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Former Access Bank staff member arraigned over alleged diversion of customer’s $510,000

A former Head of Operations at Access Bank Nigeria PLC, Obinna Nwaobi, has been arraigned before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State, for alleged criminal diversion of a customer’s $510,000.

The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the former banker last Thursday, November 13, 2025.

Count seven of the charge reads: “That you, Obinna Nwaobi while being (Head of Operations) of Access Bank Nigeria Plc, Enugu branch on or about the 8th day of August, 2024 in Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, induced Access Bank Nigeria Plc to transfer a total sum of Five Hundred and Ten Thousand United States Dollars ($510, 000. 00) from LANTERN GATE NIGERIA LIMITED Access Bank Account number 0761770127 under the false pretence that Lantern Gate Nigeria Limited gave her consent and mandate for the said transfer which petence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

Count eight of the charge reads: “That you, Obinna Nwaobi while being (Head of Operations) of Access Bank Plc, Enugu branch on or about the eight day of August, 2024 in Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, knowingly forged a document to Wit: ‘Access Bank Domestic Fund Transfer Form ‘D’, dated 28th August 2024, knowing same to be false and with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of Access Bank Plc and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (2) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004 and punishable under Section 1 (2) of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges when they were read to him.

The defence counsel, F. C. Obinna, informed the court about a bail application before it, dated October 24, 2025 and supported by an eight-paragraph affidavit.

Obinna adopted the same and prayed the court to admit his client to bail.

Reacting to the said application, counsel to the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Mainforce Adaka Ekwu, vehemently opposed the application via an 11-paragraph counter affidavit filed on November 12, 2025.

While relying on the said counter affidavit, the prosecution urged the court to refuse the said application because “the quality of evidence we have in our proof of evidence might put fear in him and he might want to abscond”.

After listening to both parties, the court granted the defendant bail in the sum of N250 Million and three sureties in like sum.

Two of the sureties shall have landed properties in Enugu State and the papers of the said properties must be submitted to the court.

The judge said: “The third surety shall be a relative of the defendant, who shall deposit evidence of tax payment for three years.

“The defendant and the sureties shall deposit two passports each to the court and the defendant shall deposit his international passport and National Identification Number to the court until the determination of this case.”

The matter was adjourned to March 10, 11 and 12, 2026 for trial, while the defendant was remanded at the facility of the Nigeria Correctional Service in Enugu.

The defendant’s case started on September 11, 2024 when the Commission received a petition from Access Bank Plc alerting the EFCC of unauthorised transfers from its customer’s account.

According to the petitioner, the sum of $510,000 belonging to its customer, Lantern Gate Nigeria Limited, was moved to six different accounts on the authorisation of Nwaobi, its Head of Operations as at that time, without the approval of the customer.

“This breach, coupled with the customer’s representatives’ explicit statement of not issuing the instruction for the transfer of the specified amounts, raises concerns and underscores the need for further investigation,” the petitioner said.

Absurd wars, absurd lords, By Lasisi Olagunju

“Don’t fight Man,” said Lion to his Cub, but the Cub didn’t listen. The Cub went looking for Man.

He saw a Bull. “Are you Man?”

“No, I bear Man’s yoke.”

Next he saw a Horse. “Are you Man?”

“No, Man rides me.”

Then he saw someone splitting logs with wedges: a Man!

“Fight me, Man!” said the Cub.

“I will! But first, help me split this log.”

When the Cub put his paws in the crack, Man knocked out the wedge, trapping the Cub’s paws.

The Cub finally pulled loose and went home with bloody paws. Lesson learnt.

The author of that story is ancient storyteller, Aesop. He is believed to have lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 564 BCE. Thousands of years, yet his wisdom endures. American writer and writing instructor, Laura Gibbs, curates and retells the stories in uncountable numbers. If you like to fight, read the above story again. It is from Aesop via Gibbs.

When you saw ‘war’ in the headline above, you probably thought I was taking a long excursion into the latest theatre of the absurd: drama starring a minister and a soldier dragging an expensive land in Abuja. No.

There was a Yoruba musician called Ayinla Omowura. He was very popular and was rich and ‘powerful’. One day in May 1980, he drove his Mercedes Benz car to a beer parlour in Abeokuta in hot pursuit of his defected band manager. The jilted big man in a big car wanted back an old motorcycle from the ex-manager. There was a push, then a shove; and a fight. A tumbler, hurled in rage, struck the strongman on the head. The rich musician died in that barroom brawl and was buried that day; his place others took in music, in his hometown, and in his home.

