At a memorial lecture in Anambra State, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Ikeazor Ajovi Akaraiwe warned that Nigeria’s growing insecurity is inseparable from the country’s collapsing justice system, arguing that “justice is not the last resort—it is the first step toward national security.”

Speaking Thursday, November 27, at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Anaocha Branch’s 2nd Biennial Memorial Lecture in honour of the late Chief Charles E. N. Obegolu, Akaraiwe delivered a sweeping indictment of Nigeria’s justice architecture, linking delayed trials, weak investigations, political impunity, and constitutional loopholes to the country’s deepening instability.

Akaraiwe described Obegolu—his former senior at the Bar—as a relentless defender of the oppressed, a lawyer “who could not stand injustice” and whose legacy offers a roadmap for rebuilding public trust.

“Justice Delivery Is the Foundation of Social Security”

Speaking on the lecture theme, Justice Delivery as a Pathway to Social Security, Akaraiwe said justice is not merely a courtroom ideal but “the organising principle that determines how safe citizens feel, how peacefully communities coexist, and how confidently investors operate.”

He argued that where justice systems function, countries enjoy stability and cohesion—but “when justice fails, society becomes vulnerable.”

He linked justice delivery to the core pillars of social security:

• Social harmony: fairness reduces communal tension
• Socioeconomic rights: access to food, shelter, and healthcare
• Equitable resource distribution: reducing inequality and resentment
• Reduction in self-help: citizens abandon vigilante justice when the state works
• Public trust: fairness strengthens confidence in government

The Constitutional Roadblock

A central part of Akaraiwe’s address focused on the non-justiciability of Chapter II of Nigeria’s Constitution—the section that outlines the country’s fundamental objectives, including social justice, national cohesion, and equitable resource allocation.

He cited landmark Supreme Court decisions—Abacha v. Fawehinmi, Odeh v. AGF, Mojekwu v. Edo State—that repeatedly ruled that the provisions in Chapter II are aspirational and unenforceable.

But he argued that the time has come for the Supreme Court to reverse itself.

“The framers of the Constitution could never have imagined Presidents Buhari and Tinubu, who would—with impunity—concentrate major appointments on certain geopolitical zones and religions while neglecting others,” he said.

Using Chinua Achebe’s Eneke the Bird proverb, Akaraiwe insisted that because political leaders have “learned to shoot without missing,” the law must “reinvent itself” to keep them within moral bounds. He urged lawyers to bring fresh Chapter II cases before the Supreme Court.

Nigeria’s Insecurity Is a Justice Failure

Turning to Nigeria’s security challenges—from kidnapping and banditry to terrorism and cybercrime—Akaraiwe argued that these crises are “not merely policing problems but justice problems.”

He outlined how the justice system fuels insecurity:

• Endless trials embolden criminals
• Delayed judgments discourage victims
• Weak investigations sabotage prosecutions
• Corrupt justice actors undermine public confidence
• Overloaded judges create systemic paralysis

“When citizens see offenders walk free while victims suffer, society absorbs a dangerous message: the State is unable or unwilling to protect you,” he said.

A Broken System Holding Nigeria Back

He described courts plagued by “court not sitting” notices, abrupt judge transfers, and caseloads so heavy that one judge may handle over 1,000 cases. He warned that Nigeria cannot maintain social order with a justice sector that is “understaffed, overwhelmed, outdated, and under-prioritized.”

To reverse the trend, he called for:

• Modernised courts with digital processes, virtual hearings, and case-tracking
• Sentencing reforms to decongest prisons
• Improved police investigations
• Stronger integrity systems to root out corruption

Justice as National Security

Akaraiwe insisted that social security begins with justice, not welfare programmes.

“Social security means citizens can live, work, and prosper without fear,” he said. “Nigeria must reposition justice as its primary national security strategy.”

He concluded by urging the NBA and government to emulate Chief Obegolu’s courage and devotion.

“Chief Obegolu understood—long before many of us—that justice delivery is the lifeblood of societal peace,” he said. “To honour his memory, we must build a justice system that truly serves society.”

The Federal High Court of Nigeria (FHC) has condemned the use of the photograph of one of its Justices, Hon. Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, in the media publications of the gruesome murder of the retired Delta State High Court Judge, Justice Ifeoma Okogwu.

The Court affirmed that contrary to the wrong use of the image and created impression, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu is alive and discharging her judicial functions in her division.

In a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, the Federal High Court said that the continued use of Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu’s photo in place of the murdered Justice Ifeoma Okogwu was reckless, misleading, malicious and unprofessional as it has subjected Ijeoma Ojukwu to emotional distress.

