Category: Nigerian Tribune

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and 702 local government areas (LGAs) have urged the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to dismiss a suit filed by a lawyer, Mr Joe Agi, SAN.

Agi, in the suit, is seeking the payment of $159 million as legal fees from ALGON and the LGAs’ account for his involvement in the Paris Club refund debt buy-back.

However, ALGON and the LGAs, in their reaction, disagreed with the senior lawyer and prayed the court to discountenance the submission of Dr Ted Edwards, another legal practitioner, on his purported legal representation and payment for professional service for the association.

They made their position known in a joint counter-affidavit filed by their lawyer, Donald Ayibiowu, before Justice James Omotosho.

Agi, a senior lawyer, had, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/653/2026, demanding his legal fees in the sum of $159 million, listed the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Minister of Finance and the Director-General, Debt Management Office, the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGoF), Dr Ted Edwards, and Incorporated Trustees of ALGON (for themselves and on behalf of the 774 local government councils in Nigeria) as 1st to 7th defendants respectively.

The senior lawyer sought a declaration that the judgment, in motion number M/1545/15, delivered by an Abuja High Court on October 30, 2015, in favour of the 6th defendant (Edwards) against the 7th defendant (ALGON), was obtained by fraud and misrepresentation.

He said this subsequently misled the 1st to 5th defendants to exercise their executive and administrative actions wrongly in favour of Edwards, to his (Agi’s) detriment.

He sought a declaration that the exercise of the executive and administrative functions of the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants were misled to have issued the promissory notes of $159 million in Edwards’ name, ‘who was not counsel to the 7th defendant to entitle him to legal fees in suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/130/13.’

He therefore prayed Justice Omotosho for an order setting aside the judgment in motion number M/1545/15 delivered on October 30, 2015, for being a nullity ab initio.

Agi sought an order cancelling and/or voiding the ten promissory notes issued wrongfully by the Director, Debt Management Office and the Minister of Finance in tranches of $15.9 million annually for 10 years from September 27, 2021, in favour of Edwards, for having exercised their administrative and executive functions arbitrarily and wrongfully.

He sought an order mandating the 1st to 5th defendants to forthwith redeem the four promissory notes amounting to $63.6 million that had since fallen due and pay same to him.

The lawyer also sought an order directing the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants to immediately reissue the six remaining promissory notes in his name, covering the same dates originally issued in the name of Edwards.

In the affidavit attached to the suit, Agi deposed that he was the lawyer briefed by Linas International Limited and ALGON to represent them in suing the Federal Government, AGF, Finance Minister and AGoF to recover the wrongful deductions from the LGAs in the London Paris Club debt buy-back.

He said the judgment was entered on December 3, 2013, by Justice A.F.A. Ademola in the Federal High Court and that ALGON, to the knowledge of Edwards, agreed to pay him 10 per cent of whatever sum was awarded, adding that, pursuant to the said judgment, he filed a garnishee proceeding wherein the court made the garnishee order nisi for the payment of the sum of $3.188 billion.

He said even when Edwards and some strange fellows started laying claim to portions of the judgment, ALGON wrote to him and the court in letters dated February 17, 2016, and February 11, 2016, raising alarm and emphatically informing him, as lead counsel, that Edwards obtained his judgment by fraud and that he was not their counsel.

He said Edwards’ spurious claim to the payment of legal fees was dismissed in a well-considered ruling by Justice Ademola on June 27, 2016.

According to him, pursuant to the fraudulent judgment obtained by the 6th defendant, the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants, without his knowledge, proceeded into meetings with the 6th defendant.

‘And in the exercise of their executive and administrative functions offered to pay $159,000,000.00 and recommended same to the Chief of Staff to the President in a letter dated 23rd December, 2019 and put the name of the 6th defendant on the said letter which is annexed as Exhibit JAI0.’

Agi said that following the approval for the issuance of the promissory notes in ten tranches of $15.9 million annually payable from October 15, 2027, totalling $159 million, he promptly protested to the 1st to 5th defendants that their action was wrong and dangerous.

Agi averred that he was the ‘one who conducted the case and so entitled to the payment of the legal fees in issue which was administratively issued to the 6th defendant, howbeit wrongfully.’

He said he had written to the 3rd and 2nd defendants (Finance Minister and AGF) requesting the reissuance of the promissory notes in his name and that it would be in the interest of justice for the defendants to reissue the promissory notes in his name.

