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The State of North Carolina declares 14 June as Igbo Day

Mr. Josh Stein, the Governor of the State of North Carolina, has proclaimed June 14 as Igbo Day in the state.

The governor’s proclamation reads:

Igbo Day, 2025

By The Governor Of The State Of North Carolina

A Proclamation

Whereas, there are thousands of Igbo people in North Carolina, some of whom have lived here for over fifty years; and

Whereas, the Igbos are committed to preserving and promoting their rich cultural heritage from Nigeria. Igbos in North Carolina are encouraged to connect, celebrate, and support one another, fostering a strong sense of unity, bonding, and belonging; and

Whereas, the Igbo community aspires to create an environment where their members thrive, traditions flourish, and their contributions to society are recognized and valued. Through their collective efforts, the Igbo community aims to inspire future generations to embrace their identity and to foster a strong sense of belonging and purpose within North Carolina; and

Whereas, in 2022, the Igbo North Carolinians established the nonprofit Igbo Day Festival Organization to unite and educate Igbo families and North Carolinians about Igbo culture, art, music, and traditional values; the first Igbo Day Festival was held on July 10, 2022; and

Whereas, their vision is to be a thriving community that not only honors and promotes the rich heritage of the Igbo people of Nigeria in North Carolina, but also serves as a beacon of unity, support, and cultural pride; and

Whereas, Igbos in North Carolina are involved in many charitable causes and have contributed to the economy; they have participated in elections and excel in various careers, including those working for the State of North Carolina and the federal government, thrive in fields such as education, entrepreneurship, law, medicine – including roles as doctors, nurses, pharmacists – information technology, and art; and

Whereas they have volunteered in local schools, adopted a highway in North Carolina to aid cleaning efforts, supported women’s shelters and hospitals, organized food pantry drives, and participated in cultural performances at local festivals; and

Whereas, Igbos in North Carolina are dedicated to ensuring the sustainability of Igbo culture by creating cultural awareness for future generations;

Now, Therefore, I, Josh Stein, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2025, as “Igbo Day” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this twenty-first day of May in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-fifth and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

Blaise Metreweli becomes MI6’s first female boss in 116-year history

MI6 will be led by a woman for the first time in the foreign intelligence service’s 116-year history.

Blaise Metreweli, who joined the Secret Intelligence Service in 1999, will become the 18th chief of the organisation and take over from Sir Richard Moore later this year.

She is currently responsible for technology and innovation at the service and said she was “proud and honoured” to have been asked to lead.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the appointment “historic” at a time “when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital”.

MI6 is tasked with gathering intelligence overseas to improve the UK’s security, with its core aims being to stop terrorism, disrupt the activities of hostile states and bolster cyber-security.

Its chief, commonly referred to as “C”, is the only publicly named member of the service.

Ms Metreweli, 47, is currently Director General “Q” – head of the crucial technology and innovation division that aims to keep the identities of secret agents secret, and come up with new ways to evade adversaries like China’s biometric surveillance.

“MI6 plays a vital role – with MI5 and GCHQ – in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas,” she said.

“I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners.”

Ms Metreweli, who studied anthropology at the University of Cambridge, has previously held director level roles in MI5 – MI6’s sister, domestic security agency – and spent most of her career working in the Middle East and Europe.

On the King’s overseas and international birthday honours list in 2024, she received the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for her services to British foreign policy.

Speaking to the Telegraph in December 2021 when she was at MI5, under the pseudonym of “Director K”, Ms Metreweli said threats to UK national security “really are diverse”.

“The threats we are looking at primarily exist around protecting government, protecting secrets, protecting our people – so counter-assassination – protecting our economy, sensitive technology and critical knowledge,” she said.

She added that “Russian state activity – not Russia itself – remains a threat” and that China was “changing the way the world is and that presents amazing opportunities and threats for the UK”.

Read Also: MI6 ‘more exciting than James Bond film’, says spy

What does ‘C’ do?

