.

‘Finding out we were pregnant again when Lottie had just come out of hospital was a huge shock. It was crazy – I didn’t know what we’d do.’

The babies were due on December 17, but Ms Young went into labour on October 29.

When the labour didn’t progress, her waters were broken on November 2 and 5lb 5oz Florence and 5lbs 3oz William were born six weeks early, at 2.15pm and 3.35pm, on their big sisters’ first birthday.

Florence and William spent 14 days in neonatal care, in the exact same bed spaces as their sisters a year earlier.

With four babies in nappies, the young couple’s lives revolve around constant changes, feeding and around-the-clock care.

‘I can’t say when the day starts, because the last one just doesn’t end,’ Mr Craster said.

And despite having to trade in their compact Mitsubishi Mirage for a seven-seater Kia Carens, the couple say they ‘couldn’t ask for anything more’.

‘Once they were here, our lives and family felt complete,’ said Mr Craster.

Ms Young added: ‘With four children, routine is absolutely key.

‘Making sure you stick to timings is the only way to get any time for yourself.

‘When people say it takes a village to raise children, it really does. We’re so lucky to have a great support circle.’

What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow in other parts of the body.

Endometriosis is often found in areas around the womb, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes and lining of the pelvis.

It also sometimes affects organs, such as the bladder and bowel. Rarely, endometriosis is found in areas outside the pelvis, such as in the chest.

Symptoms happen when patches of endometriosis break down and bleed but cannot leave the body.

People with endometriosis may also have difficulty getting pregnant and have low mood or anxiety.

Endometriosis is commonly diagnosed in women and girls, from when their periods start (puberty) through to menopause.

Source: NHS

Midair Chaos: Mass brawl erupts on Turkey-to-Manchester flight, plane diverted after ‘blood and teeth’ scare

This is the moment a mass brawl erupted between British passengers on a flight from Turkey to Manchester, forcing the jet to make an emergency diversion.

Dramatic footage shows passengers screaming as travellers traded punches and wrestled in the aisle mid-air.

Chaos quickly spread through the cabin, with terrified families and elderly travellers  caught up in the disorder.

Witnesses described seeing blood on seats and teeth scattered on the floor.

The flight was diverted to Brussels yesterday evening after violence reportedly broke out when one passenger tried to snatch another’s phone.

Police boarded the aircraft on landing and took two individuals into custody.

Passengers claimed one of those detained had been drinking heavily and making racist remarks before the situation escalated into a confrontation with cabin crew over cigarettes.

‘At one point it became very physical. Passengers were distressed. People were frightened. The atmosphere turned chaotic,’ one traveller said.

Another added: ‘Respect to the passengers who stood up against the racism, including the kind person who sat with and comforted those shaken. The Jet2 crew dealt with the situation calmly and professionally.’ 

The pilot later told passengers that in 30 years of flying he could count his emergency landings on one hand, adding he had never witnessed an incident as violent.

The aircraft later continued to Manchester following the unscheduled diversion.

Jet2 described the behaviour as ‘appalling’ and said those involved would be banned for life.

Daily Mirror

UK’s new border crackdown ignites fury as dual citizens face fresh restrictions

From February 25, 2026, a significant change in British border control will take effect, directly impacting thousands of dual British nationals living and travelling abroad. The UK Home Office has announced that, under new rules, dual citizens will no longer be able to enter the UK using only a non-British passport. Instead, they must present either a valid British passport or a certificate of entitlement to prove their status at the point of entry. This move, part of a wider overhaul of the nation’s immigration system, has already sparked widespread concern and confusion among affected citizens, particularly those residing in Europe.

According to reports from The Guardian and News18, the new policy is tied to the Home Office’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. While British and Irish citizens are exempt from needing an ETA, all other travellers to the UK—including short-term visitors from visa-free countries—will be required to obtain prior permission before travel. For these visitors, the ETA costs £16. But for dual British nationals, the stakes are far higher: they must now either travel with a valid British passport or pay a hefty £589 fee for a certificate of entitlement, which is attached to their other nationality passport.

The Home Office’s statement on the matter was clear: “From 25 February 2026, all dual British citizens will need to present either a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement to avoid delays at the border.” The department emphasized that this change is part of a broader digitisation programme aimed at creating a “seamless travel experience” while also enhancing the government’s ability to prevent threats and maintain a comprehensive picture of immigration patterns.

Previously, many dual nationals—especially those holding EU passports—were able to travel to the UK without issue, as British citizenship could be verified upon arrival. Under the new system, however, airlines, ferries, and train operators are required to verify travel permission before departure. Without the required documents, carriers may refuse boarding altogether. This means that for the first time, dual nationals traveling on a non-British passport must proactively prove their British status before even setting foot on UK-bound transport.

The financial implications have not gone unnoticed. Obtaining a new British passport costs approximately £94.50, a sum that can quickly add up for families needing to maintain multiple passports. The alternative—applying for a certificate of entitlement—comes with a price tag of £589, and overseas applications can be even higher. Many British citizens living abroad have criticized the certificate as prohibitively expensive, particularly for those with children or large families. As one British woman living in Germany told The Guardian, “Keeping up two passports for a family is an expensive ‘luxury’ that not everyone can afford.” She expressed frustration at being “treated as Brexit collateral once again with this short-notice, shortsighted, arbitrary change of the rules.”

Communication, or the lack thereof, has been another major point of contention. Numerous dual nationals have reported that the Home Office did not clearly communicate the new requirements, leaving them scrambling to comply before the deadline. A dual national born and educated in London, now traveling frequently for work, explained his predicament: he had booked a flight for a work trip and only later discovered that he may be stranded upon his return. “I found myself having to travel at short notice and am now facing the idea that I may not be allowed back into the country,” he said.

There are also unique legal challenges for dual nationals residing in certain countries. In Spain, for example, individuals who naturalise are required to renounce their previous citizenships. Presenting a British passport at the airport could, therefore, jeopardize their Spanish nationality. As Julie, a British woman living in Spain for over 30 years, explained, “It seems a strange anomaly that while the UK is willing to recognise dual nationality, it refuses to recognise that a valid EU passport held by a UK citizen can give right of entry to the UK.” She noted that the rule change will also affect many children of British citizens born in Spain who have never held a British passport but whose records will show as dual nationality at border control.

