The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has issued a sweeping communiqué following its quarterly meeting in Benin City, delivering some of its strongest positions yet on national security, judicial reforms, governance, and the state of the legal profession.

The meeting, held on November 20 and attended by national officers, past presidents, branch leaders, and observers, reviewed the condition of the Bar and the country at large. The council warned that a deteriorating justice system, rising insecurity, and increased political interference are threatening the rule of law in Nigeria.

NBA Raises Alarm Over Arbitrary Arrests, Security Agency Abuse

NEC, according to the communiqué signed by NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and General Secretary Dr Mobolaji Ojibara, expressed “deep concern” over widespread arbitrary arrests and repeated disregard for court orders, noting what it described as a troubling trend of security agencies interfering in civil matters. The association warned that such abuses “undermine the integrity of the justice system and violate constitutional guarantees.”

The council also condemned what it called the “partisan conduct” of the police during the recent PDP leadership crisis and criticised courts issuing conflicting orders, urging discipline within the security architecture and restraint within the judiciary.

Major Reforms: Electoral Committee, Judicial Review Body, and Lagos House Probe

The Bar approved the constitution of the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) to oversee the 2026 national elections, stressing transparency and technological reliability. Aham Ejelam, SAN, will chair the committee.

In response to concerns over contradictory appellate court judgments, NEC established the Editorial Committee of the Adjudicature Review Committee, tasked with producing a quarterly Nigeria Adjudicature Review to strengthen judicial scholarship and coherence.

NEC also ordered a sweeping review of the troubled Build-Operate-Transfer agreement for the NBA Lagos House—long plagued by revenue shortfalls—appointing Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, to lead an inquiry into the stalled project.

Pardons, Clemency, and Calls for Legal Reform

Addressing President Bola Tinubu’s controversial pardons of 175 convicts—including individuals convicted of murder, drug trafficking, unlawful mining, and armed robbery—NEC warned that such decisions “undermined accountability and public confidence.” The Bar, however, welcomed the President’s reversal of several pardons.

NEC insisted on the urgent need for a statutory framework to regulate presidential clemency powers to ensure transparency, protection of victims’ rights, and insulation from politics.

Security Crisis: NBA Calls for State Police, Tech-Driven Policing, and an End to Amnesty Deals

In one of its most forceful positions, NEC declared that Nigeria’s escalating insecurity—marked by mass killings, kidnappings, and destruction of property—reflects a “failed” and “over-centralised” security architecture.

The council demanded:

• Decentralised security control and establishment of state and local government police
• Deployment of modern surveillance tools, including drones and cyber-tracking
• A secure civilian self-protection licensing regime
• Stronger border monitoring
• An end to negotiations or amnesty for terrorists and bandits
• Rejection of integrating “repentant terrorists” into security agencies

NEC also called for urgent action to rescue abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi State and address the killing of Brigadier-General M. Uba in Borno.

Judicial Sector: Appointments, Working Conditions, and Controversies

The Bar criticised the “neglect” of private practitioners in recent judicial appointment shortlists, which it said overwhelmingly favoured Ministry of Justice officials. It called for amendments to the National Judicial Council (NJC) guidelines, including written competency examinations.

NEC also decried unsafe working conditions for magistrates, particularly in Ondo State, and condemned the playing of partisan political music at the All-Nigerian Judges Conference, demanding a public apology.

On structural reforms, NEC approved a three-year tenure for NBA representatives on the Council of Legal Education to strengthen institutional memory.

Trump’s Comments, Abuja Clash, and Abuse of Police Powers

NEC expressed concern over U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks suggesting potential deployment of American troops to Nigeria, warning that such comments “risk inflaming tensions” and undermine national sovereignty.

The council also condemned the confrontation between the FCT Minister and military personnel in Abuja, insisting that land-related enforcement must follow due process—not force.

NEC further denounced the Lagos State Commissioner of Police for unlawfully declaring activist Omoyele Sowore “wanted,” insisting that only a court may issue such proclamations.