The 6th defendant (Edwards), in his counter-affidavit, disagreed with Agi’s submission.

Edwards, also a lawyer, told the court that he was briefed by the Board of Trustees of ALGON for legal consultancy and management services with respect to the London/Paris Club debt buy-back over deductions.

He said his appointment initially was by the chairman of ALGON but was later ratified by the entire board and the scope expanded. According to him, before his engagement, the ALGON management had engaged a consultant to compute and recover from the Federal Government funds belonging to the 774 LGAs, which was illegally deducted by the Federal Government from the local government fund at the Federation Account for the London/Paris Club debt buy-back.

He said the consultant, Linas International Limited, had filed a suit for that purpose at the Federal High Court, identified as suit number FHC/CV/CS/180/2013, and that the suit was initiated by Agi at the instance of Linas International Ltd, the consultant to ALGON/LGAs.

Edwards submitted that Agi’s fee was subsumed in the fees payable to Linas International Limited, adding that, by Agi’s engagement, his fees should be borne by the consultant, not the LGAs.

‘This agreement between Linas International and the Local Government/ALGON was made a term of the judgment of the court In sult No. FHC/CV/CS/130/2013 delivered by the plaintiff as Exhibit JAI.’

Edwards argued that he was briefed independently by the ALGON Board from the brief given to Linas International Limited, who in turn briefed Agi to help it do the recovery.

He insisted that he was briefed by ALGON to collaborate with the consultant doing the recovery through Agi and to ensure that the funds being recovered were not dissipated by ALGON management.

The lawyer said he was also briefed to ensure that he carried out his brief to the satisfaction of the employer, who issued a letter of no objection to the payment of his fees to the 1st defendant (Federal Government).

Edwards said in furtherance of his brief, he engaged Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, SAN, to help him in the process, to the knowledge of his employers, ALGON, and however said that the letters tendered by Agi as exhibits JA4, JA5 and JA6 were letters written in furtherance of the brief given to Linas International Ltd.

According to him, the letters were copied to Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, SAN, because the ALGON Board was aware that he had engaged him as a leading member of his team.

The 6th defendant said that when he was not paid, he sued ALGON, representing the 774 LGAs, at the Abuja High Court and obtained judgment and garnishee absolute for the enforcement of the judgment against the CBN.

Besides, he said when the Federal Government showed reluctance to obey the judgment of the Abuja High Court, he consulted with Agi, who was prosecuting the recovery, and applied that his judgment be registered in garnishee proceedings over suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/130/2013.

He said it was the garnishee proceedings in that suit which Agi was prosecuting as the lead counsel at the instance of Linas International Limited.

Edwards said contrary to Agi’s claim, his application filed by the plaintiff (Agi) was rejected on the basis that the court could not execute the judgment of the Abuja High Court nor sit on appeal over its decision.

He averred that Agi knew full well that ALGON did not brief him and that he (Edwards) was the one briefed. ‘In fact, the plaintiff had acted for me in this matter of recovery of my legal fees and had in about two occasions written to the Hon. A.G of the Federation, acting as my counsel, for the recovery of my legal fees.

‘The plaintiff’s letter to the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation dated 3rd January, 2017, is delivered as Exhibit G,’ he said, and alleged that it was owing to the fact that Agi was acting for both him and Linas International Limited in the same legal/consultancy recovery efforts that made Linas International Ltd debrief him.

The lawyer said he executed his contract with ALGON satisfactorily, to the effect that he was issued a letter of no objection to the payment of his fees.

But in a counter-affidavit by the 7th defendant, comprising ALGON and 702 local government areas (LGAs) in Nigeria, deposed to by Hon. Bello Lawal, they prayed the court to dismiss the suit.

Lawal, who is the elected National President of ALGON and the current Executive Chairman of Kaita Local Government, Katsina State, said they were familiar with the facts of the case.

He said as a necessary and proper party, his attention was drawn to the pendency of the suit around May 30.

‘And I immediately presented same to my colleagues at the NEC for deliberations at office, and we have elected to state the following facts,’ he said.

Lawal said they are persons of fundamental and irrefutable interest in the affairs of the subject matter of the funds being sought to be appropriated under the guise of purported legal representation and payment for professional service for ALGON.

