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How they buy the judges — and break the country, By Babafemi Ojudu

A lot happens in Nigeria that, if you did not witness it yourself, you would swear it was impossible. Some events are so bizarre, so grotesque in their violation of common sense and morality, that even D.O. Fágúnwà’s magical adventures in Ìrìnkèrindò Nínú Igbo Elegbeje pale beside them. Yet these are not tales from another world; they are the lived realities of our republic.

From time to time, I feel compelled to share some of these experiences — not to dramatize, but to awaken. Our democracy is sinking, and few institutions illustrate this decline more starkly than the judiciary. We complain about it almost daily, but nothing demonstrates its decay more vividly than the episode I am about to recount.

I am compelled to narrate this story in view of the contradictory rulings that recently emerged from Abuja and Ibadan over the contentious Peoples Democratic Party convention — judgments issued not on merit, but based on who has influence in particular jurisdictions. It is a dangerous sign of the times.

And may I tell you that the charade, the national disgrace that happened in Abuja between Minister Nyesom Wike and the young naval officer was a result of lack of trust in the judiciary which engenders a resort to self help from both sides.

A Meeting That Should Never Have Happened

Several years ago, during a political dispute in Ekiti, I received an unexpected call from the late Senator Buruji Kashamu. He invited me to Lagos, promising to help resolve the matter. Out of courtesy, I went.

When I arrived, a prominent lawyer and another Ekiti politician were already seated in his living room. We exchanged greetings, and the conversation began casually enough.

Then came the moment that still chills me.

Kashamu excused himself, climbed the stairs, and returned with a briefcase. He set it down, opened it with a flourish, and turned to the lawyer with a smirk:

“Egbon, you refused when I asked you to write judgments for me. Each one would have earned you ₦50 million. Anyway, I have found another lawyer who does it very well.”

My friend looked at him, stunned. I sat rooted in disbelief.

Kashamu then brought out file after file — documents no private citizen should possess.

Inside that briefcase were:
• Judgments for cases already in court
• Judgments for cases he planned to file
• Judgments for cases he anticipated might be filed against him

All pre-written.
All waiting for the right judge.

He boasted that all he needed was to ensure his cases were assigned to “friendly judges.” Once that was done, he handed over the completed judgments — after greasing the necessary palms.

It was a moment of horror. A moment when the illusion of justice crumbled.

As Lord Denning once warned:

“Justice must be rooted in confidence, and confidence is destroyed when right-minded people go away thinking that the judge was biased.”

I walked out of that meeting with my faith in our judiciary deeply shaken. From that day, I resolved never again to take his calls.

Justice for Sale, Democracy in Danger

This story is not about one man. It is about a system slowly suffocated by those entrusted to protect it. When judgments are drafted in private homes before cases reach the courtroom, what we have left is not a judiciary but a cartel of influence, a black market of verdicts, and a criminal conspiracy wearing the robes of justice.

Let us be clear:
• Corruption in the judiciary is not ordinary corruption. It is corruption that eats the soul of a nation.
• It does not only steal money; it steals trust.
• It does not only distort outcomes; it destroys the foundation of society.

Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, one of Nigeria’s greatest jurists, once cautioned:

“The judiciary is the last hope of the common man. If the judiciary fails, where shall the common man turn?”

We are approaching that frightening moment.

Five Terrifying Implications of a Rotten Judiciary

  1. The Innocent Can Be Destroyed

When the gavel is for sale, an innocent man can be jailed for another man’s crime. A widow can lose the only land her husband left behind. A community can be dispossessed overnight.

  1. Criminals Become Untouchable

The powerful can violate laws, crush opponents, loot funds, and then secure court orders to legitimize their wrongdoing.

  1. Politics Becomes Warfare

When verdicts follow money, not evidence, elections become meaningless. Courts become battlefields where victory goes to the highest bidder.

  1. Public Trust Evaporates

Citizens lose faith in institutions. Cynicism becomes the national attitude. Society drifts towards self-help and anarchy.

  1. No Nation Can Thrive Without Justice

As Justice Learned Hand warned:

“If we are to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment: thou shalt not ration justice.”

Yet that is precisely what we have begun to do.

How Did We Get Here?

This rot did not begin today. It accumulated slowly:
• Politicians seeking shortcuts
• Lawyers willing to sell their conscience
• Judges who traded honour for envelopes
• A system that rewards impunity
• A society too fatigued to resist

Now we live in a country where justice can be pre-written, transported in briefcases, and delivered like contraband.

A Nation at the Edge

We stand at a dangerous precipice.
A country survives hunger.
It survives insecurity.
It survives economic crisis.

But no country survives the death of justice.

When courts lose credibility, citizens withdraw their loyalty.
When judges can be bought, the rule of law collapses.
When justice is for sale, tyranny becomes inevitable.

What Must Be Done

There is no option but urgent, radical reform. We must:
• Purge corrupt judges
• Introduce transparent case allocation
• Strengthen oversight and discipline
• Protect judges from political pressure
• Digitize court processes to reduce human interference
• Enforce rigorous asset declarations
• Empower judicial whistleblowers
• Demand accountability from the NJC and legal associations

Above all, we must restore dignity to the bench. A judge without integrity is more dangerous than an armed robber — for the robber can only steal property, but the corrupt judge steals justice, peace, and the future.

