Category: Nigerian Tribune

I always look forward to spending quality time with my ‘Oga’ because anytime you visit him, you leave inspired, motivated and you admire him the more.

Yesterday was no different.

The moment I walked into his Asokoro home, I found myself saying:

‘Sir, this ambience alone is inspiring!’, I was forced to ask him, sir when will I get to this level to be able to afford a home such as this, it was reassuring when he told me that I am on the trajectory. Well, to his mouth to God’s ears.

My Oga whom I have spoken so much about in every one of my interviews, whenever people who admire me and what we have built with Law Capitol reach out to interview me and for me to share our growth story, I don’t hesitate to name-drop my Oga and brag about how much of an impact he has had on my life and I’m the kind of lawyer I turned out to be today because of his mentorship.

The Oga is Dr Kayode Ajulo, Officer of the Order of the Niger, (OON), Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN), Fellow of the prestigious Chartered Institute of Arbitrators of the United Kingdom, (FCIArb (UK)), and the Grand Master of the Castle and the Legend of Law as we his admirers refer to him.

I first met him as a university student when I joined Kayode Ajulo (SAN) and Co., Castle of Law, as an intern. I was young, curious, and eager to discover what the legal profession looked like beyond lecture halls and examinations. Fortunately for me, Dr Ajulo took a personal interest in me and the rest they say is history.

The first scolding he gave me was about my dressing; I remember the day he chased me home threatening that he doesn’t ever want to see me in his life dressed like that, and that a lawyer must always look impeccable, presentable, in proper attire. How was I dressed that day? I was in corporate but I didn’t put on a necktie. To Dr Ajulo, a lawyer not being in a tie is a disaster and not fit for a lawyer. Well, if you know Ajulo in person or have met him before you will know that he is a prime and proper man, always smartly dressed with a bow tie and suit, so it’s understandable now why he chased me away for not putting on a necktie.

The second scolding was when he was teaching me how to write; to draft a petition, articles, or court process. It’s a known secret amongst those who have worked under him that he’s never satisfied, once he sends you to write something, after you present it to him, Ajulo must see something to correct; it was through him that I developed an eye for the tiniest of details, Ajulo is that man who wants excellence in everything he’s doing, and that also should reflect on those under him.

After my call to the Bar, Ajulo took me in as a lawyer to be one of his Associates in his Law firm, Castle of Law, and, in the language of the Castle, I became a Knight of the Castle. Now, as a lawyer, his expectations of me became higher, so whenever he’s around I’m always trying to avoid him.

In retrospect, those pushing beyond normal by Dr Ajulo turned me into a fine gentleman and also a good lawyer. Today, I run a thriving law practice, Law Capitol with offices in Abuja and Lagos and over 15 lawyers working with us.

Yet yesterday reminded me of something I have learnt over the years:

You may leave the Castle, but the Castle never really leaves you and you cannot pass through someone like Ajulo and not have a reflection of him on you. In fact, those that have been to Castle of Law when it was located at No. 21 B Amazon Street, Maitama, and have visited my office will definitely see that we try to model Law Capitol after Castle of Law; for instance, the grand piano that captures everyone’s attention when they step into the lobby of Law Capitol is a mimical of the grand piano that Ajulo has in his Castle of Law, and numerous other examples.

Why ‘Grand Master’?

It has nothing to do with age. Dr Ajulo is still a young man.

It is about the way he thinks; you need to hear him speak to understand, he has ideas, the execution strategy, and one of the best brains. When you hear Ajulo’s lofty dreams you will think it’s a person who is just starting life and not a man who has achieved so much and climbed to a height many people may not dare to attain in life.

He has an unusual ability to look at an accepted way of doing things and ask:

‘But why must it be done this way?’

That question runs through his practice, his ideas and the people he has mentored.

Even before our conversation began yesterday, his home had made an impression on me. It was elegant, thoughtful, and full of character; well, if I say I’m surprised I’d be lying because Ajulo has impeccable taste. His house is a reflection of that even though I was amazed by the beauty, he was still telling me about the renovation he planned to do in the house – yes, that’s the kind of man he is.

I thought: Of course.

The environment reflects the mind.

‘So, Are You Retiring from Law?’

Our conversation took an interesting turn.

I asked him:

‘Sir, now that Governor Aiyedatiwa has practically taken you away from us to Ondo State as Attorney-General, are you now saying goodbye to private legal practice for politics?’

