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The Plight Of Nigeria’s Judges And Lawyers Risking Their Lives Daily.

Published

3 years ago

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To thrive in Nigeria’s legal profession these days, practitioners and judges must be skilled in the martial arts, have Olympian-level foot speed, be proficient with weapons, and have extensive training in subterfuge.
Regrettably, these are not included in the Nigerian Law School curriculum or in judicial orientation.

 ....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

 

Even with these talents bolstered by a wing and a prayer, becoming involved in the legal process in Nigeria today is often perilous.

 

 

In August 2015, Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) announced that they had apprehended members of a kidnapping syndicate who were planning to kidnap judges sitting on election petitions in Owerri, Imo state’s capital. They identified the syndicate’s boss as Chibueze Henry, who operated under the pseudonym Vampire.

Charges were filed against Vampire and his crew, and their trial commenced the following year in Owerri.

 

 

The High Court in Owerri now occupies a prominent piece of real estate, within shouting distance of the State Governor’s office and the headquarters of the Imo State Police Command.
Gates control access to the premises, which are managed by security personnel who are public officials.
The trial of Vampire and his gang was set to resume in one of these facilities’ courtrooms on the morning of January 27, 2017.
As officials from the Nigeria Prison Service (as it was then known) drove into the court grounds, a black Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) at the back of the convoy rushed past them before coming to a complete halt.
A swarm of men armed with assault rifles descended from the SUV and began shooting indiscriminately.

 

As judges, court employees, lawyers, and court users fled , the attackers freed Vampire and up to 29 other captives.
The incident killed at least two people and injured many more.
For more than a decade, Imo State, where this incident occurred, has been a hotbed of targeted violence against judges and lawyers.
In March 2011, the state’s high court justices went on strike to protest the kidnapping of one of their colleagues, Theophilus Nzekwe.

 

 

Ambrose Egu, the president of the state’s Customary Court of Appeal, and senior Magistrate Pauline Njemanze were abducted on official business near the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport near Owerri a year ago.

Magistrate and court inspector, Oderachukwu Onumajulu, was not so lucky. As a child, Odera always desired to be a judge. In 2016, she climbed the first rung in her ambition when she was admitted to the Nigerian Bar. Three years later, she became a Magistrate in Imo State. On 22 May, 2021, unidentified men shot and abducted Odera at the Customary Court of Appeal in Owerri, where she worked as courts inspector. One month later, in June 2022, she died from her injuries.

Odera was the second judicial figure to be killed in line of duty in the state in as many years. On 23 November, 2018, a body found dumped along Amucha Road in Njaba Local Government Area (LGA) in Orlu Zone, Imo State, was identified as the remains of Remi Ogu, a Chief Magistrate in the neighbouring Oru LGA.
Remi and his court registrar, Uju Nwanne, were abducted the previous day from their duty post. In March 2019, the police in the state paraded one Friday Nnaekezie, who claimed that he masterminded the abduction and killing of the Chief Magistrate.

Orlu zone, where Remi was killed, has become the epicentre of mass atrocities committed in the name of agitation.

Three months before Remi’s murder, in August 2018, unidentified men incinerated the High Court and Magistrate’s court buildings in the city with all their records and archives.They returned four years later, on December 17, 2022, to complete their evil act.

Darlington Odume, who became a lawyer in 2016, was one of the more outspoken voices at the Orlu Bar.
The people revered him for his fighting skills, comparing him to a lion.
They dubbed him “Omekagu” as a result.
Unidentified gunmen assassinated Omekagu in mid-September 2021, while he was out shopping for food for his family in Orlu. He was married to a policewoman in a city where being linked with one had become perilous.
The year 2021 was exceptionally disastrous for lawyers across the country.
A month after Omekagu’s murder in Orlu, Ajah Ogbonna Ajah and another of his colleagues, both lawyers, were assassinated on the road on their way to court in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State in south-east Nigeria, by unidentified gunmen.

 

 

They were far from the only victims in the region or during the year.
Stanley Nnaji, a former High Court judge, was slain on the streets of Enugu State in May by unknown Gunmen.

 

 

In November 2021, seven unidentified guys macheted Kenechukwu Okeke to death in Nkpor, Anambra State.
They murdered him in front of his wife and young daughter.
Okeke, a lawyer, had been vocal in his support for Nigeria’s government  ban on Twitter.

These killings of lawyers, magistrates, and judges were not limited to South-East Nigeria. On 17 February, 2021, gunmen shot and killed Nkiru Agbasu, a pregnant lawyer, along the Warri-Sapele Road in Delta State.