A Final Warning

Some may dismiss this as another Nigerian anecdote. It is not. It is a mirror held up to a nation drifting towards catastrophe.

Unless we confront and uproot the rot in our justice system, we will one day wake up to find that we have no country left — only a territory ruled by the powerful and the lawless.

We cannot continue like this.

Justice must return to the courts.
Honour must return to the bench.
And truth must once again be something a citizen can expect — not something that can be bought.

Until then, Nigeria will continue to stagger like a giant robbed of its spine.

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

Legal scholar and researcher, Dr. Pretty Tega Edema launches landmark data privacy law publications and dedicated privacy website

Dr. Pretty Tega Edema, an institutionally recognized legal scholar, educator, and digital rights advocate, will officially host the launch of four major scholarly works on data privacy law, alongside the unveiling of Nigeria’s first comprehensive privacy law website.

A trailblazer in legal education and digital rights, Dr. Edema holds dual coordination roles at Admiralty University of Nigeria, Delta State—leading the Jurisprudence and International Law Department while serving as the inaugural Coordinator of the Faculty of Law’s Law Clinic, Moot Court and Students Development Arm. In her capacity as Education and Training Director of the Data Privacy Lawyers Association of Nigeria (DPLAN), she architects training curricula and educational programs that build data privacy expertise among legal practitioners and the broader public. Her influence extends through her transformative leadership in legal scholarship, unwavering commitment to professional growth, and impactful mentorship of Nigeria’s next generation of lawyers operating at the intersection of law and technology.

Data protection is an emerging field in Nigeria. The Nigeria Data Protection Act, enacted in June 2023, built upon the 2019 data privacy regulation to strengthen the country’s legal framework. These developments, alongside growing case law, have established rights and obligations for stakeholders across Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem while revealing the need for clear guidance, practical tools, and accessible learning resources. Dr. Edema’s project addresses this gap through publications and materials designed to support learning, compliance, and research.

The four publications to be launched include:

  1. Forms and Precedents in Data Privacy Law – A collection of over one hundred (100) templates, forms, and precedents related to data privacy and protection tailored to the Nigerian legal environment.
  2. A Glossary of Data Privacy and Data Protection – Featuring over one thousand words, phrases, abbreviations, terms and terminologies relevant to privacy law and data protection.
  3. Compendium of Data Privacy Laws in Nigeria – Compiling the key laws relating to privacy and data protection in Nigeria with concise explanatory notes.
  4. Readings in Data Privacy and Protection Law (A Bibliography) – Containing over five hundred (500) scholarly works, books, and articles on data privacy and protection in Nigeria.

The accompanying website will serve as a first-of-its-kind platform in Nigeria, providing practitioners, scholars, and the general public with access to authoritative legal resources, practical templates, and podcasts designed to foster digital literacy, professional competence, and scholarship in data privacy and protection.

In her remarks, Dr. Edema stated:
“This launch represents a major milestone in advancing knowledge, understanding and practice in data privacy and digital rights across Nigeria. It is my hope that these publications and the website will empower lawyers, policymakers, and citizens alike to navigate the digital age responsibly, ethically, and with confidence.”

The occasion featured prominent personalities such as Vice-Chancellors of Admiralty University of Nigeria, and Dennis Osadebey University, Delta State, Learned Silks, the traditional rulers within the region, legal scholars, professors of diverse fields, researchers, students and the general public.

Dr. Edema’s works underscores her position as one of Nigeria’s foremost voices in privacy law and digital rights, contributing to legal scholarship, professional development, and public engagement. Her work will help shape policy, promote ethical technology use, and safeguard digital rights in Nigeria and beyond.

This launch not only celebrates scholarly achievement but also reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to digital justice, ethical technology deployment, and the protection of personal data in the rapidly evolving digital era.

Summer Camp Abuse Case: Man pleads guilty to sex offences against boys

A man who laced sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a summer camp in Leicestershire has admitted sexual offences against two boys under 13.

Jon Ruben was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.

The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a boy under 13.

Prosecutors have been given two weeks to consider if they will proceed with this charge, meaning Ruben could still stand trial.

He was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.

‘Sweet game’

Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben’s offending to the court.

She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp that he ran.

“The defendant, for at least 27 years, has run a holiday camp,” she said.

“There is a long history of children feeling sick at the camp over many years.”

Ruben played a “sweet game” with the children, Mrs Prior KC said, in which he would go into the boys’ rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets “as quickly as they can”.

She told the court Ruben had played this game with the boys “for many years”, and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.

She said Ruben had been able to explain this away as the children being “overwrought by enjoyment”, until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.

Mrs Prior KC added: “This year his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.

“They decided to have a look in the defendant’s belongings.”

Mrs Prior KC said items including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his stepson notified the police about his concerns.

She said Ruben went on to play the “sweet game” with six boys that night – Saturday 26 July – and they were all ill the following morning.

“The police had not gone out by that stage,” she added.

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), previously told the BBC it was investigating Leicestershire Police’s handling of the incident.