He said ALGON is a common platform for the administration of all LGAs as the third tier of government in Nigeria and that the 7th defendant and the 702 LGAs are the principals and owners of the funds, allegedly cornered and now sought to be awarded between Agi and Edwards, ‘flowing from the face of copious claims and documents filed before this court.’

Lawal, who described himself as the chief accounting officer of ALGON, said contrary to Agi’s deposition, the association and the LGAs did not and never engaged directly the professional services of the plaintiff and the 6th defendant (Agi and Edwards).

He argued that all the surreptitiously obtained documents from officials of ALGON were never issued before the commencement of the substantive suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/130/13.

Besides, he said none of the documents were intended to confer direct and/or concurrent contractual rights on Agi because they had previously briefed Messrs Linas International Ltd to do the same job for which Agi is now claiming the LGAs engaged him, as being claimed before the court.

He said contrary to Agi’s averments in paragraphs three and four of his affidavit, Justice Ademola, in his judgment, ordered a deduction at source of ‘20% of the judgment sum and pay same to the 1st plaintiff through its solicitors, Joe Agi, SAN, into Skye Bank Plc sort code: 076152029, Account No. 1060003931, being the agreed consultancy fees of the 1st plaintiff for its services to the other plaintiffs.’

He said the judgment was delivered by Justice Ademola in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/130/2013.

Lawal said Agi eventually engaged in a legal brawl and struggle for his professional fees with Linas International Ltd after he had concluded his work as agreed, according to him.

He said this led Agi to file another suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1193/2017 and went on to clearly claim to have been engaged by Linas International Ltd while it was working as consultant to the LGAs.

He said neither Agi nor Edwards, who are laying claims to the funds directly or indirectly, had the consent of ALGON and the LGAs, the owners of the funds, to deal proprietarily with funds belonging to them from the federation accounts, as claimed by the plaintiff.

He insisted that the 1st to 5th defendants do not have any constitutional right to pay out funds belonging to them without their express authorisation, and prayed the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.

Although the case came up for adoption on the last adjourned date, counsel who appeared for the Minister of Finance (3rd defendant), Oluwafemi Korisade, gave the court information from her office.

She told the court that her office said the AGF had instructed the counsel representing the 1st and 2nd defendants (Federal Government and AGF) to amend their processes.

Also, Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, SAN, who appeared for Edwards, said the plaintiff had just served on them a process and they were still within time to respond.

Justice Omotosho consequently adjourned the matter till September 30 for hearing.

The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has commenced training of over 700 women farmers in Kwara State under its Green Hope Project (Phase III-Open-Field Horticulture) as part of efforts to boost food production and strengthen food security in Nigeria.

The beneficiaries, drawn from horticulture clusters across Iponrin, Tsaragi, Asa, Oke-Onigbin, Ijara Isin, Esie, Ilale and Moro, are undergoing intensive training in modern farming techniques at the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NALDA, Mr. Olusegun Adebayo, said the initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s commitment to empowering women, creating sustainable livelihoods and increasing agricultural productivity.

Adebayo said the Green Hope Project is being implemented in 38 locations nationwide, with NALDA ensuring that every federal constituency benefits from the programme.

He explained that the project was deliberately designed to empower women, noting that investing in women has a ripple effect on families and communities.

‘When you train a woman, you train an entire community,’ he said.

According to him, more than 5,000 women will benefit from the programme across the country, while over 500 hectares of farmland have been developed to support commercial horticulture. He added that beneficiaries would receive practical training, improved farm inputs and other support needed to build profitable farming enterprises.

The NALDA boss also said that hostel accommodation had been provided for participants to enable them to fully participate in the training.

Also speaking, the Executive Dean of the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Dr. Oluwafemi Oladunni, said the institute partnered with NALDA to equip beneficiaries with the knowledge and practical skills required to improve agricultural production and support the nation’s food security drive.

He said the collaboration is aimed at moving beneficiaries from training to active participation in farming, stressing that women remain key to achieving sustainable agricultural development and improving household food production.

One of the beneficiaries, Oloyede Ibukunoluwa, described the training as timely and impactful, saying participants had been exposed to modern tomato cultivation techniques and best agronomic practices.

She expressed confidence that the knowledge gained during the programme would help her establish a successful farming enterprise and improve her livelihood.

The Green Hope Project is one of NALDA’s flagship interventions designed to expand access to productive farmland, empower women through commercial agriculture and support the Federal Government’s efforts to achieve national food security.

