A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Onueze Chukwujika Joe Okocha, SAN, former Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admira Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), former senator Ita Enang, and former Abia State governor Okezie Ikpeazu are among prominent figures named in the list of 65 ambassadorial postings approved on Friday by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to the statement, the list comprises 31 career diplomats and 34 non-career ambassadors, whose nominations were earlier confirmed by the Nigerian Senate in December.

OCJ Okocha, SAN, was posted to Dublin, while Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas was assigned to the Philippines. Former senator Ita Enang will serve in South Africa, as former Abia State governor Okezie Ikpeazu heads to Spain and his Enugu counterpart, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to Greece.

Also on the list, former presidential aide Reno Omokri has been assigned to Mexico, while former Chief of Defence Intelligence Lateef Kayode Are will head Nigeria’s mission to the United States.

Below is the comprehensive list.

1.  SENATOR GRACE BENT: LOME-TOGO

2.  SEN. ITA ENANG: SOUTH AFRICA

3.  IKPEAZU VICTOR: SPAIN

4.  NKECHI LINDA UFOCHUKWU: TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL

5.  MAHMUD YAKUBU: QATAR

6.  PAUL OGA ADIKWU: THE VATICAN CITY HOLY SEE

7.  VICE ADMIRAL IBOK-ETE EKWE IBAS: THE PHILIPPINES

8.  MR. RENO OMOKRI: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

9.  HON. (ENGR.) ABASI BRAIMAH (FMHR): BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

10.  MRS. ERELU ANGELA ADEBAYO: PORTUGAL

11.  BARR. OLUMILUA OLUWAYIMIKA AYOTUNWA: TOKYO, JAPAN

12.  RT. HON. UGWUANYI IFEANYI LAWRENCE: ATHENS, GREECE

13.  BARR. CHIOMA PRISCILLA OHAKIM: WARSAW, POLAND

14.  AMINU DALHATU: UNITED KINGDOM, UK

15.  LT. GEN ABDULRAHMAN BELLO DAMBAZAU: BEIJING, CHINA

16.  HON. TASIU MUSA MAIGARI: GAMBIA

17.  OLUFEMI PEDRO: AUSTRALIA

18.  BARR. MUHAMMED UBANDOMA ALIYU: ARGENTINA

19.  LATEEF KAYODE ARE: USA

20.  AMB. JOSEPH SOLA IJI: RUSSIA

21.  SEN. JIMOH IBRAHIM: UN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE

22.  FEMI FANI KAYODE: GERMANY

23.  PROF. ISAAK FOLORUNSO ADEWOLE: OTTAWA, CANADA

24.  AJIMOBI FATIMA FLORENCE (F): AUSTRIA

25.  MRS. LOLA AKANDE (F): SWEDEN

26.  AYODELE OKE: FRANCE

27.  YAKUBU N. GAMBO: SAUDI ARABIA

28.  SENATOR PROF. NORA LADI DADUUT: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

29.  BARR. ONUEZE CHUKWUJIKA JOE OKOCHA SAN: DUBLIN

30.  DR. KULU HARUNA ABUBAKAR: TUNIS, TUNISIA

31.  RT. HON. JERRY SAMUEL MANWE: PORT OF SPAIN, T&T

POSTINGS OF CAREER AMBASSADORS / HIGH COMMISSIONERS LIST

1.  AMB. NWABIOLA EZENWA CHUKWUMEKA: COTE D’IV/OIRE

2.  BESTO MAIMUNA IBRAHIM: NIAMEY-NIGER

3.  MONICA OKWUCHUKWU ENEBECHI: SAO TOME, STP

4.  AMB. MOHAMMED MAHMUD LELE: ALGIERS-ALGERIA

5.  ENDONI SYNDOPH PAEBI: OUAGADOUGOU-BURKINA FASO

6.  AHMED MOHAMMED MONGUNO: CAIRO EGYPT

7.  AMB.JANE ADAMS (NEE OKON) MICHAEL (F): KINGSTON-JAMAICA

8.  AMB. CLARK-OMERU ALEXANDRA (F): LUSAKA-ZAMBIA

9.  CHIMA GEOGGREY LIOMA DAVID: BAMAKO-MALI

10.  AMB. ODUMAH YVONNE EHINOSEN: MALABO –E/GUINEA

11.  AMB WASA SEGUN IGE: BEIRUT, LEBANON

12.  RUBEN ABIMBOLA SAMUEL (F): ROME, ITALY

13.  AMB.ONAGA OGECHUKWU KINGSLEY: MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE

14.  AMB.MAGAJI UMAR: KINSASHA, DR CONGO

15.  AMB.MUHAMMAD SAIDU DAHIRU: NEW DELHI-INDIA

16.  AMB. ABDUSSALAM HABU ZAYYAD: DAKAR-SENEGAL

17.  AMB SHEHU ILU BARDE: ACCRA GHANA

18.  AMB.AMINU NASIR: ETHIOPIA

19.  ABUBAKAR MUSA MUSA: N’DJAMENA, CHAD

20.  AMB. HAIDARA MOHAMMED IDRIS: THE HAGUE-NETHERLANDS

21.  AMB.BAKO ADAMU UMAR: RABAT-MOROCCO

22.  AMB. SULU GAMBARI OLATUNJI AHMED: MALAYSIA

23.  AMB.ROMATA MOHAMMED OMOBOLANLE (F): TANZANIA

24.  AMB. SHAGA JOHN SHAMAH: BOTSWANA

25.  SALAU, HAMZA MOHAMMED: TEHRAN, IRAN

26.  AMB.IBRAHIM DANLAMI: KENYA

27.  IBRAHIM ADEOLA MOPELOLA (F): COTONOU-BENIN

28.  AMB.AYENI ADEBAYO EMMANUEL: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

29.  AMB.AKANDE WAHAB ADEKOLA: BERNE-SWITZERLAND