The statement, signed by the Director of Information of the Court, Dr Catherine Oby Christopher, demanded the immediate removal of all posts, articles, broadcasts, and digital content containing the wrongful use of Justice Ojukwu’s photograph.

The statement read “The Federal High Court of Nigeria hereby issues this formal refutal and strongly condemns the recent dissemination of false, misleading, and malicious media publications that wrongfully used the photograph of Honourable Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in connection with reports on the tragic murder of Honourable Justice Ifeoma Okogwu, a retired Judge of the Delta State High Court.

“For absolute clarity, the Federal High Court affirms that Honourable Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu is alive, healthy, and currently serving with distinction as a Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.

“His Lordship has no direct, indirect, or remote connection whatsoever to the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the death of Justice Okogwu.

“The publication and circulation of Justice Ojukwu’s image in this context are not only factually inaccurate but also defamatory, professionally reckless, and legally actionable.

“This misrepresentation has caused significant emotional distress to His Lordship, her family, colleagues, and the broader judicial community. It also constitutes a breach of fundamental journalistic and ethical standards.

“Pursuant to applicable laws, including the laws of defamation under Nigerian jurisprudence, the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, and relevant regulatory standards governing media practice, the Federal High Court demands the following with immediate effect:

“Immediate removal of all posts, articles, broadcasts, and digital content containing the wrongful use of Justice Ojukwu’s photograph.

“A clear, unambiguous public retraction, expressly acknowledging the misidentification and correcting the misinformation.

“A written and publicly published apology directed to Honourable Justice Ojukwu, disseminated across all platforms on which the erroneous information was originally shared.

The Federal High Court advised all media organisations, journalists, bloggers, and online publishers to exercise strict due diligence in verifying facts and images before publication, particularly when reporting on judicial officers whose reputational integrity is essential to the administration of justice.

It warned that failure to comply with the notice, or any continued publication, sharing, or circulation of the false image after the formal refutal, will be construed as deliberate malice and bad faith.

“The Federal High Court will not hesitate to initiate appropriate civil and criminal proceedings against any individual, organisation, or platform found culpable.

“The Court remains unwavering in its commitment to protecting the dignity, safety, and integrity of all judicial officers serving the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, it said.

As part of global events marking the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, FIDA Nigeria Abuja Branch on Tuesday launched an outreach campaign to the NYSC Legal Aid Community Development Service (CDS) group.

According to a statement signed by Chimdindu Onyedim-Etuwewe, Publicity Secretary, FIDA Nigeria Abuja Branch, the sensitisation programme aligned with this year’s international theme—“Unite! Invest to End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls.”

During the session, Chairperson of the branch, Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, briefed corps members on the growing dangers of technology-facilitated abuse, including online harassment, cyberstalking, non-consensual image sharing, and other forms of digital exploitation.

Onyenucheya-Uko explained the legal protections available under Nigerian law, outlining how victims can seek redress and how offenders can be held accountable.

The Corps Members also received guidance on digital safety practices, responsible online behaviour, and how to support women and girls who face digital abuse.

Other speakers emphasised the pivotal role young Nigerians can play in building safer online spaces, noting that NYSC members are often positioned at the frontline of community education and early intervention.

FIDA Abuja reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the rights and safety of women and girls, and pledged continued collaboration with government and civil society partners to strengthen awareness, reporting systems, and community-level protection mechanisms.

Islamic cleric Sheikh Gumi has described the kidnapping of schoolchildren as a “lesser evil” compared to killing soldiers, insisting that Nigeria must negotiate with bandits to prevent greater bloodshed.

Speaking in an interview with the BBC shared on Tuesday, Gumi said that while the abduction of minors is “evil,” it remains less grievous than murder — particularly in situations where kidnapped children are eventually released unharmed.

“Saying that kidnapping children is a lesser evil than killing your soldiers, definitely is lesser. Killing is worse than, but they are all evil. It’s just a lesser evil. Not all evils are of the same power.

He cited previous incidents, including the mass abduction in Kebbi State, arguing that the victims were freed without fatalities.

Why I Have Attended A New Church Every Sunday This Year – Lagos Man0:00 / 1:01

“So it’s a lesser evil than, like, what happened in Kebbi. They abducted children, and they were released. They didn’t kill them.”

The remarks come as more than 315 people — including 303 students and 12 teachers — were abducted in Niger State.

On 7 December, the Federal Government announced the release of 100 students, while an earlier report confirmed the escape of 50 others just days after the kidnapping.