Legal Actions, New Branches, and Rehabilitation Initiatives

The Bar announced ongoing litigation challenging the police’s refusal to convert qualified legal practitioners within its ranks into the specialist legal cadre, as well as a suit contesting the police’s tinted-glass permit regime.

NEC also approved nine new NBA branches and unveiled a Post-Custodial Rehabilitation Fund to support the reintegration of former inmates after observing conditions at Kuje Correctional Centre.

The meeting ended with the announcement of the 2026 Annual General Conference Planning Committee, chaired by Abdul Mohammed, SAN.

Dear Colleague,

Great news! The NBA-SPIDEL 2025 Virtual Conference Platform is now live, giving all registered delegates full access to stream the conference remotely and earn 2 CPD points upon attendance.

If you have already registered, simply log in to the virtual platform to join the sessions:

🔗 Virtual Platform: https://virtual.nigerianbar.online
📧 Login: Use the same email you used during registration
🎥 Access: Click “Virtual Rooms” to enter the live sessions

For colleagues who have not yet registered but wish to join the conference virtually and earn the 2 CPD points, you can still register online:

http://🔗 Register here: http://nbaspidel.ng/

We look forward to your active participation.

Henry Barnabas Ehi
Assistant General Secretary
Nigerian Bar Association

A former Permanent Secretary in Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Joe Keshi, has sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu’s newly released ambassadorial list, warning that several nominees “should have no business in the diplomatic service by any standard.”

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Keshi questioned the character and records of some of the non-career nominees, arguing that Nigeria is rewarding individuals who failed as public officials, or who should otherwise be facing justice.

“I’m comfortable with some names on the list,” he said. “But the bulk of the people on the non-career list is disturbing. Are these the kind of people we want to represent Nigeria? You have people who, if justice had prevailed, should actually be cooling their heels in prison—not being sent out as ambassadors.”

Keshi accused the administration of using ambassadorial postings as political compensation, including for former governors he said “were absolute failures” and left behind states that successors are still trying to repair.

“These are the people being rewarded because they helped destroy other political parties,” he added.

Career Diplomats ‘Bitter’ Over Exclusion

The former permanent secretary said senior career diplomats in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are “deeply demoralised” by their exclusion from Tinubu’s list, which heavily features politicians, former governors, and former top officials.

“They’ve gone through training, they’ve prepared themselves, and at the height where they are supposed to be appointed, you now say they are not qualified,” he said. “These officers are bitter, and they think Nigeria has done this to them.”

Keshi appealed to President Tinubu to ensure that any second list—widely rumoured to be forthcoming—should consist solely of career officers from the ministry.

‘Nigeria Needs Its Best Hands’

Recalling the foundation of Nigeria’s diplomatic service in the 1960s, Keshi said the vision of the country’s founding leaders was clear: a competent, independent, and well-trained foreign service capable of competing globally.

“For a long time, the foreign service met that standard until politicians came and started what they are doing today,” he said.

He also suggested that a “conspiracy” led to the removal of former National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director-General Ayo Oke, but did not elaborate on the alleged plot.

A Controversial List Amid Public Outrage

Tinubu’s recent list of 32 ambassadorial nominees includes high-profile figures such as former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu; former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu; former minister Femi Fani-Kayode; and former presidential aide Reno Omokri. An earlier list had already proposed Ayo Oke, Amin Dalhatu, and retired Colonel Lateef Are for confirmation.

The nominations have drawn mixed reactions, coming just weeks after widespread outrage over a presidential pardon granted to 175 convicted persons.

Legal scholar Prof. Chidi Odinkalu condemned the pardons in an article titled Pardon Me?!, noting that 93 percent of the beneficiaries were convicted of the most serious crimes—including drug trafficking, unlawful mining, murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, and looting.

Top columnist and former presidential spokesperson Olusegun Adeniyi echoed the criticism, describing the pardons as a “justifiably” controversial exercise of presidential power.