30.  AMB. AREWA (NEE ADEDOKUN) ESTHER (F): WINDHOEK-NAMIBIA

31.  AMB.GERGADI JOSEPH JOHN: LIBREVILLE-GABON

32.  AMB. LUTHER OGBOMODE AYO-KALATA (F): SIERRA LEONE

33.  DANLADI YAKUBU NYAKU : KHARTOUM-SUDAN

34.  BELLO DOGON-DAJI HALIRU: BANGKOK, THAILAND

Speculation that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had stepped in behind the scenes to shield some senior police officers from retirement has effectively collapsed following the quiet exit of Deputy Inspector-General of Police Frank Mba and several other high-ranking officials from the Nigeria Police Force.

The retirement wave comes amid a dramatic shift in the leadership structure of the force triggered by the departure of former Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and the emergence of Tunji Disu as the new police chief.

For weeks, insiders in security and political circles had speculated that the presidency might intervene to extend the tenure of some senior officers affected by the leadership transition, particularly those approaching the statutory retirement threshold or considered influential within the force.

Such presidential interventions are not unprecedented in Nigeria’s security architecture, where political considerations, operational continuity, and internal power balancing have sometimes influenced the fate of top-ranking officers.

But Mba’s retirement after more than three decades in service, alongside other senior officers, suggests the anticipated reprieve never materialised, clearing the path for a new command structure under the leadership of Disu.

End of a High-Profile Career

Before his retirement, Mba served in the Department of Training and Development at Force Headquarters.

His exit after 34 years of service brings to a close a career widely regarded by colleagues and observers as one of the most intellectually distinguished within the modern Nigerian police hierarchy.

Mba joined the force in May 1992 as a cadet officer and graduated from the Nigeria Police Academy in Kano as the best cadet in academics, an early signal of the professional path that would define his career.

Over the years, he occupied several strategic operational and administrative roles across the country.

He served as Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Commissioner of Police in charge of the Border Patrol Force at Force Headquarters, and held operational commands including Area Commander in Ajah and Festac, Lagos.

Beyond domestic assignments, Mba also represented Nigeria in global security operations, serving in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Liberia between 2006 and 2007.

Scholar in Uniform

In addition to his policing credentials, Mba built an impressive academic profile.

A trained lawyer, he obtained a law degree from the University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002 after attending the Nigerian Law School in Abuja.

He later earned a Master’s degree in Law with distinction from the University of Dundee in Scotland.

His professional development also took him to some of the world’s most respected institutions, including the FBI National Academy in Quantico, as well as executive programmes at Harvard University and the University of Oxford.

“A Great Honour to Serve”

In his farewell message, Mba expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve under his administration.

“I am deeply grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the privilege of serving our great nation during his administration,” he said.

“The confidence reposed in the Nigeria Police leadership and the support given to the institution during this period have been invaluable. It has been a great honour for me to contribute my quota to the security and stability of our country.”

He also thanked Nigerians for their trust throughout his policing career.

“Policing is a difficult but noble profession, and whatever success we recorded was made possible by the understanding and support of Nigerians,” he said. “I leave the service with a heart full of gratitude and pride for having had the opportunity to serve.”