Children born abroad to British parents, who may have never held a British passport but are technically British citizens, face a new set of travel restrictions under the policy. This has caused anxiety among parents concerned about their children’s ability to travel to the UK for family visits, education, or emergencies.

Campaign groups have begun to speak out. The EU citizens’ campaign group The 3 million has called for a more accessible solution, advocating for a low-cost, one-off travel authorisation similar to the system used in Canada. Monique Hawkins, the group’s head of policy and advocacy, stated, “The UK already has the technology to do the same, so we urge them to act now to ensure British citizens are not locked out of their own country.”

For its part, the Home Office maintains that the changes are necessary for national security and border efficiency. The spokesperson emphasised that the digitisation programme would give the government “greater power to stop those who pose a threat from setting foot in the country and gives us a fuller picture of immigration.” Still, the policy has left many dual nationals feeling caught off guard and unfairly burdened, especially as the deadline looms and administrative backlogs persist.

Short-term visitors from visa-free countries—such as those from the United States or Australia—will also need to adapt, as they must now obtain an ETA for £16 before traveling. British citizens, however, cannot apply for an ETA, making the British passport or certificate of entitlement the only options for dual nationals.

As the February 25 deadline approaches, the British government faces mounting pressure to reconsider the rigidity and cost of the new requirements. The stories of affected individuals—parents worried about their children, professionals facing unexpected travel barriers, and long-term expatriates anxious about their legal status—underscore the real-world impact of what might otherwise seem like a bureaucratic adjustment. Whether the Home Office will heed calls for a more affordable and flexible solution remains to be seen, but for now, dual British nationals worldwide are being urged to check their documents and prepare for a new era in UK border control.

The coming weeks will reveal whether this overhaul delivers on its promise of seamless travel—or simply creates new obstacles for citizens whose ties to the UK remain strong, no matter where they call home.

Mass exodus as terrorists’ warning letters circulate in Kwara communities

Attacks by suspected terrorists may not be abating anytime soon as the hoodlums have started circulating warning letters to several communities in Kwara State.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that in the last six days, they had sent letters to four different communities, threatening to strike at any time.

Our correspondents learnt that on Thursday, a letter was dropped in Ira, a community linking Inaja and Aho towns in Oyun Local Government Area.

The terrorists had earlier sent a threat letter to Dunshigogo community in Kaiama LGA, a few days after the February 3 attack on Woro town, which left over 176 people dead and 38 abducted.

Residents flee after threat letter

Our correspondents gathered that residents of Ira, Inaja and Aho had started leaving their homes over the threat letters by the suspected terrorists.

A copy of one of the letters was signed by “The Writer (SANUFH).”

It read, “This message is from Nigeria Terrorist Association, NTA. Our motor: we kill, we kidnapping, and destroying. No town or place that is scared us to destroy… We search and gaddering information before we rade. We heared about this town Ira, you people strong, and have many powerful man to face our organisation. Be ready for us at any time any date, noting concern us about your oracle or powerful we left kaiama we move to Ira, Inaja, Aho and town around.”

The content of the letter, including grammar and structure, is retained for accuracy. The authenticity of the letter has not been ascertained by Saturday PUNCH.

Ira, a border town adjoining Ilemona, the headquarters of Oyun LGA, lies along a corridor linking several rural settlements considered vulnerable due to their proximity to forest belts.

A traditional chief in Ira, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to safety concerns, said the letter was dropped at a motorcycle park near the central mosque.

“The letter was seen around 2:30 pm to 3 pm. Two suspects on a bike dropped it at the okada riders’ park close to Ira Central Mosque. Initially, the riders thought it was a mistake and kept it for the men, but after reading it, they quickly took it to the king’s palace.

“Once the letter reached Kabiyesi, he informed security agencies. Around 5pm, DSS and police officers visited Inaja, Ira and Aho. Soldiers, police and NSCDC personnel are now patrolling the area,” he said.

The chief added that despite the security presence, fear had gripped the communities, prompting some residents to relocate temporarily.

“This is the first time we are witnessing something like this. People are afraid. Some have left for nearby towns because we don’t know what is coming. Our vigilantes are currently in Ilorin for forest guard training. We want the government to release them to return home to address this threat,” he said.

Monarch seeks intervention

The Oninaja of Inaja, Oba Wahab Oyetoro, told Saturday PUNCH that the letter heightened tension and forced some residents to flee.

“The letter was found in Ira on Thursday, and Oyun Local Government Chairman immediately called a security meeting of all traditional rulers to inform them and map out strategies to protect ourselves and our subjects. People are scared because of the massacre in Kaiama. Some residents have already left town to seek refuge in Offa and other neighbouring communities,” he said.

The monarch added that security agents, supported by vigilantes, had commenced patrols in the communities.

Speaking on the matter, the National Secretary of the Ira Descendants Union, Yekini Olarewaju, said the community had reached out to the government and security agencies for urgent intervention.

Describing the mood in the community, he said fear had gripped residents and disrupted normal activities.

“There is panic everywhere. People are afraid. Those who were supposed to go to their farms, especially those harvesting cashew, could not go. All schools, including primary and secondary, did not open today. People shut down their businesses.

“We have sought the help of the government. Security agencies such as the Navy, civil defence, the police, as well as soldiers stationed in Ilemona, a neighbouring community, have started patrolling the entire area.

“Our local vigilantes are also not sleeping. They have been combing the surrounding bushes since then,” he said.

An indigene of Ira who resides in Offa and spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said news of the letter spread rapidly on Thursday night.

“We received the news about a strange letter late on Thursday night, but we didn’t even know where it came from. In fact, some people and I were in Ira around 3pm yesterday (Thursday) and heard nothing.

“It was around 10 pm that my brother rushed from Ira to Offa to inform me. I was shocked. People from Lagos and even outside the country started calling me. One of my younger brothers, out of fear, asked me to relocate to Lagos, but I insisted on staying,” he added.

The man said many families had resorted to prayers while urging vigilance among their children.

“We just have to be prayerful. The letter has already sent shockwaves through the community, but people have nowhere else to go. Parents are warning their children not to move around at night. We have written to the government requesting assistance,” he said.

Police, DSS on red alert

The spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, Ejire Adetoun-Adeyemi, confirmed receipt of the letter.

“Our intelligence unit is currently investigating to ascertain its veracity and possible source. We have intensified patrols by deploying additional personnel, in collaboration with vigilantes, to identify the source of the letter. The Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, has implored anyone with useful information to report to the nearest police division. He assures indigenes and residents of Kwara of the police resolve to protect lives and property,” she said.