Big people take big risks. Sometimes they drag all of us into their trouble. Home and abroad, tired, retired, unretired, almost all Generals, Colonels, Majors, captains and sergeants and corporals lined up behind a ramrod naval Lieutenant. The drill was scary. Think about this: What do you think would have happened to our country if any of the key actors had suffered what Omowura suffered in that moment of anger and banger? And all because of land; earth which belongs to no one. Even Elephant knows that the earth only lends space to those who walk gently upon it. Fragile Chameleon is asked why he walks gingerly. He answers: “So that the ground will not cave in.”

There is another lesson in power and contest for space, this one pure, carefully recorded history:

One hundred and sixty five years ago, Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther’s son, Dr. Samuel Crowther Junior, had just returned to Abeokuta from medical school in London. Abeokuta’s native doctors who thought themselves ‘physicians’ were hostile to what he brought. They said no to him practising his alien art in their sphere of influence. There was a face-off, followed by a standoff. They said their power was mightier than the power of the foreign medicine man. When iron strikes iron, one must bend. A contest of powers was agreed upon between the two sides.

Details of that war of ‘medicine’ is told by an eyewitness, Robert Campbell, in his ‘A Pilgrimage to My Motherland’ (1861); the story was reproduced a hundred years later by A. H. M. Kirk-Greene in his ‘America in the Niger Valley: A Colonization Centenary’. So, how did the battle go? Listen to Campbell:

“Time was given for preparation on both sides. In the afternoon, the regulars appeared, clothed in their most costly garments, and well provided with orishas or charms attached to all of their persons and dress. In the meantime Mr. Crowther had also prepared to receive them. A table was placed in the middle of the room, and on it a dish in which were a few drops of sulphuric acid, so placed that a slight motion of the table would cause it to flow into a mixture of chlorate of potassa and white sugar. A clock was also in the room, from which a small bird issued every hour, and announced the time by cooing. This was arranged so as to coo while they were present.

“Mr. Crowther then made a brief harangue, and requested them to say who would lead off in the contest. This privilege they accorded to him. The door was closed, the curtains drawn down. All waited in breathless expectation. Presently the bird (in the clock) came out, and to their astonishment cooed twelve times, and suddenly from the midst of the dish burst forth flame and a terrible explosion. The scene that followed was indescribable: one fellow rushed through the window and scampered; another in his consternation took refuge in the bedroom, under the bed, from which he was with difficulty afterwards removed.”

I took the script of that 1860 ‘drama’ to my friend, the scientist. The clock, the cock and the chemistry cocktail. What really happened? My friend said a people that cannot grasp scientific concepts becomes vulnerable to fear and superstition. Dr. Crowther simply staged a drama, essentially a controlled chemical explosion: sulphuric acid (dehydrator and acid catalyst); sugar (fuel), and potassium chlorate (oxidizer). From my friend I learnt that “the mixture reacts violently when combined, producing flame, smoke, and noise.”

Crowther did not shout, boast, or brandish charms and amulets; there was no incantation. No abuse. No insults. He simply applied science; chemistry: sulphuric acid, sugar, and potassium chlorate; an elegant, potent sequence of oxidiser, fuel, and catalyst. With a clock-bird timed to coo and trigger panic, and with a well-placed chemical reaction prepared to ignite and explode, the young doctor used knowledge (not noise) to demonstrate and assert superiority.

Curses, threats and abuse are pollutants. We had more than enough last week. But enough has been said already about the Abuja land war since it unfolded last week. The raw lesson there is that real, unleavened authority easily defeats loud, raw hubris.

Central to the Abuja land drama of last week is anger and the use of language. It may be too late to bend our dry fishes. But, how do we avoid it in the next set of leaders? I end with this 170-year-old quote:

“Do all in your power to teach your children self-government. If a child is passionate, teach him by gentle and patient means to curb his temper. If he is greedy, cultivate liberality in him.

If he is selfish, promote generosity.

If he is sulky, charm him out of it,

by encouraging frank good humor…”(‘How to teach Children’ published in ‘The R. I. Schoolmaster’, Vol. 1, No. 5 JULY, 1855).

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

Police claim no assassination attempt on naval officer in face-off with Wike

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has dismissed reports that a Nigerian Navy officer, Lt. Ahmed Yerima, survived an assassination attempt in Abuja, describing the claims as false and unverified.

The denial comes after news outlets (PUNCH not inclusive) and social media posts circulated that Yerima was trailed by unidentified men dressed in black, travelling in two unmarked Hilux vans without number plates in Abuja.

According to the reports, the pursuit began around 6:30 p.m. at the NIPCO filling station along the Kubwa Expressway and continued to Gado Nasco Way.

Yerima reportedly evaded the assailants through a “strategic manoeuvre” during a high-speed chase.

The reports ignited speculation linking the alleged incident to the officer’s recent confrontation with FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, over a disputed land allocation in Abuja.

In a statement issued on Sunday night, the command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, described the claim as entirely false, noting that no such incident was reported or recorded anywhere within the FCT.