Fresh Promotions on the Horizon

With Mba and other senior officers stepping aside, attention has now shifted to the next generation of police leadership.

At least seven Assistant Inspectors-General of Police are expected to appear before the Police Service Commission for interviews as part of the process for promotion to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General.

Among those tipped for elevation are Margreth Ochalla, Ekene Onwuemelie and Ishiaku Mohammed.

Their promotion would complete the emerging command architecture of the force as Inspector-General Tunji Disu begins what many observers describe as a new phase in the leadership evolution of Nigeria’s policing system.

Iraqi forces have shot down a drone that attempted to attack a United States military base near Baghdad International Airport, local media have reported, as Iran continues to strike US assets in Arab countries, with the region plunging deeper into war after six days.

The drone attempted to target Victoria airbase overnight on Wednesday and was intercepted before it reached its target, according to the reports.

Videos that emerged early on Thursday showed a drone crash in the Al-Bu’aitha area of Baghdad in the presence of security personnel.

In a separate incident later on Thursday, a boat struck an oil tanker flying the flag of the Bahamas in the Iraqi port of Khor al-Zubair, causing damage and an oil spill, an Iraqi security source told Al Jazeera.

Later on Thursday night, Bahrain said an Iranian missile hit a state-run oil refinery. It said the fire was extinguished and the refinery was still working. There were no reports of casualties.

The attacks occurred as tensions in the Middle East soared due to the ongoing conflict set off by the US and Israel launching a war on Iran.

Qatar’s defence ministry said on Thursday that the country was targeted by several attacks, including 14 ballistic missiles and four drones coming from Iran.

Thirteen missiles were intercepted, and one fell in Qatar’s territorial waters, it said in a statement. All drones were intercepted, and no casualties were reported.

As multiple explosions were heard in the skies above Doha, authorities in Qatar sent out an “elevated” emergency alert to residents.

The country’s interior ministry ordered the evacuation of residents living near the US Embassy in Doha as a precautionary measure.

Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi, reporting from the Qatari capital, said the US Embassy compound occupies a “very large area” that is located “in the heart of the city”.

Basravi added that the US embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and the US consulate in Dubai, were all targeted by drones this week.

In the United Arab Emirates, six people were injured by falling debris from drones that were intercepted by air defence systems over Abu Dhabi, the emirate’s media office said.

In a post on X, the office said authorities had responded to debris falling in two locations in the Industrial City (ICAD II) district. The affected individuals, who were nationals of Pakistan and Nepal, received minor to moderate injuries from the debris.

New explosions were also heard in Bahrain. The Bahrain Defence Force said it destroyed 75 missiles and 123 drones “targeting the Kingdom since the start of the brutal Iranian aggression”, in a post on its Instagram account.

The reverberating violence has spread across the region, with attacks also reported in Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait.

The Saudi Ministry of Defence said the latest drone sent into its territory was shot downloading unear the al-Jawf region, in the north of the country. This came after the ministry announced intercepting three drones east of al-Kharj governorate.

Oman’s Oil Marketing Company said one of its storage tanks was damaged in an “incident”, which preliminary assessments said was only minor. The company said operations at the affected site were taken offline, according to the Reuters news agency.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi called for an end to the war in a post on X. “Oman reaffirms its call for an immediate ceasefire and a return to responsible regional diplomacy,” he wrote. “There are off ramps available. Let’s use them.”

Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior said an explosion on board an oil tanker occurred outside its territorial waters, more than 60km (37 miles) from the Mubarak al-Kabeer port.

It said all crew were safe, but that the vessel had taken on water and that an oil spill could potentially cause ⁠environmental damage.

On Wednesday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it fired 230 drones at several facilities hosting US troops in the Middle East, including a base in Erbil in northern Iraq and the Ali Al Salem airbase and Camp Arifjan in Kuwait.

The IRGC said the attacks were among its “first powerful steps” in the war, despite Iran having attacked Gulf Arab states for days since Israel and the US launched their coordinated offensive on Saturday.

President Masoud Pezeshkian directly addressed Iran’s neighbouring countries on Wednesday, saying Iran sought to avert war through diplomacy, but US-Israel attacks left it “with no choice” but to retaliate.

“We respect your sovereignty,” the president said in two separate posts in Arabic and Persian on X.

Iran believes security in the region must be achieved through a collective effort, he added.

As Iran’s retaliatory attacks continued, so has the Israeli-US assault on Iran.

In the face of the continued war, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei warned that European Union countries will “pay the price, sooner ⁠or later” if ⁠they remain silent over the joint attacks on Iran. Baghaei made the comments to Spanish broadcaster TVE.