Similarly, a senior DSS officer confirmed the development, stating, “We have received this letter, and we are working on it.”

A military source said the Nigerian Army’s Forward Operating Base in Ilemona had increased patrols across the threatened communities.

“The information has put all security agencies on operational alert. Meetings with local government authorities have been held to review strategies and ensure there is no infiltration,” the officer said.

LG chairman convenes emergency meeting

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Oyun LGA, Akanbi Olarewaju, convened an emergency security meeting on Friday at the council secretariat in Ilemona.

The meeting, attended by security agencies, traditional rulers and key stakeholders, was aimed at addressing the threats.

The Chief Press Secretary to the chairman, Owodunni Adekunle, said, “Although security agencies are still working to authenticate the source and credibility of the letter, the council considered it necessary to take proactive steps in the interest of public safety.

“We urge our people to remain calm, vigilant and report any strange movement or unfamiliar faces, not only in Ira and Aho/Inaja but across the entire Oyun Local Government. Community policing and timely information-sharing remain critical to preventing crime and averting possible security breaches.”

When doctors die in silence: A national indictment, By Muiz Banire

In several of my past interventions ( In my column in The Sun, published 17th December 2020, titled “Health care delivery: The capital market option” https://www.sunnewsonline.com/health-care-delivery-the-capital-market-option/, in my piece titled “Our Fate After COVID-19” published 6th April 2020 https://theinterview.ng/2020/04/06/our-fate-after-covid-19/, in my column in The Daily Sun Newspaper published 22nd April 2021, titled “COVID-19 donations: Call for probity, accountability” https://www.sunnewsonline.com/covid-19-donations-call-for-probity-accountability/, in my column in The Daily Sun Newspaper published 6th October 2022, titled “Mental health crisis in Nigeria” https://www.sunnewsonline.com/mental-health-crisis-in-nigeria, in my column in The Sun published Thursday, November 23, 2023, titled “Cost of Democracy vs Dividends of Democracy” https://sunnewsonline.com/cost-of-democracy-vs-dividends-of-democracy/, In my column in The Sun published 24th July 2025, titled “When a president dies”https://thesun.ng/when-a-president-dies/, see my column in The Sun, published on 5th January 2026 titled “When sickness meets poverty https://thesun.ng/when-sickness-meets-poverty/”), I have interrogated the disturbing deficits in Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system, deficits that were brutally exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the height of that global crisis, lamentations filled the air. Our leaders openly acknowledged the deplorable state of our health facilities across the country and solemnly promised immediate rejuvenation. Billions of naira were reportedly mobilised in the name of rescuing the sector.

I vividly recall the emotional admission and appeals of the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, as well as the huge donations announced by government and private actors, which were expected to be administered under the stewardship of the then Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele. As is often the case with us, the noise made the headlines; the promised action quietly evaporated. Today, years later, we are confronted with the same grim reality. Only recently, the coordinating Minister for Health publicly lamented the abysmally poor release of capital expenditure to the health sector, another gloomy reminder that our past, present, and perhaps even our future remain trapped in a vicious cycle of neglect. However, this intervention is not directed primarily at the visible infrastructural gaps in our healthcare system. Rather, it seeks to advance the case of the human beings who sacrificed everything so that the rest of us might live and live healthy.

It is aimed at re-echoing and amplifying the message contained in a recent and deeply unsettling discourse authored by M. A. Suwaidin. Professor Suwaidin’s piece paints a disturbing picture of how quickly society vilifies and condemns medical doctors whenever deaths occur, particularly when such deaths involve celebrities or their relatives, without patience, investigation, or appreciation of context. We rush to judgment, fuelled by emotion and social media outrage, rarely pausing to interrogate the circumstances under which such tragedies occur. Even where negligence is evident and deserving of sanction, fairness demands due inquiry. Yet, what of the many instances where doctors are not at fault, or worse still, where they lose their own lives in the course of saving others? Such cases abound. As the Professor poignantly observed: “Yet, almost unnoticed, a doctor dies after contracting Lassa fever in the line of duty—infected while treating a patient.

No hashtags. No outrage. No national mourning. Just a quiet burial and a grieving family left to cope alone.” If we choose to forget the numerous casualties under such circumstances, we surely cannot forget the late Ameyo Adadevoh, who paid the ultimate price while treating an Ebola patient, thereby saving millions of Nigerians from a national catastrophe. Beyond the commendable recognition accorded her by the then Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, how else have we truly celebrated her sacrifice? How many of such doctors have trended, been memorialised, or honoured proportionately for paying the supreme price in the line of duty? More importantly, have we ever paused to interrogate the absence of adequate safety valves for medical personnel, particularly in our public health facilities? Have we sufficiently acknowledged the daily dangers to which they are exposed?

These questions validate Professor Suwaidin’s assertion that: “The death of a doctor from an occupational infection is not just a personal tragedy; it is a systemic failure. It raises uncomfortable questions about workplace safety, institutional support, insurance, compensation, and preparedness. But these questions are rarely asked because the victim is not famous, not wealthy, not trending.” Have we, as a society, ever truly interrogated the safety of doctors, much less their general welfare? Have we reflected on the negligence that arises from chronic overwork, understaffing, lack of essential equipment, and emotional exhaustion? Doctors are not magicians, nor are they spirits.

They operate within the limits of human knowledge and available facilities. This truth is humbly captured in the motto of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba: “We care, God heals.” There is something profoundly unsettling, indeed tragic, about a society in which those trained to preserve life are themselves left to perish quietly, unattended, and uncelebrated. When Doctors Die in Silence, as articulated by Professor Suwaidin, is not merely an essay; it is a mirror held up to our collective conscience. It exposes, with painful clarity, a moral contradiction at the heart of our healthcare system: the healers are often forgotten, and those who spend their lives fighting death are ultimately abandoned to it. A doctor’s life is anything but ordinary. It is forged through years of sacrifice, long nights of study, exhausting residency programmes, relentless call duties, emotional immersion in suffering, and a professional oath that subordinates personal comfort to the survival of others.