As in Imo State, Nkiru died in a state with a record of no consequences for the killing of lawyers. In March 2014, unidentified gunmen reportedly dressed in police uniforms assassinated two lawyers, Eguno Dafiaghor and Samuel Ekuwangi on the Azoro-Asaba motorway in Delta State. It was widely suspected that they “were murdered as a result of the high profile case they were handling at the High Court, Ozoro.”

A little more than a year later, in April 2015, unidentified men assassinated the chair of the Nigerian Bar Association in Ughelli, Austin Icheghe, at his home in front of his family, with no repercussions.

 

 

Insecurity among lawyers in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital, is also explained by impunity.
Police discovered the mangled remains of Ijeoma Micah in her law office in affluent Maitama, Abuja, in October 2013.
She’d been gone for three days.

 

 

Seven years later, another lawyer, Ben Okpe, was assassinated outside his house in Karu, near Abuja.
Terrorists hijacking the Abuja-Kaduna train killed Farida Sule Mohammed, a young Abuja lawyer, in March 2022. She was 29 years old.
Suleiman Zailani was assassinated in August, and Sadiq Gaya in September. At the end of November, unidentified gunmen in the Federal Capital assassinated senior lawyer, Steven Eke, in the presence of his wife and son.
Feyitayo Obot was assassinated in her hotel room at the end of January 2019 while on professional business in Lagos; about two months after the shooting of Adeshina Adeola on the outskirts of Abuja in the week of his admission to the Nigerian Bar in November 2018.

 

 

The murders and kidnappings of lawyers and judges described here are only a small part of the story.
They are distinct in three ways.

 

 

For starters, the criminals almost always get away with it.
Second, any society that tolerates such attacks on its courts, judges, and lawyers is a lawless society.
Third, the NBA does not currently have a dedicated program in place to ensure accountability for these attacks on lawyers and judges.

 

 
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Crime

Purified Deception: NDLEA Uncovers Massive Drug Haul Concealed In Water Purifiers!.

Published

4 days ago

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May 31, 2026

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has executed a series of successful operations across Nigeria to disrupt drug supply chains and combat trafficking.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Lagos Drug Interception

  • NDLEA operatives intercepted a shipment of high-potency illicit drugs, including three kilograms of ketamine and 199 grams of MDMA, concealed within water purifier machines imported from the Netherlands.

  • The discovery took place at a Lagos courier facility on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, after traffickers attempted to bypass security screenings.

Kaduna and Niger State Operations

  • In Kaduna, officers arrested a couple, Musa and Mercy Sunday, and 38-year-old Salomi Ezekiel on May 24, 2026, following the recovery of 1,246 kilograms of skunk from their home in Gonin Gora.

  • Separately in Kaduna, 30-year-old Sunusi Musa was intercepted on the Abuja-Kaduna highway with 380 rounds of military-grade ammunition intended for transport to Katsina State.

  • In Niger State, a raid on a warehouse in the Bosso Local Government Area on May 27, 2026, led to the recovery of 457 kilograms of skunk, resulting in the arrest of 46-year-old Godwin Zakka.

Enugu Seizure

  • On May 28, 2026, NDLEA officers patrolling the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway searched a commercial vehicle heading to Taraba State.

  • The search resulted in the seizure of 22,000 tramadol pills, 100 ampoules of pentazocine, and 200 grams of bromazepam, leading to the arrest of suspect James Maigari Wisdom.

Public Awareness and Leadership Commendation

  • Beyond enforcement, the agency has actively continued its “War Against Drug Abuse” (WADA) campaign through sensitization programs in schools, workplaces, and places of worship across the nation.

  • NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised the command personnel for their diligence in balancing enforcement with public education.

  • Marwa urged officers nationwide to maintain their commitment to the ongoing fight against illicit substances.

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Crime

No Mercy! NDLEA Boss Buba Marwa Vows Ruthless Revenge After Dawaki Drug Syndicate Attacks Agents.

Published

1 week ago

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May 26, 2026

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The Chairman and CEO of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mohamed Buba Marwa, has issued a stern warning to criminal syndicates following a brutal mob assault on his men in the Federal Capital Territory.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Marwa paid a high-level visit to the National Hospital in Abuja on Monday to check on two operatives, Ayegh Dooyun Zachariah and Shehu Jamil Ibrahim, who sustained severe injuries during a high-stakes raid in the Dawaki area on May 15, 2026.

“An Attack on Our Officers Is an Attack on the State”

During his visit to the trauma ward, Marwa expressed outrage over the “cowardly” nature of the attack, vowing that the agency would not rest until every perpetrator is identified and prosecuted.