There was little to indicate at this stage, however, that European assets will be targeted in the same manner as US and Arab ones have.

Credit: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/5/drone-targets-us-base-in-iraq-as-iran-attacks-hit-region-amid-us-israel-war

The build-up to the 2026 National Officers’ Election of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has been thrown into fresh controversy after a High Court in Oyo State issued a dramatic order halting activities related to the electoral process.

In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, Justice G. A. Opayinka of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan granted an interim injunction restraining the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) and the NBA President, Mazi Afam Josiah Osigwe, SAN, from taking further steps in connection with the election.

The order followed a Motion Ex-Parte filed by four lawyers, Ibrahim Lawal, Raymond Oki, Omotan Olusola Ogunmodede, and Chief Gabriel Ojo Adekunle Ijalana, who challenged aspects of the electoral process and the constitution of the ECNBA.

The applicants joined as defendants the Nigerian Bar Association, its President Afam Osigwe, SAN, the Body of Benchers, and the General Council of the Bar, represented through the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Also listed as defendants are members of the ECNBA: Aham Ejelam, SAN; Ibrahim Aliyu Nassarawa, Esq.; Muhamad M. Nuhu, Esq.; Uju Okafor, Esq.; and Ume Maduka, Esq.

In the interim order, the court restrained the 5th to 9th defendants from parading themselves as Chairman, Secretary, or members of the ECNBA, or performing any act connected with the conduct of the 2026 NBA National Officers’ Election.

Justice Opayinka further directed that NBA President Afam Osigwe must not take any step whatsoever toward the constitution or composition of the ECNBA, nor participate in supervising, influencing, or interfering with the electoral process pending the determination of a Motion on Notice seeking a substantive interlocutory injunction.

The application was argued by Tunji Ogunrinde, SAN, alongside R. O. Solahudeen, Esq., counsel to the claimants.

Legal observers say the ruling could significantly disrupt preparations for the NBA’s 2026 elections, which are expected to hold in about four months.

With the ECNBA now restrained and the NBA President barred from further actions relating to the committee’s composition, the decision is already raising serious constitutional and political questions within the Bar about the fate of the election timetable and the future of the electoral process.

The court adjourned the matter to 12 March 2026 for the hearing of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.

Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital has mounted a forceful defence of two of its senior physicians, placed on interim suspension by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) following the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Adichie-Esege, the son of celebrated author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

The hospital also raised concerns about the integrity of the investigative process, alleging procedural lapses and breaches of confidentiality in what is fast becoming one of Nigeria’s most high-profile medical negligence cases.

Doctors Suspended Pending Tribunal

On Tuesday, the Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel announced the interim suspension of Euracare’s Medical Director, Dr. Tunde Majekodunmi, and its anaesthesiologists, Dr. Titus Ogundare. Also suspended was Dr. Atinuke Uwajeh, Chief Medical Officer of Atlantis Pediatric Hospital.

The trio has been barred from practicing medicine in Nigeria pending the outcome of proceedings before the Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Disciplinary Tribunal.

According to a statement signed by the panel’s Secretary, Dr. Enejo Abdu, investigators established a prima facie case of medical negligence in the treatment of the toddler, who died on January 7, 2026, following complications arising from preparatory medical procedures.

The panel further disclosed that it found sufficient evidence of professional misconduct against 10 additional doctors at Atlantis Hospital. Eight other physicians named in the initial complaint were cleared after the panel reviewed affidavits, counter-affidavits, and sworn oral testimony.

The investigation concluded during the panel’s 25th session held in Abuja on February 17 and 18. A coroner’s inquest is scheduled to begin April 14.

A Planned Medical Evacuation That Ended in Tragedy

According to accounts contained in a legal notice dated January 10, 2026—issued by counsel to the child’s parents—the toddler had first been admitted to Atlantis Hospital in Lagos for what doctors reportedly described as a worsening but initially mild illness.

As arrangements were being made to transfer him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States for specialist care, Atlantis Hospital referred him to Euracare for pre-flight evaluations and procedures.

Those procedures allegedly included an echocardiogram, brain MRI, lumbar puncture, intravenous sedation with propofol, and insertion of a peripherally inserted central catheter.

The parents claim their son developed sudden and severe complications while being moved to the cardiac catheterization laboratory after undergoing the MRI.

He later died.

In their notice, the parents accused Euracare, its anaesthesiologists, and other medical personnel of failing in their duty of care and engaging in professional misconduct.