  • C is the head of MI6, officially known as Secret Intelligence Service, and they report to the foreign secretary.
  • C is also part of the Joint Intelligence Committee, alongside heads of other departments and senior government officials. It receives intelligence reports, analyses ongoing situations and advises the prime minister
  • It is a common misnomer to think that the “C” stands for Chief. It does not. Britain’s very first spy agency was called the Secret Service Bureau, established in the 1900s. It was led by a Royal Navy officer, Captain Mansfield Cumming. He always signed his letters “C” and the codename has stuck.
  • Captain Cumming wrote in green ink. To this day, the head of MI6 is the only person in Whitehall who will write in green.
  • And does C give his or her agents a “licence to kill”? No. But the foreign secretary can. Under Section 7 of the Intelligence Services Act 1994, an MI6 agent can be authorised to carry out certain actions which would otherwise be illegal – including using lethal force. But it is a long and complicated legal process.

The organisation she will be running faces unprecedented and multiple challenges.

Geographically, these emanate primarily from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, as the four nations co-operate ever more closely to undermine UK and Western interests across the globe.

But there are technical challenges too.

MI6’s role is to recruit human agents to steal secrets from Britain’s adversaries, which include both hostile nations and non-state groups like al-Qaeda.

In an age of rapid digital innovation, MI6 is having to pedal ever faster to stay ahead of its enemies and to remain relevant, when so much intelligence is now gathered online and from space.

Last September, outgoing chief Sir Richard – alongside then-CIA chief William Burns – warned that the international world was “under threat in a way we haven’t seen since the Cold War”.

Writing in the Financial Times, the pair said that beyond the war in Ukraine, the two foreign intelligence services were continuing to “work together to disrupt the reckless campaign of sabotage across Europe being waged by Russian intelligence”.

Sir Richard and Mr Burns added that they saw the rise of China as the main intelligence and geopolitical challenge of the century. They also said they had pushed “hard” for restraint and de-escalation in the Middle East.

On Sunday, Sir Richard, who will step down in the autumn after five years in the role, said he was “absolutely delighted” with the “historic appointment” of his colleague.

“Blaise is a highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader, and one of our foremost thinkers on technology,” he said.

“I am excited to welcome her as the first female head of MI6.”

Foreign Secretary David Lammy, to whom Ms Metreweli will be accountable as MI6’s new chief, said she was the “ideal” candidate and would ensure the UK was able to tackle the challenges of “global instability and emerging security threats”.

“I would also like to pay tribute to Sir Richard Moore for his service and leadership,” he said.

“I have worked closely with him over the past year and thank him for his valuable contribution enhancing our national security and protecting the British public.”

Sir Keir also thanked Sir Richard for his “dedicated service”.

“I know Blaise will continue to provide the excellent leadership needed to defend our county and keep our people safe,” he added.

Additional reporting by Hollie Cole

After 4 years in detention, UN, AU, ECOWAS asked to demand Nnamdi Kanu’s release

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

The American Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) has called on the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to demand the immediate unconditional release of the Biafra agitator, Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.

Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been in detention for four years.

AVID particularly asked the United Kingdom government to act decisively in defense of Kanu, being its citizen whose fundamental rights have been flagrantly violated.

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, the American Military Veterans of Igbo Descent pleaded with the international media to hold the Nigerian government accountable for enabling ethnic cleansing while suppressing dissent.

Reacting to the continued killings in Benue State and some parts of the country, the group claimed that Kanu’s continued detention is a tacit sanction for more massacres, urging that the world should not stay silent on the matter.

The statement signed by AVID President, Dr. Sylvester Onyia, is titled ‘A Genocide in Slow Motion: Nigeria’s continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu enables widespread atrocities’.

It read in part, “The American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) wishes to draw the urgent attention of the international community, human rights organisations, and global democratic institutions to the ongoing atrocities occurring in Benue State and other indigenous regions of Nigeria.

“These massacres are part of a sustained ethnic cleansing campaign that has accelerated since the illegal abduction and detention of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“Mazi Kanu, a British citizen and prominent voice for indigenous self-determination, was extrajudicially renditioned from Kenya in 2021 in clear violation of international law.

“His continued detention, despite multiple court orders for his release, is not a matter of legal oversight; it is part of a broader, chilling plan to silence resistance against armed Fulani expansionism and enable the violent subjugation of indigenous communities.

“The latest mass killings in Benue State, as reported in the media, have exposed the cost of silencing voices of truth.