Mrs Prior KC said the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben’s stepson called the police again.

She said Ruben then played the “sweet game” in a room of five children.

Mrs Prior KC said police did then attend, and Ruben was arrested at a nearby pub, where he was having a meal with some of the children.

She said eight of the children were taken to hospital, with five of them being “very ill”.

Devices belonging to Ruben were later analysed and were found to contain more than 50 category A indecent videos of children, which are the most serious kind.

Category B and C videos were also found.

The 17 charges admitted by Ruben were:

  • One count of sexual assault of a child under 13
  • One count of assault of a child under 13 by penetration
  • Eight counts of cruelty to a person under 16 years, in relation to eight separate victims
  • One count of acquiring or possession of dutiable goods, namely temazepam, by fraudulent intent
  • Three counts of possession of a class C drug, namely flubromazolam, diazepam and temazepam
  • Three counts of making indecent photographs of children

Temporary Det Ch Insp Neil Holden said: “This has been a horrific, complex and emotional investigation involving multiple young, innocent, vulnerable victims and a man who committed the vilest crimes.

“Our focus today must of course remain on the young victims and with the support of partners and dedicated family liaison officers, we have and continue to support their welfare and to ensure their safeguarding going forward.”

BBC

Historic Move in India: Women workers to receive menstrual leave

The southern Indian state of Karnataka, which is also home to some of the world’s biggest IT firms, has become the first in the country to offer paid menstrual leave to all working women in formal jobs.

Under the new policy, women aged 18 to 52 working in government and private companies can take one day of menstrual leave every month, which cannot be carried forward. No medical certificate is required to avail the leave.

The policy covers 350,000 to 400,000 women in the formal sector, although it excludes a much larger cohort – estimated to be six million – who are engaged as domestic workers, daily-wage labourers, and gig workers in the unorganised sector.

Experts say the policy should extend to the informal sector.

But the state’s menstrual leave policy is still being regarded as significant for being the first to include the private sector, applying to workers regardless of job type or contract.

The concept of menstrual leave is not new. Countries like Spain, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia already offer menstrual leave. Some Indian states also offer limited menstrual leave: Bihar and Odisha give two days per month to government employees, while Kerala provides it to university and industrial training institute staff.

But in India, the move to give an extra day off to women sparks debate over potential gender bias and equality concerns.

Others argue it’s a necessary right, allowing women to avoid losing pay or working through unavoidable menstrual pain.

“This is one of the most progressive policy decisions for women that the government is implementing,” Santosh Lad, Karnataka’s labour minister, told the BBC.

An official from Nasscom – a non-profit trade association of the IT and BPO industries – told the BBC that many companies in Karnataka already provide menstrual leave, so implementing the government order wouldn’t be an issue.

Pratibha R, president of the local Garment and Textile Workers’ Union, welcomed the decision, noting that most female garment workers get barely 11 leave days a year.

However, some women feel that the policy will be hard to implement.

Menstruation remains taboo in many parts of India, with women often barred from temples or isolated at home as “unclean” during their periods.

“How can one go and seek menstrual leave when we don’t even speak about it [menstruation]? Our society has not reached that level,” Anunita Kundu, a manager at a software company, told the BBC.

Aruna Papireddy, another IT worker, said: “If you ask me, leave is not required. Women have reached high positions without even mentioning the M word.”

Pushpendra, a social scientist who goes by one name, says the real challenge is battling the deep-seated stigma around menstruation.

“If a woman seeks two days’ leave in Bihar, it is understood that it is because of menstruation. It has facilitated women, but it has not empowered them.”

He notes that in many parts of India – including Bihar, which has offered menstrual leave for decades – shopkeepers still wrap sanitary pads in old newspapers.

Efforts to de-stigmatise menstruation in the past have included empathy exercises for men in the neighbouring state of Kerala. Yet in 2018, protests erupted in the state against lifting the ban on menstruating women from visiting Sabarimala temple, one of the holiest shrines in southern India.

Some women in Karnataka say the government’s menstrual leave policy could make people more comfortable discussing menstruation.

“Calling it menstrual leave helps in fighting the stigma,” said Shreya Shree, a teacher based in Bengaluru city.

Sapna S, an associate dean at Christ University and head of Karnataka’s menstrual leave committee, urged women to take advantage of the policy.

“What is needed is an attack on the social conditioning that exists. Women should not be apologetic or shy to ask for menstrual leave,” she said.

BBC

Akpabio, Kalu throw weight behind reserved seats for women, say Nigeria can’t progress with ‘half its talent outside the room’

The 2025 Law Week of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Abuja Branch, opened with strong endorsements from the leadership of the National Assembly for the Reserved Seats Bill, as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu declared it essential to boost women’s political representation in Nigeria.

The event, themed “Advancing Women’s Representation: Reserved Seats and the Future of Nigeria’s Legislature,” brought together lawmakers, diplomats, legal experts, and gender advocates to chart a path toward greater inclusion in national governance.

Represented by Senator Idiat Oluranti, Akpabio lauded FIDA for championing gender equality, describing the theme as timely and reflective of the urgent need for inclusiveness in legislative leadership.

He shared personal reflections on his upbringing, crediting his late mother’s resilience for shaping his values.