Euracare Pushes Back

In a statement issued Wednesday, Euracare said it remains committed to cooperating fully with regulatory and judicial authorities. However, it expressed strong confidence in the competence and integrity of its suspended physicians, describing them as seasoned professionals who have made significant contributions to healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

The hospital said it had conducted an internal clinical review consistent with its governance standards and best practices, maintaining that it has upheld transparency throughout.

But it also alleged that “certain established processes and protocols have not been followed in the manner required” during the investigation.

Euracare further raised concerns about what it described as the disclosure of confidential patient and institutional information outside appropriate channels—calling it a serious breach.

“All parties are entitled to a fair and impartial process conducted strictly in accordance with established rules,” the hospital said, adding that it would pursue its concerns through appropriate legal and regulatory avenues.

While defending its staff, Euracare expressed sympathy to the bereaved family, acknowledging that the loss of a child is “a grief without measure.”

High-Profile Case, National Scrutiny

The case has drawn widespread public attention not only because of the gravity of the allegations, but also because of the prominence of the child’s mother, one of Nigeria’s most internationally recognized literary figures.

As disciplinary proceedings and a coroner’s inquest move forward, the case is likely to test both Nigeria’s medical accountability systems and public trust in private healthcare institutions.

For now, three doctors remain suspended, more than a dozen practitioners have faced regulatory scrutiny, and a grieving family awaits answers.

By Lillian Okenwa

As residents of Edo State grapple with blackouts, overbilling and rising generator costs, Governor Monday Okpebholo has taken an unusual step: joining a street protest against Benin Electricity Distribution Plc (BEDC).

The governor vowed to “break the monopoly” in electricity distribution, arguing that opening the sector to more players, similar to Nigeria’s telecom model, would improve efficiency and service delivery.

But as Edo debates distribution reform, critics say the deeper crisis lies elsewhere: weak generation capacity, fragile transmission infrastructure and sluggish policy execution.

And they point to a growing contrast, one unfolding hundreds of kilometres away.

A Tale of Two States

In Abia State, Governor Alex Otti has pursued an aggressive push toward embedded generation and alternative energy partnerships, leveraging new electricity reforms that allow states greater autonomy in power generation and distribution.

Abia has moved to strengthen independent power initiatives and attract private sector investment into localised generation, reducing dependence on the national grid and prioritising industrial clusters and urban centres.

Energy analysts say the strategy reflects a shift from complaint to capacity-building.

“Distribution is the last mile,” one power sector consultant noted. “If generation is weak and transmission is unstable, breaking a monopoly alone won’t solve the darkness.”

Nigeria’s Structural Power Problem

Nigeria’s national grid has long struggled with inadequate generation. producing far below national demand, alongside ageing transmission lines and recurring system collapses.

States now have constitutional and legislative pathways to:

• Develop embedded power plants
• Partner with independent power producers
• Expand solar mini-grids in rural communities
• Create state-level electricity markets

Yet execution varies widely.

For many Edo residents, the central question is whether joining a protest signals empathy — or a vacuum of structured policy alternatives.

Lessons From Smaller Nations

Globally, smaller economies facing similar infrastructure challenges have adopted diversified power strategies:

• Rwanda has aggressively deployed solar mini-grids to electrify rural communities.
• Costa Rica has invested heavily in renewable hydro, wind and geothermal power, dramatically reducing fossil fuel reliance.
• Namibia has expanded independent power producer (IPP) participation to stabilise supply.

These countries demonstrate a core principle: sustainable electricity reform requires generation expansion, infrastructure investment and regulatory clarity — not only market restructuring.

Generation vs Demonstration

Governor Okpebholo’s argument centres on breaking BEDC’s dominance in distribution. But experts caution that without parallel investment in:

• State-backed embedded generation
• Public-private renewable projects
• Infrastructure upgrades
• Transparent regulatory frameworks

… additional distributors may simply share scarcity rather than create abundance.

Critics argue that the optics of a sitting governor joining a protest blur the lines of executive responsibility.

“When a governor protests, who exactly is he protesting against?” asked a Benin-based policy analyst. “Leadership means designing the solution, not marching against the symptom.”

The Governance Test

Edo’s electricity crisis is not just about bills and blackouts, it is about governance capacity in an era where states now have greater power-sector autonomy.

With inflation rising and small businesses strained by diesel costs, the demand is shifting from rhetoric to results.

Residents are not merely asking for solidarity. They are asking for sustained light.

As Abia experiments with generation-focused reform and smaller nations diversify energy portfolios, Edo faces a defining choice: move from protest politics to power-sector transformation.

In the end, the electorate may judge not who joined the rally, but who switched on the lights.