The Federal Government has inaugurated an Interministerial Committee on the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural biosecurity system, boost non-oil exports, facilitate international trade, and advance the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Inaugurating the Committee in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Deborah O.N. Odoh representing the Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building an efficient, internationally compliant agricultural quarantine system capable of protecting Nigeria’s agricultural resources while enhancing the country’s access to regional and global markets.

Dr. Odoh. observed that Nigeria can no longer afford the losses associated with the rejection of agricultural exports due to non-compliance with international standards.

He stated that the establishment of the Inter-ministerial Committee demonstrates the Federal Government’s resolve to strengthen policy coordination, eliminate institutional bottlenecks, harmonise regulatory processes, and align Nigeria’s agricultural quarantine system with global best practices.

According to a statement by Julie Osagie-Jacobs, the Permanent Secretary urged Members of the Committee to approach the assignment with professionalism, patriotism, and a strong sense of national responsibility. She expressed confidence that the Committee’s recommendations will strengthen Nigeria’s biosecurity framework, improve agricultural trade, increase non-oil exports, enhance farmers’ incomes, and contribute to sustainable economic growth.

The statement said also speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service, Dr. Vincent Isegbe, highlighted the Service’s strategic role as Nigeria’s first line of defence against the introduction and spread of plant, animal, and aquatic pests and diseases. He noted that NAQS conducts pest risk analysis, inspection, surveillance, certification, and other quarantine procedures to ensure that agricultural commodities entering or leaving the country meet internationally accepted standards.

Isegbe explained that strengthening the nation’s agricultural quarantine system will reduce the rejection of Nigerian agricultural exports, improve foreign exchange earnings, enhance the country’s reputation as a reliable exporter of safe agricultural products, and create greater opportunities for farmers, exporters, and agribusinesses.

The statement further noted that the Director of Economic Growth ,Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Auwal Mohammed, described the inauguration as a significant step towards strengthening inter-agency collaboration in support of agricultural development, food security, and economic diversification. He stressed that effective agricultural quarantine is essential for protecting Nigeria’s crops, livestock, fisheries, and natural resources from transboundary pests and diseases, while ensuring compliance with international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards.

The terms of reference ( TOR) of the Committee are to review proposals aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of NAQS, assess infrastructure and laboratory requirements, recommend sustainable funding mechanisms, and develop practical strategies to enhance compliance with international sanitary and phytosanitary standards while promoting Nigeria’s agricultural exports.

The Committee comprises representatives of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Budget Office of the Federation, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, the Nigerian National Accreditation System, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Freight Forwarding associations, and other relevant stakeholders.

The Nigerian naira appreciated against the United States (US) dollar, trading at N1,362.2064 at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) official foreign exchange (FX) window on Monday, July 27, 2026.

The data shared on the CBN’s official platform shows that the naira traded at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) rate of N1,362.2064 per dollar and closed at N1,364.0000 per dollar.

The currency, which traded at an NFEM rate of N1,362.0866 on Friday, July 24, 2026, slightly appreciated by at least N0.12 after trading activities on Monday.

At the parallel market, the buying rate remained the same while the selling rate depreciated by N5 when compared to the previous trading rate on Friday, July 24, 2026.

According to Aboki FX , the Naira-to-dollar exchange rate at the black market on Monday, July 27, 2026, was N1,405 per dollar for the buying rate and N1,410 per dollar for the selling rate.

The global demand for qualified medical professionals has reached an unprecedented peak, forcing developed nations to reconstruct their immigration channels to favor essential workers.

Among these nations, Canada stands out with its aggressive recruitment strategy specifically tailored to alleviate severe domestic staffing shortages across its territorial healthcare systems.

For Nigerian nurses eyeing an international career transition, the upcoming selection rounds represent the most accessible window for permanent relocation seen in recent years.

According to data compiled by independent immigration analytics platform Moving2Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has structurally shifted away from purely general point allocation rounds to highly specific, category-based selections.

This policy adjustment means that candidates with certified experience in the healthcare sector are being selected at significantly lower point thresholds than standard corporate applicants, making the timeline for securing a Canadian Permanent Residency (PR) faster and more predictable than ever before.

Essentials needed in your profile

To qualify for the specialized healthcare selection rounds under the federal management framework, an applicant must satisfy a distinct set of foundational parameters before their profile can be considered active.

