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The Selectorate: Now on sale, Grab your copy

At the heart of The Selectorate is a simple but urgent question: Who should decide who governs? Chidi Odinkalu argues that if democracy is to mean anything, it must be rooted in the will of the people, not the pronouncements of an elite judiciary. Through compelling storytelling and rigorous analysis, he makes the case for reclaiming electoral legitimacy from the hands of unelected power brokers. This book is a rallying cry for all who believe that democracy is worth defending and that it must be defended not just from politicians but from judges who wield unchecked power.

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Yahaya Bello Graft Trial: Court rejects EFCC’s request to ‘cross-examine’ own witness, prosecution says case is political

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, rejected a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ‘cross-examine’ its third witness in the ongoing trial of alleged money laundering case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

While delivering his ruling, Justice Nwite noted that there was no provision in law that permits the court to allow the prosecution to re-examine its witness in the manner proposed by anti-graft agency.

This was just as the EFCC lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, during the proceedings, described the case instituted against the former governor as a political case.

He emphasised that he was not prosecuting a bank official, but a political figure, “one who had even aspired to contest for Presidency”.

He said this while arguments were being raised on whether the defence counsel would cross-examine the 4th witness when the prosecution concluded its examination at 2.30pm or wait till the next day.

Responding, the judge said, “Political? If that is the case, then those handling political cases should prepare to take over the matter.”

On the ruling against the cross-examination of PW3 by the EFCC, the judge said, “I must agree with the learned counsel to the defendant that the EFCC can only cross-examine its oo witness after it has declared such witness a hostile witness.

“The argument of the learned counsel to the prosecution is misconceived…This honourable court is not shutting the prosecution from re-examining the witness, but must restrict itself to pages 1, 14 and 15 of Exhibit 19 where issues were addressed by the defense.

“The prosecution is not allowed to re-examine the witness outside the pages prescribed.”

Nicholas Ojehomon, an internal auditor at the American International School, Abuja, had, at the last hearing, said there was no wired transfer of fees from the Kogi State Government or any of the local Governments in the state to the account of the American school.

On cross-examination, he also read out a part of a previous Federal Capital Territory High Court judgment that said there was no court order for AISA to return fees to EFCC or any judgment declaring the money as proceeds of money laundering.

After a brief re-examination, and the withdrawal of an earlier question posed to the witness, the EFCC lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told the court that the Commission had three other witnesses for the day.

During examination, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a Compliance Officer with Zenith Bank, confirmed that certificates of identification were attached to the statements of accounts provided by the bank in the seven sets of documents presented, as requested in a subpoena.

The court, thereafter, admitted the statements of account of Kogi State Government House Administration, and six others, as exhibits.

The witness, on subpoena, narrated to the court, the withdrawal limits allowed for individuals, corporate organisations and government, saying that before the cashless policy, it was pegged at N10 million for government and N500, 000 for individuals.

The prosecution then took the witness to the 23rd of May, 2016 on the printed documents, and pointed at a transaction under the name, Abdulsalami Hudu.

When the witness was asked to explain the transaction, he said, “It is a cash withdrawal of N10 million in accordance with the then maximum threshold allowed for cheque withdrawal per transaction.”

He, however, said he had nine cash transactions on the same date.

The witness was then told to go to the credit transactions of 30th January, 2018, and he confirmed that there were 10 separate credits of various sums, totalling about N1.092bn.

When asked to mention the total amount of withdrawals, the Defendant’s counsel cut in, saying, “He (Pinheiro, SAN), knows that they are for security votes.”

The witness aggregated the total amount of withdrawals to N1.968 billion, saying they were on different dates.

He also read out the inflow and outflow between 2nd of May 2018 and 19th May, 2018.

After the examination by the prosecution, the judge adjourned to tomorrow, June 27, for cross-examination by the Defendant’s Counsel.

In a related case, which was heard on Wednesday, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory High Court was told that Yahaya Bello and two other persons standing trial on alleged money laundering have no record of property purchase with EFAB Property Company.

A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Segun Adeleke also informed the court that EFAB has no records of any money payment or any transactions with the former governor and his co-defendants.

Adeleke, who is General Manager of EFAB Property Limited, made the clarifications during the resumption of the case between the EFCC on one side and Yahaya Bello, Umar Shuaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on the other side.

When the case was called on Wednesday for continuation of hearing, Adeleke, who is the Second Prosecution Witness, PW2, told the court that he had no dealings with the three defendants throughout the transactions on the property that is the subject of the case.

