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At PRIMORG’s programme, Odinkalu, CSOs, others condemn politicians weaponising, corrupting judiciary in Nigeria

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… Urge citizens to take action

Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, says the deteriorating integrity of Nigeria’s judiciary is driven by ‘politicization of Judicial appointments, lack of independence, amongst other issues.’

Prof. Odinkalu raised the concern during a radio town hall meeting on Public Sector Integrity in Nigeria, organized by the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development, PRIMORG, at the weekend in Abuja.

Explicitly, He said politicians have captured the Judiciary with the independence of the institution gone, stressing that Nigerians must understand that the judiciary has been politically weaponized and corrupted by elites.

The human rights activist insisted that the judiciary was no longer serving the purpose of the masses but politicians and their associates whose children, cronies, and mistresses were getting appointments to the Bench.

His words:” It is not suitable for the Chief Justice of Nigeria to appoint his nephew to the Court of Appeal and his son to the Federal High Court or for the President of the Court of Appeal to appoint her son-in-law to the Bench and her daughter appointed to Plateau State High Court where she comes from. We are looking for the same people to protect us, and something is fundamentally wrong with them and the masses.

“Everyone should understand that the judiciary has been captured, politically weaponized and corrupted.”

Asked if reforms can restore the deteriorating integrity of Nigeria’s judiciary, Odinkalu said:” There are no reforms that will work unless we (Nigerians) deepen the de-politicization of the judiciary. This is because they (politicians) have captured the administrative processes which should have been performed in disciplining the judiciary – the Chief Justice is the owner of that one.

“They’ve captured the politics. The judges and politicians use the executive arm of the government to unseat people they don’t like, putting the ones they like in power. They have also captured the legislative process. The legislators are afraid of the judges,” He stressed.

Prof Odinkalu called on Nigerians to understand the issues and realize their responsibilities, adding that citizens are not as disempowered as they think; hence, the onus is now on the people to go and get back the institution of justice that politicians and elites have captured.

Civil Society organizations and other participants during the town hall meeting spoke extensively on the administration of justice in Nigeria amidst a growing trust deficit.

Emmanuel Bosah, Programme Manager at Integrity Organisation, noted that a lot of political will is needed to cure the rot in the judiciary currently while calling for judicial reforms and citizens to be empowered with the knowledge to follow up and hold the system to account.

A public good advocate and Security and energy Consultant, Kevin Fyneface, called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to come clean with appointments in the judiciary and work towards rebuilding the trust of the third arm of government. He lamented that Nigeria is deeply rooted in nepotism and cronyism, noting that “where cronyism thrives, you will find corruption as the order of the day.”

On his part, a public servant and 2020 Integrity icon, Philip Ezegbulam, advised his colleagues both at the federal and state levels to resist the temptation of corruption, while the Programme Manager of Accountability Lab Nigeria, Ehi Idakwo, urged Nigerians not to be docile but proactive to corruption issues of the nation.

“I think citizens are not angry enough. We need to be angry enough to take action. If everyone takes action in writing a letter, in coming out to the streets to protest, in calling their representatives to know details of what is due the citizens, those are the kinds of actions needed right now,” Ehi posited.

The PRIMORG’s Town Hall Meeting Against Corruption series is aimed at calling the public and government attention to specific issues of corruption in Nigeria.

The syndicated radio program runs with support from the MacArthur Foundation.

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Dangote leads marketers to reduce fuel price

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Nigerian filling stations have reduced their fuel pump price, five days after Dangote Refinery’s gantry price cut.

A market survey on Saturday and Sunday showed that Eterna, NIPCO, AA Rano and Ranoil filling stations have all dropped their fuel pump price to between N1,280 and N1,300, from N1,340 per litre in Abuja and environs.

This means that the aforementioned filling stations cut their fuel pump price by about N35 and N55 per litre.

However, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, retail outlets have not reduced their pump price, which is currently N1,335 per litre.

EDangote Refinery-backed MRS filling stations, on Friday, reduced their fuel price by N76 to N1,241 per litre.

The domestic fuel price reduction followed Dangote Refinery’s cut in the price of petrol at the gantry to N1,175 per litre after a global drop in crude oil prices.

Crude oil prices stood at $76 and $80 for West Texas Intermediate and Brent blends as of the time of filing this report.

It will be recalled that days after the reported completion of a peace deal with United States President, Donald Trump, Iran again shut the Strait of Hormuz, leading to a slight surge in oil prices as of Sunday morning.

 

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Police: Igboho not involved in rescue of kidnap victims

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The Nigerian Police has said Sunday Igboho was not involved in recent rescue operations of the abduction victims in Igboho community.

It would be recalled that a video went viral on Saturday where community members trooped out in their hundreds to celebrate and glorify Igboho, attributing a recent release of abducted villager to his stern warning to kidnapper to free abductees or face his wrath.

But the police has officially debunked claims that the hostages have been safely released. Furthermore, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police has denied that Sunday Igboho was involved in recent rescue operations.

Yhe Oyo State Police Command dismissed these claims as unsubstantiated, urging the public to rely only on official channels rather than social media rumors. The police also clarified they have no evidence of Igboho’s participation in successful rescue efforts.

 

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Fubara: Fathers are society’s foundation

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Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State, has extolled the virtues of unconditional love and immeasurable sacrifice as the defining hallmarks of fatherhood and the bedrock upon which families and society are built.

In a goodwill message to commemorate the 2026 Father’s Day celebration, Governor Fubara paid glowing tributes to fathers for serving as the pillars that hold families together and, by extension, strengthen communities across Rivers State and Nigeria.

According to a statement by Onwuka Nzechi, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor on Media, Fubara noted that across the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State, fathers labour daily to provide for their families despite the economic and social challenges confronting the nation. According to him, Father’s Day is a special occasion set aside to honour the quiet love and selfless sacrifices that fathers make across generations and throughout the world.

“A father’s love is quiet strength. It is the man who leaves home before dawn and returns after dusk so his children can eat and go to school. It is the man who denies himself so his family can have. It is the firm hand that corrects and the open arms that forgive. That love is the invisible thread that holds our homes together, and that sacrifice is the foundation of our society.

“I have seen fathers labour under the sun, paddle through floods and endure hardship, all so that the next generation will have a better chance than they did. That is heroism without medals,” he said.

Governor Fubara emphasised that when fathers stand, families stand; when families stand, communities stand; and when communities stand, Rivers State stands. He stressed that responsible fatherhood produces stable homes, while responsible sons and daughters help to build peaceful neighbourhoods, harmonious communities and a prosperous state.

The Governor pledged that his administration would continue to draw inspiration from the resilience and sacrifices of fathers in building a Rivers State worthy of their commitment and labour.

He prayed that God would grant every father, grandfather, uncle, guardian and mentor good health, strength and long life to enjoy the fruits of their labour.

Father’s Day, celebrated in Nigeria and many countries around the world on the third Sunday of June, highlights the invaluable contributions of fathers to the family and society at large.

 

 

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