A high court in the capital city of Akure, Ondo state, has sentenced Shittu Isiaka, a lecturer at the College of Health Technology, Ijero-Ekiti, to death by hanging for armed robbery.

Justice Omolara Adejumo delivered the judgment after finding Isiaka guilty of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery.

John Joshua, the prosecution counsel, told the court that the incident occurred on July 5, 2017, along Ibuji on the Akure-Ilesha expressway.

Joshua said Isiaka and other accomplices – who are still at large – robbed Olatunji Olowoyeye, a commercial driver, of his Nissan Cabstar vehicle with registration number XJ 214 KTU at gunpoint.

During his testimony, Olowoyeye told the court that he knew the defendant before the incident.

He said Isiaka and two other men had hired him in Ilesa to transport cocoa beans from Igbara-Oke for N20,000.

According to him, the men paid N8,000 upfront and promised to pay the balance after the trip.

Olowoyeye said he became suspicious when the passengers asked him to drive the vehicle into the bush near a primary school at Ibuji.

He told the court that one of the men sitting beside him suddenly brought out a gun while Isiaka sat in the front seat.

The victim said the attackers dragged him out of the vehicle, collected the key, his phone and cash, tied his hands and legs and abandoned him in the bush.

Olowoyeye further alleged that the defendant injected him with a substance before tying him to a tree.

According to him, he later rolled through the bush and reached the highway, where police patrol officers rescued him and took him to a hospital.

Olowoyeye told the court that he passed bloody urine for several days and spent about 15 days receiving medical treatment.

Kehinde Omotosho, an inspector and police witness, told the court that highway patrol officers brought the victim to the Igbara-Oke police station, where he made a statement implicating Isiaka.

During the trial, Isiaka denied the allegations.

The suspect told the court that he was not involved in the robbery and also denied injecting the victim with any substance.

The defendant argued that he was not a medical practitioner and had no licence to administer injections.

He further told the court that investigators failed to present any syringe or item allegedly used in the crime, adding that no medical report was tendered to support the victim’s claim.

In the judgement, the judge held that the prosecution failed to establish the offence of endangering life as required under section 135(1) of the Evidence Act.

The judge also noted that there were no eyewitness accounts of the alleged injection and no medical report to support the victim’s claim.

She said it would be unsafe to rely solely on the testimonies of the victim and another witness without any supporting medical evidence.

The judge consequently acquitted Isiaka on the third count but held that the prosecution established sufficient evidence linking the defendant to the robbery.

Adejumo convicted Isiaka of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery, sentencing him to life imprisonment for conspiracy and death by hanging for armed robbery.

“The sentence of the court upon you is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead,” the judge said.

European leaders have rejected demands by the US President, Donald Trump, for help to clear the strait of Hormuz, as foreign ministers from the European Union gathered in Brussels yesterday to discuss skyrocketing oil prices from the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The push back came after Trump called on the UK, China, France, Japan, South Korea and other NATO countries to send ships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, saying  it would be very bad for the future of NATO if allies don’t help secure the strait.

US officials had also spent much of the weekend working to rally support behind Trump’s demand and said they hoped to announce a new coalition in the coming days, according to people familiar with the matter.

Who that coalition consists of, and when it might be announced, remain open questions. 

Even staunch US allies sound cautious about sending their militaries into the contested waterway while an active war is underway.

Still, US officials said they hoped to, at least, receive preliminary commitments of support for securing the strait, even if countries left the specifics, such as what ships were deployed and when, to a later date.

But the EU foreign ministers at the meeting demanded to know more about Trump’s plans for the war on Iran and when the conflict might end, even as they weighed his request for help.

Speaking at the meeting, German Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, said Berlin had no intention of joining military operations during the conflict, adding that NATO needed clarity on when US and Israel considered the military aims of their deployment to have been reached. 

“We expect from the US and Israel to inform us, to include us into what they’re doing there and to tell us if these goals are achieved.  

“Once we have a clear picture of that, we believe we need to move into the next phase, namely, defining a security architecture for this entire region, together with the neighbouring states,”  he told reporters before the meeting in Brussels.

Wadephul added that NATO had not made any decision on assuming responsibilities in the Strait of Hormuz.

German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz’s spokesperson, Stefan Kornelius, underlined that “it is not NATO’s war. NATO is an alliance to defend the alliance area.”

Kornelius said Berlin “took note” of Trump’s comments, but added that “the United States did not consult us before this war, and so we believe this is not a matter for NATO or the German government.

“What does … Trump expect a handful or two handfuls of European frigates to do in the Strait of Hormuz that the powerful US Navy cannot do?” German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, said in Berlin. 