“Mazi Kanu consistently warned of
this impending horror, the planned domination of indigenous lands through state-sponsored terror disguised as herdsmen attacks.

“His prophetic warnings were ignored. Instead, he was labeled a terrorist, while the actual perpetrators of terror are emboldened by the Nigerian state.

“The world must now ask: Why is a peaceful advocate of self-determination in prison while Fulani militants roam free?

“Why is the Nigerian government more focused on crushing dissent than protecting lives? What role has the silence of international actors played in enabling this genocide-by-default?

“Nnamdi Kanu’s continued detention is the green light for more massacres. The world must not stay silent.”

Uwais’ Court was the guardian of the constitutional republic, By Yemi Osinbajo (SAN)

  • Watch Judges and Senior Lawyers’ Video Tribute to Justice Uwais

Hon Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, died on the 6th of June 2025. He was 89.

In the annals of Nigerian constitutional history, few jurists have left a legacy as enduring and transformative as that of Hon. Justice Muhammed Lawal Uwais.

While his tenure on the Supreme Court bench was the longest in the Court’s history, it was his years as Chief Justice—from the twilight of military rule to the dawn of the Fourth Republic—that would define his judicial legacy.

Presiding over the Supreme Court during a fragile transition from authoritarianism to democracy, Uwais steered the Court through some of the most consequential constitutional battles in Nigeria’s federal evolution. Between 1999 and 2007, his Court was called upon to adjudicate in at least a dozen cases where state governments challenged the Federal Government’s overreach, testing the very boundaries of Nigeria’s federal structure.

The disputes involved radical, novel, and far-reaching constitutional questions that demanded intellectual clarity, institutional courage, and unwavering fidelity to the Constitution.

Justice Uwais rose to that moment with principled resolve. Without drama or personal posturing, he insisted that the Constitution—not political convenience—must always prevail. His judgments reflected a deep understanding of federalism not as a theoretical ideal, but as a living structure requiring balance, accountability, and mutual respect between the tiers of government.

Among the questions the Uwais Court was called upon to resolve was whether State governments could lawfully sue the Federal Government over constitutional disputes. In AG Ondo State v. AG Federation (2002), the Court affirmed this right unequivocally, holding that states had standing to bring legal action against the centre when federal laws or actions appeared to breach the constitutional order. It was a foundational ruling that affirmed judicial redress as a legitimate tool of federal self-defence.

When Lagos State challenged federal authority over urban development and physical planning, the question that arose was who truly controls land use and planning within a State’s territory, especially where federal lands are involved? In AG Lagos State v. AG Federation (2003), the Uwais Court held that the State government retains exclusive legislative and executive authority over urban and regional planning, even in respect of federal land located within its boundaries. The federal government, the Court ruled, must obtain necessary development permits from the state in accordance with its planning laws—an important assertion of territorial autonomy.

The boundaries of fiscal federalism were tested on the issue of ownership of oil revenues derived from offshore wells. In AG Federation v. AG Abia State (No. 2) (2002), the Court determined that offshore natural resources—particularly those beyond the 200 nautical-mile limit belonged not to the littoral states but to the Federation as a whole. This decision placed constitutional boundaries on resource control claims while paving the way for the derivation formula to be refined in subsequent fiscal arrangements.

Controversy also surrounded the power of States to create new local government areas. In AG Lagos State v. AG Federation (2004), Lagos had established 37 new Local Governments Areas. While the Court acknowledged the State’s authority to create such entities through enabling legislation, it stressed that these new councils could not be recognised as constitutional local government areas—and thus could not receive direct federal allocations—until their existence was ratified by the National Assembly via listing of the newly created local governments in part 2 of the First Schedule to the Constitution.

Of even greater moment was the courts determination that the President lacks the constitutional power to unilaterally withhold funds due to existing local governments, underscoring that no tier of government may be arbitrarily denied its lawful entitlement from the Federation account.

The Uwais Court also addressed the question as to whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could lawfully impose additional registration criteria on political parties beyond what the Constitution prescribes. In INEC v. Musa (2003), the Court invalidated several provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC’s guidelines that required evidence of national spread, physical offices in 24 states, and electoral victories as conditions for continued registration. It held that only the requirements stated in Section 222 of the Constitution—namely a registered office in Abuja, a defined party name and logo, and membership open to all—were valid. Any further conditions imposed by statute or regulation were declared ultra vires and struck down, thereby widening the democratic space for political participation.