Read Also: Assassins target Lt. Yerima in Abuja, officer escapes unharmed

“The attention of the FCT Police Command has been drawn to publications circulating on social media alleging an attempted assassination on Lt. Ahmed Yerima.

“The command wishes to categorically state that no such incident has been reported or recorded anywhere within the Federal Capital Territory.

“The public is advised to disregard this false information and desist from spreading unverified claims capable of causing unnecessary panic,” the statement read.

The PPRO urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police division.

PUNCH Online had reported that Yerima clashed with Wike on November 11 over a disputed plot in Gaduwa District, said to belong to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd).

Viral videos showed Yerima, while on security detail, blocking Wike’s team from accessing the site.

The minister accused the retired military chief of carrying out illegal development on the land and confronted Yerima for allegedly assaulting personnel of the Federal Capital Development Authority, who had gone to halt the ongoing construction.

The minister was heard berating the officer, calling him a “fool” and questioning his authority.

The confrontation escalated into a public debate on who was in the right.

While some argued that the minister was fulfilling his constitutional duty and said Yerima breached the law, military veterans rallied behind the officer, rejecting any calls for his discipline and demanding an apology from Wike.

In a separate assurance, Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, affirmed that no lawful military personnel would face sanctions.

“We will always protect officers on lawful duty,” he said during a briefing for the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

Nigeria’s Gender Bills: The journey, the setback, and the last push for change

By Mary Ikoku

For decades, Nigerian women have fought to be seen, heard, and equitably represented in governance. Their struggle for inclusion has been long, winding, and at times, heartbreaking. Yet, through every setback, their resolve has remained unshaken. Now, with a fresh wave of legislative attention and civil society momentum, the fight for the passage of the Gender Bills — especially the Reserved Seats Bill — is entering what may be its final and most decisive chapter.

The movement for gender equality in Nigeria’s political landscape didn’t begin yesterday. From the early activism of trailblazers like Chief (Mrs) Margaret Ekpo, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Hajia Gambo Sawaba, Oby Nwankwo, and Hajia Laila Dongoyaro, to the strategic engagements by advocacy groups in the 7th and 8th National Assemblies, the seeds were sown over time. However, it was during the 9th Assembly that momentum peaked. Women leaders in the National Assembly, such as Rt. Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, spearheaded the Special Seats Bill, aiming to reserve seats for women in federal and state legislatures. Crucially, Nkeiruka wasn’t alone. Then Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila co-sponsored the bill — an extraordinary act of male allyship that lent weight and legitimacy to the cause.

But on March 1, 2022, the Nigerian National Assembly voted against all five proposed Gender Bills, including: Special Seats for Women in Parliament, Indigeneship Rights for Women, Citizenship for Foreign Spouses of Nigerian Women, 35% Affirmative Action in Political Parties, and Ministerial and Commissioner Gender Quota. The rejection was a national blow. Yet, it sparked an unprecedented response — hundreds of Nigerian women, led by organizations like Womanifesto, Emerge Women, ActionAid Nigeria, WARD-C, and many others, occupied the gates of the National Assembly, their message loud and clear: we will not be invisible. Voices like Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Prof. Joy Ezeilo, Dr. Ene Obi, Mary Ikoku, Ireti Bakare, Ndi Kato, Ihuoma Obibi, Ebere Ifendu, and many others became the conscience of a nation.

The movement has also gained momentum with the involvement of new advocates like Osasu Igbinedion-Ogwuche of TOS Foundation, who has been leveraging technology and storytelling to track lawmakers’ positions on the bill.

Fast forward to the present, and hope is rising again. A new generation of male allies is stepping forward, notably Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who has not only sponsored the Reserved Seats Bill (HB 1349) but is actively championing its passage. With backing from Speaker Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, and the support of cross-party legislators, the bill is no longer seen as “a women’s bill” — it is a nation-building bill. Deputy Speaker Kalu’s leadership, from consultations to public speeches, has reinforced the idea that inclusion is not a favour to women — it is a constitutional necessity.

As we enter the final push, Emerge Women Development Initiative is gearing up for a robust media engagement and social media campaign. Through our SheThePeople campaign, we’ll be leveraging the power of storytelling, media outreach, and strategic social media engagement to drive conversations, build support, and mobilize citizens to demand action from their representatives. We’ll be shining a spotlight on the Reserved Seats Bill, highlighting the importance of women’s representation in governance, and showcasing the impact of gender-inclusive policies on Nigerian communities.

This is the last lap, and every voice, every action counts. From protest to passage, the advocacy for gender-inclusive legislation has become one of the most persistent civic demands in Nigeria’s recent history. It’s a call that transcends party lines, regions, and generations. From rural market women to tech-savvy youth, voices are rising to say: Nigeria’s democracy must reflect its diversity.