“This is not our war. We have not started it,’’ he said.

Greek government spokesman, Pavlos Marinakis, said that Greece would not engage in any military operations in the Strait of Hormuz, while Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, said Italy was not involved in any naval missions that could be extended to the area.

Meanwhile, Estonian Foreign Minister, Margus Tsahkna, also said US allies in Europe wanted to understand Trump’s “strategic goals. What will be the plan?”, while Polish Foreign Minister, Radek Sikorski, invited the Trump administration to go through the proper channels.

“If there is a request via NATO, we will, of course, out of respect and sympathy for our American allies consider it very carefully,” he said.

However, the Danish Foreign Minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, said Europe should keep an open mind on helping to ensure freedom of navigation in the strait, even if the continent did not support the US-Israeli decision to go to war with Iran.

“We must face the world as it is, not as we want it to be,” Rasmussen said, adding that the EU must decide on a plan “with a view towards de-escalation.”

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom said it was working on a collective plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore freedom of navigation in the Middle East but noted that doing so would not be easy.

‘’UK won’t be drawn into ‘wider war’ and will work with allies on Strait of Hormuz plan,’’ Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said

EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, told reporters before the meeting in Brussels that the bloc’s leaders would focus on how the EU could contribute to reopening the waterway.

“We first need to discuss what the member states are willing to do in the Strait of Hormuz.  Of course, the needs to open the Strait of Hormuz are there right now,’’ she said.

Kallas said the strait’s closure, which had sent oil prices to more than $100 a barrel, was benefitting Russia’s war on Ukraine, which is largely funded by Moscow’s energy revenues.

IEA prepared to release more oil reserves

Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency, IEA, said it was prepared to release more oil reserves, if needed, amid what it said was the “largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market”.

IEA had last week released a record 400 million barrels of oil to cushion the effect of the strait’s bloackade.

IEA’s Executive Director, Fatih Birol, said the volume of oil supply offline was already higher than during any previous disruption, including the oil crisis of 1973.

“Oil prices today are significantly lower than they were one week ago,” he said, but added that the reserves were not a lasting solution while passage through the strait remains uncertain.

The IEA still has more than 1.4 billion barrels of oil remaining, “which means we can do more later as, and if needed,” Birol said.

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday struck out the cyberstalking case instituted against human rights activist Omoyele Sowore.

This marked a significant legal victory in a case widely criticised as politically motivated.

The suit, filed under Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act, was initiated by the former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, following Sowore’s reference to him as an “illegal IGP”.

The court’s decision followed an application by Sowore’s legal team, which urged the court to strike out the charges on the grounds that they were frivolous, lacked merit, and constituted an abuse of legal process.

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that proceedings were stood down for ruling after Sowore’s lawyers challenged the legitimacy of the trial, arguing that the case was weaponised to harass and restrict the activist’s fundamental rights.

In earlier remarks before the ruling, Sowore had described the prosecution as part of a broader pattern of state repression, alleging that the case was used to seize his passport in January 2025 and limit his movements.

The activist described the prosecution as politically motivated, insisting that repeated legal actions against him had historically backfired on those behind them.

“I have seen so many of these unjust cases brought against me, and people go down. It’s not that I’m bragging,” he said, citing former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Chief of Staff Abba Kyari, and former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami as individuals he claimed had “gone down” after participating in what he described as persecution.

Sowore further alleged that Egbetokun’s removal from office was a consequence of the same case, dismissing claims that divine intervention influenced President Bola Tinubu’s decision.

“That’s why he’s going around shouting that it is God that told Tinubu to fire him. God did not speak with Tinubu. God spoke to me,” Sowore said.

Sowore declared that his “next assignment” is to “liberate” Nigeria from what he described as entrenched political actors, including Tinubu, Malami, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

He accused the Nigerian state of systemic failures, alleging that citizens have been denied access to education, healthcare, and electricity, while also condemning what he described as degrading treatment of legal practitioners in court.

Sowore also narrated alleged irregularities his legal team faced at the court on Monday. He lamented that a judge at the Federal High Court ordered his lead counsel to kneel during proceedings for challenging a witness presented by the Department of State Services (DSS).

“They asked our lead lawyer yesterday to kneel down before a judge… because the lawyer was defending me and challenging the DSS’s fake witness,” he said.

He further criticised the prosecution’s handling of the case, questioning why police prosecutors appeared in court without witnesses.

“The police sent three lawyers today… how can you send three lawyers and you can’t find your witness?” he queried.

Sowore added that his legal team had filed an application before Justice Liman to strike out the case, expressing confidence that the court proceedings expose weaknesses in the prosecution.