Yet, paradoxically, when illness, exhaustion, or old age finally takes its toll, the very system that consumed their strength frequently withdraws its care. The silence surrounding the death of doctors is therefore not accidental; it is systemic, institutional, and deeply revealing of our national priorities. Doctors die not only from natural causes but from preventable exhaustion, untreated stress, occupational hazards, and inadequate access to quality healthcare, ironically within the institutions they once served. Many die without robust health insurance to cover terminal illnesses. Some die after years of unpaid pensions, delayed entitlements, and humiliating bureaucratic struggles. Others pass away quietly in rented apartments, far removed from the hospital wards where they once stood between life and death for countless strangers. Their deaths rarely provoke national mourning, policy review, or structural reform.

At best, they attract fleeting condolences; at worst, complete indifference. This silence is not benign. It is cruel. It tells the living doctor that loyalty to the system is a one-way obligation. It tells young medical students that devotion is rewarded with neglect. It tells the public that a doctor’s worth expires once utility diminishes. Most dangerously, it tells government that the erosion of morale in the health sector is an acceptable collateral damage. The silent deaths of doctors also expose a deeper societal failure to value service over spectacle. In a country where entertainers, politicians, and socialites are lavishly celebrated in death, the quiet burial of a doctor who saved thousands of lives represents a tragic misalignment of values. We applaud noise and ignore substance; we glorify wealth and trivialise sacrifice. Yet no nation survives for long when its saviours are treated as expendable. From a governance perspective, this silence is a damning indictment.

A state that cannot protect those who protect its citizens has failed in its most basic duty. Healthcare policy must go beyond infrastructure and equipment to include welfare, dignity, and post-service security of healthcare professionals. Functional health insurance, mental health support, enforceable work-hour regulations, prompt payment of salaries and pensions, and institutionalised recognition of service are not privileges; they are necessities. Anything short of this is exploitation disguised as patriotism. The public, too, must accept responsibility. We are quick to blame doctors during strikes, impatient during delays, and hostile when systems fail, yet painfully slow to empathise with the conditions under which they operate.

We forget that the exhausted doctor is still human, that the grieving doctor has emotions, and that the ageing doctor deserves care. We also forget that a deceased doctor left behind a bereaved and equally grieving family who ought to be taken care of and expected that care and nurturing would be provided by their deceased asset just buried under the ground as a result of untimely death. If society continues to consume doctors without compassion, the inevitable outcome will be burnout, brain drain that the country is currently experiencing, and death in silence, until there are none left to save us.

Professor Suwaidin’s intervention should therefore be read not merely as a lamentation but as a call to conscience. It compels us to ask uncomfortable but necessary questions: What becomes of those who gave their lives to our survival? Why must doctors die unheard? What does it say about us when we normalise such endings? In many cultures, a society is judged by how it treats its elders and its servants (see my column in The Sun published on 23rd October 2025: The Vanishing Culture of Caring for Elders https://thesun.ng/the-vanishing-culture-of-caring-for-elders/ ). By that standard, the silent deaths of doctors represent a collective moral failure. We must deliberately reverse this narrative, through policy, culture, and conscious public action.

Doctors should not die in silence; they should live with dignity and be remembered with honour. As Professor Suwaidin rightly concluded: “Healthcare workers are not expendable. They are not martyrs by default. Their sacrifice should not be normalised or ignored. Every doctor who dies in the line of duty deserves recognition, protection, and accountability from the systems that sent them to the frontlines.” Until we learn to care for the caretakers, our healthcare system will remain fundamentally broken, no matter how many hospitals we build or slogans we invent. A nation that allows its doctors to die in silence is, in truth, preparing its own slow and unceremonious decline.

The views expressed by contributors are strictly personal and not of Law & Society Magazine.

Intimate Affairs: Before you accept his proposal, By Funke Egbemode

You cannot take a maid. I cannot live with a maid. We will not employ a maid.

If the man you are considering spending the rest of your life with is a man who is allergic to maids and house helps in any form, you need to pause and take a second look at your shopping list. Are you the kind of woman who can do without a maid, run a home without help and still grow a business or career? If yes, then you are good to go. Just think it through because this is 2026. Don’t for a minute think this is a small matter. It may look like something you can gloss over, but it really isn’t. In any case, a dozen small stuff will coagulate into a ticking time bomb eventually. It is better to talk about it with him now when he is still seeing you as ‘orente’ than wait till when you are ‘after-two’ and no longer quoted on the ‘stock exchange.’

Having a maid in the house does not mean a wife is lazy. A helping hand will free up time for the couple. Imagine being able to get in the shower with your husband after a long stressful day and ‘feeding him’ right there under the steady stream of hot water before bringing him to the dining table to further feed him. Just imagine the kind of restful early night he’d have after a bowl of seafood okra and semo. That nice arrangement would have been made possible by the housekeeper who had quickly made the semo and microwaved the soup madam made over the weekend. Who sweaty, exhausted wife help?

A wife who has to rush into the kitchen to start dinner with one hand while doing laundry of the children’s school uniforms with the other is not the one you can expect full cooperation with in bed. The house-help is an important part of marriage, any modern marriage. The help could be a daily help who resumes at 7 am and closes at 6 pm but a man needs to support his wife with that help so his woman can perform everywhere at full installed capacity. A man who wants his wife to do everything in the house is a suspect.

A man who says you cannot work under any other but him is a man you cannot or should not trust. Don’t be taken in by his colourful proposal and the rock on his engagement ring; he is a criminal in love. Yes, you will and must work under him, but you must go out and earn your own money. There is nothing like a woman having her own money. Imagine getting a call that your mother had just been admitted in hospital and the hospital is insisting on N150, 000 deposit and you, a mother of two, have only 15k. And you have to wait until he returns home, showers, eats and belches loudly before you can even broach the subject! You cannot attend your school reunion because he has approved only 50k for you, which barely fuels the car to the venue. You can’t help your brother with his rent or your sister with pocket money because everything is coming from Oga’s pocket. A man who does not want you to have a job most times is a man who wants to play God. He wants to isolate you so that he can strip you of your dignity and more.

I earn enough to take care of my family.

Just stay home and take care of me and the children.

My sister, run o. You are about to board a one-chance bus. Tell him you love him but he will have to take his insecurities elsewhere. But there are exceptions. Some men are really that rich, so blessed they do not want their wives in small nine-to-five gigs. They set them up in big businesses, allow them to travel, import and export. Those are the ones who are comfortable in their own skin. They want their women to flourish. Make sure you know what you are getting into and with whom.