“A balanced government is a stronger government. No nation rises without its women,” Akpabio said. “Reserving seats for women is a task that must be done—and will be done.”

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, delivered a compelling keynote address, warning that Nigeria could no longer ignore its “structural imbalance” in political representation.

Citing statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Kalu noted that although women make up 49.43% of the population, they occupy fewer than 5% of seats in the National Assembly—a ranking of 178 out of 182 countries globally.

“When women are absent from the legislature, perspectives disappear, conversations narrow, and our laws lose the balance democracy requires,” he said.

Kalu—sponsor of the Reserved Seats Bill (HB 1349)—argued that decades of advocacy had not dismantled systemic barriers, including party gatekeeping, campaign financing challenges, and sociocultural norms. He emphasized that implementing reserved seats would cost less than 1% of the National Assembly’s annual budget, yet yield enormous national benefits.

He further disclosed that the Constitution Review Committee, which he chairs, has placed inclusion at the heart of its agenda, with ongoing public hearings and nationwide consultations.

The Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to initiatives that advance women’s rights and leadership.

Representing Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara stressed that the bill “is a correction, not a favour,” insisting that political parties must dismantle barriers that keep women out of leadership.

Diplomatic representatives also threw their weight behind the bill.
The UK Deputy High Commissioner, Gill Lever, urged FIDA to sustain its advocacy and mentor emerging leaders, noting, “When women hold political positions, society prospers. It’s an economic strategy.”

Likewise, Swiss Ambassador Patrick Egloff described the present moment as “a tremendous opportunity” for Nigeria to empower the girl child with role models who reflect their aspirations.

Delivering her goodwill message, FIDA International President Ezinwa Okoroafor reassured skeptics that the reserved seats proposal is a temporary corrective measure with a mandatory review after 16 years.

“This bill is a game-changing opportunity. I urge the National Assembly to embrace it,” she said.

Video: How Katsina Lawmaker led delegates to negotiate with terrorists, rescue 45 kidnap victims after ‘peace deal’

A serving member of the Katsina State House of Assembly representing Bakori Local Government Area, Engr. Abdurrahman Ahmad Kandarawa has led the recovery of 45 individuals kidnapped by terrorists for an extended period.

SaharaReporters learnt that the release, which took place last week Friday, came following a renewed “peace agreement” between local leaders and the bandits, aimed at ending prolonged hostilities in the region.

In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, one of the bandits involved in the abduction revealed that the agreement was honoured due to promises made by both sides. 

The terrorists emphasised that, having fulfilled their commitments, the security agencies and government should not escalate the situation, allowing their people to return safely to the town to resume normal life.

Hon. Abdurrahman, who spearheaded the negotiation, drew parallels to international peace efforts, citing the Gaza-Israel agreement. 

“Even in the world, peace agreements are made to ensure coexistence,” he said. “There is nothing wrong in making peace to secure a lasting and peaceful future for our people.”

Earlier,  SaharaReporters reported that terrorists in the early hours of Monday stormed the Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Kebbi State, abducting an unspecified number of female students and killing at least one staff member. 

A school guard was also injured during the attack, which occurred around 5:52am. 

The attackers invaded the school compound while the students were preparing for morning routines, launching their assault with sporadic gunfire.  

SaharaReporters also gathered that the gunmen not only abducted several female students but also left a trail of fear and chaos in their wake.

However, residents noted that the terrorists have not gone far and are urging the Federal and State governments to take urgent action to rescue the girls.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that terrorists launched a deadly attack on Rogun Village in Kpada District of Patigi Local Government Area, Kwara State, killing two security operatives. 

A security source told SaharaReporters on Monday that the incident occurred late Sunday night when the terrorists, locally dubbed as bandits, stormed the police outpost in Rogun and opened fire on officers on duty.

According to the source, the attackers engaged the security personnel in a fierce gun duel that lasted several minutes. 
By the time the shooting subsided, two security operatives — a police constabulary and a vigilante officer — had been confirmed dead. 

Sahara Reporters

A soldier betrayed? Last moments of Brig-General Uba before his capture and murder by ISWAP Terrorists

Until ISWAP released the video of how they killed him, the Nigerian Army claimed that Brigadier-General M Uba was not abducted. It turned out to be a tactical attempt to buy time to rescue him, to distract the enemy from searching for him as rescue operation was ongoing.

However, some of the last moments and final communication from the army commander, Brigadier-General, have emerged, shedding light on the composure and courage of the senior officer before he was captured and killed by the ISWAP terrorists.

In a WhatsApp chat seen by SaharaReporters, Brig.-Gen. Uba appeared to remain calm and determined even as troops from Operation Hadin Kai raced to reach him. 

Shortly after a video call in which he confirmed he was alive, he sent messages that captured both his resolve and the urgency of the situation.

In one message, he asked his coordinating team: “Are they going to pick me or direct me on where to go?”

He was reassured: “Sir, they will remain overhead and coordinate with the troops moving towards you, Sir.”

As time passed, the General provided another update: “My battery is 31% now.”

His final words, a mix of hope and resilience, came as he tried to make himself visible to the air component: “Sir, I am on foot, but once I see the aircraft, I can raise my peak cap.”