First, you must establish an active profile within the Express Entry system under one of the main economic programs, which for the vast majority of foreign-trained applicants is the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) pathway.

This registration requires a complete Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from an authorised body like World Education Services (WES) to prove your nursing degree matches Canadian academic benchmarks.

Second, you must provide verified language test scores, such as the IELTS or CELPIP, demonstrating a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 7 across reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Additionally, you must show documentable proof of at least 12 months of continuous, full-time work experience within the past three years under an eligible National Occupational Classification (NOC) code, such as NOC 31301 for registered nurses.

Why time is of essence for August pools

The primary motivation for entering the selection pool immediately lies in how the IRCC manages its invitation volume and the mechanics of the tie-breaking system.

When the Canadian government executes a targeted category draw, they set a strict quota for the number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) they intend to distribute, which historically scales up heavily during mid-third-quarter cycles.

According to official historical data published on the Canada.ca Immigration Rounds of Invitations archive, the IRCC issued 4,000 ITAs in a single dedicated healthcare draw with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cut-off of 475.

Because hundreds of candidates often sit at the exact same cut-off score, the Canadian government applies a tie-breaking rule that prioritizes candidates based on the exact timestamp their profile was submitted.

This means that even if two nurses have identical qualifications and identical point totals, the individual who submitted their profile earlier will receive the invitation, while the late submitter will remain stranded in the pool.

Step-by-step profile submission guide

Navigating the federal immigration portal requires meticulous attention to detail, as minor clerical discrepancies can lead to immediate profile disqualification or lengthy administrative delays.

Step 1: Secure your credentials

You must register with a recognised credential assessment agency to evaluate your Nigerian nursing diploma or degree while simultaneously sitting for your mandatory English language proficiency examination.

Step 2: Calculate your estimated points

Before entering the official portal, you should utilise the online Comprehensive Ranking System calculator to gauge your baseline points and ensure your work history aligns cleanly with the 12-month continuous employment requirement.

Step 3: Create and submit your online profile

You will log into the IRCC portal, input your unique language test reference numbers, upload your credential assessment keys, detail your specific institutional work history, and formally submit your expression of interest to join the live candidate pool.

The Sokoto State Police Command has rescued 32 kidnapped victims after repelling a bandit attack in Maikujera village, Rabah Local Government Area, in a joint operation with the Nigerian Army.

The operation, carried out on Tuesday, followed a distress call to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Rabah, reporting that a large group of armed bandits had invaded the remote community bordering Zamfara State with abducted victims and rustled livestock.

In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said the bandits were firing indiscriminately as they attempted to move their captives and stolen animals out of the area.

He said the DPO swiftly deployed tactical teams, including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Violent Crime Reaction Unit (VCRU), while working with personnel from the Nigerian Army’s Forward Operating Base (FOB), who mounted strategic roadblocks to prevent the criminals from escaping.

The security operatives engaged the bandits in a prolonged gun battle, forcing them to flee into the forest and abandon both their hostages and the rustled livestock.

‘Overwhelmed by the superior firepower and tactical manoeuvring of the combined security forces, the hoodlums abandoned their hostages and rustled animals before escaping into the forest,’ Rufai said.

He said security personnel subsequently combed the surrounding bushes and rescued all 32 abducted victims, comprising six adult males and 26 females, most of whom were children.

According to him, the victims have been moved to a safe location, where they are receiving medical attention and psychosocial support before being reunited with their families.

Despite the successful rescue, the police confirmed that four residents were killed by the attackers during the initial assault before security forces arrived.

The Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, described the killings as tragic and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.

‘The Command extends its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and assures the public that efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing perpetrators,’ he said.

Shaffa reaffirmed the command’s resolve to sustain the fight against banditry and kidnapping across Sokoto State and urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.

Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has endorsed the introduction of sanctions against member states that fail to implement regional trade protocols, saying stricter enforcement is necessary to deepen economic integration and unlock opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

The lawmakers argued that despite existing agreements on the free movement of people, goods and services, many member states continue to operate in isolation, undermining regional trade and slowing economic growth.

The position was expressed on Tuesday on the sidelines of the delocalised meeting of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Joint Committee on Industry and Private Sector, Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research, Administration, Finance and Budget, and Public Accounts in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

The endorsement followed a recommendation by Dr Tony Luka Elumelu of the ECOWAS Business Council Secretariat, who on Monday urged the regional bloc to impose sanctions on countries that fail to comply with agreed trade protocols.

