Connect with us

News

Eastern Lawyers Laud Justice Ekwo Over Ruling on Mba, Advise Attorneys Against Steps Capable of Denting the Legal Profession

Published

on

153 Views

A non-governmental organisation (NGO) comprising only attorneys from Enugu State, Oriental Lawyers for Justice, has lauded Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court for refusing today to grant a request by one of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANS) working for Peter Mbah, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 general election, to stop the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from testifying in any forum on the integrity of the NYSC discharge certificate paraded by Mbah.

The Enugu State Governorship and State House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal is resuming sittings on Thursday, July 7, and the NYSC is scheduled to testify on NYSC discharge certificate A808297 which Mbah, whom the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) controversially declared the winner of the March 18 gubernatorial election, claims to have been issued by the NYSC on January 6, 2003.

“The whole nation is delighted that not only did Justice Ekwo bluntly refuse to grant the request for an interlocutory injunction by Mbah’s attorney, Emeka Ozoani (SAN), but did not allow him to finish the request before he (the learned judge) cut in and stopped Ozoani in his inelegant tracks, thus showing a high level of displeasure with the conduct of the learned Silk”, the Oriental Lawyers for Justice stated in a statement in Enugu this afternoon signed by its chairman, John Bosco Aninwede, and the publicity secretary, Mrs. Ifeoma Ejike.

The CSO said that with this ruling, Justice Ekwo has begun the process of repositioning himself in the public imagination after the controversial order on May 15 acceding to the request by the same lawyer for an interlocutory injunction prohibiting the NYSC from commenting on the genuiness or otherwise of the NYSC certificate even before the courts.

Top NYSC officials, including the Director General, the Director of Certification, and the Assistant Director of Certification had on various occasions between February and June declared Mbah’s discharge certificate presented to INEC as fake.

The lawyers faulted Justice Ekwo for even granting on May 15 the original request for the same order which led to a strong petition against him before the National Judicial Council (NJC).

“It is good that the honorable judge, who has another petition against him before the NJC written by Seplat Energy plc, has begun to take steps to show that he is different from controversial judges who frequently leave the Bench in unpleasant circumstances”, remarked the Eastern lawyers.

The CSO advised lawyers, especially seniors, against making controversial requests or even handling certain cases, however attractive the pay may be.

Lawyers, they noted, are “first and foremost ministers in the Temple of Justice, and an acute consciousness of this fact should guide their conduct always, in and out of court.

“It is infra dig for a lawyer, let alone a learned Silk, to ask the judiciary to gag the very institution which gives out certificates from testifying on the authenticity of a certificate it purportedly issued.

“Acts like this tend to diminish the status of the legal profession in the opinion of reasonable members of society”.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Multiple Accident on Karu Bridge Abuja (Video)

Published

on

20 Views

Reports are coming in of multiple accidents which occurred on Thursday evening, November 13th on the Karu Bridge in Abuja.

Details of the accident are still emerging, but a video posted on X, shows cars in flames while eyewitnesses calls for fire fighters to put out the engulfing inferno.

Authorities are likely on the scene, and further information will be provided as it becomes available.

Motorists are advised to exercise extreme caution when approaching the area and to consider alternative routes if possible.

Video ccredit.

Continue Reading

Crime

Robert Mugabe Jr. Convicted of Drug Offense, Says He’s a Single Father

Published

on

20 Views

Robert Mugabe Junior, 33, the son of late former president Robert Mugabe, has been found guilty of illegal possession of drugs by the Harare Magistrates Court. Magistrate Lisa Mutendereki delivered the ruling on Thursday, 13 November 2025.

Mugabe pleaded guilty to possessing two grams of dagga, admitting the offence in open court. During proceedings, he appealed to the court for leniency, revealing that he is a single father of two.

“I am a single father raising two children. I ask the court to be lenient with me,” he said.

Sentencing is scheduled for later Thursday afternoon.

Found With Dagga During Traffic Stop

The case stems from a traffic stop on 1 October 2025, when police intercepted Mugabe’s silver Honda Fit in central Harare. Officers discovered a small quantity of dagga in his bag.

Prosecutor Mandirasa Chigumira told the court the search uncovered:

  • Two sachets of dagga
  • One pack of Rizla rolling papers
  • A white dagga crusher

The total haul weighed two grams, with an estimated street value of US$30 (R550). Chigumira also noted that Mugabe had initially refused to sign the seizure receipt issued by police.

Previous Court Appearance and Bail

Mugabe first appeared in court on 2 October 2025 and spent two nights in custody before being granted bail of US$300 (R5,500). Magistrate Mutendereki ordered him to report weekly to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and remain at his registered address until the case concluded.

The trial has attracted widespread attention on social media, with public reactions divided over his conviction.

Police Allegations of Wider Syndicate

Earlier, the Zimbabwe Republic Police suggested Mugabe might be connected to a larger drug network. Commissioner Paul Nyathi told reporters on 2 October 2025 that authorities had recovered 25 sachets of Indo hybrid dagga and six ecstasy pills linked to a syndicate allegedly involving Phillip Munetsi Chiyangwa, Mitchel Jackson, Simbarashe Kaseke, Wellington Icube, and Tanaka Kashamba.

However, prosecutors focused solely on Mugabe’s personal possession charge in court, leaving the wider syndicate allegations unaddressed.

History of Legal Trouble

This is not Mugabe Junior’s first legal issue. In February 2023, he was arrested for allegedly damaging property at a party in Harare. That case was later dropped following compensation. His lawyer, Ashiel Mugiya, who represented him in 2023, again defended him in this case, saying:

“He accepts responsibility for what happened and has cooperated with the authorities.”

Mugabe is expected back in court Thursday afternoon for sentencing, when Magistrate Mutendereki will determine his punishment.

Continue Reading

Business

Nigerian govt suspends implementation of 15% petrol import duty

Published

on

18 Views

The Nigerian government has suspended the planned 15 per cent import duty on premium motor spirit (PMS) and automotive gas oil (diesel). The announcement was made by George Ene-Ita, spokesperson for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), in a statement on Thursday.

The regulator urged Nigerians to avoid panic buying, assuring that there is adequate supply of petroleum products nationwide.

“It should also be noted that the implementation of the 15 percent ad valorem import duty on imported premium motor spirit and diesel is no longer in view,” NMDPRA stated.

The statement added that both domestic and imported supplies of petrol, diesel, and other petroleum products are sufficient to meet demand, especially during the peak period. The authority warned against hoarding, panic buying, or unwarranted price increases, and affirmed that it would continue to monitor supply and distribution closely.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved the 15 per cent import duty last month to encourage the use of products from Dangote Refinery. While some stakeholders supported the move as a boost for local refining, critics argued it could increase fuel prices and worsen economic hardship for Nigerians.

Continue Reading

Trending