When asked by Bello’s lawyer, Mr J. B Daudu, SAN, to also confirm if the names of the defendants appeared on any of the transaction documents, the witness said he did not know any of the three defendants.

“This is the first time I am seeing His Excellency (Yahaya Bello) in person, although I have seen him before in print and electronic media but not in any transaction,” he stressed.

The First Prosecution Witness, PW1, Fabian Nwora, had also confirmed to the court that none of the three defendants in the case paid money into the account of his company, EFAB Property Limited.

Nwora, who is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company, said he knows the former governor, but maintained that his name did not feature in the transaction being referred to.

He said he opened negotiations on the said property with one Shehu Bello but that the negotiations were concluded by Segun Adeleke, who is the EFCC’s second witness (PW2).

Nwora had, at a previous hearing, testified that he was invited to the EFCC on February 8, 2023, regarding a transaction between Shehu Bello and EFAB Property Limited on a property located at No. 1 Ikogosi Street, Maitama, noting that it was the said Shehu Bello that approached him for the property.

Adeleke, while being examined by the Prosecution Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, reiterated that, in 2020, his chairman, Nwora, gave him the brief of the property, which Shehu Bello showed interest in.

He said the deal was concluded and N500 million paid for the said property.

When the prosecution lawyer asked what happened afterwards, the witness said Shehu Bello returned to their office, with the agreement, to tell his chairman that he was no longer interested in the property as a result of EFCC investigation.

“My chairman said he would revert after consulting with our company secretary,” he stated.

The EFCC lawyer also asked about some documents issued to one Nuhu Muhammed with respect to a property in the Gwarinpa area of the Federal Capital Territory.

The witness confirmed that the documents were issued to the said Nuhu Muhammed after he purchased one of the units of detached bungalows.

At that point, the Defence Counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, objected, saying, “My lord, there is a clear disconnect between the documents sought to be tendered and the foundation laid by the witness himself.”

The prosecution, however, said the objection was misconceived and it was subsequently overruled by the judge.

Responding while being cross-examined by the defence counsel, the witness confirmed that he had testified to a similar evidence at the Federal High Court before Justice Emeka Nwite.

He admitted that he was brought into the transaction after the process had commenced, and that he did not initiate it.

Daudu told the witness that while giving evidence before Justice Emeka Nwite, he had said that funds for the said property at Gwarinpa were transferred at once.

He added that he had now contradicted himself before Justice Maryann Anenih by saying it was done in two tranches.

The witness said it was in two tranches and that he had receipts, but admitted later that he did not know the said Nuhu Muhammed.

Another witness, on subpoena, Mrs Williams Abimbola, tendered the statement of account of Kogi State Government House, along with the Certificate of Identification.

The defence counsel said they would speak to the document appropriately in the course of the trial.

Justice Maryann Anenih thereafter adjourned the case to October 8, 9, and November 12, 13, 2025, for continuation of hearing.

31 years after, 1994 Super Eagles heroes receive long-promised houses from FG

The 1994 Super Eagles squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia have finally been handed over the houses they were promised 31 years ago by the Federal Government.

The disclosure was made in a statement posted on the ministry’s website on Wednesday.

One of the beneficiaries, former striker Efan Ekoku, was presented with an allocation letter for a house in Abuja.

Housing Ministry Hands over Housing Allocation to Efan Ekoku, represented by his niece, Lisa Jenifer Nwagbogun (c). Photo: Federal Ministry of Housing & Urban Development

He was represented at the brief ceremony by his niece, Lisa Jenifer Nwagbogun.

The Director and Head of Department, Public Building and Housing Development, Pemi Temitope, presented the letter on behalf of the Minister of Housing and Urban Development.

Temitope described the move as part of the government’s commitment to rewarding the patriotic service of the team, which brought honour to the nation three decades ago.

Nwagbogun said, “I am deeply grateful to the Federal Government and the Ministry of Housing for fulfilling this long-standing pledge to my uncle. It is truly heartening to witness such commitment to integrity and follow-through.

“This gesture not only honours Mr. Efan Ekoku’s service but also restores faith in the value of public promises being kept.”

It will be recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the implementation of the 1994 housing pledge in 2022, 28 years after it was first made.

Housing units are being allocated to members of the team in various states, while some, like Ekoku, are receiving theirs in Abuja.

