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Okpebholo Unveils Bold Judicial Overhaul In Edo, Promising Speedy And Transparent Justice
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has initiated wide-ranging reforms in the state’s justice sector, aimed at enhancing accessibility, efficiency, and fairness for all citizens. A statement from the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, confirmed the administration’s commitment to strengthening the judicial system.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Samson Raphael Osagie, who spearheaded the reforms, noted that within nine months of assuming office, Governor Okpebholo has repositioned the Ministry of Justice as a cornerstone of peace, order, and good governance.
Osagie stated, “Governor Okpebholo’s vision is clear: to build a secure and developed state through justice. He has provided full direction and support to the Ministry to ensure justice becomes a tangible reality for every Edo resident.”
The Department of Public Prosecutions currently handles over 2,000 active criminal cases, including murder, robbery, kidnapping, arson, and sexual offences. Several convictions have already been secured and upheld by higher courts, reflecting the diligence and efficiency of Edo State prosecutors.
Under the governor’s administration, the process of providing legal opinions and initiating prosecutions has been streamlined. The Police Duty Solicitors Scheme now ensures that suspects have immediate access to legal representation at the point of arrest, safeguarding fairness and human rights.
On civil matters, the state has successfully defended hundreds of cases, secured multiple judgments, and mediated sensitive land disputes, saving citizens years of litigation. Recent legislative measures include extending the retirement age for magistrates, establishing new regulatory agencies, amending property protection laws, and developing a framework for healthcare regulations.
Edo State has also strengthened the Citizens’ Mediation Centre and the Department of Citizens’ Rights, empowering residents to resolve domestic violence and workplace disputes without prolonged court processes. In correctional reforms, Governor Okpebholo has directed initiatives to decongest custodial centres, focusing on inmates held for long periods on bailable offences. “This is not just a legal reform; it is a humane intervention that restores dignity and offers a second chance at life,” Osagie said.
Institutional strengthening measures include retraining state counsels at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy, establishing a dedicated appeals office, and plans for a fully digitised law library and e-case management system.
Osagie concluded, “Governor Okpebholo is restoring justice as the heartbeat of governance. By ensuring swift prosecution of criminals, defending citizens’ rights, reforming laws, mediating disputes, and amplifying the voices of the vulnerable, the administration is sending a clear message: justice in Edo State is for all, not just the privileged few.”
The Edo State Government reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining these reforms, pledging that justice delivery will remain a priority in driving peace, security, and sustainable development across the state.
Nigeria ended the 24th African Athletics Championships on a strong note as the women’s 4x400m relay team stormed to gold on the final day, helping the country finish with a total of 12 medals.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The quartet of Esther Okon, Toheebat Jimoh, Jecinter Lawrence, and Patience Okon-George delivered a dominant performance to successfully defend their title, winning in 3:29.25 on Sunday and finishing comfortably ahead of Ethiopia and Kenya.
Nigeria controlled the race from the opening leg and crossed the finish line nearly 30 metres clear of their closest rivals, securing the country’s fourth gold medal of the competition.
Overall, Team Nigeria finished fourth on the medal table with four gold, five silver, and three bronze medals, behind Kenya, South Africa, and Ethiopia. Kenya topped the standings with 17 medals, including six gold, while South Africa also secured six gold medals, and Ethiopia claimed five.
Nigeria’s final-day silver medal came through Rosemary Chukwuma, who finished second in the women’s 200m with a time of 23.60s, behind Ivory Coast’s Maboundou Kone, who clocked 23.36s. Chukwuma ended the championships with three medals, having earlier won gold in the women’s 4x100m relay and silver in the 100m.
The country’s campaign was led by world record holder Tobi Amusan, who claimed gold in the women’s 100m hurdles with a time of 12.83s. The mixed 4x400m relay team of Ezekiel Asuquo, Toheebat Jimoh, Victor Sampson, and Patience Okon-George also secured gold in 3:16.44, while the women’s 4x100m relay team added another title in 42.94s.
Silver medals were won by Oyesade Olatoye in the hammer throw (69.60m), Divine Oladipo in the discus, and the men’s 4x100m relay team, which finished in 38.70s. Adaobi Tabugbo earned bronze in the women’s 100m hurdles with 13.26s, while Chidera Ezeakor also picked up bronze in the men’s 100m after running 10.31s, rounding off a strong outing for Nigeria.
Nigerian activist Omoyele Sowore has criticised singer Adekunle Gold over the legal case involving a young man identified as Adeboye Samuel.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
News reports that Adeboye was taken to court after making a social media post about the singer’s daughter.
Reacting to the development, Sowore referenced an old post by Adekunle Gold in which the singer had criticised former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He noted that the post, which circulated during the 2012 fuel subsidy protests, had gone unpunished as an expression of free speech. The post read: “Dear God, if you give us Dagrin back, we will give you Jonathan in return.”
Sowore wrote on X: “@AdekunleGold in 2012 openly criticising then-President @GoodluckJonathan. Back then, it was rightly called free speech, and if he had been arrested for those tweets, we would have been on the streets demanding his immediate release.
“How then does someone who benefited from freedom of expression turn around years later to use the police, courts, and the brutal cybercrime framework against ordinary Nigerians over online banter and social media exchanges?
“You cannot enjoy free speech when you are powerless, and criminalise it the moment you become influential. Freedom of expression must apply to everyone, celebrities, politicians, activists, and poor young Nigerians on social media alike.”
He further urged the Nigeria Police Force not to act as a “private army” for influential individuals, and called on the judiciary to avoid imposing excessive penalties on online speech cases that, according to him, should not be treated as criminal matters.
Rabiu Kwankwaso, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has called on Nigerians to move beyond ethnic and religious divisions ahead of the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Kwankwaso made the appeal during an interview with Trust TV on Sunday, where he spoke on political alignments ahead of the polls.
The former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) said political success in Nigeria cannot be achieved by the North or Muslims alone without support from Christians and other regions.
“We must look beyond tribe and religion. We are Northerners and Muslims, and everybody knows that, but we can’t play politics without Christians, Southeast, South-South or South-west,” he said.
Kwankwaso also praised former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, describing him as a widely accepted politician across the country.
“If you look at it, Peter Obi is a very popular politician in the entire South and many parts of Northern Nigeria, and you cannot take that from him, the same with the Kwankwasiyya movement,” he said.
He further noted that supporters of the Kwankwasiyya movement are largely young Nigerians who are seeking better opportunities rather than ethnic or family-based loyalty.
“We are lucky that our supporters are mainly young men and women who are looking for a way out. They are not looking for their brothers or their sisters or somebody close,” he added.
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