The Nigerian Tribune also published an editorial questioning the judgment behind the ambassadorial appointments, warning of the long-term consequences of politicising Nigeria’s diplomatic corps.

As the Senate prepares to begin confirmation hearings, public scrutiny is intensifying over whether the nominees reflect competence—or merely political allegiance.

Below is the TRIBUNE EDITORIAL.

The newly released breakdown of ambassadorial nominees has reopened a debate this administration has never quite escaped: the question of balance, equity, and whether President Tinubu’s appointments reflect a commitment to national inclusion or an emerging pattern of bias.

The statistics circulating widely — including the graphic published by the Nigerian Tribune — tell their own story. Out of the total nominees:
• South-West: 11
• South-East: 6
• North-West: 5
• North-East: 5
• North-Central: 5
• South-South: 3

Even without partisan lenses, one number dominates the conversation: 11 nominees from the South-West, a figure almost double that of any other zone and nearly quadruple that of the South-South.

For many observers, this is not merely an imbalance; it is a reinforcement of an old grievance — that federal appointments have become increasingly tilted, feeding suspicion that personal, regional, or political loyalties are edging out the constitutional principle of federal character.

Critics argue that the distribution is particularly troubling because ambassadorial postings carry symbolic weight. Ambassadors do not represent states or regions; they represent Nigeria. For that reason, the public expects the selection process to model unity, not disparity. The appearance of over-concentration in one zone undermines that expectation.

The strongest reactions have come from the South-South, which received only three nominees. Leaders and commentators from the region note that this level of under-representation feels less like an oversight and more like a deliberate de-prioritisation — especially when compared with the South-West’s 11 slots.

Defenders of the administration counter that professional competence, experience, and geopolitical considerations — not raw numbers — drive ambassadorial choices. They insist that the list reflects the pool of qualified candidates and the diplomatic needs of the moment. But that argument has struggled to gain traction, largely because the government has not offered transparent selection criteria or provided any explanation for the sharp regional differences.

For a presidency already navigating public suspicion over earlier appointment patterns, silence is costly. In the absence of clarification, perception hardens into narrative — and the narrative gaining ground is that Tinubu’s government is drifting toward regional favouritism.

This is not a trivial matter. Nigeria’s unity requires more than speeches; it requires that every region sees itself in the architecture of power. Even if unintended, an appointment imbalance of this scale sends the wrong message at the wrong time, especially in a country where federal character was designed to prevent precisely this form of concentration.

The way forward is simple and achievable:
• The Presidency should publish clear criteria for ambassadorial nominations.
• It should address the noticeable disparities in the list.
• And it should commit to more balanced future appointments, matching competence with inclusion.

In a nation as diverse as ours, fairness is not optional — it is the currency of legitimacy. And where numbers raise questions, leadership must provide answers.

A former secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Owerri branch, Chinedu Agu, who was recently remanded at the Owerri Custodial Centre over allegations of criminal defamation and ‎incitement against Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, delivered a blistering critique of the country’s justice system on Wednesday, accusing the judiciary of enabling executive overreach and widening the “justice gaps” in Nigeria’s press-freedom and cyber-security regime.

Speaking at the NBA-SPIDEL Conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Agu described himself as “a living, breathing example” of the ways Nigeria’s legal system is being used to silence dissent and punish lawful expression.

His remarks came as he served as a panellist responding to a paper by renowned human-rights advocate Femi Falana, SAN, on press freedom and cybersecurity law.

Agu began by thanking Falana and several senior lawyers—including Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, Emeka Obegolu, SAN, Kunle Edun, SAN, Sebastian Anyiam, and John Aikpokpo-Martins—for their interventions during what he called “a political persecution contrived by the executive and dispatched expertly by the judiciary.”

“If you are looking for a victim… look no further.”

Rejecting descriptions of him as a “victor,” Agu said the circumstances surrounding his arrest and prolonged detention in 2023 revealed the judiciary’s complicity in shrinking civic space and undermining constitutional protections.