The Conclave

Court holds that Customary Courts in Kaduna State have jurisdiction over Muslims

Download the full judgment

Following a contention that a customary court in Kaduna state lacked jurisdiction over a matter because the defendats are Fulanis and Muslims, an Upper Customary Court of Kaduna State, in Kafanchan has held that Section 20 of the Customary Courts Law 2001, vests the Customary Courts in Kaduna State with jurisdiction over “all persons”.

Ruling in a Preliminary Objection raised by defendants in the matter challenging the court’s jurisdiction to adjudicate over a dispute involving a customary piece of land, His Worship Emmanuel J. Samaila, Esq. (Judge) and Mr James K. Kajang (Member) reiterated the position of the Customary Court of Appeal, Kaduna in Maishaga Bafulatani v Sunday Aliyu (2014) KCCLR-283 (CCA), where it considered the provision of Section 20 of the Customary Court’s Law in determining the appellant’s contention that Customary Court, Sabon Tasha has no jurisdiction over him because he is a Muslim.

The Kaduna Customary Court of Appeal in that matter held:

“The contention of the appellant Counsel that the appellant is a Fulani man and a Muslim, the Court has no jurisdiction over him. With due respect to Learned Counsel, that argument is misconceived. It is worthy of note that, the Customary Courts in Kaduna State are not meant for a particular religion. Be a Christian, Muslim, Pagans can seek redress in the Court, depending on the nature of the claim or the obligation between the parties. Hence, a Fulani man or any tribe is not excluded from the jurisdiction of a Customary Court.”

Flowing from this, the Kafanchan Upper Customary Court affirmed that: “The Customary Courts in Kaduna State have jurisdiction over all persons irrespective of their religious preference.”

Read the full judgment below.

Daniel-Peter-Anor-v-Saleh-Kurah-Ors-2025

The Legal Nullity of Marital Restraints in Testamentary Bequests: A response to the purported clause in Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu’s will

By Emperor Nnabuihe Iwuala Ph.D

The sanctity of testamentary freedom, though recognised in law, is not absolute. While the law grants a testator the right to dispose of his estate in the manner he deems fit, such disposition must remain within the permissible limits of law, public policy, and good conscience. A will cannot be used as a legal instrument to fetter the natural rights of another, particularly in matters of personal liberty and dignity.

Recent discussions surrounding the will of the late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, a prominent businessman and statesman, have drawn considerable legal attention. It is alleged that he included in his will a clause barring his wife, Frances Chinonyerem Enwerem, from remarrying after his death, with the penalty of forfeiting all inheritance due to her. Such a clause, though perhaps reflective of personal sentiment, is legally indefensible.

It is imperative to underscore that the right to marry or remarry is an essential component of personal liberty, as protected under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantees the right to private and family life. No instrument, not even a will, may override that constitutional safeguard.

The nature of the clause in question is characteristic of what the law refers to as a condition subsequent, a clause which purports to divest a beneficiary of a testamentary gift upon the occurrence of a future event, in this case, remarriage. Nigerian jurisprudence has consistently held that any condition in a will which is repugnant to public policy or morality, or which undermines fundamental rights, is void and of no legal effect.

The most instructive authority in this regard is the case of Edith v. Essien, a decision which has now become a persuasive precedent in issues involving testamentary restraint on marriage. In that case, the testator had inserted a clause which similarly conditioned the wife’s inheritance on her remaining unmarried after his death. Upon judicial scrutiny, the court decisively held that such a condition was void as being contrary to public policy, and consequently ruled in favour of the widow, affirming her right to remarry without forfeiting her lawful inheritance.

The court’s position in Edith v. Essien was clear and unambiguous. A man may dispose of his property in a will, but he cannot use the same instrument to impose unlawful or unreasonable restraints upon the liberty of the beneficiary. The judgment emphasized that testamentary gifts are not vehicles for posthumous control over the lives of others, and that a widow cannot be reduced to lifelong bondage under the guise of inheritance.

More so, it is legally and morally unconscionable for a man who entered into a lawful union, without evidence of duress or coercion, to later attempt to condition a young wife’s freedom on a life of forced celibacy. Where a woman, by virtue of her marital relationship, has offered emotional companionship, social support, and constructive contribution to her husband’s life and assets, such sacrifices cannot be erased or undermined by an oppressive clause. Testamentary power must never be wielded as a tool of emotional coercion.

