The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has unveiled the list of lawyers newly elevated to Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The list comprised 56 advocates and one from the academia.

In the document signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Mr. Kanir Eniola Akanbi, the list was approved by Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, at the LPPC’s 169th Plenary Session held on Thursday.

Akanbi stated, “The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is conferred as a mark of professional excellence upon legal practitioners who have demonstrated exceptional distinction either as advocates in the courts or as academics contributing significantly to the development of legal scholarship.

In a decisive push against rising insecurity, the Kogi State Government has deployed operatives of the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade to Olle-Bunu in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area to stem the tide of banditry threatening the area and its environs.

The deployment, which followed credible intelligence reports of fleeing armed bandits attempting to infiltrate the community, was formalized during a strategic visit by the State Security Adviser, Commander Duro Jerry Omodara (Rtd), who delivered a clear message: Kogi will not cede an inch of its territory to criminals.

The move is part of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s comprehensive and aggressive approach to securing lives and property across the state.

With major flashpoints like Odo-Ape already sealed off through joint operations of the military, hunters, and vigilante groups, Olle-Bunu had emerged as a potential escape corridor for displaced criminal elements.

Commander Omodara, addressing traditional rulers, youth leaders, and community stakeholders during the visit, warned that anyone aiding or abetting criminals—be it as informants, transporters, or harborers—would be treated as an enemy of the state.

“This deployment is not just about chasing bandits. It’s a strong message that wherever they run, we will follow. Our communities must be safe for development, safe for our children, and safe for our future,” he said.

The Nigerian Army has since established a temporary forward operations base in the community and ramped up patrols and surveillance.

With major flashpoints like Odo-Ape already sealed off through joint operations of the military, hunters, and vigilante groups, Olle-Bunu had emerged as a potential escape corridor for displaced criminal elements

Major Usman Mohammed, who represented the Brigade Commander, reiterated the army’s readiness to confront threats and praised the government for its support.Community members welcomed the intervention.

Speaking on behalf of the Olle-Bunu people, Elder John Ebajemito pledged full cooperation with security forces and thanked Governor Ododo for his proactive leadership.

“This government has shown that security is not negotiable. We will work hand-in-hand with the army to ensure no criminal finds refuge in Olle-Bunu,” he assured.

The Kogi State Government has also urged citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements. According to the Security Adviser, community intelligence remains the soul of effective security, and every citizen has a role to play.

The deployment underscores Governor Ododo’s zero-tolerance stance on insecurity, and his unwavering commitment to making every community in Kogi State safe and secure.

“Let no criminal feel safe. Let no informer sleep in peace. This is our home. We must defend it together,” Commander Omodara declared.

• NGE President, Mr. Eze Anaba

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the European Union (EU) are collaborating through a one-day training programme for editors and media executives to stem the negative impact of fake news, disinformation and misinformation in the Nigeria media landscape.

In a statement signed by the NGE President, Mr. Eze Anaba and the General- Secretary, Mr Onuoha Ukeh, the Guild said that the training programme, taking place in Lagos (July 25, 2025), with institutional support by the EU, is informed by the growing concern that fake news has a huge capacity to damage the credibility of journalists and the media, if not checked.‘

’The EU and the NGE will organize a one-training programme for editors and media executives across different media platforms.

The objective of the programme is to equip editors with the necessary skills and knowledge required to identify and debunk misinformation, fake news, disinformation, promoting accurate/trustworthy reporting, and imbibing the discipline of verification in news reporting – in the Nigerian media industry’, the NGE stated.

Giving a background and justification to the programme, the professional body of editors and media executives in Nigeria said that the spread of misinformation, fake news and disinformation has become a major concern in Nigeria, with fake news and propaganda threatening to undermine the credibility of the mass media and the stability of the country.

It added: ‘’It is a common knowledge that editors/media executives play a critical role – in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the information published in their respective media organizations.‘’

However, recent experiences have proved that editors need the necessary technical skills and training to effectively identify and debunk misinformation.’’

The Guild explained further that the proliferation of social media and other digital platforms has made it easier for misinformation and fake news to spread quickly, often with devastating consequences.

According to the Guild, ‘’the Nigerian media industry requires accurate and trustworthy reporting to promote informed decision-making, stability and holding government at all levels to account.

Editors play a critical role in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the information published in their respective media outfits.’’

On the expected outcomes of the training programme, the NGE said it aims to improve fact-checking skills and knowledge to effectively identify and debunk misinformation; enhance accuracy and reliability of reporting in the Nigerian media landscape.

Targeting 50 editors from various media houses, including print, online, and broadcast media, the statement added that the programme is expected to promote informed decision-making among the Nigerian public through access to accurate and trustworthy information.

Those to make presentations at the programme are Mr. Azu Isiekwene, Executive Vice Chairman/Editor-in-Chief, LEADERSHIP Newspapers and Dr. David Ajikobi, Executive Director, Africa Check.

They will treat such topics as “Principles of Fact-Checking: Understanding the Role of Editors in Fact-checking And the Principles of Accuracy, Fairness, and Transparency;” Identifying Misinformation and Disinformation: Analyzing Examples of Misinformation, Desinformation and Fake News” and “Fact-Checking Tools and Resources: Overview of Fact-checking Tools; Analyzing Complex Fact-checking Scenarios.

“The statement said that the EU Ambassador to Nigeria/ECOWAS, His Excellency, Gautier Mignot, will declare the training program open after a brief remarks.

For: Nigerian Guild of EditorsEze AnabaPresident, NGE Onuoha UkehGeneral Secretary, NGE