I almost regretted the question.

It was as though I had touched the tail of a python.

He sprang from his seat.

‘Never!’

He reminded me that this was not his first engagement with politics in Ondo State.

Years ago, under Governor Olusegun Mimiko, he served as Chairman of the Ondo State Media Group and the Ondo State Radio-Vision Corporation, at a time when he was also National Chairman of the Labour Party.

But he eventually resigned.

Not because of a quarrel or disagreement, but because, as he stated in his resignation letter, he needed to return to the practice of law.

That answer said everything.

Public service may be a calling and he always finds time to give back to the people of Ondo State through service whenever he’s called upon, but as for the Ajulo I have come to know, law remains home and his first love, he’s not leaving this Law Practise for any of us; I still need to compete for briefs with him and, fortunately, still learn from him as the master of law.

*The Lawyer Before the Crisis*

That led us into a conversation about the legal profession and how we define the value of lawyers.

There is a common perception that you need a lawyer only when something goes wrong.

You are sued; call a lawyer.

The police invite you; call a lawyer.

A contract collapses; call a lawyer.

A business partner takes the money; call a lawyer.

A property dispute erupts; call a lawyer.

The lawyer becomes an emergency service.

But the Grand Master asked:

Why should the lawyer enter the room only after the problem arrives?

Why should we call the lawyer when the house is already burning, instead of having the lawyer help design the house?

This reemphasized what he always says lawyers should be crisis preventers and not merely crisis managers.

That question opened up a much bigger conversation.

*The Lawyer Before the Money*

One of the strongest lessons I took away was that lawyers should think beyond protecting wealth after a dispute.

They should help create the structure through which wealth is built.

An entrepreneur may need a lawyer before the first naira is made.

Before incorporating a company: ownership and structure.

Before accepting an investor: control and governance.

Before signing a major contract: risk and liability.

Before launching a product: intellectual property.

Before employing people: rights and obligations.

Before expanding: regulation.

Before wealth is accumulated: preservation and succession.

The lawyer should be at the table when the enterprise is being built, not merely summoned when it begins to collapse.

That is enterprise law.

That is strategic lawyering.

*The Legal Victory Nobody Sees*

None of this diminishes litigation. The courtroom remains one of the great places where lawyers defend rights and pursue justice.

But some of the most valuable legal work never makes the headlines.

A contract that prevents a lawsuit.

A corporate structure that prevents a shareholder dispute.

A negotiated transaction that saves years of litigation.

A succession plan that prevents a family conflict.

Sound advice that keeps a business out of regulatory trouble.

Sometimes the lawyer’s greatest victory is the crisis that never happens.

*Beyond Fintech*

We also spoke about the tendency to define the future of commercial law largely through fintech and technology.

Certainly, artificial intelligence, digital assets, data protection and financial technology are transforming the profession.

But Nigeria’s opportunities are much broader:

Agriculture. Energy. Infrastructure. Real estate. Construction. Healthcare. Entertainment. Sports. Aviation. Maritime commerce. Investment. Capital markets. Tax. Intellectual property. Public-private partnerships. International trade. Family businesses and succession.

The modern lawyer must therefore understand more than statutes and authorities.

He must understand enterprise.

How does the client make money?

Where is the risk?

Where is the opportunity?

What does the industry require?

The lawyer must be able to translate legal knowledge into commercial value.

Then I Thought About My Own Journey

Listening to him, I thought about where I started.

A university intern at Castle of Law.

Then an Associate.

Today, building a thriving law practice.

But I am only one of many. Today there’s the Citadel of Law, Law Fortress, Law Empire, Law Corridor, Law Shield etc

The alumni of the Castle include Senior Advocates of Nigeria, professors, doctors, congressmen, judges, public servants, entrepreneurs and accomplished lawyers who have gone on to build practices, institutions, and careers of their own.

That, to me, is the real measure of a mentor.

A law firm can produce briefs, cases, and revenue.

But a great mentor produces people.

He gives you confidence before you have evidence.

He exposes you to possibilities before you are ready for them.

He pushes you beyond the boundaries you have set for yourself.

Then he watches you leave and build something of your own.

That is what it means to make men.

*The Lesson I Took Home*

Perhaps that is why visiting him is never merely a visit.

You encounter a mind that refuses to stand still.