If indeed there were concerns about the character of the wife, particularly if the deceased had reasons to believe that she might mismanage or destroy his estate, there were lawful and dignified ways to address such fears in the drafting of his will. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu married Frances Chinonyerem Enwerem in September 2013. If during the course of their marital life he developed reservations about her character, the law allows for the testator to make protective provisions, including placing assets in trust or allocating properties solely to children or other beneficiaries. He could have validly chosen not to include her at all. However, what the law does not permit is the infusion of retributive or emotionally punitive clauses that seek to impose personal control from beyond the grave. A will must never become an instrument of retaliation, and testators are bound by law and morality to exercise their testamentary powers within reasonable and humane limits.

Our legal system, even in matters of private will, is not a lawless jungle. It submits all clauses and conditions to what is known as the repugnancy test. In the landmark case of Edet v. Essien (1932) 11 NLR 47, the court held that any rule or condition that is repugnant to natural justice, equity, and good conscience must be struck down, regardless of its customary or personal origin.

A clause that bars a woman from exercising her right to remarry is repugnant to her dignity, contrary to her liberty, and violates her private life under Section 37 of the Constitution. That clause, to the extent of its inconsistency with the Constitution, is null and void under Section 1 subsection 3 of the 1999 Constitution.

Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, if he truly intended to ensure that his wife never remarries, could have chosen not to include her in his will. That would have been harsh but legally permissible. But to include her, and then attach a clause that effectively imprisons her in the memory of a deceased man, strips her of dignity, liberty, and emotional renewal, is legally unacceptable and morally despicable.

Let it be known, any clause in a will that seeks to disinherit a widow simply because she chooses to remarry is unconstitutional, unenforceable, and should be struck down by any court of competent jurisdiction.

We must rise against such barbaric impositions that reduce women to mere property and deny them the basic right to start over. A will is a legal document, not a tool of vengeance. Not a tombstone of liberty.

Yes, I will make a little legal exposition within my knowledge. I never wanted to talk about this matter, but due to incessant calls from followers, friends, and family who wanted to know a little about what the law says, this is the little I can offer.

If the wife he lived with had a bad character, and he foresaw that she may destroy his properties, there should have been a better way to make the will more reasonable and legally understandable, rather than inserting this harsh, barbaric, and obnoxious clause. Yes, he could have chosen not to will any of his assets or estates to his wife. That is within his legal right. However, he should not have used the will as an instrument of retaliation. Such vindictive drafting offends the conscience of the law and undermines the true essence of testamentary justice.

I may not have read the will. I may not have seen it. But if the reports we have heard truly reflect what was written in it, then I believe, and if the woman involved feels aggrieved, violated, or believes her rights have been trampled upon, she has the constitutional and legal right to approach a court of competent jurisdiction. I strongly believe that any fair minded and lawful court in Nigeria would hear her, examine the facts, and do justice accordingly. No one, regardless of their fame or fortune, should imprison the dignity and liberty of another through testamentary clauses. While we honour Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and respect his decisions in life, justice must remain blind to status. Let no man’s last will become a tool that disturbs the peace of natural justice, or seeks to bind the living to the personal fears, insecurities, or regrets of the dead.

Let the law be wiser than the serpent. Constitutionalism and unadulterated WILL, will surely prevail as it keeps flowing like a river

Emperor Nnabuihe Iwuala Ph.D (Laws)
Customary Court Judge Imo State, and Adjunct Senior Law Lecturer Clifford University Ihie Abia State, 08037247295

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

Iran’s foray into fire, By Funke Egbemode

Whatsoever a man sows, he shall reap.

Whatsoever a nation sows, it will reap.

Iran chose to invest in nuclear weapons and nuclear enrichment. It devoted decades of sweat and concentration on it. It sank trillions of dollars deep inside rocks and beneath the earth surface to achieve its dream of becoming a major nuclear power. It employed, funded and deployed scientists, perhaps the best of the stock, in the field to build massive sites and facilities for this special weaponry.

An analyst on CNN said the weapons were to wipe out Big Satan (United States of America) and Small Satan (Israel) off the surface of the earth, along with their other infidel cousins. That startled me, and I sat up in bed. I am sure there are a few good uses nuclear weapons can be put to, but its evils, at least the brand in Iran, far outweigh the good.

