The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the appointment of Hon. Justice Joseph Olubunmi Kayode Oyewole, JCA, as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The confirmation took place during plenary on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, following President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of the jurist last week to fill a vacancy on the apex court bench left by the retirement of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

The Senate unanimously adopted the report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, chaired by Senator Niyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central), after screening the nominee. Justice Oyewole was commended for his extensive judicial experience, integrity, and competence.

Before this elevation, Justice Oyewole served as Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division. Born on May 13, 1965, in Ila-Orangun Local Government Area of Osun State, he began his judicial career as a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State on May 22, 2001, before progressing to the Court of Appeal.

The National Judicial Council (NJC), chaired by Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, GCON, had recommended Justice Oyewole for the position at its 110th meeting on January 13, 2026, alongside 35 other judicial appointments across various courts.

This confirmation brings the Supreme Court back to its full constitutional strength of 21 Justices and enhances the court’s capacity to handle the nation’s highest appellate cases.

The Nigerian Senate has called on the Federal Government to urgently enforce the availability of snake anti-venoms and other life-saving antidotes in hospitals nationwide, following the tragic death of Abuja-based singer Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah.Nwangene, a 26-year-old rising star who gained prominence after appearing on

The Voice Nigeria in 2021, died on January 31, 2026, after being bitten by a snake (reportedly a cobra) at her residence in Lugbe, Abuja. Reports indicate she was rushed to multiple hospitals but succumbed due to delays reportedly linked to the unavailability of anti-venom at the facilities.

Her death sparked widespread grief in Nigeria’s music community and renewed public concern over gaps in emergency medical preparedness.

On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the Senate adopted a motion sponsored by Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule (APC, Lagos West), titled “Urgent Need for the Federal and State Governments to Ensure Adequate Stocking, Availability, and Access to Life-Saving Antidotes and Emergency Medicines in Public and Private Hospitals Across Nigeria.

”Presenting the motion, Senator Adebule highlighted the rising incidence of medical emergencies in the country, including snakebites, scorpion stings, poisoning, drug overdoses, and other envenomations.

She emphasized that these cases demand immediate administration of specific antidotes to avert preventable fatalities, as tragically illustrated by Nwangene’s case.

Lawmakers described the incident as exposing serious deficiencies in emergency readiness, noting that many public and private hospitals either fail to stock essential antidotes like anti-venoms or maintain insufficient supplies, leading to treatment delays, patient referrals, and avoidable deaths.

In its resolutions, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Health to promptly develop and enforce national guidelines mandating minimum stock levels of snake anti-venoms, other critical antidotes, and emergency medicines in designated hospitals across the country.

The chamber further called on the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to prioritize the procurement, quality assurance, proper storage, and nationwide distribution of safe, effective, and affordable anti-venoms—particularly in high-risk areas.

Additionally, the Senate directed state governments, through their Ministries of Health and Hospital Management Boards, to immediately audit public and private hospitals in their jurisdictions to verify compliance with antidote-stocking and emergency preparedness standards.

In a solemn moment, senators observed a minute’s silence in honor of the late Nanyah, paying tribute to her promising talent and life cut short at the age of 26.

The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the arrested of the Coordinator of Amasiri Development Centre (ADC) in Afikpo, Anya Baron-Ogbonnia, and two traditional rulers over their alleged involvement in the killing of four persons in Edda Local Government Area of the state.

The Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed this.

Ukandu said that the arrest followed a joint operation involving the Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Ukandu noted that two traditional rulers, Onyaidam Bassey and Godfrey Oko-Obia, from Amasiri in Afikpo LGA are also in their custody.

The police spokesperson disclosed that 10 people were earlier arrested in connection with the incident.

There has been a long standing land dispute between the people of Okporojor in Oso Edda community in Edda and their Amasiri neighbours in Afikpo LGA.

Suspected warlords from Amasiri community, on Jan 29, 2026, attacked Okporojor village and beheaded four persons, burnt houses, and destroyed other valuable property.