These were the last messages received from Brig.-Gen. Uba before contact was lost.

Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that General Uba was killed by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters after the terrorists reportedly intercepted and tracked his location along the Damboa–Biu axis in Borno State, multiple security sources have confirmed.

The tragic incident occurred shortly after the Brigade Commander had participated in a successful joint air–ground offensive against insurgents in the area. 

The General had earlier spoken with his superiors, confirming that he was safe following the operation and was regrouping with his team.

However, the officer’s communication may have inadvertently exposed his coordinates. 

He was captured alive while the terrorists interrogated him briefly before summarily executing him. 

Earlier reports detailed a joint military operation in which the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft swiftly intervened to rescue ground troops who had come under heavy ambush by ISWAP terrorists.

The operation began when ground forces, led by the Brigadier General, advanced into the area, unaware that the route had been booby-trapped.

Following an intense exchange of gunfire, the sudden surge in terrorist numbers forced the commander to order a tactical withdrawal and issue a distress call for air support.

Responding, NAF aircraft diverted from ongoing missions to provide close air support, delivering decisive strikes that helped disperse the terrorists and rescue the military commander, his troops, and accompanying members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).

SaharaReporters on Saturday reported that top military brass including the Operation Hadin Kai, Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, stormed the military base in Damboa, Borno State, to lead rescue operations for some abducted army personnel.

SaharaReporters had learnt that the abduction of the officers followed a violent ambush by fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) that left two soldiers and two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) dead. 

The attack, which occurred on Friday night also led to the reported abduction of Brigadier General M Uba, along with two other soldiers.

Although the Nigerian Army in a release earlier denied the abduction of the 25 Brigade Commander, soldiers who spoke with SaharaReporters confirmed that the commander was not yet back to the base.

Multiple military sources told SaharaReporters that the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Major General Abubakar, and the Sector 2 Commander arrived in Damboa shortly after the attack to coordinate rescue efforts and enhance troop morale.

“The Brigadier General who was abducted managed to send his live location to colleagues,” a senior military source revealed.

“They traced it and found the spot, but there was no trace of him. It’s unclear if his phone died or was seized by the terrorists.”

Another source added that the abducted officer appeared to have access to his phone under duress.

“Even yesterday morning, he made a video call to his dry cleaner but warned him not to talk,” the source said.

Despite deploying troops to the location shared by the officer, they returned without success. One soldier who was shot and abducted along with him was reportedly freed, but the senior officer and two others remained missing.

The sources noted that in response to the crisis, one Brigadier General Mustapha has been appointed to lead the 26 Task Force Brigade in Damboa, while troops previously engaged in the rescue operation were withdrawn early Sunday.

According to top military officers, “Information reaching us revealed that the Brigadier-General was abducted alongside three other soldiers. However, one of the soldiers was shot and left behind in the bush.

“Those who returned to the camp on foot yesterday were two Majors. A commander has been temporarily appointed to oversee the affairs of the Brigade pending confirmation from Army Headquarters.

“Another Brigade Commander, Brigadier-General Mustapha, has also been appointed. Nigerian Army top commanders have stormed the Damboa base in Borno State to rescue the Brigadier-General and two soldiers still in Boko Haram captivity.”

SaharaReporters previously reported that ISWAP fighters ambushed a Nigerian military convoy late Friday night, killing multiple soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), in northeastern Nigeria.

The attackers, armed and highly organised, targeted the convoy in what appears to be a coordinated strike, leaving a trail of casualties and panic in the region.

Credit: Sahara Reporters  

Yerima and a soldier who never wore uniform, By Suyi Ayodele

On Sunday, June 18, 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte 1, the returnee Emperor of France, marched the French Imperial Army against the two armies of the Seventh Coalition at Waterloo, then in the Netherlands. The first of the Seventh Coalition Army was led by the British Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington.

The Duke of Wellington, the account states, distinguished himself so well that the great Napoleon and his soldiers were badly routed. The Coalition forces marched on Paris on July 7, 1815, and forced Napoleon to abdicate the French throne. The 1815 battle ended what is known in history as the Napoleonic Wars.

The failure to stop Duke Wellington by the French Emperor marked the end of his reign and Napoleon never fought any battle till he died on May 5, 1821. Waterloo, the place of defeat is metaphorically used to describe a disastrous end of any venture or human endeavour, to date. But that is not the story here.

After the feat achieved in the battlefront, Duke Wellington led home his victorious armies drawn from the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom of Netherlands, Hanover, Brunswick and Nassau. While on his high horse and followed by other Generals in the Coalition, the Duke decided on a shortcut, which happened to be a farmland.

But unbeknownst to him, the owner of the farm, peeved by the constant destruction of his corn and other crops by wayfarers using his farm as thoroughfare, had fenced off the pathway, gated it, built a sentry post and assigned his last child to be on guard. The farmer, a no-nonsense father, had also instructed his son that he should allow “nobody” access to the pathway.

The lad was on the sentry duty when Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley came calling with other battle-tested Generals following. The Duke met a locked gate, with a lad standing by on guard. He commanded: “Open up boy!” The lad responded: “No sir!”.