But Iran was determined and focused on its goal. It sowed and ploughed and fertilised its nuclear weapon seeds, watched it germinate and flourish. The world watched. Powerful nations understood what was going on. President Donald Trump watched too, under hooded lids. And we all know he is not much of a ‘sitdown-look’ leader. He is most likely the most restless American President in history. I can imagine him running his fingers through his hair and pacing up and down the Oval Office.

Who the fuck do these guys think they are?

How the heck did they come this far?

I’m gonna blow their balls off.

I’m gonna show them who is boss.

I can see, in my mind’s eyes, assistants offering Mr Trump chamomile tea to calm him down. You and I know no tea is going to work there. It did not. Instead of all that anger and adrenaline combo causing Trump to have a stroke, he struck. America went flying into Iranian air with superior force, more focused determination and whooosh, the Iranian nuclear house fell flat.

One Operation Midnight Hammer and Iran’s nuclear investment was left in rubbles, a once lofty dream became a nightmare. Maybe Trump’s bunker busters did not burst everything but Iran, where and when the camera are not watching, must be writhing in pain and gnashing its teeth. I want to believe America’s Vice President J.D. Vance’s assuring words: ‘What we know is that they no longer have the capacity to turn that stockpile of highly enriched uranium to weapons-grade uranium, and that was really the goal here. Enriching uranium up to the point of a nuclear weapon, that was what the president put a stop to last night.’

Iran’s trillions of dollars that could have gone into developmental projects is what America put a stop to on Saturday night, just like that. Don’t forget that Israel had earlier gone in and killed 17 Iranian nuclear scientists before Trump’s 12 bunker busters. So, whichever way you look at this war, it has set Iran back several years.

But this piece is not about 60 percent or 90 percent weapon-grade uranium. It is about misplaced priorities. It is about humanity. It is about doing what you need to do when you need to do it. Here is where I ask for 10 resounding ‘gbosa for Trump. He did not waste time fiddling when there was a job to be done. The world was in enough pain without uranium raining on us.

I know a certain country where this decision to destroy the enemy’s weapon would have come to nothing.

Her lawmakers would have held public hearings to get the opinion of the people. There would have been security summits. Many committees would have been set up. The two lawmaking chambers would have had to work ‘tirelessly’ to prepare a special budget for the operation. Then ethnicity would have shown up in all its nauseating ugliness.

The back and forth would have eventually made it to the media.

All the showoff and colorful preparation would have provided the enemy ample time to hide their weapons and even reinforce. A country with leaders that talk non-stop about its problems can never progress. President Trump knows he has only four years to do everything in his head and he’s just doing them. Not that I agree with all of them, no. But the man is shaking the tables and doing something. In the other country, somebody would have proposed a bill for uranium to be sold in open markets.

I know the leaders of that country are reading this and I hope they do more and talk less from here on.

Back to Iran and the law of harvest. Iran could have chosen to be like China, a nation Mr Trump had to sit down with and negotiate tariffs, a nation that the world cannot ignore. Iran could have invested its 50 years and trillions of dollars in building manufacturing complexes. Above all, it failed in cashing out in the area where it has comparative advantage: religion, Islam.

You will be shocked at the number of holy places in Iran.

There is the tomb of Imam Reza, a holy shrine. Imam Reza was the eighth Shia Imam. The place is a major pilgrimage site with a complex of mosques, courtyards, and other structures. The sister of Imam Reza, Fatima Masumeh also has a shrine dedicated to her.

The intricate mirror work and architectural beauty of the tombs of Sayyed Mir Ahmad and Muhammad, brothers of Imam Reza could have been promoted as a tourist attraction for faithfuls. The place is called Shah Cheragh shrine.

Shah Mosque, also known as the Imam Mosque, and Jameh Mosque of Isfahan are both UNESCO World Heritage sites with breathtaking Islamic architecture.

There are reports that show that Iran has thousands of shrines and tombs of descendants of the Prophet Muhammad (SWT) or Imams, scattered throughout the country.

Imagine if the country had promoted its great mosques and heritage sites, would Iran be collocating in the same sentence with nuclear war, weapons of mass destruction and air strikes? Of course not, it would have been competing with Saudi Arabia to earn significant revenues from annual pilgrimage, both directly and indirectly. While exact figures fluctuate, it is estimated that Saudi”s direct earnings from 2023 hajj was about $12 billion.

Saudi Arabia requires pilgrims to purchase all-inclusive packages through approved tourism agencies, which can range from $1,000 to $20,000 or more. In addition to that, Saudi still makes money from accommodation, local transportation, flights, food and other services that pilgrims require year in year out.