Equally pivotal was the Court’s clarification of legislative powers over primary education. In AG Ogun State v. AG Federation (2002), the Court ruled that primary education fell within the domain of concurrent legislative authority, meaning both federal and state governments had the constitutional competence to legislate in that field. This reaffirmed the cooperative nature of Nigerian federalism, where shared responsibilities do not imply subordination.

In Fawehinmi v. IGP (2002), the Court confronted the tension between executive immunity and the rule of law. It held that while governors enjoy constitutional immunity from prosecution while in office, they are not shielded from investigation. The distinction was critical: although they cannot be tried until they leave office, law enforcement agencies such as the police or EFCC may investigate alleged misconduct, thereby ensuring that accountability mechanisms are not frozen by immunity provisions.

The Court also pronounced on the independence of state legislatures from gubernatorial interference. In Balonwu v. Governor of Anambra State (2004), the Court ruled that the governor has no role in the internal affairs of the House of Assembly, including its choice of leadership. Any attempt by the executive to influence the appointment or removal of a speaker constituted an unconstitutional usurpation of legislative autonomy and violated the principle of separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution.

Perhaps the most far-reaching judgment of the Uwais era came in AG Abia & 35 Others v. AG Federation (2005), where the Court considered whether the Federal Government could deduct various “first-line charges” from the Federation Account before distributing revenue to the states and local governments. The Court reaffirmed the supremacy of Section 162 of the Constitution, holding that revenue must be distributed strictly in accordance with the formula approved by the National Assembly. Except for deductions expressly permitted—such as the 13% derivation for oil-producing states—all other first-line deductions, including payments to the NNPC for joint venture operations, external debt servicing, and even funding for the National Judicial Council (of which the Chief Justice was chair), were declared unconstitutional.

Remarkably, the Court ruled that although the NJC enjoys constitutional financial autonomy, it must receive its funding from the

Consolidated Revenue Fund and not directly from the Federation Account. In doing so, the Uwais Court placed the integrity of the Constitution above institutional interest—even its own.

For Justice Uwais, the Constitution was clearly not merely a ceremonial document. He understood it as a living covenant that bound all arms of government—and all levels of government—to a shared discipline. The Court he led did not shy away from calling the Federal Government to order, nor did it allow States to overreach their bounds. In his quiet, resolute way, his Lordship elevated the authority of the judiciary and deepened Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

He will be remembered not only as the longest-serving Justice of the Supreme Court, but as one who laid critical foundational stones in the evolving legal architecture of a true federal republic.

The judgments delivered by the Uwais court continue to shape Nigeria’s democratic journey and will remain beacons of principled adjudication for generations to come.

● Professor Osinbajo is the immediate past Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Watch the video tribute.

We remember his legacy, the impact he made on Nigeria’s judiciary and more.

He was a child of destiny.

NBA Abuja Set for a Blockbuster 2025 Law Week! Deputy Speaker to deliver keynote address tomorrow

The 2025 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Abuja, which begins at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow, promises to be a smash hit.

According to the Law Week Planning Committee, chaired by Dr. Princess Frank Chukwuani, the distinguished Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, CON, will present the Keynote address at the opening ceremony on Wednesday, 18 June 2025.

The much-anticipated event will be held at the NBA Headquarters in the Central Business District, Abuja.

This keynote address promises to ignite thoughtful conversations and motivate action among our legal community.

The event will gather a diverse group of participants, including seasoned practitioners and policymakers who are passionate about making a difference.

Guests will also have the opportunity to engage in networking sessions and interactive discussions following the keynote address.

Be there!!!

Open Letter to the 109 Nigerian Senators: How Akpabio has unwittingly smeared the reputation of the entire senate as a gender insensitive and cyberbullying institution by his efforts to deal with Senator Natasha through the principle, “Strike the shepherd and the sheep would scatter”

Cyberbullying and intimidation are a serious crimes in the UK, USA and even in Nigeria under the VAPP ACT

By Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja

Dear Distinguished Senators of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,

I am writing to you in my capacity as the Executive Secretary of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners- ALDRAP.

