The bail application of social media personality Chidiebere Justice Mark, popularly known as Justice Crack, suffered a setback on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja following a heated clash between two lawyers over who would represent him.

The development created a mild drama in the courtroom after activist Omoyele Sowore reportedly sent his preferred lawyer to stand in for Mark.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik had on May 4 fixed Thursday for the hearing of Mark’s bail application, shortly after he was arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS). He pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of cybercrime offences.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/253/2026, borders on alleged circulation of false information and publication of materials capable of causing public unrest. Prosecutors claim Mark published a viral video and accompanying statements via his X handle, @JusticeCrack, alleging inadequate feeding of Nigerian soldiers by the Army.

When the matter came up on Thursday, Leyii Abueh of the Federal Ministry of Justice informed the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) had taken over the prosecution from the DSS.

Tension rose immediately after as Femi Balogun and Marshall Abubakar both announced their appearance for Mark.

Balogun told the court he was briefed by the defendant’s family and had already filed a bail application. Abubakar, however, insisted he remained Mark’s counsel, having handled the matter from the outset and not been formally disengaged.

Justice Abdulmalik asked the defendant to identify his lawyer, and Mark pointed to Balogun.

In response, Abubakar applied to withdraw all processes he had filed on behalf of the defendant, including the earlier bail application. The judge granted the request, struck out Abubakar’s processes, and adjourned the matter to May 18, 2026, for hearing of a fresh bail application to be filed by Balogun.

The case continues to attract public interest due to the sensitive nature of the allegations involving the Nigerian military.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) called for the establishment of 3,000 new police stations across the country.

They made the call at Infrastructure Dialogue 2026, a programme organised for entrepreneurs by Deutsche Partners Holding , held yesterday in Abuja, emphasising that the existing security infrastructure is grossly inadequate for Nigeria’s growing population.

Represented by the Commissioner of Police in charge of Works, Obiora Oranwusi, the IGP stated that the Nigeria Police Force currently operates only about 2,000 police stations nationwide, a figure he said cannot effectively serve a population of more than 200 million people.

IGP Disu told the gathering that the scale of the country’s security infrastructure deficit requires urgent intervention through public-private partnerships, development finance institutions and capital market instruments.

He said, “The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission has identified the need for 3,000 new police stations, 1,000 new prisons, and 170 new barracks—a scale of investment that necessitates PPPs, DFIs, and capital market instruments.

“As of today, we have only about 2,000 police stations nationwide. These deficits directly affect operational effectiveness and must be addressed through sustainable financing models.

“The Police is undergoing a strategic reorientation—one that positions us as a proactive enabler of national development.

Our mandate extends beyond crime response; it encompasses the creation of a stable, predictable environment in which legitimate enterprise can flourish.”

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s education system through the National Education Data Initiative (NEDI), describing accurate data as a critical tool for improving planning, transparency, and service delivery in the sector.

Officials say the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, especially in the areas of human capital development and social investment.

Speaking at the workshop, government representatives noted that the initiative is being advanced through the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

They explained that improving access to credible educational information would help strengthen accountability and ensure better educational outcomes for Nigerian children.

Participants stressed the strong link between education, family stability, child protection, and national development, noting that every educated child contributes to a stronger and more prosperous society.

The workshop also coincides with activities marking the International Day of Families and preparations for the 2026 National Children’s Day celebration.

Officials described the workshop as more than a technical engagement, saying it serves as a platform for collaboration towards building an inclusive, responsive, and people-centred education system.

According to them, properly identifying, supporting, and educating children remains essential to achieving peace, productivity, and sustainable national growth.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, emphasized the importance of data in solving national challenges, particularly in education and correctional services.

He said that data-driven policies had helped the Ministry of Interior significantly reduce the number of inmates in correctional facilities since 2023, and explained that reliable statistics revealed underlying social issues affecting inmates, including poverty and food insecurity, adding that proper analysis and understanding of problems are necessary for lasting solutions.

Ojo however described education as the foundation for national development and called for broad support for the NEDI initiative to help build a new Nigeria.