The Saudi government benefits from taxes and fees associated with the Hajj, further boosting its revenue and creating jobs.

Iran could have been like any of the Middle East nations like Qatar, Dubai or Saudi Arabia. Iran could have been an exporting nation, known for great industries but it opted to build piles and bunkers of weapons of war. Now, it is caught in a hail of fire of missiles between Israel and America. Who knows which country will join the fray next. And I wonder why a nation of brilliant minds can choose this path of fire and brimstone, where neither the leaders nor the led can sleep.

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

Cocaine market grows, global drug users rise to 316m

  • As US trains Nigerian prosecutors, magistrates, law enforcement officers, and others on effective drug enforcement

The United Nations (UN) in a report published on Thursday said that the number of drug users worldwide rose to 316 million people in 2023.

According to the report, the number corresponds to 6 per cent of the world population aged between 15 and 64 using a drug not including tobacco or alcohol.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna said in its 2025 World Drug Report, which is based on 2023 data.

In 2013, 5.2 per cent of the world’s population had consumed a drug.

Cannabis remained the most consumed drug with 244 million users, followed by opioids (61 million), amphetamines (30.7 million), cocaine (25 million) and ecstasy (21 million), according to the report.

“This edition of the World Drug Report shows that organised drug trafficking groups continue to adapt, exploit global crises, and target vulnerable populations.

“We must invest in prevention and address the root causes of the drug trade at every point of the illicit supply chain.

“And we must strengthen responses by leveraging technology, strengthening cross-border cooperation, providing alternative livelihoods, and taking judicial action that targets key actors driving these networks,” said UNODC executive director Ghada Waly.

Among all drugs, the market for cocaine is growing the fastest, the annual report found.

Illegal cocaine production rose by more than a third year-on-year to a record 3,708 tons in 2023.

The number of consumers rose from 17 million to 25 million between 2013 and 2023.

According to the UN experts, the cocaine boom is not only leading to more drug-related deaths, but also to more violence between rival criminal organisations involved in drug smuggling.

This can also be observed in Western and Central Europe, they said.

In these two regions, more cocaine has been seized than in North America for several years now.

In a related development, Special Agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host an advanced-level course for 35 law enforcement, prosecutors, magistrates, and training personnel from Botswana, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Togo.

According to a statement by the U.S. Embassy, “the training addresses the growing threat of transnational drug trafficking across West and Southern Africa, where criminal networks are increasingly using the region as a transit and distribution hub for illicit narcotics.”

The statement added that “the course strengthens participants’ capacity to lead complex investigations, with a focus on international controlled deliveries, conspiracy cases, inter-agency coordination, and operational planning—reinforced through scenario-based exercises.”

It added that all programmes at the International Law Enforcement Academy – Gaborone were intended to bring partner countries together to promote cross-border cooperation and enhance regional efforts to disrupt organized drug crime.

Established in 2000, the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) Gaborone is Africa’s premier institution for law enforcement training and regional security cooperation.

It is a joint initiative between the United States and the Government of Botswana. ILEA Gaborone has trained over 18,000 law enforcement and justice officials from more than 38 African nations.

Backed by Botswana’s annual in-kind support and staffed by instructors from 16 U.S. agencies, ILEA delivers cutting-edge instruction on transnational crime, fostering lasting U.S.-Africa partnerships.

Self-proclaimed cleric sentenced to life in prison for rape of multiple ladies in Calabar

In a case that shook the Christian community in Cross River State, a self-proclaimed cleric and church founder, Apostle Favour Mexy Okoise has been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on multiple counts of rape and false pretences by a High Court in Calabar.

The church founder, an indigene of Esan West, Edo State, who formerly ran a fellowship before converting it into a full-fledged church, The Refiner’s Fire Church, was found guilty in two separate cases—HC-12C/2024 and HC-FC-5C/2024—on June 16 and 17, respectively.

The first case involved three counts of rape of three different ladies and one count of obtaining by false pretences, while the second centred on the rape of a 16-year-old minor.

Reports said that the court proceedings began in 2023.

The case was reportedly initiated by the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), under the leadership of Okoi E. Ukam, Esq., and prosecuted by Cletus Adama, Esq., both of the Cross River State Ministry of Justice.

Legal practitioner Doris Nduanusi, Esq., who watched brief on behalf of the victims, disclosed that Okoise manipulated young female members of the church by coercing them into sexual acts under the guise of spiritual initiation.