As a lawyer with 19 years of experience in Legislative Law, the purpose of this letter is to share insider information.

This is a free legal advisory, so you are at Liberty to accept it or reject it.

Yesterday, 16th June 2025, in a bid to provide evidence that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was making false allegations against His Excellency, President of the Senate, AKPABIO, a lawyer pointed to the fact that the International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA) and other women Non-governmental Organisation (NGOs) are not openly supporting Senator Natasha.

The lawyer mis-read it completely!!!

In fact, the fact that FIDA and other women NGOs are not openly supporting AKPABIO is prima facie evidence that indicts AKPABIO of cyberbullying and Intimidation which is an offence under the Violence Against Persons Act, 2015.

Let me provide an explanation in layman’s terms.

As a politician, AKPABIO has instructed his team of lawyers to apply the principle of “strike the shepherd and the sheep would scatter”.

In other words, use the prosecution of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for criminal offences as a scapegoat to drive home the lesson of the ordeals that awaits any female who raises allegations of sexual harrasment against any high-ranking VIP such as a senator.

The fact that FIDA and other women NGOs have been intimidated into silence is evidence that the intimidation tactics of AKPABIO is effective at least in the short term while he still occupies the position of President of the Senate.

However, after his tenure as President of the Senate, there is no statute of limitations that prevents the filing of criminal charges against AKPABIO under the Violence Against Persons (VAPP) Act, 2015.

These charges are to be filed by the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) which is named in the VAPP ACT as the federal government agency for implementation.

The current seeming non-involvement of FIDA and other women NGOs is a classic case of self-preservation.

FIDA and other women NGOs are eyewitnesses to the brazen use and abuse of power and influence of AKPABIO to deal with Senator Natasha, so they realise that it is furtile and even suicidal to confront Akapbio at this very moment.

According to Sigmund Freud, one of the most important psychological reactions of humans which he called the pleasure principle is that: “humans have the tendency to avoid anyone or anything that causes them pain and discomfort and they tend to gravitate towards anyone or anything that offers them pleasure”.

Another reason why, FIDA and other women NGOs are not making a public intervention in favour of Senator Natasha is because they don’t want to jeopardise the behind-the-scenes investigation activities.

The law enforcement agencies of both the United Kingdom and the United States of American (USA) are meticulous keepers of records.

They work behind-the-scenes to gather information about any allegations of crimes.

After they have gathered enough information, then they can charge the suspect to a court of law.

Unbeknownst to both AKPABIO and his team of lawyers (especially the flippant ones like Dr. Monday O. Ubani, SAN, who is always writing and publishing things online), a case file has been opened by law enforcement agencies.

It is the same strategy that was used in the case of Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife. The law enforcement agencies of the United Kingdom kept “sealed lips” after they received the first report and allegations against Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

They allowed Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife to continue in their actions because each action by Senator Ike Ekweremadu provided concrete evidence of the allegations of the crime.

The final step or piece of evidence was when Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife boarded the airplane and landed in the United Kingdom to oversee the completion of the process of transplanting human organs from a Nigerian into their daughter.

At that point they were both arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned (caught red-handed) as we would say in layman’s parlance!!!

Those who are lawyers understand the word: “inchoate”, it means that a crime is not complete until all the two elements (acteus rea and mens rea) coincide.

Similarly, with each step that AKPABIO and his accomplices (the 108 Senators, the IGP, police officers that investigated, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the witnesses) have taken so far against Senator Natasha, they are providing pieces of evidence like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

At the right time, these indelible pieces of evidence would be used for prosecution of AKPABIO and the cohorts.

It is only a matter of time and location, either in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the USA or any of the ally countries of the USA where cyberbullying and intimidation is regarded as a serious crime!!!

It is only a matter of time (mark my words)!!!

To conclude, let me use this opportunity to issue a travel advisory to all the 109 Senators, it will be best to avoid travelling to either the USA and UK during this period. If you must travel at all, do not use your official diplomatic passport so that they don’t easily identify you as a member of the 10th Assembly of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!

Yours faithfully,
Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja,
17th June 2025.

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

How Akpabio is Winning the War Against Natasha But Losing The Battles: Akpabio is now likely to be prosecuted in the USA LIKE EKWEREMADU, Dr. Sandra E. Duru no longer a prosecution witness, likely to face criminal investigation in the USA

By Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja.