If he is a 30-day make-a-pay man who does not want you to work, my friend, you need to slow down and ask yourself, where will this arrangement take me to five years from now. I know you want the soft life but soft life is really unnatural. If your marriage runs into a storm, that is when you will know that you have been swimming in a shallow pond in wet season. Once the dry season sets in, a love song can turn into a dirge. I must also add that there is a second exception to the rule, especially where the man is generous. The onus is on a smart wife to know how to work from home, invest and get even stupendously rich making her money work for her.

Samuel and Toyin have had a difficult year. Indeed, as you read this, they are temporarily living apart. What happened? They have two daughters and have been married for eight years. Their two girls were delivered via caesarean section, and each birth came with complications. Samuel wants more children, at least a son. Toyin is scared to death to try again. Their second daughter is four years old, and Samuel started wondering why his wife had not conceived again. Toyin is one of those women who can get pregnant if her husband smiles at her long enough. It is that easy for her. It is just delivery that is rocket science.

“My husband believed that we would get a son the third time. I tried to explain to him the dangers of going under the knife a third time but he cited examples of women who have had three C.S. When I noticed he had started calculating my cycle and noting my ovulation in his private diary, I knew I had to act fast. I went see a friend who is a gynaecologist and that was how I started taking the injection twice a year. After many fights over my resistance to see the family doctor, I finally confessed that I was on contraceptive. Of course the shit hit the fan. He accused me of every sin in the book including adultery. He moved into a hotel. He will return when he has cooled off or one day we will join him in that hotel.”

Don’t you just like her confidence, her strength? She is determined both to stay alive and win her husband back, the bushman who wanted a son even at the risk of becoming a widower.

These are just three of the points couples must talk about specifically and in details. Money angles, number of children and if gender will determine number. Parents must include this in their children’s upbringing and counselling as they approach marriage. Abuse goes beyond slapping your spouse around. It is unfair to isolate a woman so you can play God in her life. It is evil to encourage another man’s daughter to keep going under the knife just so you can have a son.

Real-Time E-Transmission in Nigeria Without E-Voting: Clarifying the law, the technology, & the misconceptions (A Response to Senator Adegbomire & P. D. Pius)

By Sylvester Udemezue

INTRODUCTION

Two recent public commentaries have reignited debate on electoral reform in Nigeria. P.D. Pius, Esq., in his article titled, “Electronic Transmission of Results is Not a Magic Wand” (and published on 10 February 2026), argues that electronic transmission is over-emphasised and is easily manipulable. He appears to regard electronic transmission as conterminous with electronic voting. On his part, distinguished Senator Niyi Adegbonmire, SAN, is reported to have argued that real-time transmission of results can only happen where e-voting exists, and since Nigeria does not practice electronic voting, e-transmission cannot apply to Nigeria (see ‘“Real-Time Transmission Can Only Happen With Electronic Voting, Nigeria Doesn’t Have E-Voting” – Senator Adegbonmire SAN On Electoral Act’(12 February 2026). With utmost respect to both distinguished colleagues, these positions appear to arise from a fundamental misunderstanding of what “real-time electronic transmission” means within Nigeria’s electoral framework. This commentary therefore clarifies the concept, explains the relevant legal and technological realities, and addresses the issues for the benefit of stakeholders and Nigerians.

WHAT “REAL-TIME ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION” ACTUALLY MEANS

According to most standard English dictionaries, the expression “real-time” simply means happening immediately as something occurs, occurring without delay, taking place instantly and simultaneously. Accordingly, “real-time electronic transmission” means the instant electronic sending or receiving of information at the very moment it is produced, without delay.

THE CRUCIAL QUESTION: TRANSMISSION OF WHAT?

In the Nigerian context, considering distinguished Senator Adegbomire’s declaration, a crucial question may be asked as to exactly what is expected to be transmitted since Nigeria does not practice e-voting. This is where most confusion begins. To properly and accurately answer this question, it is important to state that, contrary to the impression the respected Senator tried to create, different electoral systems transmit different things. In countries practicing electronic voting, real-time e-transmission refers to e-transmission of votes themselves, and automatic computation of results. However, Nigeria does NOT practice electronic voting. Accordingly, real-time transmission in Nigeria cannot logically refer to transmitting of votes. But this does not mean that “real-time” transmission does not and cannot apply in the Nigerian context.

HOW REAL-TIME E-TRANSMISSION APPLIES IN NIGERIA

In Nigeria, what the law provides for is very specific: real-time electronic transmission of scanned copies of the duly completed and endorsed Polling Unit Result Sheet (known as Form EC8A). This means that immediately after voting ends at the polling unit, votes are counted and announced. Form EC8A is completed, signed and duly stamped, as required by law. The Form is then scanned electronically at the polling unit, and uploaded instantly to INEC’s IReV portal before officials leave the polling unit.

FOUR ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF REAL-TIME E-TRANSMISSION IN THE NIGERIAN CONTEXT

In my humble opinion, for e-transmission in the Nigerian context to truly qualify as “real-time,” four conditions must coexist:

  1. There must be transmission: this means there must be some form of uploading or sending, or transfer.
  2. The subject of what is transmitted must be specific: What must be transmitted is a scanned copy of the duly completed and signed Form EC8A.
  3. Transmission must be electronic: This means that the transmission must occur digitally, not manually.
  4. Transmission must be “real-time”: This means that the e-transmission of the scanned copy of the duly completed and signed Form EC8A must be done instantly, directly from the polling unit, immediately after signing, and before officials leave the polling unit for the collation centre.

WHY THESE FOUR ELEMENTS ARE ESSENTIAL

The four elements set out above must co-exist in order to eliminate post-voting human interference. Once a scanned copy of the duly completed and signed Form EC8A (result sheet) is digitally uploaded and instantly from the polling unit, it becomes publicly verifiable, tampering (with the hard copy of Form EC8A submitted at the collation) becomes futile, and electoral fraud becomes extremely difficult to perpetuate anytime afterwards.

THREE DISTINCT MODELS OF E-TRANSMISSION EXIST WORLDWIDE

A major source of misunderstanding is failure to distinguish between different forms of electronic transmission. In my respectful opinion, there exist three principal global models of electronic transmission of election results.