“It’s an evil, and we pray that they escape”, Gumi responded briefly when asked what he would say to their parents.

Gumi also defended his long-held stance that negotiating with bandits is unavoidable, describing engagement with bandits and other non-state actors as a practical strategy to secure peace and save lives, and noting that “everybody negotiates with bandits.”

“That word [‘we don’t negotiate’], I don’t know where they got it from. It’s not in the Bible. It’s not in the Quran.

“In fact, it’s not even in practice. Everybody’s negotiating with outlaws, non-state actors, everybody. So who got it, and where did they get that knowledge from? We negotiate for peace and our strategic interests. If negotiation will bring stoppage to bloodshed, we will do it.”

The cleric stressed that his past engagements with bandits were not carried out secretly or independently.

“I go there with the authorities. I don’t go there alone. And I go there with the press,” he said.

Gumi revealed that his last direct meetings with bandit groups were in 2021, saying he made marathon efforts to bring various factions together, but the federal government at the time “was not keen” on the initiative.

He said once the groups were officially designated as terrorists, he completely withdrew from any contact.

Turning to the wider security situation, the former army captain argued that Nigeria’s military cannot shoulder the burden alone.

“We need a robust army… but even the military is saying our role in this civil unrest, in this criminality, is 95% kinetic. The rest is the government, the politics, and the locals. The military cannot do everything.”

Gumi also maintained that most bandits are Fulani herdsmen, not urban Fulani, urging a clear distinction between the two. He described their struggle as rooted in survival and cattle rearing:

“They are fighting an existential war… Their life revolves around cattle. In fact, they inherit them. They’ll tell you, ‘This cow I inherited from my grandfather.’ They are mostly Fulani herdsmen, not the Fulani town, because you have to differentiate between the two.”

Gumi’s remarks underscore the delicate balance between dialogue and enforcement in addressing Nigeria’s persistent insecurity, particularly in the northwest, where kidnappings, bandit raids, and violence continue to disrupt communities.

PUNCH

The Nigerian Army has dismissed as “baseless and misleading” reports alleging that soldiers attached to the Commander of the 23 Brigade, Yola, shot and killed women protesters during a communal clash in Adamawa State on Monday.

In a statement signed by the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Sector 4 Operation Hadin Kai/23 Brigade, Captain Olusegun Abidoye, on Tuesday, December 8, the Army described the report as “nothing short of an attempt to smear the image of the Brigade, its Commander, and by extension, the Nigerian Army.”

According to the statement, neither the Brigade Commander nor his escorts were at the scene of the incident as alleged. “The Brigade Commander was participating virtually in the Chief of Army Staff’s weekly operational briefing at the time of the purported shooting,” Abidoye clarified.

Read Also: Just In! Horror as Nigerian soldiers escorting Brigade Commander in Yola shoot dead seven protesting women, many injured

The Army explained that troops from the 23 Brigade Garrison, alongside personnel of the Nigerian Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Department of State Services (DSS), were deployed in the early hours of Monday, December 8, following reports of renewed clashes between the Bachama and Chobo communities in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The clashes, according to the statement, stemmed from “unresolved land disputes and ethnic acrimony” between the two tribes.

Captain Abidoye said that troops swiftly moved to restore order in the affected communities: Tingno, Rigange, Tito, Waduku, and Lamurde, but were attacked by a militia group suspected to be aligned with one of the warring sides.

“The troops, being a professional, adaptable and combat-ready force, decisively engaged the militia armed men in a firefight,” he said. “During the exchange, three gunmen were neutralised, and others fled the general area. The troops later discovered five additional dead militia members along their withdrawal route, alongside a motorcycle.” he said

While troops were moving to secure the Lamurde Local Government Secretariat, Abidoye said, a group of women blocked the road in protest, even as armed men from the Bachama side fired indiscriminately nearby.

“Troops then created a passage and proceeded to the Local Government Secretariat to secure the area. At this point, no woman was shot or injured. Otherwise, troops would not have been allowed to find any passage through the crowd,” the statement emphasised.

Abidoye revealed that two corpses of women were later brought to the Local Government Lodge by community members, who accused the troops of killing them. He, however, said preliminary findings indicated that the deaths were caused by the “unprofessional handling of automatic weapons by local militias who are not trained to use such weapons.”

The 23 Brigade expressed condolences to the families of the deceased women and urged both Bachama and Chobo communities to embrace peace.