The Duke, startled, was said to have alighted from his horse, walked up to the boy and announced: “I am the Duke of Wellington”. Sizing up the Duke in his military fatigue, in what the Language of British and American Literature will describe as ‘dangerous eyeballing’, the lad asked firmly: “Would the Duke of Wellington ask a boy to disobey instructions from his father?”

Those words did the magic. The Duke got the message. He was not just a Field Marshall for fun. The Duke of Wellington understood what instructions were and how obedience to them could be sacrosanct to the success or failure of any venture.

He asked the lad: “Are you on duty here, boy?” The lad answered: “Yes, sir. My father asked me to guard here, until he returns!” Turning to the other Generals, the Duke announced: “Boy, if you are on duty here, always do your duty well.” With that, he mounted his horse, others followed, and the Duke led them through the longer route to the warm welcome of the jubilant crowd waiting to celebrate the Seventh Coalition Armies for their success at the Battle Waterloo.

Seeing the Duke turning away, the lad, barefooted, and clad in torn apparel, ran and announced enthusiastically, to the hearing of his father and other farmhands in the other section of the plantation: “Father, I have done what Napoleon could not do. I have turned back the Duke of Wellington”.

In one of the accounts of this incident, the British Heritage History series of Great Englishmen by the British historian, Martha Bertha Synge, otherwise known as M.B. Synge (1861-1939), states that while recounting the encounter with the lad, the Duke of Wellington, who later became British Prime Minister in 1828, said: “I once met a soldier who never wore a uniform; the little boy who would not leave his post.” The Duke further described the Battle of Waterloo as “…the nearest-run thing you ever saw in your life” (Creevey Papers Chapter x, pg.236).

I have taken this historic voyage to address the encounter between Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and Naval Lieutenant A. M. Yerima, on Monday, November 11, 2025, around Gaduwa area of the FCT, over a disputed piece of land.

Our focus today, however, is not about Wike and his conduct during the unfortunate encounter but on the role the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, played when Wike called the General in the heat of the outburst with the Naval Lieutenant.

Against all temptations, I am restraining myself from joining the crowd of the ‘pro’ or ‘anti’ Wike and concentrating on the professional intervention of the CDS when it mattered. Maybe, when the minister has gone through the full circle of the legendary Tortoise, his appointing authority would do an appraisal of his personality identikit and apply the necessary administrative sanctions.

We recollect the short fable of the Tortoise, who while setting out on a journey, his relations and neighbours bade him goodbye. One inquisitive cousin asked for Tortoise’s destination. The cunny one answered: “The place of disgrace.”

Out of curiosity, another relation asked what Tortoise would be doing while away. The trickster said: “Disgraceful acts.” Yet a concerned neighbour asked when Mr. Tortoise would return. The answer he got was: “When I am thoroughly disgraced.”

I only wish that one day, Minister Wike, and other people in authority, will see the wisdom in the words of the 34th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower (October 14, 1890-March 28, 1969), who quipped: “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.”

Generals in the Military, world over, know the value of military solidarity and the need never to abandon any of their own in and out of office or formation. The contemporary US conservative democrat and eight-term congressional representative for Illinois District (January 2005 – January 2021), Daniel William Lipinski, summed up that concept when he posited that: “On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind.” That is the raison d’être in the Military.

That was exactly what General Oluyede, the CDS, did when Wike called him to report Naval Lieutenant Yerima. When the minister, after speaking with the CDS and handed the phone to the junior naval officer, with the announcement, “the CDS”, my heart skipped. I prayed silently that the CDS would do what is noble and professional.

To the credit of Yerima, the junior officer did not lose his composure. He merely readjusted his posture, offered the regimental compliment, “morning sir”, and explained his mission to the military overall boss. In doing so, the naval officer emphasised that he was on that spot on the order of a three-star General, the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (retd).

While all who might have watched the video of that ugly encounter had no privilege of knowing what the CDS told the young naval officer, the action that followed indicated that the General must have upheld the sanctity of Duke Wellington injunction that any soldier on duty should “…always do your duty well.” Otherwise, Yerima would have moved his men out of the disputed site after the telephone conversation. That would have had an unmitigated negative effect on the psyche of the men in uniform!

I have read arguments here and there about who was right and who was wrong. Some commenters, especially the celebrated night-soil man of Lagos, in charge of dirty gutters and oozing latrines, went overboard, calling for the young officer’s summary dismissal.

I am least bothered by all those pro-and-anti-arguments. The most important thing for me is that General Oluyede saved the dignity of the Military by not ordering Yerima out of that place after his telephone conversation with the minister and the young officer.

And this position has nothing to do with whether or not the CDS supported his colleague General, Vice Admiral Gambo (retd). No. The truth be said: If the CDS had done otherwise, nobody in uniform, be it military or paramilitary, would ever deserve the respect of the populace!

It is only in Nigeria that the encounter between Wike and Yerima can take place. It is only here we don’t value our soldiers. While not all men in military uniform are honourable, we must understand too that every profession has its own black sheep! Those who stay awake so that we can sleep deserve our respect!