Speaking with journalists, Nigerian lawmaker, Hon. Bashiru Dawodu, said sanctions had become necessary to ensure compliance with regional agreements and discourage member states from acting independently at the expense of collective development.

‘We are about 400 million people in West Africa, generating billions of dollars, but our challenge is that we are not integrated. We are all operating in silos. We already have the laws, but sometimes people have to be pressured to do the right thing. If countries know there are sanctions for non-compliance, I think they will perform better,’ he said.

Dawodu stressed that the free movement of people, goods and services remained central to the success of regional integration and the growth of businesses across the sub-region.

He also called for stronger efforts to formalise MSMEs, noting that the majority of businesses in ECOWAS countries still operate in the informal sector, limiting their access to finance and regional markets.

‘It is extremely important to integrate small and medium businesses into the regional value chain. About 90 per cent of our people operate in the informal sector, making it difficult to properly capture and support them. This meeting is aimed at improving the integration of goods and services, increasing financing for small businesses and strengthening infrastructure,’ he added.

Also speaking, Liberian lawmaker Hon. Taa Wongbe urged ECOWAS governments to move beyond commitments by enforcing existing agreements, dismantling unnecessary trade barriers and strengthening regional cooperation.

He lamented that decades after the adoption of regional integration policies, traders and travellers still face the same bottlenecks at border crossings.

‘I remember travelling as a young child from Nimba in Liberia through these borders to Benin. Sometimes we spent days and even weeks on the road. Sadly, our mothers are still going through the same experience today,’ he said.

Wongbe proposed that the ECOWAS Parliament establish a fact-finding committee to inspect border posts across the region, saying firsthand experience would strengthen lawmakers’ resolve to push governments to eliminate roadblocks and other obstacles to trade.

‘I have consistently advocated for a committee that will travel across these borders to experience what ordinary citizens go through. Once we witness these challenges ourselves, we can mount stronger pressure on governments to remove unnecessary roadblocks. These barriers increase the cost of transporting goods and ultimately make products more expensive across the region,’ he said.

The lawmakers maintained that full implementation of ECOWAS trade protocols, backed by effective enforcement measures, would strengthen regional integration, expand opportunities for MSMEs, reduce poverty and unemployment, and improve economic competitiveness across West Africa.

The Ondo State Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Omowunmi Isaac, and her brother, Kunle Odide, have instituted a libel suit against 35 elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that a publication they authored and caused to be published was defamatory and damaged their reputation.

The case came up before the Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure on Tuesday. One of the defendants, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Adekola Olawoye, told journalists that the defendants were open to an out-of-court settlement.

Olawoye, however, said they had prepared to challenge the court’s jurisdiction and the competence of the suit through a preliminary objection before the claimants filed an application to amend defects in their court processes.

The Senior Advocate, who represented himself and about seven other defendants, said the claimants had applied to amend defects in their court processes, an application the defence did not oppose.

He added that the court awarded costs of N100,000 against the claimants in favour of each of the 35 defendants, bringing the total to N3.5 million, before adjourning the matter until October 8, 2026.

Explaining the basis of the suit, Olawoye said the controversy arose from a letter he wrote to the National Chairman of the APC, insisting that it was privately couriered and not published to any third party.

He said the letter was intended only to draw the attention of the party’s national leadership to what he described as developments within the APC in their local government.

The SAN further disclosed that the claimants had earlier petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over the matter, leading to the invitation of the defendants to Abuja on March 24, 2026.

However, he said they were neither detained nor prosecuted after being questioned, adding that efforts had been made to resolve the dispute amicably through party leaders, but the moves had yet to yield any positive result.

He appealed to APC members to close ranks ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing that internal disagreements should not distract the party from its political objectives.

However, counsel to the claimants, Olaoluwa Imoru, argued that the suit arose from an allegedly libellous publication authored, signed and caused to be published by the 35th defendant in the Nigerian Tribune edition of February 2, 2026.

Imoru said the claimants were asking the court to declare the publication defamatory, disparaging and injurious to their reputation.

They are also seeking aggravated, special and general damages, as well as a retraction and public apology.

He argued that one of the defamatory expressions was the reference to the finance commissioner as Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s ‘mummy’, saying the description falsely conveyed the impression that she wielded undue influence over the governor.

According to him, the commissioner is merely an appointee who is answerable to the governor and does not exercise authority over him.