The Reserved Seats Bill is not a handout — it’s a corrective mechanism to rebalance decades of systemic exclusion. For every girl dreaming of public office, for every woman whose competence has been sidelined, this Bill is a promise that their country sees and values them.

As the 10th National Assembly prepares to vote again, the moment calls for courage — the kind shown by those who marched, spoke out, wrote policy, and stood firm in the face of rejection. It’s time for allies — men and women in power — to recognize that empowering women is not a favour, but a fundamental democratic obligation. We stand united in our demand for change. We will not be ignored. We will rise, we will push, and we will pass these bills — not someday, but now.

Mary Ikoku is a Nigerian writer and advocate who has been involved in the pursuit of gender equality, inclusive democracy and women’s rights in Nigeria.

Assassins target Lt. Yerima in Abuja, officer escapes unharmed

The young Nigerian Navy officer, Lt. A.M. Yerima, who recently had a confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, reportedly escaped an assassination attempt on Sunday evening.

Military sources told Vanguard that Yerima was trailed by unidentified men dressed in black and riding in two unmarked Hilux vans with no number plates. The vehicles allegedly followed him from the NIPCO Filling Station off Kubwa Expressway to Gado Nasco Way.

According to the source, the officer noticed the surveillance and executed a “strategic manoeuvre,” successfully evading the suspected assailants. The incident reportedly occurred around 6:30 p.m.

The source added that the matter is under investigation and is receiving “the seriousness it deserves,” noting that further details are being withheld so as not to compromise the process.

The development comes days after Lt. Yerima, while on duty with other security personnel, engaged in a tense confrontation with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over a disputed land site in Gaduwa District. The clash, captured on video, sparked widespread public debate and prompted intervention from the Presidency, which subsequently halted the demolition exercise at the site.

Following the incident, military veterans nationwide criticised Wike for verbally insulting the officer and rejected calls for disciplinary action against Yerima.

Spokesman for the Coalition of Retired Veterans, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, warned that ex-service members would “occupy the office and residence of the FCT Minister” if the officer faced any punishment.

He stressed that military personnel owe allegiance to Nigeria—not individual public officials—and insisted that Wike must apologise for his remarks.

“How can a public office holder call an officer ‘a fool’ on camera?” he queried, adding that such conduct undermines national institutions and demeans the dignity of public office.

Meanwhile, Minister of Defence Mohammad Badaru Abubakar has assured that no military personnel acting lawfully will be sanctioned over the altercation.

“We will always protect officers and our armed forces personnel on lawful duty,” Badaru said during a ministerial briefing for the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations at the National Defence College.

“Any officer on lawful duty will be protected if he is doing his job lawfully and doing it well.”

Veterans had earlier vowed to mobilise and occupy the FCT Ministry if Lt. Yerima faced any form of disciplinary action.

PFN slams Gumi over “empty coffins” claim, calls statement dangerous, baseless and insulting

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has strongly condemned recent remarks by Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi alleging that Christians in the Middle Belt were staging fake funerals and burying empty coffins to fabricate claims of genocide.

In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Sylvanus Ukafia, and titled “Rebuttal of Ahmad Gumi’s False and Dangerous Claim,” the Christian body described Gumi’s comments as baseless, inflammatory, illogical, and morally reprehensible.

Gumi had earlier claimed that Christians were orchestrating sham burials as part of an agenda to mislead the world about targeted killings in the region. But the PFN dismissed the allegation, noting that it collapses “under the slightest scrutiny.”

The statement read in part:

“We strongly condemn the recent statement by Ahmad Gumi alleging that Christians in the Middle Belt are ‘burying empty coffins’ to fabricate a narrative of genocide. This claim is baseless, inflammatory, and collapses under the slightest scrutiny.”

The PFN stressed that no Nigerian culture—Christian, Muslim, or traditional—practises the burial of empty coffins, describing funerals as identity-based rites rooted in real people, families and communities. It argued that the idea of entire villages staging fake burials without a whistleblower or inconsistencies is “illogical and deeply insulting.”

The group also faulted Gumi for relying on an unnamed “doctor” without any verifiable information—“no name, no location, no evidence, no photos, no timestamps”—which it described as hearsay masquerading as fact.

“If such mass staging truly occurred, who dug the graves? Who carried the coffins? Who filmed the events? Why has no participant or bystander ever come forward?” the statement queried, insisting that public burials cannot be faked without countless witnesses.

The PFN further observed that Gumi’s claim contradicted the well-documented reality that thousands of Nigerians—Christians and Muslims—have been killed by terrorism and banditry, with evidence corroborated by humanitarian agencies, media reports, and satellite imagery.