“We can blame the executive and the security agencies for all we care,” he said. “But what do we say about the judicial officer who signs a remand order against a citizen whose only so-called crime was exercising his right to freedom of speech? What do we say about the magistrate who denies bail and adjourns beyond 14 days in violation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law?”

Agu recounted being arrested on September 23, arraigned on September 25, then denied bail and remanded to prison for 28 days by Magistrate Obinna Njemanze, who advised him to seek bail at the Federal High Court instead. But when his legal team approached the Federal High Court, he said, the bail application faced four adjournments—despite being unchallenged—and was ultimately refused by Justice Joy Chituru Wigwe-Oreh because “no information” had been filed.

“What was more curious,” he said, was the court’s order demanding an additional written address on the propriety of the bail application, even after full arguments had been submitted.

“The judiciary is the gatekeeper, and it has failed.”

Agu warned that Nigeria’s judiciary must shed what he called “the ghost of judicial timidity and timorousness” if it hopes to check executive excesses and protect fundamental freedoms.

“To bridge the justice gaps in press freedom and cyber-security law, our judiciary must imbibe the spirit of courage and bravery,” he said. “If this is not done, the executive and security agencies will continue to shrink the civic space.”

He closed with a stark challenge to the judges in attendance:

“Is the Nigerian judiciary willing to bridge the justice gap but not able to? Then it is impotent. Is it able but not willing? Then it is complicit and malevolent. Is it both able and willing? Then where comes the justice gaps?”

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is facing fresh scrutiny after auditors questioned £14.3 million spent on its London office. The findings came from the 2022 audit report, which raised concerns about missing documents and weak internal controls.

According to the auditor-general, officials could not verify how the London office used the funds during the 2021 financial year. The report said the company breached key financial regulations that demand transparency and full documentation of public expenditure.

The audit team warned that the gaps create high risks of diversion and misappropriation of public funds. It added that the failures highlight long-standing weaknesses in NNPCL’s internal control systems.

NNPCL said the London office operates as a service unit with an approved annual budget. It added that all records are available for review when requested. However, the auditor-general found the response insufficient and upheld the initial findings.

The report directed the Group Chief Executive Officer to recover the entire £14.3 million and remit it to the treasury. It also warned that penalties for irregular payments could apply if the funds were not returned.

The latest audit report further accused NNPCL of misappropriation, inflated contracts, and irregular payments worth over $51 million between 2020 and 2021. Additional findings revealed questionable expenditures of about N684 million on abandoned projects and unexecuted contracts.

Meanwhile, NNPCL disclosed that Nigeria now owes the company N17.5 trillion for pipeline protection and energy-security operations in 2024. Analysts have since demanded a full forensic review of the spending.

Documents show that N7.13 trillion was spent to stabilise petrol prices under the regulated pricing system. The company said a large portion of the money went into pipeline security, repairs, and anti-theft operations.

This disclosure has revived questions about the government’s claim that the fuel subsidy ended in May 2023. The new figures show continued financial support for petrol pricing, despite repeated assurances to the contrary.

NNPCL also announced a profit after tax of N5.4 trillion for 2024, marking a sharp rise from the previous year. The company reported an 87 percent revenue increase driven by crude oil sales and improved operational performance.

Financial analysts noted that gas, power, and service revenues rose sharply, reflecting wider commercial activity. However, they warned that rising finance costs and swelling receivables require close oversight.

Experts raised concerns about the N17.5 trillion spent on energy-security operations. They argued that the amount is too large given Nigeria’s production output. Some analysts said the spending signals deep leakages and collusion within the industry.

Others claimed crude is being allocated to armed groups disguised as pipeline security contractors. They demanded open contracting and independent verification of all security payments.

The NNPCL faces mounting scrutiny as historical controversies resurface. The EFCC is already investigating former chief executives over alleged refinery rehabilitation fraud worth $2.7 billion.