“We don’t come to court because we think we can get justice; we come to offload justice onto the courts,” he said.

The now-dismissed case had drawn national attention, with civil society organisations and rights advocates warning that the use of cybercrime laws against critics poses a threat to freedom of expression in Nigeria.

In January 2025, then-Inspector-General of Police Egbetokun filed criminal charges against activist Sowore, accusing him of defamation and incitement after Sowore publicly described him as an “illegal IGP.”

As of the time of filing this report, it remains unclear whether the police authorities will file fresh charges or appeal the ruling. 

However, the judgment is expected to have wider implications for similar cases involving alleged cyberstalking and free speech in Nigeria.

Tension appears to be growing within the ranks of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), ahead of its 2026 national elections, as doctors across the country are threatening to protest over what they describe as the unconstitutional disqualification of a leading presidential candidate, Prof Ofem Enang and the surreptitious imposition of a preferred candidate.

The controversy has also drawn attention to the role of the current NMA President, Prof Bala Audu, who is accused by some members of attempting to influence the outcome of the election scheduled to be held in Kano from April 26 to May 2, 2026.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the Renaissance 2026 Campaign Team, led by its National Campaign Coordinator, Dr Ezoke Epoke, described the reported disqualification of Enang as a violation of due process and the NMA Constitution, warning that it could undermine the integrity of the association’s electoral process.

The campaign team said Enang met all constitutional requirements for nomination and submitted his forms within the stipulated deadline, adding that he was neither formally notified of any deficiency nor allowed to respond before the alleged disqualification.

According to the group, Article 11(1) (b) of the NMA Constitution clearly states that “all members shall be eligible to contest election to any office,” provided they meet the laid-down requirements.

It explained that the constitution only requires that nomination forms be properly completed and submitted before the deadline, with a proposer and seconder who are members in good standing of the association.

The campaign team said Enang personally submitted his nomination forms before the deadline in the company of seven state chairmen, in line with the constitutional provisions guiding the electoral process.

It stressed that the constitution provides for the opening of nomination envelopes by the Secretary-General or Deputy Secretary-General in the presence of at least one other national officer, after which the names of nominated candidates and their sponsors are compiled.

According to the statement, the constitution does not empower the National Officers’ Committee (NOC) or any individual to arbitrarily disqualify a candidate who has been properly nominated and seconded.

“At no point in Article 11 is any authority granted to the National Officers’ Committee or any individual to unilaterally disqualify a properly nominated and seconded candidate,” the campaign team said.

It therefore called for the immediate reinstatement of Enang as a duly nominated candidate and urged the NMA leadership to comply with the letter and spirit of the constitution.

The group also appealed to former NMA presidents, past secretaries-general and other stakeholders to intervene to prevent what it described as a dangerous precedent capable of plunging the association into crisis.

“Our concern goes beyond Dr Ofem Enang; it is about defending the integrity of the NMA, protecting democracy and upholding the rule of law within our profession,” the statement added.

Reacting to the development, Secretary of the NMA Federal Capital Territory branch, Dr Akinnagbe Fernandez, also questioned the basis of the disqualification, describing it as inconsistent with the association’s constitution.

Fernandez said the alleged decision was reportedly based on claims that photocopies of certain documents were not submitted, even though the originals were already in the custody of the NMA secretariat.

“The purported disqualification of Prof Ofem Enang is based on the claim that photocopies of certain documents were not submitted, even though those original documents are already before the NMA secretariat,” he said.

He maintained that Article 11 of the NMA Constitution does not recognise “incomplete documentation” as a ground for disqualification once nomination forms are properly completed and endorsed by qualified sponsors.

“The constitution does not recognise incomplete documentation as a ground for disqualification. So long as the nomination form is properly completed and the proposer and seconder are members in good standing with current practising licences, the candidate is eligible to contest,” Fernandez said.

He warned that the development could trigger widespread discontent among doctors across the country if not urgently addressed.

Attempts to reach the NMA President, Prof Bala Audu, for comment were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls placed to his phone.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned an alleged courtroom incident involving Justice Mohammed Umar, describing the reported directive for a lawyer to kneel as inconsistent with judicial standards and the dignity of the legal profession.

A report by Channels Television indicated that the incident occurred during proceedings in a case involving Sowore, who is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services over alleged cyber-related offences.

According to the report, the presiding judge warned the defence counsel over his tone while making submissions and at one point ordered him to “come out and kneel down” in open court. Other lawyers present reportedly intervened, pleading for leniency, after which the judge adjourned the matter and rose for the day.

