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JUST IN: Bawa sues DSS over detention without trial
The embattled former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who was released Wednesday night, had on October 20, sued the Department of State Services for his incarceration without trial since June 14, 2023.
Bawa in the suit filed at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court for the enforcement of fundamental rights by a lawyer, Chinedu Oburu of Edu Oburu & Co. on his behalf, sought an order of the court to declare his detention without trial illegal and to order his immediate release.
Oburu noted that he brought the action in the interest of the applicant (Bawa), the public, democracy and rule of law and the need to sustain the anti-corruption spirit and momentum.
The suit marked FHC/CS/2108/23 between Abdulrasheed Bawa as applicant and the SSS (DSS) as respondent was brought pursuant to Order 11 Rules 1, 2 and 3 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009, Sections 35(1)(4)(a), (5)(a)(b), 41(1), 46 of the 1999 Constitution.
In the suit filed on October 20, 2023, the former EFCC chairman sought the following orders;
“A declaration that the continued detention of the applicant from June 14, 2023, till date without arraignment or criminal prosecution is a flagrant abuse and violation of his fundamental rights to freedom, liberty and personal dignity.
“An order directing the respondent to immediately release the applicant from custody and for further or other orders as the court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.”
In an affidavit in support of the application, the legal practitioner stated that the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed the applicant as the Chairman of the EFCC, one of the government institutions established to fight and curb corruption in Nigeria.
He noted that the applicant was suspended from office by the Federal Government on June 14, 2023, and was subsequently invited for interrogation by the respondent (SSS) herein.
He said, “That upon arrival at the offices of the respondent on June 14, 2023, the applicant was promptly detained.
“That since June 14, 2023 (over 120 days) that the applicant was detained, he has remained in the respondent’s detention facility without any criminal charge or trial proffered against him till date.
“That the continued illegal detention of the Chairman of the EFCC without any charge is an affront and assault on the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
“That the continued and indefinite detention of the EFCC chairman without any criminal charge is a necked assault on the Fundamental Rights of the Applicant as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”
A new documentary on the life and political struggle of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola is set to premiere in Nigerian cinemas in October.
Titled MKO, the 108-minute film is directed by Ose Oyamendan and produced with American documentary filmmaker Mark Jonathan Harris. It explores the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as free and fair, Abiola’s subsequent detention, and the controversial circumstances surrounding his death in custody in 1998.
The documentary features interviews with key figures including former military rulers Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, Abiola’s running mate Baba Gana Kingibe, members of the Abiola family, journalists, and diplomats.
Oyamendan, who worked as a young journalist during the June 12 crisis, has described the film as an investigative documentary that examines Nigeria’s unfinished democratic journey. It had its world premiere earlier this year at the Sheffield DocFest in the United Kingdom.
The Nigerian cinema release is scheduled for early October, with some reports linking the premiere to Independence Day on October 1.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results of underage candidates for viewing.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the Board’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, JAMB defined an underage candidate for the 2026 admission exercise as any candidate who will be less than 16 years old as at September 30, 2026.
Benjamin said the results were released primarily to enable candidates and their parents or guardians to know their performance in the examination. However, he stressed that the release does not confer eligibility for admission on all underage candidates.
According to him, the results cannot be used for admission or any other official purpose, except by candidates who satisfy the stringent requirements prescribed for exceptionally performing underage candidates.
Candidates can check their results by sending “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019 using the same SIM card with which they registered for the UTME.
JAMB reiterated that only underage candidates who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and maturity will be considered for admission through a rigorous, multi-stage assessment process. Key requirements include a minimum UTME score of 320, at least 80 per cent performance in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects where applicable, satisfaction of the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions, and a final assessment conducted by experts.
Veteran journalist Mr. Ohi Odiai and his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Ohi-Odiai, today mark their 17th wedding anniversary, a milestone that highlights an enduring partnership built on mutual support, professional excellence, and family.
Mr. Odiai serves as Deputy Head of News at Arise News TV, one of Nigeria’s leading television networks. He is also the CEO and Chief Editor of Ohibaba.Com, the online news platform he founded and continues to steer as a key voice in digital journalism. His career spans years of impactful reporting, newsroom leadership, and media innovation.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ohi-Odiai is the owner and founder of Bukbeth Concepts Classic, a business reflecting her entrepreneurial drive and creative vision. Together, the couple has built a home grounded in shared values and quiet strength.
The family is blessed with three children — two boys and a girl — who form the heart of their journey.
Friends, colleagues, and well-wishers describe the Odiais as a model of resilience and partnership in both public and private life.
As they celebrate 17 years of marriage today, September 5, 2026, the couple is receiving warm congratulations from across the media and business communities. Their story stands as a reminder that lasting unions thrive on commitment, respect, and the everyday work of building a life together.
Happy anniversary to Mr. Ohi Odiai and Mrs. Elizabeth Ohi-Odiai.
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