  1. MODEL ONE: Electronic Voting (e-Voting): This is used in some countries (jurisdictions). Also, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has adopted it for its national officers’ elections. Basic features of this model include: (i) Votes are cast electronically; (ii) Results are generated automatically; and (iii) Transmission occurs simultaneously with voting. A major weakness of this model is that it is highly vulnerable/susceptible to hacking and coding manipulation. This is the system my learned friend, Mr. P. D. Pius mistook for to be the Nigerian model. Contrary to his supposition, Nigeria does NOT use this model.
  2. MODEL TWO: Manual Voting Plus Direct Entry of Raw Figures: Essential features: (i) Votes are counted manually; (ii) the figures are manually entered into a digital system (in the same way one composes an email or WhatsApp message); and (iii) the raw numbers are then transmitted (just as one sends an email or uploads a message to a WhatsApp platform). A major weakness is that manipulation may occur during manual data entry into the digital system, before upload. For example, actual results showing Party A = 540 and Party B = 670 could be altered during entry by a compromised polling official (unless closely monitored by independent observers) to Party A = 940 and Party B = 360. This model is used in some countries, such as Kenya.
  3. Model Three: Upload of Scanned Result Sheets (Nigeria’s INEC Adopted Model): This is Nigeria’s model. The process goes thus as provided in the Electoral Act, 2022: (i) Manual voting occurs at the polling unit; (ii) Votes are counted at the polling unit; (iii) Form EC8A is completed and signed at the polling unit; (iv) The form is scanned at the polling unit; and (v) The the scanned copy of Form EC8A is then digitally uploaded (e-transmitted) instantly to IReV (INEC’s online collation platform).

WHY THE NIGERIAN MODEL IS THE MOST SECURE

This model preserves physical evidence, ensures digital transparency, maintains multiple verification trails, and enhances public auditability. In sum, result manipulation becomes extremely difficult once polling officers leave the polling unit or at any time thereafter.

WHY VAGUE LEGAL WORDING CAN DEFEAT ELECTORAL INTEGRITY

I recently read a news report stating that a Senate Committee reportedly proposed that electronic transmission should occur “after Form EC8A has been signed and stamped.” The provision, as quoted in the report, reads: “The Presiding Officer shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the IReV portal in real time, and such transmission shall be done after the prescribed Form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the Presiding Officer and/or countersigned by the candidates or polling agents available at the polling unit.” (See: “How Three Southern Senators Blocked Real-Time Electronic Transmission of Election Results – Report,” published on 09 February 2026). With due respect, this wording is extremely and dangerously vague. Such a provision permits or envisages transmission (i) at the polling unit; or (ii) at collation centres; or (iii) outside the polling unit hours or days after the balloting. Thus, the law could be formally complied with and yet substantively abused. With due respect, real-time transmission will lose its meaning/essence if e-transmission can occur “after” results leave the polling unit. As I wrote earlier, the polling unit is the only stage in the electoral process where result sheet (Form EC8A) remains relatively protected from interference. Once Form EC8A leaves the polling unit, it becomes vulnerable to human discretion, logistical challenges, political pressure, and opacity. Therefore, if electronic transmission does not occur directly from the polling unit on election day and within the election time-frame, it loses its purpose. Transmission carried out after officials leave the polling unit, after manual collation has begun, or on a later date cannot prevent fraud; it merely digitizes a process that may already have been compromised.

POST-VOTING PROCEDURES UNDER THE ELECTORAL ACT

Under the Electoral Act, 2022, the requirement is that after voting ends at the polling unit, votes must be counted at the polling unit, and results must be announced publicly. Thereafter, and still at the polling unit, Form EC8A must be completed, signed, and stamped, and copies of the duly signed copy must be given to candidates or their agents immediately, after which the Form must be scanned, and the scanned copy immediately (in real time) e-transmitted to the iReV. A poster copy must be displayed at the polling unit. This stage marks the beginning of post-voting procedures, where real-time transmission logically belongs.

SPECIFIC RESPONSE TO ARGUMENTS BY P.D. PIUS, ESQ.

Two main claims were made by my learned friend, P.D Pius, Esq.:

  1. First, he argued that electoral reform should start from party primaries. With due respect to my learned friend, both reforms are necessary, and there is nothing wrong with the two aspects of reform proceeding simultaneously. Electoral credibility and transparency must never be made to wait if the integrity of the process must be secured.
  2. Second, my learned friend claims that electronic transmission is easier to rig. According to him, it may be far easier and cheaper to manipulate results through computer coding than to mobilize people to alter figures at ward level, something any technically knowledgeable person can confirm. With due respect, this claim is founded on a wrong premise; it conflates and confuses Nigeria’s model with electronic voting systems which Nigeria does not operate. Nigeria’s system only entails the transmission of the duly completed, signed and scanned result sheets (Form EC8A), not digital vote data. With due respect, manipulating the Nigerian system would require altering physical signed forms, multiple copies, publicly accessible records. And, this is far more difficult than manipulating manual collation, contrary to my learned friend’s claim. CONCLUSION

From the foregoing, it is clear that (contrary to the learned Senator Adegbonmire’s claim) “real-time” electronic transmission of election results can effectively operate without e-voting under the Nigerian system. In Nigeria, “real-time” electronic transmission does not mean electronic voting; it means the instant electronic upload of duly completed, signed, and scanned polling-unit result sheet (Form EC8A) directly from the polling units to the iReV immediately after voting, before the Form (result sheet) is taken out of the polling unit. It is respectfully submitted that if made indispensable, this system would enhance transparency, credibility, electoral integrity, and public trust. The issue, therefore, is not technological feasibility but political will. As Kofi Annan rightly observed, “Elections are not just about who wins, but about the process by which the will of the people is expressed and respected.”

Post Scriptum:
The demand for real-time transmission is not partisan; it is a call for transparency, accountability, credibility, and democratic legitimacy. Nigeria would benefit from making it a strictly mandatory and non-negotiable legal requirement, with clear consequences, such that any election result not electronically transmitted in accordance with the law would be invalid. For the Nigerian model of electronic transmission to become mandatory, two steps are required: (a) the National Assembly must enact it into law, and (b) the Executive must assent to it. Ultimately, the choice is ours: either to embrace a new path toward electoral integrity or remain with practices that undermine credible democracy. As John C. Maxwell observed, life is defined by the choices we make, and we must be prepared to live with their consequences.
Respectfully,
Sylvester Udemezue (Udems)
(Member, NBA’s Law Reform Committee)
08109024556, [email protected].
(12 February 2026)

The views expressed by contributors are strictly personal and not of Law & Society Magazine.