Many online newspapers reported yesterday that the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of the Federation charged Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

This is evidence that Akpabio is winning the war but losing the battles against Senator Natasha.

The previous charge was filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

It was withdrawn because it was brought to the attention of the DPP that the High Court of the FCT lacks jurisdiction to hear the charges against Senator Natasha.

Another significant VICTORY for Senator Natasha is that Dr. Sandra E. Duru is not listed in these fresh charges that was filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Those in the know have said that the reason is because the said Dr. Sandra E. Duru is now the subject of an ongoing investigation by law enforcement agencies in both Nigeria and the United States of America (USA).

So as not to jeopardise the ongoing investigations, I will not mention the allegations against her. Hints can be gleaned from this online report: https://www.opinionnigeria.com/the-risk-ahead-why-the-natasha-case-could-also-be-heard-in-american-courts-by-john-egbeazien-oshodi/

It is generally common knowledge that the majority of lawyers studied law because they were poor at mathematics and calculations.

A credit pass in Mathematics is not a prerequisite to study Law at Nigerian universities.

It appears that both Akpabio and his lawyers, like MOU, have shown that they have a very serious deficiency in both mathematics and doing calculations, especially Cost-Benefit Analysis!!!

If Akpabio and his lawyers know about the concept of PYRRHIC VICTORY, he would not have prolonged this war against Senator Natasha.

PYRRHIC VICTORY is a victory won at too great a cost to have been worthwhile for the victor.

Despite his victories against Senator Natasha, such as suspension from the Senate and now the criminal prosecution.

AKPABIO has lost much more than he has gained.

His reputation will never be the same again!!

And the REAL risk of criminal charges against AKPABIO in the United States of America anytime he sets his feet there!!!

Just like the former President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu was arrested, tried and convicted in the United Kingdom for the crime of modern human slavery!!

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

Of Airlines and their passengers

By Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN

Senator Oshiomole and AirPeace

The brickbat between one of Nigeria’s foremost carriers, AirPeace and the Senator representing Edo North in the National Assembly, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, has thrown up some of the real issues confronting the aviation sector in Nigeria. AirPeace first gave some vivid description of what transpired at the Zulu terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport. On that fateful day, it was said that the Comrade Senator could not board the flight because he arrived after the boarding time. For the Comrade Senator, he arrived on time and he did what he did to protest the airline’s style of racketeering and exploitation of passengers. Whichever version of the event is true, certain issues have to be addressed urgently, for the protection of the public and the huge investments of the airline operators. It was good that this happened to the Comrade Senator, who has the clout and experience to tackle it but I think both parties could have acted differently. It is commendable that the federal government has set up a probe into the unfortunate encounter and we await the outcome thereof.

The Challenges of Domestic Air Travel

Undoubtedly, many travelers must have suffered the same or similar fate as the Comrade Senator, either by way of late arrival after the boarding time had passed, cancellation or rescheduling of flights or some other issues making it impossible or frustrating to fly. Not too long ago, we read of the case of an airline that booked and checked in passengers to fly to Abuja but ended up in Asaba. For one reason or the other, many passengers do not follow the rules regulating domestic travels, especially as to early arrival at the airport at least two hours to the time of departure.

This is not the case with international travels, wherein some passengers arrive five hours ahead of their scheduled departures. It is still about the impunity of leaders, whereby it is convenient to obey the same set of rules outside the jurisdiction but the same rules are flagrantly flouted locally. Having said that, I verily believe that the rules are skewed against passengers in favour of the airlines. If you have any reason to miss your flight, the airlines apply the arbitrary rule of “no show”, for which you are automatically penalized on record. But where the flight is cancelled by the airline due to no fault of the passenger, the rule still favours the airline, as there is no penalty for the cancellation, no compensation to passenger and even when the same ticket is to be used for future flights, the passenger will still be penalized to pay the difference. It is all about our weak institutions which have no will power to enforce the laws.