Justice Yemi Fasanmi subsequently adjourned the case until October 8, 2026, for further proceedings.

Ogun State government has announced a proposed $100 million investment by Presco Plc to revitalise the Apoje Farms plantation, in a major step towards expanding agricultural production, creating jobs and accelerating inclusive economic growth in the State.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Honourable Bolu Owotomo, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ engagement, at the palace of the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, Oba Lawrence Adebajo, with members of the Ijebu-Igbo Traditional Council and Presco Plc’s National Partnership Adviser, Dr. Tunde Faturoti.

The meeting was convened to brief the traditional institution about the state government’s planned partnership with Presco Plc, for the resuscitation of the Apoje plantation, describing the investment as a strategic intervention that would unlock the plantation’s economic potential, expand agricultural productivity and generate significant employment opportunities for the people.

He noted that Presco Plc, a leading company listed on the Nigerian Exchange, had a market capitalisation of over N2.5 trillion, and is expected to commence operations at the plantation immediately after the sealing of the agreement, anticipated within the next 30 days.

He said the government remains committed to unlocking the full potentials of agriculture through strategic partnerships, responsible investment and sustainable development.

According to Owotomo, the investment reflects the vision of the governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, geared towards attracting credible private-sector investments, capable of transforming agriculture into a major engine of economic growth, job creation and food security in the State.

Responding, the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, Oba Adebajo, commended the State Government for attracting the investment, describing it as a significant opportunity for economic transformation and prosperity in the area.

He assured the government and investors of the support and cooperation of the traditional institution and host communities, noting that residents were eagerly anticipating the commencement of the project.

Speaking, the National partnership adviser, Presco Plc, Dr Tunde Faturoti explained that the $100 million investment was aimed at restoring the plantation and transforming it into a modern agricultural hub, adding that the initiative would involve replanting oil palm, introducing modern production techniques and giving the long-established farm a new lease of life.

He said the investment would cover milling, processing and the development of retail crop production, creating an integrated agribusiness operation, and noted that the project would represent a fresh beginning for the old plantation, thus, bringing contemporary oil palm cultivation and value-addition practices that were expected to boost productivity, create jobs and stimulate economy.

TROOPS of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have foiled an attempted terrorist infiltration of a military base and evacuated 21 female students to safety, following intelligence on a planned attack in Borno State.

A latest operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday, said troops also apprehended a suspected cross-border kidnapper operating between Nigeria and Cameroon.

The report said troops of the 3 Battalion at Forward Operating Base Logomani detected ISWAP/JAS terrorists attempting to encircle their position through CCTV surveillance.

The troops engaged the terrorists, forcing them to withdraw before executing the planned infiltration.

Troops of Sector 3 responded to intelligence indicating that seven suspected ISWAP/JAS terrorists carrying improvised explosive devices were sighted near the Water Board IDP Camp in Monguno.

The report said the troops immediately evacuated 21 female students lodging nearby to Kinnasara Barracks.

‘Three students who suffered seizures during the evacuation were stabilised at a hospital, while security around the area was reinforced,’ the report said.

In another operation, troops of 115 Task Force Battalion and local hunters engaged terrorists at Surajo village in Askira Uba Local Government Area of the state.

According to the report, the terrorists fled, abandoning three bicycles and two coolers.

It also disclosed that troops of 247 Reconnaissance Battalion and hunters arrested a suspected kidnapper at Gaya in Mubi South Local Government Area of Adamawa.

The suspect reportedly confessed to belonging to a kidnapping syndicate operating from the Solere Forest in Cameroon and crossing into Nigeria after carrying out abductions.

In a related development, security operatives foiled an attempted bandits’ attack on Tauma village in Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State, recovering five magazines loaded with 40 rounds of live ammunition after a gun battle with the attackers.

The state police command said the operation followed a distress call received at about 8:30p.m, on July 25, from a resident who reported that a large number of bandits had invaded the community with sophisticated weapons.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said the Divisional Police Officer in Bodinga immediately mobilised tactical units, including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU), alongside other security personnel, to confront the attackers.

Rufa’i said the joint security team engaged the bandits in a fierce exchange of gunfire, forcing them to retreat into a nearby forest with suspected gunshot wounds.

He said a subsequent search of the area led to the recovery of five magazines containing 40 rounds of live ammunition abandoned by the fleeing suspects.