The Senate is also probing N210 trillion allegedly unaccounted for between 2017 and 2023. Lawmakers said the company repeatedly failed to provide adequate explanations.

Auditors previously flagged the diversion of N514 billion in 2021. Critics argue that the pattern shows systemic opacity. They insist that only sustained transparency reforms can restore trust in the national oil company.

• ‘Love Is Not by Force’: Police warn as man flees after acid assault on lover

The Enugu State Police Command has arrested a 51-year-old man, Emeka Emmanuel Nwangwu, for the alleged murder of his 19-year-old maternal cousin, Loveth Uloma Nwangwu, just days after she reported him to authorities for sexual abuse, abduction, and repeated threats to her life.

Police spokesperson SP Daniel Ndukwe described the killing, announced on Tuesday, 2 December 2025, as a gruesome and heartbreaking tragedy that has stunned the Nsukka community at the start of the festive season.

According to police, operatives from the Nsukka Urban Division, supported by the local Neighbourhood Watch Group, arrested the suspect on Monday, 1 December 1, at a pharmacy in Nsukka, the same location where he allegedly carried out the fatal attack.

A Disturbing Trail of Abuse

Police records show that Loveth had formally filed a complaint on November 28 at the Umabor Division. She alleged that she had lived with the suspect since 2019, when she was just 13, following the death of his wife. During those years, she said she was subjected to prolonged sexual abuse, threats, forced isolation, and abduction.

After escaping to her family home in Enugu-Ezike, the suspect allegedly pursued her, brandished a firearm, and forcibly took her back to his residence in Ibeku-Opi, Nsukka LGA. She escaped again and reported the ordeal to the police.

Authorities issued her a medical form for examination and invited both families to be questioned. During early mediation efforts, the suspect allegedly admitted to some of the allegations and asked for forgiveness, promising to return the teen’s belongings. Loveth’s family, citing cultural sensitivities and the taboo nature of the alleged incest, initially opted for “spiritual cleansing” rather than immediate criminal prosecution.

A Fatal Attack

The case turned deadly when Loveth, while receiving treatment at a pharmacy, was reportedly ambushed by the same man she had accused.

“The suspect forcefully gained access into the pharmacy, assaulted the victim, and repeatedly smashed her head on the floor,” SP Ndukwe said.

She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her body has been deposited at a mortuary awaiting autopsy.

Police re-arrested the suspect at the scene, and he remains in custody.

Enugu State Commissioner of Police CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa condemned the killing as cruel, inhuman, and utterly unacceptable, vowing to pursue justice relentlessly.

“This is a deeply disturbing crime,” Giwa said. “The Command will leave no stone unturned. Justice must be served, and it will be served.”

He directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to conduct a thorough probe and file charges without delay.

The killing has thrown Nsukka and the surrounding communities into shock as residents grapple with the allegations of long-term abuse and the brutal murder of the young woman.

Police urged the public to stay calm and allow investigators to complete their work.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command has launched a manhunt for a man identified as Timothy Gilbert, who allegedly doused his girlfriend, Angela Ogah, 40, with acid before fleeing.

Command spokesperson Moses Yamu** confirmed the attack, which occurred at Ihovbe Quarters in Ikpoba Hill, noting that the couple had been embroiled in disputes over alleged infidelity.

“The command has commenced a manhunt for the arrest of the suspect, and I am sure he will be brought to justice,” Yamu said, urging the public to walk away from abusive relationships, adding, “Love is not by force.”

Gilbert allegedly fled after the early-December attack.

Ogah’s lawyer, John Izegaegbe, told reporters on Monday that the victim is currently hospitalised in critical condition at a private facility. A petition has been filed with the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, seeking urgent action.

“She is in severe pain. She could barely speak when journalists visited her,” Izegaegbe said, appealing for the immediate arrest of the fugitive suspect.

The United States has announced sweeping visa restrictions targeting individuals linked to violent attacks on Christians in Nigeria and across the globe, marking one of Washington’s strongest actions yet on international religious persecution.