The association, in a statement issued on Monday by its President, Afam Osigwe, said it was concerned about reports that the judge ordered Marshall Abubakar, who appeared as lead defence counsel to activist Omoyele Sowore, to kneel during proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

According to the NBA, the directive reportedly followed an exchange in court in which the lawyer raised his voice while addressing the judge over the suitability of a hearing date, prompting threats of committal for contempt.

The association said the development raises serious concerns about courtroom conduct and adherence to due process.

“The courtroom is a temple of justice, governed by law, procedure, and decorum,” the statement read, stressing that judicial authority must always be exercised within established legal limits.

While acknowledging that judges are empowered to maintain order and discipline, the NBA emphasised that such powers are not absolute.

“A judex directing a legal practitioner or indeed any person whatsoever to kneel in court is not a recognised judicial sanction under our laws and does not align with the standards of judicial conduct expected on the Bench.

“The dignity of the court must be preserved not only in outcome but also in process, and this includes the manner in which judicial authority is exercised”, the association stated.

It further noted that although the power to punish for contempt is well recognised, it is governed by clearly defined procedures designed to ensure fairness, objectivity, and respect for the rights and dignity of all parties.

“If a judge is of the view that a person has acted in a manner that is contemptuous of the court, the judge MUST follow the accepted way of conducting proceedings for such allegations,” the NBA added.

The association also reminded lawyers of their professional responsibilities, urging them to maintain restraint and decorum in court at all times.

“While lawyers are entitled, indeed obligated, to advocate firmly and fearlessly on behalf of their clients, such advocacy must always be exercised within the bounds of courtesy and decorum. Disagreements with the court, no matter how strongly felt, must be expressed through proper legal channels,” it said.

The NBA stressed that the relationship between the Bar and the Bench is fundamental to the administration of justice and must be guided by mutual respect. It called for calm and urged that any grievances arising from courtroom incidents be addressed through appropriate institutional and disciplinary mechanisms.

Reacting to the development, Sowore criticised the incident in a post on X, questioning the state of justice in the country.

“How do you expect justice in a country where a judge orders a solid lawyer to kneel down…?” he wrote, adding that the lawyer stood his ground during the exchange.

Also commenting, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong described the reported directive as unacceptable, saying, “Corporal punishment has no place in the temple of justice. It is better to be imprisoned as a lawyer than to be compelled to kneel right in the courtroom.”

The NBA reiterated its commitment to upholding the rule of law, professional standards, and judicial ethics, noting that it would engage relevant authorities where necessary to ensure that the integrity of the legal system is preserved.

Dubai International airport on Monday suspended landing permissions for flights operating into DXB until further notice, IndiGo said in its travel update on X amid the US-Israel, Iran conflict.

This comes after Missile and drone strikes hit several parts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier today, disrupting flight operations at Dubai airport, sparking a blaze at a key oil facility. A Palestinian civilian was killed on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi after a missile struck a car, the UAE’s state media office said.

IndiGo stated, “Customers travelling to/from Dubai are requested to check their flight status at http://bit.ly/31paVKQ for real-time updates before leaving for the airport. We are also sending notifications to keep customers informed of the latest updates. We continue to monitor the developments closely and appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding during this challenging time.”

Travel Update: Dubai Flights

As per the latest update issued by Dubai Airport authorities, landing permissions for aircraft operating into DXB have been suspended until further notice in view of the prevailing situation in the region.

Customers travelling to/from Dubai are…— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) March 16, 2026

During the course of the conflict, Iran has repeatedly targeted locations in the UAE, affecting commercial aviation and striking energy infrastructure on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz. The attacks have intensified economic strain on the oil-rich nation, which has long served as a major global hub for business and travel.

Also Read | Returning from Dubai for safety: will it affect my tax residency?

Authorities also mentioned that the typically quiet northern emirate of Umm Al Quwain was struck by a drone that damaged an unspecified structure, although no casualties were reported.

The series of strikes followed remarks by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi a day earlier, in which he alleged that US military bases in the Middle East had been used to carry out air raids and that missiles were launched from the UAE targeting Kharg Island. Officials in the UAE have rejected the accusation.

Adnoc oil loading reportedly halted at UAE’s Fujairah

In the eastern emirate of Fujairah, a drone strike on oil infrastructure triggered a fire, just days after smoke billowing from a major Emirati energy facility in the area.

Also Read | Dubai Stocks Fall Into Bear Market as Iran War Enters Third Week

Following repeated attacks on the installation, the UAE’s state-owned oil company Adnoc has suspended the loading of crude into storage tanks at its Fujairah site, according to an AFP source familiar with the operations.