  • Full Support: Marwa guaranteed that the agency would cover all medical expenses and welfare needs for the officers until they make a full recovery.

  • Zero Tolerance: The NDLEA boss emphasized that the agency would intensify its operations, stating that such violence would never deter the fight against illicit substances.

  • Justice Promised: “The Agency will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that those responsible for this cowardly attack are arrested, and brought to justice,” Marwa declared.

Honoring Bravery in the Line of Duty

To acknowledge the officers’ professionalism and high-risk service, Marwa took direct action to boost their morale and demonstrate the agency’s commitment to its personnel:

  1. Letters of Commendation: Both officers were presented with official letters of commendation personally signed by the Chairman.

  2. Additional Support: Approval for special support packages was granted to assist in their rehabilitation.

  3. Medical Recognition: Marwa formally thanked the National Hospital staff and the NDLEA medical team for their swift intervention in stabilizing the officers’ conditions.

Marwa’s Stance: “Their sacrifices in the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse remain invaluable to the country. The agency will continue to stand by personnel injured in the line of duty.”

A Renewed Anti-Narcotics Offensive

Despite the violent resistance from hoodlums in the FCT, Marwa maintained that the NDLEA’s mandate remains unchanged. The agency is moving forward with a sharpened focus on dismantling drug cartels and cleansing local communities of illicit substances, proving that no amount of intimidation will slow down the national crackdown on narcotics.

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ANIMAL

“Divided They Fall: How The ADC-NDC Bitter War Of Words Is Handing APC An Easy Victory”.

Published

1 week ago

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May 26, 2026

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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has stated that he finds entertainment in the ongoing bitter feud between opposition parties, describing their internal crises as entirely self-inflicted.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday, Yilwatda clarified that the ruling party is currently not engaged in political warfare with its rivals. Instead, he noted that the real battle is raging between the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

“Over the past three weeks, the APC hasn’t been fighting the ADC or NDC. It’s been NDC against ADC,” Yilwatda remarked. “Honestly, I’ve been watching the insults traded between both parties with absolute amusement. I watch the videos and just laugh. The self-implosion is happening within the opposition, not the APC.”

When questioned on whether he was secretly orchestrating the chaos to weaken his rivals, the APC chairman denied direct involvement but openly admitted that neutralizing the opposition is part of his mandate.

“I am not doing it, but I’d be glad if I could—that is my job,” he stated. “As the ruling party, my role is to stop the opposition, not to make them happy.”

Yilwatda further argued that the APC remains the most stable political entity in Nigeria due to its robust internal conflict resolution committees and its advanced, data-driven membership registration. He revealed that the APC is the only party that links its membership database directly with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), ensuring a transparent and credible structure.

Option 2: Sharp and Punchy (High Engagement / Social Media Friendly)

Headline: ‘I Watch and Laugh’ — APC Boss Nentawe Yilwatda Reacts to ADC vs NDC Bitter Feud

APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda says he is helping himself to front-row entertainment as opposition parties tear each other apart in what he describes as a “self-inflicted implosion.”

Featuring on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Yilwatda pointed out that the ruling party has stepped back to watch the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) engage in a fierce war of words.

“I watch the videos and laugh,” Yilwatda admitted, referencing the heavy insults traded between the two factions over the last three weeks.

While dismissing allegations that he is masterminding the division, the APC boss didn’t hide his satisfaction, stating bluntly that weakening rival parties is simply part of the political game. “If you are in the opposition, my job is to stop you,” he declared.

He credited the APC’s ongoing stability to its solid internal dispute mechanisms and a highly digitized, data-driven membership system integrated directly with NIMC.

Option 3: Editorial / Analytical Style

Headline: The Opposition is Imploding on Its Own, Says APC Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda

In a candid television appearance on Monday, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda dismissed claims that the ruling party is actively fighting the opposition, asserting that rival parties are currently destroying themselves from within.

Appearing on Channels Television, Yilwatda highlighted the escalating hostility between the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), confessing that he has been watching their exchange of fireworks “with fun.”

Addressing suspicions of political sabotage, Yilwatda maintained that while he isn’t pulling the strings behind the opposition’s crisis, he welcomes it as a political advantage. According to him, dismantling opposition strategies is a core responsibility of his leadership.

Beyond the political drama, Yilwatda defended the structural integrity of the APC, pointing to its state and national reconciliation committees as key pillars of its stability. He also emphasized that the APC’s reliance on NIMC data for membership registration makes it Nigeria’s most technologically advanced and viable political party.

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