“He told them it was a rite of passage to be used by God and referred to it as a ‘special dealing’ with the Holy Spirit,” she said.

Although the Ministry of Justice led the prosecution, significant support came from the Gender and Development Action (GADA), a civil society group led by Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo.

“It was a collaborative effort that ensured the voices of the victims were heard,” Nduanusi stated.

Despite his conviction, church members were reportedly told that the church founder was “on the mountain interceding for their destinies” since his remand in February 2024.

“It was only after the judgement that some began to realise they had been deceived for over a year,” Nduanusi added.

The convicted pastor remained unrepentant throughout the trial, a fact noted by the presiding judge in her ruling.

“He showed no remorse for his actions,” the court observed.

Concerns have now shifted to the operational structure of the church, which allegedly continues to function under a new location in the Nassarawa axis of the city, despite the conviction.

“The government must take urgent steps to dismantle the entire structure that enabled such abuse,” Nduanusi said, citing the risk of continued psychological and physical harm to congregants or parishioners.

“There are reports that prominent local pastors maintained affiliations with the church even after being made aware of the allegations.

As of press time, it remained unclear whether The Refiner’s Fire Church is officially registered with the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). However, ties reportedly exist between the church and senior PFN officials.

The Cross River State Ministry of Justice continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to justice and the rule of law.

In the first and second quarters of 2025 alone, the Ministry had secured convictions in multiple serious cases, including attempted murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, and arson.

The Conclave with reports from Tribune

After $1.5 billion maintenance, Port Harcourt refinery remains idle

Despite initial claims by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) that operations would resume after 30 days of routine maintenance, the Port Harcourt Refinery has remained shut for two consecutive months.

The prolonged shutdown has sparked growing concerns over the credibility of Nigeria’s refinery rehabilitation efforts and raised fresh alarms about possible fuel supply disruptions.

The NNPC had announced on May 24 that the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) would temporarily halt operations for scheduled maintenance. At the time, the company stated the exercise was aimed at ensuring optimal performance and would last one month. However, operations have yet to resume, with fuel marketers confirming ongoing repair work.

The delay comes amid an ongoing corruption investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the controversial $1.5 billion turnaround maintenance project. The probe has reportedly uncovered widespread financial irregularities involving former senior executives of the NNPC and managing directors of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries.

Sources close to the investigation revealed that over $2.9 billion allocated to refinery rehabilitation is under scrutiny, with N80 billion allegedly traced to the personal account of one of the sacked refinery heads. Former NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari and 13 other top officials are reportedly implicated in the ongoing probe.

Local fuel retailers in Eleme and Okrika communities, near the refinery, have voiced fears of potential fuel scarcity and price hikes if the situation persists. Stakeholders are demanding greater transparency from NNPC and urgent clarity on when the refinery will resume operations.

Read Also: …turning the NNPC around

The Port Harcourt refinery was declared partially operational in late 2024, running at 70% of its 60,000 barrels-per-day capacity and producing diesel, kerosene, fuel oil, and petrol. Its sudden halt has raised fresh doubts about Nigeria’s ability to reform its downstream petroleum sector, despite billions spent.

Read Also: CSO knocks NNPCL as board members gear up to fly to Rwanda in 5 private jets

GrassrootsReporters

Amid EFCC’s ₦80B corruption charge, President Tinubu hails ex-Governor Yahaya Bello on 50th birthday, says ‘his trajectory is both remarkable and inspiring’

The sincerity of the Federal Government to fight corruption has come under scrutiny with President Bola Tinubu’s congratulatory message to former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on his 50th Birthday.

Although the federal government, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is prosecuting Bello over allegations of money laundering and criminal breach of trust related to ₦80.2 billion, the government has gone to court on his behalf in a defamation suit involving Senator Natasha Akpoti and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The EFCC is prosecuting Bello on a 19-count charge. 

In a statement posted on Wednesday via the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, @NGRPresident, President Tinubu lauded Bello’s significant contributions to Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly highlighting his historic emergence as the youngest democratically-elected governor in the country’s Fourth Republic.

The President commended Bello’s leadership and his role in promoting youth participation in governance, describing his trajectory as both remarkable and inspiring.

“As he marks this golden milestone, President Tinubu wishes Alhaji Yahaya Bello continued good health, strength, and fulfilment in the years ahead,” the statement concluded.

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