The body accused Gumi of engaging in propaganda aimed at downplaying targeted killings and delegitimising genuine suffering, especially amid growing international concern, including criticisms from U.S. lawmakers.

“Such misinformation trivialises real loss, fuels division, and distracts from ongoing violence,” the PFN warned. “To suggest that grieving communities are staging funerals is insensitive, irresponsible, and morally reprehensible.”

The fellowship urged public figures to exercise restraint, uphold truth, and show compassion when commenting on issues involving human lives and national security.

Video: FIDA Abuja opens Day 3 of law week with thanksgiving service, reinforces push for greater women’s representation

Day 3 of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Abuja Branch 2025 Law Week unfolded on Sunday with a vibrant Thanksgiving Service at the Methodist Cathedral of Unity, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. The colourful service brought together FIDA members, partners, families, and supporters in a spirit of gratitude, reflection, and renewed commitment to gender justice.

This year’s Law Week, themed “Advancing Women’s Representation: Reserved Seats and the Future of Nigeria’s Legislature,” aims to ignite national dialogue on one of the most pressing issues in Nigeria’s democratic growth—women’s inclusion in governance.

Designed as an engaging platform for conversation and reform, the weeklong programme is set to explore the transformative potential of reserved legislative seats, structural reforms, and strategic advocacy tools that can reshape Nigeria’s political landscape for women.

Sunday’s service marked both a spiritual grounding and a symbolic reminder of the collective mission to elevate women’s voices in decision-making spaces. With members dressed in their regulation attire and the cathedral filled with solemn hymns and vibrant songs, and hopeful prayers, the event reinforced FIDA’s longstanding commitment to equity, representation, and justice.

As activities continue through the week, with the opening ceremony tomorrow (Monday), FIDA Abuja is expected to engage policymakers, legal practitioners, civil society, and youth leaders in shaping a future where Nigerian women can participate fully—and meaningfully—in legislative governance.

Watch the video of the thanksgiving service below.

Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT) at The Crossroads: A surrejoinder to Bethel Ihugba’s rejoinder on NALT’s mandate, focus and actual performance

By Sylvester Udemezue

(1). INTRODUCTION

This surrejoinder responds to Dr Bethel Uzoma Ihugba’s rejoinder to my earlier commentary, “The Nigerian Association of Law Teachers and the Persistent Disdain for Its Own Business, Objectives and Mandate.” While commending Dr Ihugba’s civility, good faith and desire for dialogue, this piece argues that his defence of NALT rests on a misdirected evaluative standard, substitutes activity for achievement, and sidesteps the structural deficiencies that continue to impede NALT’s relevance to legal-education reform in Nigeria.

I reaffirm that NALT’s chronic misalignment between its constitutional objectives and its conference agenda reflects a deeper institutional drift. Unless NALT realigns itself with its statutory purpose (promoting legal education, strengthening pedagogy, and improving the welfare and professional development of law teachers), its conferences risk becoming intellectually vibrant yet institutionally inconsequential.

Dr Ihugba’s rejoinder misdiagnoses the thrust of my critique. My argument was not that NALT lacks activities, but that its activities lack alignment with its core mandate. Then, by equating the mere hosting of paper presentations or inter-faculty networking with fulfilment of NALT’s objectives, Dr Ihugba’s rejoinder reduces the Association’s mandate to minimal compliance. This surrejoinder respectfully maintains that what is at stake is not whether NALT does something, but whether NALT does what it was established to do: lead, coordinate, influence and elevate legal education in Nigeria.

(2). MANDATE, MISALIGNMENT AND THE WRONG STANDARD OF EVALUATION

The rejoinder repeatedly claims that I “introduced new objectives” for NALT. With due respect, this is completely inaccurate. Every issue I identified falls squarely within the objectives set out in the Constitution of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers: ranging from promotion of excellence in law teaching to engagement with stakeholders on the development and quality of legal education. My argument was that NALT has not been attending to these very objectives. To illustrate: (a). If NALT was founded to promote legal education, should its conferences consistently ignore issues affecting legal education? (b). If NALT exists to promote the welfare and standards of law teachers, should it remain silent on brain-drain, teacher attrition, poor working conditions, and academic excellence and ethics? (c). If NALT is constitutionally mandated to engage stakeholders, should there be no visible record of sustained engagement with the NUC, CLE, NBA, National Assembly or judiciary, the Executive on issues affecting NALT members and promotion of legal education generally? It is therefore incorrect to say I set a new examination question; I simply asked NALT to be evaluated by the same questions it set for itself. A simple search shows that the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT) is “a professional body… established in 1961 [to] represent the interests of law teachers in Nigeria, to promote excellence in research and legal academic teaching in Nigeria, [and to] aid in promoting government policies and practices related to legal education and research.”