Is The Law An Ass? Paedophile nursery worker who filmed himself sexually assaulting children as young as two bags merely 18 years

An ‘utterly wicked’ paedophile who was ‘every parent’s worst nightmare’ after he sexually abused children ‘in plain sight’ at the nursery where he worked has been jailed.

Vincent Chan was handed an 18-year sentence after he admitted 56 counts of molesting children, sexually assaulting a woman, taking upskirt videos of girls in his previous job in a primary school, and spying on females getting undressed.

His victims, aged between two and in her 70s, said they felt ‘violated’, ‘frightened’, and ‘disgusted’ in powerful statements read before the Wood Green Crown Court.

His Honour Judge John Dodd said the 45-year-old British national was ‘someone who clearly lost all sense of moral compass’, and behaved in a ‘sexually deviant manner, focusing not exclusively on the children in your care’.

He said: ‘Any right-thinking person hearing about your offences will feel revulsion and disbelief.’

He said: ‘The offending came to light because you chose to record your perverted activity. Your appetite for this material was substantial.

‘There are many victims left profoundly hurt as a result of your offending – their victim impact statements make for harrowing reading.’

Chan sat emotionless throughout the lengthy hearing, which outlined his sickening campaign of abuse lasting 15 years, as the parents of some of his young victims comforted each other just a few metres away.

He was finally caught when a colleague at the £2,000-a-month Bright Horizons Finchley Road nursery raised concerns about her experienced colleague Chan’s behaviour.

Chan was suspended and the police called in – only to find a disturbing cache of images and videos documenting his hideous crimes.

Prosecutor Philip Stott told the hearing Chan was offending right up until the day before he was suspended from work in 2024, when a whistleblower flagged he had been ‘filming children in his care who were clearly distressed, crying, wetting themselves or eating their own mucus, superimposing audio or imagery over the videos in an apparent attempt at humour’.

Around 20 family members of children previously at the nursery were in court for the hearing.

In a particularly sinister twist, one mother described how Chan gave her daughter a farewell card he had designed upon her leaving his nursery – the parent unaware Chan filmed himself sexually abusing her.

Reading from her statement, prosecutor Mr Stott said: ‘She (mum) thought that to be a kind and thoughtful gesture which she kept in the home for a year – but learning the truth has been deeply distressing.’

One of his child victims, who is now much older, said she experienced ‘a new sense of fear’ since becoming aware of his crimes.

‘Now I am edgy and jumpy, I struggle to walk alone in the dark,’ she said. ‘I have always had positive experiences with men, but this has changed that.’

A former colleague, who Chan sexually assaulted, described how she had no idea about his dark criminal past.

She said: ‘You have proven, even in sleep, there is no guaranteed safety when a predator is allowed to hide in plain sight.

‘You have spent the last 15 years building a life on the suffering and secrets of others.

‘Today, that silence ends.’

A statement on behalf of the community of around 200 people described how parents ‘blame ourselves’ for failing to keep their own children safe.

They added: ‘What should have been a time of safety and innocence has now become a time of distress.’

Another woman added: ‘I trusted you, but the truth was I was never safe with you.’

The judge said the blame was ‘yours (Chan) and yours alone’.

Chan, of Stanhope Avenue in Finchley, pleaded guilty to charges including five counts of sexual assault by penetration, four counts of sexual assault by touching, 11 counts of voyeurism, and 23 counts of taking indecent images of children. One of the images was named ‘jailbait’, the court heard.

He also admitted six counts of outraging public decency – also known as upskirting – one sexual assault on a female by touching a woman’s breasts while she was asleep, and six counts of making indecent images of children.

The offending dates back around 15 years, and involves at least 20 female victims, although police believe there may be others who have not been identified.

‘Highly educated’ Masters graduate Chan was a supply teacher across primary and secondary schools in north London from 2006 to 2007, although there was no evidence of offending during this time.

It was after he joined St Mary’s Church of England School in Finchley, in October 2007, that Chan is believed to have begun targeting vulnerable children. He was initially hired as IT support, but also occasionally took classes.

It is understood he was responsible for photographing and filming events such as performances and trips for the school website.

He worked at Bright Horizons from 2017, sexually abusing at least four little girls aged between two and four after passing an advanced vetting process and reference checks to become an art specialist.

He later became a nursery nurse and was promoted to room leader. But this is thought to have limited his access to children, so he asked to be demoted to his former role, in which he fed, dressed and cleaned children.

Although he pleaded guilty to all charges, Chan has yet to explain why he carried out his depraved offending.

Defence counsel Nicholas Jones admitted his client had ‘limited’ mitigation, but said Chan pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

He said: ‘He has a problem – he doesn’t want to be the person that he is, and is willing to get help.’

Three people in the public gallery left the court briefly as Mr Jones got to his feet.

And some of those who remained reacted with apparent anger as Mr Jones said the most serious offences would not happen again because Chan would not be permitted to work with children upon his release.

Police have contacted the families of around 1,200 children thought to have been in Chan’s care since his career began.

In a statement issued by their legal team at law firm Leigh Day, families said: ‘We welcome today’s outcome and are relieved that Vincent Chan is now behind bars for his sickening crimes.

‘However, we still do not know the full scale of his offending at Bright Horizons, Finchley Road. Every family deserves the truth, and every child who suffered must see justice done.

‘Bright Horizons must also be held to account. We believe their safeguarding failures created the perfect hunting ground for a predator. Chan was not a ‘lone wolf’, and this was not about extraordinary technical skill. He was able to operate for years in a workplace where safeguarding failures were missed, minimised or ignored.

‘Camden Council must use its powers to pursue Bright Horizons for breaches under the Health and Safety at Work Act. A nursery must be a place of safety, not a place where children are put at risk.

‘We are also using the Victims’ Right to Review to seek reconsideration of the neglect charges for which Chan was first arrested.

‘Our children carry what was done to them. They deserve justice, and we will not stop until they have it.’

Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, the Senior Investigating Officer, said: ‘Chan’s crimes are horrific, but we will not let his name overshadow today.

‘Our foremost responsibility throughout has been to the victims – carrying out a meticulous investigation that established the extent of the offending and ensured Chan was held to account.’

The Bright Horizons branch where Chan preyed on vulnerable children has now closed down.