In a statement released Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the new policy—authorized under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act—will bar entry to anyone who has “directed, authorized, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom,” including, where appropriate, their immediate family members.

The move follows years of escalating assaults on Christian communities in parts of Nigeria, attributed to extremist groups, armed militias, and other violent actors. Rubio said the U.S. “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries,” echoing remarks previously issued by President Donald Trump.

The policy is expected to apply not only to individuals in Nigeria but also to foreign government officials and non-state actors complicit in religious persecution worldwide.

Shockwaves in Abuja: Senator Claims Presidency ‘Run From Outside the Villa’

The U.S. announcement coincided with a political firestorm in Nigeria, where Senator Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara West made explosive claims about the inner workings of the Nigerian presidency.

Speaking at the One Nigeria Project Conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the former governor alleged that President Bola Tinubu is “caged” within the Presidential Villa and that key decisions are being made “from outside” the seat of government.

“Those close to the Presidency know that the Presidency is being run from outside the Villa more than inside,” Yari said. “We already have the President caged there… we do the operations.”

Yari framed his comments as a call for unity and internal reform, insisting that Nigerians, not the United States, must confront the country’s political and security crises.

“Don’t call Trump,” he told the audience. “The problem of Nigeria can be solved by Nigerians.”

He argued that Nigeria’s survival through past political turmoil—referencing the 1993 June 12 crisis—shows that the nation remains “God’s own country,” capable of weathering internal conflicts and rebuilding institutions.

Yari also criticised the nation’s political elite, accusing them of misrepresenting President Tinubu’s situation and failing to take responsibility for Nigeria’s challenges.

“You have people abusing Tinubu because you know the problem more than the truth,” he said.

A Convergence of Pressure

The overlapping narratives, that is, Washington’s crackdown on religious persecution and Yari’s claims of political dysfunction, underscore the deepening tensions facing Africa’s largest democracy.

With U.S. scrutiny intensifying and domestic criticism mounting, the Tinubu administration enters a period of heightened pressure both from abroad and at home.

The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has set up a Development Law Committee to drive the ‘development’ component of its mandate.

According to a statement signed by Prof. Paul Ananaba SAN and Mr Okey Ohagba, Chairman and Secretary respectively of the NBA-SPIDEL Interim Management Committee, the Committee is to be chaired by Bar Leader, Mr Andrew Odum SAN.

Below is the full text of the press statement.

CONSTITUTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT LAW COMMITTEE OF NBA-SPIDEL.

Recall that at the NBA-SPIDEL AGM of 28th August, 2025, at Enugu, the AGM approved the constitution of the NBA-SPIDEL Development Law Committee headed by Mr Andrew Odum. SAN and Yakubu Bawa as Secretary. The membership of the committee is hereby fully constituted as follows, to wit;

We urge all stakeholders and colleagues to accord them maximum support to deliver excellence on the assignment.

