Triggers Widespread Panic One Month After Similar Incident

More than 90 students across several secondary schools in Ijebu-Ode were hospitalised on Friday after a suspected chemical odour permeated the town, sparking panic among parents and residents.

The incident occurred barely one month after a similar chemical odour episode at Our Lady of Apostles Girls School left several students hospitalised.

Eyewitnesses reported that a strange smell spread rapidly across parts of the ancient town, prompting parents and guardians to rush to schools to evacuate their children. Emergency responders moved over a thousand students from affected schools to the State Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, for medical attention.

Medical personnel at the hospital said many of the affected students complained of abdominal pain and related symptoms. Residents in surrounding communities and adjoining streets were also reportedly impacted by the unusual odour.

Affected schools include Our Lady of Apostles School, Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Sambadola Private School, Adeola Odutola Secondary School, and St. Anthony School, Esure, in Ijebu Mushin.

As of the time of reporting, no senior government officials had arrived at the State Hospital, where anxious parents and residents gathered in large numbers.

Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, urged parents to remain calm, assuring them that medical personnel were attending to the students. He added that environmental officials from both federal and state agencies had been mobilised to investigate the situation.

The General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), Hon. Kehinde Bello, disclosed that an air quality monitoring device installed at Ijebu-Ode Grammar School recorded elevated methane gas concentrations, with peak readings of about 13,500 ppm in surrounding areas.

Bello explained that the device was deployed under the state government’s environmental surveillance programme for early detection of abnormal air quality. He noted that while the methane level remains below the lower explosive limit, it is environmentally significant and requires urgent investigation.

The Ogun State Government has since activated a multi-agency team comprising environmental regulators, emergency responders, and technical air quality experts to assess the situation.

Bello advised residents to stay calm, continue normal activities, and avoid open flames or ignition sources in areas where unusual gas odours are noticed. He urged anyone experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, or respiratory discomfort to seek immediate medical attention at nearby health facilities.

The government assured the public of its commitment to protecting lives and public health, promising further updates as investigations progress.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has filed a new lawsuit against Nigeria’s attorney general in a bid to overturn fuel import licences issued to ‌marketers and the NNPC state oil firm.

Reuters reported that the new filing asks the Federal High Court in Lagos to set aside import permits issued or renewed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), arguing they breach an earlier order to maintain the status quo.

The case signals renewed tensions almost a year after Dangote withdrew an earlier lawsuit challenging similar licences.

That case sought to nullify import permits issued to the Nigerian ⁠National Petroleum Company and several traders.

NMDPRA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Regulators and marketers have previously argued imports are needed to ‌ensure ⁠adequate supply and prevent shortages.

Dangote said in the filing that the licences issued this month undermine its operations and contravene the law, which it argues allows imports only when domestic supply falls short.

Dangote ⁠ended the earlier lawsuit in July 2025 without explanation, leaving unresolved questions over competition and supply in one of Africa’s largest fuel markets.

Nigeria ⁠has long relied on petrol imports due to underperforming state refineries. Dangote’s $20 billion facility, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels ⁠per day, was billed to end that dependence, but imports have continued to cover supply gaps as the refinery ramps up output.

Rejects Appeals by Eight Retired Imo Judges

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has imposed fresh sanctions on judicial officers found guilty of misconduct, including the suspension of two High Court judges for one year without pay, while upholding the compulsory retirement of eight judges of the Imo State Judiciary.

The decisions were taken at the NJC’s 111th Meeting held on Tuesday, May 13, 2026, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

Suspended Judges

Hon. Justice Ibrahim D. Shekarau of the Nasarawa State High Court was suspended for one year without pay over a petition filed by Oluwafunke Obale Ozozoma in Suit No. NSD/MG56M/2025. The NJC found that the judge granted an ex-parte order directing the transfer of N7 million from the petitioner’s bank account on the same day the application was filed and heard. The council ruled that there was no pending substantive suit, and the judge failed to verify the claims, acting in bad faith and breaching Rules 3.1, 3.3, and 3.5 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers (2016).

Similarly, Hon. Justice Edward A. E. Okpe of the Federal Capital Territory High Court was suspended for one year without pay following a petition by Mr. Sunday Emmanuel Oso in a matrimonial case (Suit No. FCT/HC/PET/529/2024). He was found to have granted an ex-parte application without proper notice to the petitioner and proceeded with committal proceedings in breach of fair hearing rules.

Imo State Judges

The NJC rejected appeals by eight compulsorily retired Imo State judges who were sanctioned for age falsification. The affected justices are:

• Hon. Justice B.C. Iheka
• Hon. Justice K. A. Leaweanya
• Hon. Justice Okereke Chinyere Ngozi
• Hon. Justice Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi
• Hon. Justice Ofoha Uchenna
• Hon. Justice Everyman Eleanya
• Hon. Justice Rosemond Ibe
• Hon. Justice T. N. Nzeukwu

The Council, however, reinstated Hon. Justice T. I. Nze of the Imo State Customary Court of Appeal after he presented fresh and authentic evidence that warranted a review of his earlier retirement.

Other Decisions

During the meeting, the NJC considered 13 investigation reports and 98 petitions. It dismissed 73 petitions for lack of merit, want of diligent prosecution, or being time-barred. Four judges were cautioned, one received a final warning, and 11 petitions were sent for further investigation.

In a notable ruling, a petition against Hon. Justice Charles N. Wali of the Rivers State High Court concerning the Rivers State House of Assembly crisis was dismissed as unsubstantiated. The petitioner was recommended for referral to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.

Several petitioners and lawyers faced sanctions for filing frivolous or reckless petitions, including referrals to the Inspector-General of Police and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee. One serial petitioner was barred from further submissions to the NJC.

The Council also commended nine judges for outstanding performance in the 2024 and 2025 legal years and issued 256 query letters to judicial officers over performance issues.

These actions underscore the NJC’s continued commitment to upholding discipline, integrity, and accountability within the Nigerian judiciary.