A spokesman for the nursery chain, which is facing legal action from a group of parents over the abuse, said: ‘We are shocked and appalled by this individual’s horrific crimes. Our thoughts are first and foremost with the children and families affected, and we are committed to offering support to them during this incredibly difficult time.

‘Whilst this individual’s actions came to light after a colleague raised concerns and followed our whistle-blowing procedures to report him, we fully accept that the evidence shows the individual was able to commit these crimes despite our safeguarding measures.

‘In light of this, we have commissioned an external expert in this field to undertake a full review of our safeguarding practices.’

A Camden Council spokesman said: ‘This is a highly distressing case and our thoughts are with the children and families whose lives have been so deeply affected.

‘Camden Council is participating in the independent Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review into the abuse at the former Bright Horizons nursery branch, and at settings within Barnet, designed to prevent anything like this from ever happening again.’

Earlier this week nursery worker Nathan Bennett was convicted of eight charges including rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration, relating to five children aged two or three at the Partou King Street nursery in Bristol.

The 30-year-old will be sentenced next month.

Credits: Daily Mail

SAN alleges ‘grave legal errors’ in Kanu Judgment, cites rendition, hearsay, due process breaches

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
  • Warns of far-reaching implications for rule of law

A blistering legal critique has emerged over the November 20, 2025, judgment delivered by Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court in the terrorism trial of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu, with a Senior Advocate arguing that multiple procedural and evidentiary lapses could undermine confidence in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

Chris Ehumadu Okeke, SAN, said he delayed commenting on the ruling until he had carefully reviewed the judgment, ultimately concluding that several aspects raise troubling constitutional and legal questions.

At the heart of his argument is a warning that the certainty of law—considered a cornerstone of democratic societies—must not be compromised, regardless of the personalities involved.

“Societies are built not on the conveniences of today’s actors but on the rule of law when applied fairly and evenly,” he said.

Jurisdiction Questioned Over Broadcast Evidence

Okeke contends that the prosecution failed to establish a critical element of its case: where the alleged radio broadcast that formed the basis of the terrorism charge originated.

According to him, identifying the location of the broadcast is not a technicality but a jurisdictional necessity tied to the legal doctrine of dual criminality, which ensures cross-border offences are prosecuted within clear legal boundaries.

He cited provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act requiring that charges specify the time and place of an alleged offence to adequately notify the defendant.

Failure to do so, he argued, risks transforming prosecution into persecution.

Statements Taken Without Counsel

The senior lawyer also faulted the taking of some of Kanu’s statements in the absence of legal representation, describing it as a violation of statutory protections.

He referenced the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which mandates that suspects may make statements in the presence of a lawyer or designated witness, a position he noted has received judicial backing from the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Extraordinary Rendition Controversy Resurfaces

Okeke further revived debate over Kanu’s return to Nigeria from Kenya, arguing that the process appeared inconsistent with the country’s Extradition Act.

He maintained that once the defendant raised the issue—effectively an alibi in municipal law—the burden shifted to the prosecution to disprove it.

“The courts are not to gloss over such matters,” he said, warning that overlooking them risks muddying established criminal jurisprudence.

Missing Nexus Between Allegations and Violence

Another pillar of the critique centres on what Okeke described as the prosecution’s failure to produce witnesses who acted on Kanu’s alleged incitements.

Without testimony directly linking the defendant to violent acts, he argued, the case lacked the legal nexus required to sustain terrorism allegations.

“These requirements exist to ensure prosecutions are based on clear legal standards, not the fancies of a prosecuting authority,” he said.

Hearsay Evidence Concerns

Okeke also pointed to portions of testimony he believes amounted to hearsay—evidence given by witnesses who did not directly observe the events in question.

The Evidence Act, he noted, sets strict limits on such material because of its inherent unreliability in criminal trials.

Unusual Post-Judgment Order Raises Eyebrows

Particularly striking, he said, was the court’s indication that consequential orders could be sought after the 90-day appeal window.

Such a suggestion appears to conflict with the doctrine of functus officio, which holds that a judge’s authority largely ends once a final decision is delivered, except for minor clerical corrections.

“In over three decades of courtroom practice, I have yet to encounter an order like this,” he remarked.

Sentence Start Date Sparks Debate

Okeke further questioned why the prison term was ordered to run from the date of sentencing rather than from the period already spent in custody—a practice commonly recognised in criminal procedure.

He argued that the court cited no legal authority for departing from this norm, effectively discounting years already served.

Bigger Than One Case

While acknowledging that appellate courts ultimately determine the fate of contested rulings, the senior advocate framed his intervention as part of a broader warning about institutional integrity.

If procedural safeguards can be sidestepped in one high-profile case, he suggested, the precedent could reverberate far beyond a single defendant.

“The law is called the rule of law—not the rule of convenience or of man,” he said, cautioning that selective application of justice today could create victims tomorrow.

As legal observers await potential appeals, the critique is likely to reignite debate over due process, judicial discretion and the delicate balance between national security prosecutions and constitutional protections in Nigeria.

AWLA Nigeria hails Cordelia Eke’s landmark appointment as Perm Sec in Rivers State, calls it a win for women in leadership

The African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) Nigeria has congratulated one of its strongest and most distinguished members, Mrs Cordelia U. Eke, on her appointment as Permanent Secretary in Rivers State.

In a statement issued by its President, Mrs Caroline Ibharuneafe, AWLA Nigeria described the appointment as “a powerful affirmation of competence, integrity, and decades of unwavering commitment to justice.”

Mrs Eke, currently Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch, is widely respected as an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Criminal Justice practitioner, certified mediator, trainer, author, mentor, and passionate advocate for women’s and children’s rights.

“With over 20 years of distinguished experience in Criminal Justice, Public International Law, Gender and Child Rights Advocacy, legal writing and research, Mrs Eke has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and an enduring passion for mentorship and institutional reform,” the statement read.

AWLA noted that her elevation to the position of Permanent Secretary is not only a personal milestone but also a significant step forward for women in leadership within Nigeria’s justice sector.

“As a long-standing and committed member of AWLA, Mrs Eke embodies the values of excellence, service, and courage that our Association stands for. Her appointment is well-deserved, and we are confident that she will bring visionary leadership, administrative discipline, and policy depth to Rivers State,” Mrs Ibharuneafe said.

AWLA Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to supporting women in leadership and advancing gender equity within the legal profession and public service.

In the meantime, all the newly appointed permanent secretaries are yet to be sworn in and assigned portfolios.

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