(3). THE QUESTION OF FOCUS: CAN A HOUSE ON FIRE CHASE RATS?

My central thesis remains: a professional body must first address its own sectoral challenges before consistently dabbling in unrelated national issues. N
Unfortunately, nothing in Dr Ihugba’s rejoinder addresses this. NALT has, in successive conferences, prioritised topics such as elections, sovereignty, constitutionalism and tax reform, etc; topics undoubtedly important but not central to NALT’s raison d’être. Meanwhile, the acute problems plaguing Nigerian legal education (including curriculum stagnation, absence of teaching standards, inadequate teacher welfare, weak and absence of pragmatic research culture, poor infrastructure, declining ethics and standards of teaching and learning, neglect of law teachers and legal education, and low quality synergy with relevant regulatory bodies, among others) rarely appear on conference agendas.

Again, respectfully, Dr Ihugba’s rejoinder’s repeated insistence that “law teachers should be allowed to present papers on any topic” misses the fundamental point. Freedom of research does not eliminate institutional responsibility. A body created to promote legal education cannot substitute intellectual tourism for sectoral leadership.The argument that “at least papers are presented” confuses movement with direction, and activity with performance. A conference that avoids its own constituency’s challenges cannot claim to be fulfilling its mandate.

(4). NALT VERSUS ITS LEADERSHIP: A DISTINCTION WITHOUT A DIFFERENCE

Dr Ihugba attempts to separate NALT from its Executive Officers, suggesting that criticisms should be limited to EXCOs, not the Association. This is, with due respect, conceptually untenable. Associations act through their leadership. Conferences are organised by leadership. Agendas are set by leadership. Engagements with stakeholders are undertaken by leadership. If EXCOs fail to act, NALT has fails to act. To argue otherwise is to deny the organisational structure of professional associations.

(5). THE “OPPORTUNITY” ARGUMENT AND THE PROBLEM OF IRRELEVANT CONFERENCES

Dr Ihugba’s rejoinder repeatedly celebrates NALT conferences as “opportunities” to: (a). present papers “irrespective of topic,” (b). collaborate, (c). network, and (d). co-author articles. These are indeed valuable, but they cannot replace NALT’s constitutional responsibilities. If conferences present no papers on legal pedagogy, curriculum reform, teaching methods, quality assurance, academic ethics, welfare of law teachers and students, or the regulation of legal education, crucial questions that immediately arise include: (i). How are we promoting excellence in teaching? (ii). How are we fostering improved standards? (iii). How are we influencing national policy? (iv). and How are we shaping the future of legal education? Unfortunately, Dr Ihugba’s rejoinder made no attempt to provide answers to these. The rejoinder’s logic is that any topic satisfies NALT’s objectives. This is, with due respect, unsustainable. Topics unrelated to legal education cannot promote the teaching of law. A conference on election petitions or tax reform cannot directly improve pedagogy or welfare. This is the very definition of loss of focus.

(6). STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT: A MANDATE NEGLECTED

The NALT Constitution mandates the Association to “engage meaningfully with stakeholders on issues affecting the development, regulation and quality of legal education.” Dr Ihugba concedes that conference assessment alone is insufficient but provides no evidence of: (i). engagement with NUC/CLE/NLS/etc on curriculum review, (ii). engagement with CLE on the BML programme, (iii). engagement with NBA on CPD standards, (iv). engagement with universities on minimum teaching standards, and (v). engagement with the National Assembly, the Executive , and other stakeholders on legislative reforms to legal education, law teachers welfare, legal education standards, poor infrastructure and low funding, etc. The rejoinder does not identify a single documented stakeholder intervention by the current or recent NALT leadership. Thus, the central question persists: If not at the conference, and not outside the conference, when and where does NALT confront the challenges of legal education?

(7)  THE PROBLEM WITH THE “65 PERCENT SCORE”

Dr Ihugba’s claim that NALT deserves a “65%—a B” is unsubstantiated. A credible grade requires measurable indicators: (i). Teacher-welfare interventions, (ii). Curriculum-review outputs, (iii). Capacity-building programmes, (iv). Policy papers influencing national regulation, (v). Pnstitutional synergy with CLE/NUC/NBA, etc, (vi). Structured feedback mechanisms, (vii). Implementation of the Blue Book’s pedagogical guidelines. No metrics are provided. No evidence is offered. With due respect, Dr Ihugba’s grading is a mere unsubstantiated subjective opinion, not an objective analysis

(8). A REJOINDER THAT UNWITTINGLY CONFIRMS THE ORIGINAL THESIS

With due respect, Dr Ihugba’s rejoinder contains several internal contradictions that ironically validate my initial critique: (a). The rejoinder claims NALT conferences cannot solve sectoral problems, but admits they can “harvest ideas” to do so; (b). It claims NALT has no role where laws already exist, but concedes NALT can “help put issues on the agenda;” (c). It claims I set new objectives, yet fails to show how any issue I raised falls outside the objectives of NALT as set out in its constitution; (d). It argues NALT focuses on research, while admitting conferences do not address legal education. Accordingly, every contradiction in the rejoinder reinforces my point, namely – NALT has drifted from its mandate and needs institutional reorientation.