“Adnoc oil loading at Fujairah is suspended,” AFP cited the source as saying.

Also Read | Will Indians continue to invest in Dubai realty?

Meanwhile, since the conflict began, the UAE has reported a total of seven fatalities, including five civilians and two members of the armed forces who lost their lives in a helicopter crash attributed to a technical fault.

Earlier, Dubai Airports said flight operations were gradually returning to normal at what is typically the world’s busiest international aviation hub, following a nearby fuel tank blaze caused by a “drone-related incident”. Officials said the fire had been brought under control and confirmed that no injuries were reported.

Earlier in the day, Dubai Airports has confirmed the gradual resumption of some flights to and from Dubai International (DXB) to selected destinations, following the temporary suspension implemented as a precautionary measure.

According to a statement posted on the airport’s website, “Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates regarding their flights.”

Credits: Livemint

A Lagos-based content creator has lamented the resumed long queues at the Bus Rapid Transit terminal in Elepe, Ikorodu, questioning the availability of buses despite assurances from the Lagos State Government following her protest.

The creator, Onyinyechi Nwachukwu, popularly known online as Darkskinned Ella, shared a video on social media showing a large crowd waiting at the terminal early Monday morning.

In the caption accompanying the video, she questioned whether the buses deployed earlier in the week were only temporary.

“These people don tire me! Mondays are always hectic that’s why I had to check myself and then the LONG QUEUE AGAIN. @lamataonline the many buses that were provided Thursday and Friday, was it just for show?” she wrote.

In the video, the 23-year-old videographer said she arrived at the terminal by 6 a.m., but commuters were still stranded without buses.
“Good morning Nigerians, I got here by 6 a.m. and right now the time is currently 6:30 a.m. We are in the same situation, no bus. We actually thought this change was permanent, what happened?” she said.

She also questioned why only one bus was available despite the large number of passengers waiting.
“So on Thursday and Friday it was just for face, is that what it is? Just one bus that is here, just one bus out of the whole crowd,” she added.

Nwachukwu has been documenting her daily commute on the BRT system as part of her online series titled the “100 Days BRT Challenge,” where she highlights the challenges commuters face in Lagos.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Online, she explained that the idea behind the project was to document the realities of commuting in the city while balancing a full-time job and content creation.

“I started the 100 Days BRT Challenge because life in Lagos can be very stressful. I personally struggle a lot trying to balance my daily routine.
“As a full-time 9-to-5 worker and content creator, my days are very demanding. So, I decided to document 100 days of my life to show the reality of my daily experiences and struggles in Lagos State,” she said.

The content creator also recounted an incident in which she was allegedly harassed while filming at a BRT station.

According to her, a staff member approached her and asked her to stop recording, claiming that she had been instructed by superiors to warn the creator.

“She claimed her superiors had asked her to warn me to stop recording. I asked her why I should stop, but she didn’t give me any clear explanation,” she said.

Nwachukwu added that the confrontation escalated the following day when the staff member allegedly attempted to seize her phone.

“She threatened to seize my phone and asked me to leave the queue and go to another one at the motor park. I told her she had no right to seize my phone or dictate what I could record,” she said, adding that she continued filming to document the situation.

Responding to the allegations earlier, LAMATA said the incident was misunderstood and related to privacy concerns rather than harassment.

Kolawole Ojelabi, Head of Corporate Communications at LAMATA, said filming individuals without consent within transport facilities is discouraged.

“In line with the privacy law, filming individuals without their consent within our transport infrastructure is discouraged.

“One of the ground staff of one of our Bus Operating Companies attempted to communicate this policy to the individual who was filming, but the message was unfortunately received with aggression,” he said.

The agency also addressed complaints about bus shortages along the Ikorodu corridor, explaining that buses operate on scheduled routes and may not always be immediately available.

“Each route has a specific number of buses allocated to it. Once these buses are loaded and depart with passengers to their destinations, subsequent commuters may have to wait for the buses to return before boarding,” Ojelabi said.

He also dismissed claims that buses had been diverted for private events, describing the allegation as untrue.

“This is not true. Buses are not expected to be on charter,” he added.

LAMATA noted that it is working with private operators to expand the fleet and reduce commuter waiting times.

The BRT system in Lagos is regulated by LAMATA, which oversees policy, infrastructure, and system management, while daily operations are handled by private bus operators including Primero Transport Services Limited.

Concerns about long queues at BRT terminals have persisted for years.

Reports by PUNCH Metro dating back to 2020 documented similar complaints from commuters, particularly along busy routes such as the Ikorodu corridor, where demand for buses often exceeds available supply.