“The Brigade deeply sympathises with the families of the slain women and urges the warring communities to avoid unnecessary loss of lives and destruction of property,” Abidoye said.

He reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to professionalism and constitutional duty in aid of civil authorities, stressing that the Brigade “remains resolute and committed to maintaining peace and stability” in its area of responsibility.

The statement concluded with a call on the public to “disregard the malicious report” circulating online.

Following a N40 billion defamation suit against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Gwarinpa, on Tuesday, ordered service on him by substituted means.

Justice M. A. Hassan, who issued the order while ruling in an ex parte application, specifically ordered that the applicant should paste the writ of summons, statement of claims, witness statement on oath, hearing notice and the entire court documents on the gate of the headquarters of the FCT, in Garki, Abuja.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, the applicant’s lawyer, Mr Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, narrated the inability to serve the court summons on the Wike and prayed that the court permit the plaintiff to serve the court’s documents through substituted service.

Having granted the request, Justice Hassan fixed March 24 and 25, 2026, for hearing in the suit number CV/4502/25.

The plaintiff, a former candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 governorship election in Rivers State, Mr Tonye Patrick Cole, had dragged the FCT Minister and Channels Incorporated Limited to court over alleged defamation.

Cole is seeking N40 billion in damages over alleged defamatory statements made by Wike during a live broadcast on Channels TV’s “Politics Today” on September 18.

According to the writ of summons and the attached statement of claim, Cole alleged that Wike’s statements during a live broadcast on Channels TV’s “Politics Today” on September 18 were false, malicious, offensive, and damaging to his reputation in personal, professional, and public capacities.

Court documents indicate that Mr Wike referred to Mr Cole in a manner suggesting financial impropriety and mismanagement of state resources, including allegations related to Rivers State gas and the Olympia Hotel.

Mr Cole’s legal team, led by Jibrin Okutepa SAN, argued that the statements are defamatory, as they impute dishonesty and wrongdoing, gravely injuring his client’s standing both nationally and internationally.

The claimant is seeking N40 billion for alleged damages resulting from what he described as a “malicious, reckless, and unfounded defamatory broadcast and publications,” which caused him injury, humiliation, mental anguish, and reputational harm.

Mr Cole is also seeking N500 million for the cost of the legal action, as well as several injunctive and declaratory reliefs. These include a declaration that the statements were false and defamatory, an order directing the defendants to retract the claims and remove all copies from all platforms, and a public apology broadcast on Channels TV and published in at least five national newspapers.

The claimant also seeks a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from further publishing or disseminating defamatory material related to him.

Mr Cole’s legal team said a pre-action notice and letter of demand dated 8 October were served on both Mr Wike and Channels Television, but the defendants failed to comply, prompting the initiation of court proceedings.

The court has directed the defendants to enter an appearance within 21 days of service of the writ.

Former Criminal Bar Association chair Jo Sidhu KC has asked the High Court to overturn his lifetime ban from the legal profession, arguing that his disbarment for sexual misconduct was “disproportionate” to the findings against him.

Sidhu, one of the UK’s most high-profile criminal barristers, was struck off in March after a Bar Standards Board (BSB) tribunal ruled that he engaged in inappropriate conduct toward a woman in her 20s who was shadowing him during a mini-pupillage in 2018.

The tribunal found that Sidhu, then in his 50s, invited the junior colleague to his hotel room for work, asked her to remain overnight in his bed, and later initiated consensual physical contact. The panel held that the behaviour breached professional standards and risked “diminishing trust” in the barristers’ profession, particularly given Sidhu’s seniority and the woman’s junior status as a paralegal.

In written arguments filed with the High Court, Sidhu’s legal team—led by Shakespeare Martineau—said the sanction went beyond what the facts supported. They claim the tribunal overstated the level of harm involved and failed to align the penalty with similar cases in which other professionals found guilty of misconduct did not receive lifetime bans.

Sidhu’s lawyers say a series of messages exchanged between the pair for nearly two years after the incident shows they maintained a friendly rapport, which, they argue, undermines the finding of “significant harm.”

“Mr Sidhu has always believed that the tribunal’s decision of disbarment was disproportionate,” his lawyer Daniel Jennings said. “He does not challenge the findings of misconduct and accepts them in full. He deeply regrets his actions, which—though consensual—were inappropriate. He is deeply sorry to Person Two for the way he acted.”

The BSB declined to comment on the ongoing legal challenge.

The High Court will determine whether the tribunal’s sanction should stand or be reconsidered, a decision that could shape how professional-conduct penalties are applied in future cases involving senior-junior power dynamics.