Delayed Flights and Arbitrary Cancellations

I had cause to travel with an airline and I booked my ticket online. The flight was scheduled for 11 a.m. and I arrived at the airport well ahead of my departure time. A fellow Senior Advocate was also at the airport with me, but was booked with another airline. He was told that his flight had been cancelled, so he quickly made arrangements for his agent to book the same airline that I was scheduled to fly with. A little while thereafter, we were informed that my own flight had been cancelled, right at the time of boarding. For this flight, passengers travelled from other neighbouring towns to be on it. We were told that the aircraft developed some technical problems the previous day and the airline decided that it was not safe to fly. Meanwhile, the agent of my Learned Brother Silk sent him a ticket duly paid for on the same flight that I was scheduled to board.

The airline knew well ahead the day before that it would not fly. Yet, it could not reach out to its passengers who travelled from far locations to get to the airport and it could not notify us well ahead of time so as to make alternative arrangements, thus wasting precious time and energy. Worst of all, the airline still sold a ticket for the same flight to my Learned Brother Silk a few minutes to the boarding time, when it knew well ahead that it would not fly. You need to see the frustration and disappointment on the faces of the passengers who had been shortchanged.

Elongated Flight Shuttles

At another time, I was scheduled to board another flight to Lagos and I booked online. The aircraft arrived a little late and we commenced boarding. I noticed the gloom on the faces of the people already seated in the aircraft. Suddenly, there was an announcement from the hostess, offering apology to the passengers for bringing them to Akure from Abuja. They were originally booked to go to Ilorin from Abuja and it was when they got to Akure that the airline informed them of the diversion. On my own part, I booked the same airline from Akure to Lagos but I had to be taken to Ilorin first before heading to Lagos. A journey of twenty-five minutes took about one hour and a half. I was informed that the same airline at times shuttles between Abuja, Uyo, Akure and then Lagos.

And this is not peculiar to one airline as there are others shuttling between Lagos, Ilorin, Abuja and then Akure, charging differently for these routes on the same day and with the same aircraft. What some airlines do is to enforce the boarding time closure strictly but they would have generated a long list of potential passengers in their order of preference. As soon as the boarding time is past, these new passengers are offered the vacant tickets at the prevailing rate. This way, the airline enjoys double profit, charging a penalty for the cancelled ticket and selling the same ticket at a higher price. For some of the airlines, this can be an incentive to always enforce boarding time regulations whimsically against their passengers. There are other cases of arbitrary change of seats, inexplicable flight cancellations, missing luggage, overbooking and issuance of multiple tickets for the same seat, leading to constant friction and struggles between passengers. The list is endless and passengers are always at the receiving end.

Consideration for Airline Operators

I understand however that the airline business is a huge investment that comes with a lot of costs, in constant maintenance, multiple taxes, decayed infrastructure, corruption of regulating agencies and cost of services. I have myself wondered on a number of occasions when I boarded flights that were not even half full, especially in the remote routes where passenger traffic is very low. This will result in monumental losses for the operators. There are also the problems of inflation and the exchange rate volatility. Many of the aircrafts are on lease based on agreements settled in foreign currencies. When it is realized that these ventures are meant to guarantee return on investments, then there is need to give due consideration to the plight of the airline operators, howsoever that such will not lead to corporate extortion. The airlines complain of multiple taxes by different government agencies, inconsistent policy regulations, absence of necessary infrastructure and the cost of maintenance. Constant engagements between the regulators and the airline operators should be encouraged to address these issues for the benefit of all.

Suggested Solutions

The authorities must act swiftly and urgently to protect everyone involved in the business, both the operators and the passengers. A manual should be developed to serve as the Aviation Book, detailing the roles and responsibilities of the airlines and the passengers. This should be made available online and the hard copies should be affordable and readily accessible. It should be rendered in plain, simple language that the ordinary person can relate with. It will become the manual for air travels which will be given universal application by all stakeholders. Following after this would be a robust and holistic overhaul of the complaint mechanisms for passengers to seek redress. The absence of a functional and an effective dispute resolution process is part of the reasons for the impunity being experienced across the airlines. Enforcement of penalties would thus serve as deterrence and a disincentive against undue exploitation.