That is why the sane countries of the world respect their service men. They equally honour their veterans. By the Nigerian military setting, the former Chief of Naval Staff, is entitled to some levels of military compliments after service. Yerima announced that when he told the CDS that he is the Security Officer (SO) to the retired Vice Admiral.

That, in essence, means that the top naval brass has the right to deploy his security personnel wherever he wishes. Until decided otherwise, Gambo is considered to own the land in dispute for now. The Naval Lieutenant, Yerima, is his Security Officer. That settles the question of the legality or otherwise of the young officer’s presence and that of his men, on the site.

If anyone has any issue with why military personnel should be on guard duty at a construction site, the interrogation should be directed at the military leadership and those who deployed armed military personnel to the homes of retired Generals and other top military brass. The first element of soldiering is obedience to superior order; that is given, any day!

Thus, it would have been unprofessional for a Regular Course-trained officer like Yerima to subordinate his military high command directive to the whims and caprices of a bullying adult who doesn’t know that the white chicken’s age comes with wisdom (adìye funfun kò mo ara è l’ágba). The argument that the military being subordinate to civilian authority does not hold water here. No trained military personnel will succumb to the shouting of a civilian over a command given by a higher military authority.

If Yerima had deferred to Wike’s age and position, he would have gone back to base to face military discipline. The young officer, in my view, displayed that submissiveness of the military to civilian authority, by not meeting Wike’s insult with insult.

His honourific: “I am not a fool, sir”, got me! Nothing stopped him, but for his military training, professional discipline and good family upbringing, to have responded thus: “I am not a fool, Sir. But in case you are from a generation of fools, Sir, please accept my sympathy, Sir!” If that had happened, we would only debate it and question his upbringing, and probably, his constituency would have sanctioned him in the end. But the young officer chose decorum, he displayed the lost adult maturity of his aggressor!

Besides, the tension that we all saw in that encounter could only have been managed by a well-trained “Regular Course” officer who has “integrity” like Yerima! The Nigerian Armed Forces should be proud of Yerima and his conduct. Little wonder that no section of the military (active or retired) has condemned the young officer.

Something worse could have happened, especially as Wike kept daring the young officer with his “you will kill all of us” outbursts. A soldier friend once told me, apparently quoting Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, that “only a madman argues with a man holding a gun.” What if Yerima lacked “integrity?” What if he had the same character disposition as the minister? Or what if their roles were reversed? Just imagine the last scenario!

It is worthy to note that the minister called the CDS at the heat of the encounter, One can only ask that if Wike knew, ab initio, that he could dial up the CDS once, why did he not do that before leaving the office? If, for the purpose of this argument, the former Chief of Naval Staff acquired the land in dispute illegally, is it in the position of the minister to be the enforcer of the law on land usage contravention? What was the intention of storming the disputed land with armed policemen, a possible shoot-out with the military boys? And again, as a father, does Wike still call any of his doted children “fool” when in rage?

Whatever may be the final decision on this matter, the biggest lesson for me here is the veracity of the saying of our sage that 20 years after the younger one had been born, the older child is still in the womb (ogún odún tí a ti bí omodé, inú ni àgbà wà). The elder here is our amiable young “officer with integrity”, Naval Lieutenant Yerima. The most professional officer in this encounter is the CDS, who, when it mattered most, preserved the dignity of the Military! Nigerians, old or young, privileged or otherwise, have learnt from the CDS’s intervention that every military personnel wears his or her uniform in trust for the nation!

And, if I am further tempted to counsel Minister Wike on this matter, I would simply ask him to ask his Yoruba friends the meaning of the saying: “Gbòngbò ònà sún omo l’ésè, iwájú ló ún sún omo sí” – the protruding root on the road only trips a child forward! If he continues in this stride, the day is near when the minister will meet “a soldier who never wore a uniform; the little boy who would not leave his post.” May the gods and the ancestors give him listening ears! Ise!

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

[Download Judgment] Federal High Court sentences UNICAL professor Ndifon to 5 years imprisonment for sexual abuse

The infamous Prof. Cyril Ndifon, suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), was on Monday sentenced to five years’ imprisonment without an option of fine by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, held that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had been able to prove the evidence in counts one and two beyond a reasonable doubt against the 1st defendant.

Justice Omotosho, therefore, sentenced Ndifon to a two-year jail term in count one and a five-year imprisonment in count two, which must run concurrently.

The judge, however, discharged and acquitted Sunny Anyanwu, who was earlier a member of Ndifon ‘s team of lawyers, of the charges against him.

He held that the anti-corruption commission was unable to link the offences in counts three and four, in which Anyanwu’s name appeared, to the co-defendant.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ICPC had, in the amended charge dated Jan. 19, 2024, preferred four counts against Ndifon (1st defendant) and his lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu (2nd defendant)

Although Ndifon was initially the sole defendant in the sexual harassment charge, Anyanwu was later joined as 2nd defendant in the amended charge.

The development followed allegations that Anyanwu had attempted to pervert the course of justice by calling the star witness on her mobile phone during the pendency of the charge against Ndifon to threaten her.

Anyanwu, while being a lawyer to Ndifon, was said to have called TKJ not not either honour the ICPC’s invitation or write any statement in respect of the allegations of sexual harassment case against his client.