(9). REFORM, NOT RITUALS: WHAT NALT MUST DO

Process-level improvements (such as newsletters, better Blue Book compliance, and AGM reports) are constructive but insufficient. What NALT needs is structural reform: (i). Reorient conference themes around legal education, pedagogy, teacher welfare and academic standards, ethics, etc; (ii). Institutionalise stakeholder engagement with CLE, NUC, NBA, the judiciary, the federal government and other critical stakeholders; (iii). Strengthen EXCO tenure to ensure continuity of reforms; (iv). Introduce annual policy (assessment/evaluation) statements on the state of legal education; (v). Establish a Research Committee on legal pedagogy and curriculum innovation; (vi). Ensure as a rule that at least 70%–80% of the papers presented at NALT conferences relate directly to NALT’s objectives and efforts towards resolving the challenges facing legal education in Nigeria. Without such changes, NALT will continue to operate as an intellectually stimulating but institutionally ineffective association.

(10). CONCLUSION: THE NEED FOR AN ANNUAL GENERAL CONSCIENCE

My thesis remains intact. With due respect, Dr Ihugba’s rejoinder has not dislodged it. The REALITY is that NALT cannot continue to ignore its core mandate, celebrate irrelevant achievements, and still claim institutional success. Until NALT transforms its Annual General Conference into an Annual General Conscience (a forum for reflecting, evaluating and driving reform), the Association risks becoming a body with eloquence but no influence, activity but no achievement, conferences without positive consequence. Ayn Rand’s observation that “We can ignore reality, but we cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality” reminds us that avoiding the truth does not shield us from its effects. Growth and sound judgment require that we confront reality rather than deny it, because denial only postpones inevitable repercussions. Arthur Schopenhauer also noted that every truth passes through three stages: first, it is ridiculed; second, it is fiercely opposed; and finally, it is accepted as self-evident. In any case, I believe I have made my point. As Anne Tyler wisely remarked, “It is very difficult to live among people you love and hold back from offering them advice.”
Respectfully,
Sylvester Udemezue (udems),
Legal Practitioner, Law Teacher, and Proctor of The Reality Ministry of Truth and Justice (TRM).
Tel: 08021365545.
Email: [email protected].
Web: www.therealityministry.ngo.
(13 November 2025)

REFERENCES

  1. Constitution of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (2018 rev)
  2. ibid.
  3. NALT, Manual on Legal Research and Writing (Blue Book, 2022).
  4. GJ Warnock, The Object of Morality (Methuen & Co Ltd, 1971) ch 5.
  5. R Yin, Case Study Research and Applications (Sage 2018) 82–84.
  6. S Udemezue, ‘NALT and the Persistent Disdain for Its Own Mandate’ (2025) The Reality Ministry.

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

Why the public must be properly guided on the case of Olanrewaju “Baba Ijesha” James

By Olukayode Majekodunmi

The recent conversations surrounding the criminal case of Mr. Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, have once again shown how easily misinformation can spread when legal matters are not clearly understood. For a case that has moved through all three tiers of Nigeria’s judicial system, it is crucial that the public relies on verified facts, not assumptions, emotions, or social-media narratives.

This piece provides a simplified and authoritative guide to what has actually happened in the courts, and why clarity is necessary for responsible public discourse.

  1. The High Court’s Judgment (14 July 2022)
    Mr. James was arraigned before the High Court of Lagos State on several counts relating to events alleged to have occurred in two separate periods—2013–2014, and 2021.

After evaluating the evidence, the High Court:
• Convicted him of sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child,

• Sentenced him to 5 years + 3 years imprisonment respectively, to run concurrently.

• These convictions related to the 2021 incident.

  1. The Court of Appeal’s Decision (28 June 2024)
    Mr. James appealed in Appeal No. CA/LAG/CR/544/2023.

The Court of Appeal gave a mixed outcome:
• He was acquitted of the allegations said to have occurred in 2013–2014 (Counts 2 and 3).

• However, the Court of Appeal affirmed the High Court’s findings regarding the 2021 offences (Counts 4 and 5), including the 5-year and 3-year concurrent sentences.

It is important for the public to understand that this was not a full acquittal only the earlier alleged acts were set aside. The more recent offences were upheld by the appellate court.