A Word for Senator Oshiomole and AirPeace

As a member of the National Assembly responsible for promulgating the laws regulating the aviation sector, the Comrade Senator should have erred on the side of due process of law. If all passengers and citizens decide to take the law into their hands, a situation of uncontrollable lawlessness will ensue and this will not augur well even for the passengers that he claimed to be protecting. It was not surprising therefore that a few days after this imbroglio, some other passengers were arrested for attempting to replicate the inglorious Oshiomole strategy. Would he have attempted such gangsterism if he was not a sitting Senator? Imagine the losses and disruptions caused to the airline and other passengers from this avoidable descent to self-help. For AirPeace, there is a need for the owners to sit down to undertake a holistic re-appraisal of its strategy and methods. The goal of air travel should be for the safety and comfort of the passengers.

The arbitrariness, rowdiness, racketeering and touting associated with the airline should be addressed urgently in the overall interest of the flying public and Nigeria. Reading through the press statements so far issued by AirPeace on this matter, I could not but wonder if the airline is bothered about its corporate image. The tone of those statements was unduly combative, unapologetically aggressive and totally undeserving. They could not even acknowledge the esteemed rank of the Comrade Senator as an officer of the Federal Republic! For a corporate entity to descend to such a level of abyss and linguistic indecency says a lot about its mission and vision. There has to be some minimum standard of decorum expected of such an organization that is dealing with the public and priding itself as the flagship of the air industry in Nigeria.

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

Benue Killings: It is intolerable that communities remain exposed and vulnerable while perpetrators operate with apparent impunity — Ezeilo, SAN

IT’S TIME TO PUT AN END TO THESE SENSELESS KILLINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

My heart is heavy. The horrific and inhumane attack that occurred in Benue State two nights ago, where over 200 innocent lives, including women, children, and the elderly, were burnt to death in their homes, is further proof that nowhere is safe again for Nigerian citizens.

This appalling act is not only a blatant violation of the law but a grave crime against humanity, underscoring the escalating insecurity and unchecked impunity that threaten the very core of our nation. These relentless massacres and senseless bloodshed must come to an end. Enough is enough! It is the fundamental duty of our government to safeguard lives and property. The right to life is sacrosanct and constitutionally guaranteed.

I call on both the Federal and State Governments, alongside the nation’s security agencies, to fulfil their constitutional mandate by prioritizing the protection of citizens. It is intolerable that communities remain exposed and vulnerable while perpetrators of such atrocious crimes operate with apparent impunity.

This massacre must not go unpunished. We need to understand the root causes and ensure accountability.

We demand a thorough investigation, swift justice for the victims, and immediate humanitarian support for those who have been displaced.

Nigeria cannot afford to normalize these killings. Every Nigerian life matters. The government must act decisively and transparently to restore peace and rebuild trust in the system.

Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo (SAN, OON)

Justice on Trial: Senator Natasha, Akpabio and the Federal Government of Nigeria: The weaponization of power against voices of conscience

By Asmau Benzies Leo 

The current trajectory of governance in Nigeria is deeply troubling. At a time when the nation is grappling with pervasive insecurity, economic instability, rising poverty, youth unemployment, and the erosion of public trust in democratic institutions, it is disheartening to witness the political establishment channel its energy toward persecuting a woman who has chosen to stand for justice, accountability, and the constitutional rights guaranteed to every Nigerian.

The attempt to jail a female senator who has distinguished herself in a male-dominated chamber by championing the causes that many of her male counterparts have either ignored or failed to confront sends a dangerous signal about the state of our democracy. It reinforces a culture of silencing dissent, punishing courage, and weaponizing the legal system against voices of truth and conscience.

Such actions not only undermine the principles of fairness and rule of law but also discourage women and young people from engaging in politics and public service, fearing retribution for refusing to conform to a broken system. It reveals, yet again, the entrenched patriarchal and authoritarian tendencies within the political establishment that are determined to suppress reformers rather than address the real issues afflicting our society.

At a time when we should be investing in good governance, strengthening democratic institutions, and protecting human rights, the focus has tragically shifted to intimidation and political witch-hunts. This must not stand. The implications of allowing such injustice to prevail are grave: the further erosion of public trust, the deepening of national disillusionment, and the normalization of tyranny under the guise of due process.

We must all raise our voices to defend the integrity of our democracy, protect those who speak truth to power, and demand accountability from those entrusted with the leadership of this nation. Nigeria cannot move forward by punishing its best; it can only progress when it begins to honour them.

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

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