In the amended charge, counts one and two accused the professor of sexually harassing some female students of the school.

The commission said that Ndifon, while serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Law at UNICAL, asked a female Diploma student, identified as TKJ and a star witness, to send him “pornographic, indecent and obscene photographs of herself” through WhatsApp chats.

He was also accused of having, on different occasions, asked TKJ to give him “a blow job” as an exchange for gaining admission into the institution to study law.

Ndifon, a public officer, was alleged to have sexually harassed many female students of the institution using his position to gain undue advantage over them.

While count three was preferred solely against Anyanwu, the two defendants were accused of attempting to influence the course of justice in count four of the charge.

The anti-corruption commission had, on 14 February 2024, closed its case against the suspended professor and Anyanwu.

ICPC counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, told Justice Omotosho after Bwaigu Fungo, the 4th prosecution witness, a Forensic and intelligence Analyst with the commission, was cross-examined by the defence lawyer.

But the defendants opted for a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to sufficiently prove the allegations against them.

But Justice Omotosho had, on 6 March 2024, dismissed the no-case submission filed by Ndifon and Anyanwu against the charge.

In defending himself, Ndifon testified as the first defence witness (DW-1), while CSP Babagana Mingali, a Forensic Analyst who works at the laboratory of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), gave his testimony as DW-2.

Delivering the judgment, the judge said the commission had been able to prove the ingredients of the offences in counts one and two.

He observed that Ndifon was unable to controvert the evidence that he unduly pressurised TKJ to perform the immoral act with her.

He said: “The victim was desirous of being admitted into the university and the 1st defendant was in advantage to help her being the dean and the diploma course is under his supervision,

“The instances of undue advantage are so much. The 1st defendant abused his office.”

According to him, the court observes the 1st defendant and sees that the 1st defendant is not a witness of truth and cannot be believed by any reasonable court.

“Consequently, the 1st defendant is hereby convicted of count one and count two,” he said.

The judge said, being a first-time offender, he was minded to temper justice with mercy as prayed by Ndifon and his lawyer, Oladimeji Ekengba.

On count three, the judge said he observed that although Anyanwu made a phone call to TKJ, this was about four months before the investigation commenced into the case and a charge was preferred against Ndifon.

He said the court cannot assume or speculate on the intention of the 2nd defendant at the time the act was committed.

Justice Omotosho, therefore, discharged and acquitted Anyanwu of count three and count four, which both defendants were charged.

The judge, however, condemned Anyanwu’s unprofessional act by calling a supposed witness in his client’s matter.

Also, Justice Omotosho berated Ndifon’s immoral conduct.

He said: “It was with dismay I read through this case that a Dean of Law can turn himself to a sexual predator.”

He said his randy nature should be condemned by all.

According to the judge, he is a disgrace to the community of learner persons and must be made to face the wrath of the law.

He said this would serve as a deterrent to others like him in public office who have a penchant for taking undue advantage of the female folks.

Click here to download the judgment.

FRN-vs-Prof.-cyril-ndifon1

All Nigerian Judges Conference: Tinubu to Judges: “Justice Must Never Be for Sale,” as he unveils major plans for Nigerian judiciary

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu opened the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference on Monday in Abuja.

He told the nation’s top judges that the Judiciary remains the backbone of Nigeria’s democracy.

He said judges have consistently rescued the country in moments of national uncertainty.
Tinubu praised the courage of the courts in defending constitutional order through firm rulings.

He stressed that public confidence is the true currency of justice in any democracy.
He said judgments lose moral authority when citizens doubt their fairness.

Tinubu acknowledged growing public frustration over delays and integrity concerns in the courts.

He said these concerns demand reflection, reform and renewed commitment to justice.

The President reaffirmed his administration’s full support for the Judiciary.
He said all three arms of government must work together with mutual respect.

Tinubu insisted that a strong and fearless Judiciary is essential for Nigeria’s future.

He promised tangible support to improve court capacity and efficiency nationwide.
He said courts must no longer be places where cases drag on for years.
He promised better infrastructure, modern tools and dignified working conditions for judges.

Tinubu said judicial digitalisation will receive sustained government backing.
He emphasised that technology is now a necessity for timely and transparent justice.
He said no Nigerian court should be left behind in the digital transition.

The President highlighted the vital role of judges themselves in nation-building.
He called judicial welfare and training essential for a strong and credible Bench.
Tinubu pledged continued support to the National Judicial Institute for advanced training.

He warned that no reform can succeed where integrity is compromised.
Tinubu declared that justice must never be bought and the Bench must reject corruption.
He said a corrupt Judiciary destroys the nation at its core.
He promised support for strong disciplinary systems to protect judicial dignity.

Tinubu urged judges to confront hard questions during the conference.
He asked them to design practical solutions for case backlogs and access to justice.
He said the Judiciary must remain the true last hope of the common man.

The President described judges as guardians of Nigeria’s moral conscience.
He said they hold the power to defend the weak and restrain the powerful.
Tinubu assured them of his administration’s continued partnership and support.

He concluded that every fair judgment strengthens the nation’s democratic soul and urged the judiciary to write a legacy of courage, integrity and justice.

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