  1. Attempts to Appeal to the Supreme Court
    Dissatisfied with the affirmation of the 2021 convictions, Mr. James sought to approach the Supreme Court. • His first appeal in SC/CR/757/2024 was struck out on 29 May 2025 for incompetence, although the Court graciously allowed him the liberty to file a fresh appeal. • He returned to the Supreme Court with a new application for leave to appeal in SC.ML/333/2025. • On 9 October 2025, the Supreme Court dismissed the motion for leave to appeal.

In simple terms, the Supreme Court refused to entertain a further appeal. The effect is that the judgment of the Court of Appeal remains the final and binding decision.

  1. What This Means in Law and Why the Public Should Be Guided

At this stage, the legal position is clear:
• The Court of Appeal’s affirmation of the sexual-assault conviction and concurrent 5-year sentence remains intact and final.

• The Supreme Court has not overturned the conviction.

• There is no order of discharge, no acquittal, and no setting aside of the 2021 conviction by any superior court.

Because criminal jurisprudence demands accuracy, it is dangerous for the public to assume that an acquittal on some counts equals a total vindication. Court decisions must be interpreted with precision, and commentary on sensitive matters especially involving minors requires care, restraint, and respect for the rule of law.

  1. The Responsibility of Public Commentators and Influencers

Issues of sexual offences especially involving children are emotionally charged. Yet, the justice system depends on informed citizens who understand the difference between:

• Acquittal on some counts,

• Conviction on others,

• And the finality of appellate decisions.
Public commentary must reflect the facts, not distort them. Misinformation can hinder survivors, undermine confidence in the justice system, and create needless controversy.

Conclusion: Facts Must Lead the Conversation
The case of Baba Ijesha has reached its legal conclusion. The Court of Appeal’s affirmation of the conviction stands, and the Supreme Court has declined to reopen the matter.

The public should therefore rely strictly on the judicial record and be guided by what the courts have decided not by rumours, edited clips, or emotional takes.

Nigeria’s justice system works best when its processes are respected and its decisions understood. In matters as sensitive as sexual assault involving minors, clarity and responsibility are essential.

Justice Iyizoba warns of deep gender bias in judiciary, calls for urgent reform at WILIL leadership webinar

The call for urgent gender reform in Nigeria’s judiciary took centre stage as the Judicial Coordinator of the Wilil Project, Hon. Justice Chinwe Iyizoba, JCA(RTD), delivered a powerful address at the Women in Leadership in Law (WILIL) webinar.

The webinar, themed “Enhancing Work-Life Balance and Accessibility in Court Settings,” was organised by the National Association of Women Judges of Nigeria in partnership with the International Association of Women Judges.

It focused on helping women in the legal profession balance work and family while pushing for greater inclusion in leadership.

Justice Iyizoba said the WILIL project was designed to build sustainable leadership pathways for women across five countries in the Global South.

The countries are Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Mexico, and the Philippines.

She explained that CO-IMPACT, a global philanthropic fund, supports the project, adding that the initiative began in Nigeria in 2024 with workshops and data-gathering across state judiciaries.

Justice Iyizoba reported that gender gaps remain alarmingly wide in many states.
She said only a few states like Lagos, Edo and Kano show fair female representation on the bench.

She stressed that claims that women are “not interested” or “not qualified” are false, adding that evidence shows many qualified women are denied opportunities.

Her Lordship, who highlighted that women excel in law school and win top academic prizes, also pointed out that the number of trained women lawyers does not match their progression in the judiciary.

Justice Iyizob said this gap shows that systemic barriers block women from rising.

She explained that women face hurdles at every stage of life due to cultural expectations, asserting that this reality is magnified in a patriarchal society.

She reminded participants that advocacy groups continue to fight for equal opportunities.
She noted recent campaigns for special seats for women in parliament as an example.
Justice Iyizoba warned that no nation prospers when women are excluded from decision-making.

She said the judiciary appears inclusive from the outside because women head the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, but that the national data tells a different story.

She said many state High Courts fall far below the 35 percent minimum gender benchmark.
She revealed that some states have only two women to twenty men on the High Court bench.

Iyizoba said appointment bodies often include only one or no women at all, and explained that women who get appointed often join late due to systemic obstacles.

She noted that late entry makes leadership positions difficult before retirement.
She said the judiciary lacks maternity leave for judges.

She said women also face unfavourable transfer policies.
She added that courts lack crèches and support systems for mothers.
She said these conditions discourage women of childbearing age from joining the higher bench.

Justice Iyizoba praised speakers who shared their lived experiences during the webinar.
She noted the example of a female Chief Judge who created support systems for women in her state.

According to Her Lordship, the project plans to submit a gender policy proposal to the National Judicial Council.

Thanking all attendees for their commitment to improving gender equity, she said the webinar would contribute meaningfully to the push for reform.

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