THE DEVELOPMENT LAW COMMITTEE OF THE NBA-SPIDEL

1. ANDREW OSEMEDUA ODUM SAN — CHAIRMAN

2. YAKUBU BAWA –  SECRETARY

MEMBERS

3. PROF. OGUGUA V. C. IKPEZE

4. MRS. JOYCE ODUAH

4. EDEDEM ANI ESQ

5. DR. IKENNA UKAM

6. HAJIA SADIA B. SALEH

7. UTOMOBONG INYANG

8. SAMUEL ETUK

9. IDRIS ABOYOMI SHEHU

10. OTUNBA OLUMIDE OLAIYA

11. NWABUEZE ESEAGWU

12. NWADIMUYA PRECIOUS

13. FATIMA KERE-AHMED

14. FRANCIS NWAORAH

14. VICTOR NWAKASI

15. NKEM AGBOTI

16. RAYMOND ISITOR

17. EZEALA CHUKWUMA

18. PHILIP NJETENE

19. CHISOM KEJE

20. FRANCIS IBEKWE

21. MUSTAPHA IMAM

22. LAURETTA IKUKA

23. TERHEMBA GBASHIMA

24. SUNNY EMEYEVEN

25. EZEBU OGUGUA

26.  JOY ONUKWUE

27. MARTHA EGEONU-AKABO

28. DR. (MRS.) EJIRO KORE-OKITI.

29. DR SAM AMADI

30.DR OZIOMA IZUORA

31 DR NGOZI NWANGWA

32. DR EZE ONWUNMA.

33. DR SAM AMADI

34. PRINCESS FRANK-CHUKWUANI

35. MONDAY ADJIE

36. LIKKO – AL BASHIR LAWAL

37. LUCKY WOSU –

38. UMAR SANNI SAN

39. NONYEM DAMULA

40. NNENNA OJIAKO

41.  ESTHER CHIEMEKA

42. NKWACHI ONWUTUEBE-MAD

43. BENSON IWUAGWU

44. EJIKE EZENWA SAN.

45. DANIEL ASOMEJI

We urge all stakeholders and colleagues to accord them maximum support to deliver excellence on the assignment.

DATED THIS 1ST DAY OF DECEMBER, 2025

The Police in Akwa Ibom State have arrested a man identified as David Effiong for allegedly causing a public disturbance while appearing in full masquerade regalia despite the state government’s ban.

Effiong was taken into custody on Tuesday after residents reported that a masquerader was causing a nuisance and allegedly destroying property within the community.

Police Commissioner, CP Baba Azare, confirmed the arrest, noting that Effiong would be arraigned once investigations were concluded.

Meanwhile, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has signed an Executive Order banning masquerade displays on streets and major highways across the state.

‎The move, according to the governor, follows rising incidents of harassment, extortion and public disturbances linked to masquerade activities in several communities.

‎According to a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday, Eno, who announced the proscription last week, reaffirmed the ban while signing the order at Government House, Uyo, on Tuesday.

‎He directed the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies to enforce full compliance.

‎”By my office as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, I am issuing an order that anyone caught will be arrested and prosecuted. They have used it to cause havoc in some local governments.

‎”As the chief security officer of the State, I am directing the commissioner of police and other security agencies to arrest and prosecute masquerades. Let it stop terrorising people, and let people have peace,” Eno stated.

‎The governor stressed that while he respects the state’s cultural heritage, no tradition should cause harm or infringe on the rights of citizens.

He said, “All of us are living witnesses to the embarrassment and nuisance that this has caused. If you have driven along the highways, you would have seen how they operate. It could cause accidents, and sometimes it brings cars to an abrupt halt.
‎
‎”Last two weeks, we had a scene where a young woman was literally stripped naked and flogged by these masquerades. Yes, it is culture, but everyone has a right. No culture should dominate the other or cause harm to others.”

Eno noted that a 2022 law already requires police clearance for such displays, adding that those who wish to celebrate masquerades must restrict the activity to village squares.

‎”So if you want to play masquerade, go to your village square and play it, but not on the streets of Akwa Ibom.

‎”Don’t use that to disrupt public peace and order. We don’t want to have trouble in our hands,” he stated.

‎The governor urged residents to familiarise themselves with the new order and warned against further disruption of public order under the guise of cultural expression.

‎He appealed to the public to support tourism-boosting initiatives that align with his administration’s ARISE Agenda, especially as the state anticipates a surge in visitors during the festive season.

‎”We have visitors coming as we are trying to make our State a tourist destination. Let’s not scare people. Don’t make them feel that chaos is tolerated. It is on the strength of that that we sign this to bring public peace and order,” he stated.

‎Speaking earlier, the Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, commended the governor for the directive, describing it as timely and necessary.

‎According to him, the order gives security agencies clear authority to curb masquerade-related violence, intimidation and obstruction across the 31 local government areas.

‎He assured that enforcement has already commenced, with instructions issued to area commanders and tactical units to ensure full compliance statewide.

Credit: The Punch, excluding the altered headline.