Dr Ajulo keeps learning, building, writing, questioning, strategizing, and reimagining. And that restlessness is contagious.

The lesson is simple:

If someone who has achieved so much can remain hungry for the next idea, none of us has any excuse to become complacent.

I went for a visit and expected a conversation.

However, I received another master class.

And I left reminded that some mentors teach you a profession.

The rare ones teach you how to think.

Grand Master Kayode Ajulo, SAN is one of those rare ones.

You may leave the Castle, but the Castle never leaves you.

Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Edet Otu, on Monday, presented cheques worth N25 million each to 18 business owners affected by the recent SPAR fire incident, describing the intervention as a critical lifeline to help the victims rebuild their businesses and restore their livelihoods.

Governor Otu made the presentation at the Executive Chambers of the Governor’s Office, Calabar, where he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting small and medium-sized businesses across the state.

The Governor acknowledged that accidents were sometimes unavoidable, but stressed that the most important consideration was how government responded to people affected by unfortunate circumstances.

‘I know that accidents happen, and there is sometimes little that anybody can do about them. But the important thing is how we respond to such unfortunate situations,’ Otu said.

He explained that his administration places strong emphasis on supporting small businesses because of their contribution to the economy and the livelihoods of residents.

‘This government believes principally in supporting small businesses, recognising their importance to the economy and the livelihoods of our people. That is why we are prepared to provide support in every way possible,’ he stated.

Otu recalled the visit of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to Cross River State on September 1, 2026, for the launch of the South-South Zone of the National Community Food Bank Programme, noting that the visit produced positive multiplier effects beyond the immediate purpose of the programme.

He expressed appreciation to the First Lady for her practical disposition and empathy, describing the intervention for the fire victims as a demonstration of compassionate leadership.

The Governor also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as the people-centred focus of the Renewed Hope Agenda, saying the intervention would help alleviate the economic hardship faced by the affected families.

‘Besides, the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is people-centred. The programme gives hope to the hopeless, succour to the suffering, and protection to the oppressed and vulnerable in society,’ Otu said.

He urged the beneficiaries to utilise the funds productively, stressing that the financial assistance should translate into sustainable livelihoods and the rebuilding of their businesses.

‘It is important to mention at this point that the financial lifeline provided by Mr. President should be translated into productive lives and sustainable livelihoods, in order to justify his love, sacrifice and goodwill,’ he said.

Otu further assured the beneficiaries that they would continue to receive encouragement and support as they work towards stabilizing and rebuilding their businesses.

He expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the intervention, noting that it would go a long way in reducing the anguish and economic burden on the affected families.

‘As a responsive and responsible government, my administration will continue to support small and medium-sized enterprises to thrive, recognizing the informal sector as the engine room of our economy,’ the Governor stated.

He also encouraged entrepreneurs in the state to take advantage of government-supported business advisory services, soft loans and grants available through the ministry responsible for financing and enterprise development.

‘The doors of the Ministry responsible for financing and enterprise development are always open to entrepreneurs seeking business advisory services, soft loans and grants. I therefore encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities to grow your businesses and improve your livelihoods,’ Otu added.

On his part, the Spar, Calabar branch Manager, Mr. Gbenga Ewarawon, thanked the President and Governor for their unwavering commitment to the welfare of the people and for giving hope to the affected businesses.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Chief Executive Officer of AM Global, Andifonkan Samuel, expressed appreciation to the Governor, the Federal Government and other stakeholders for their intervention and support.

The representative noted that the presence of government officials and other stakeholders at the presentation underscored the importance attached to restoring hope to those affected by the incident.

The beneficiaries also commended President Tinubu for his intervention, describing the support as an effort aimed at restoring hope and helping affected citizens return to productive economic activity.

Human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has stated that the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has generated significant attention, with addresses by United States President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emerging as notable highlights of the high-level debate.

In a statement titled ‘Monday Musings: UNGA 2026, When World Leaders Spoke, and the Delegates Became Spectators’, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, KSC, examined the major themes arising from the speeches and Nigeria’s absence from the gathering.

According to Ejiofor, President Trump’s address placed considerable emphasis on national sovereignty, the reform of international institutions, and the use of economic and military power in advancing national interests.

He said Trump argued against the emergence of a system of global government, taxation and international institutions that could override national sovereignty.

According to him, Trump also called for reforms at the United Nations, including reductions in bureaucracy and what he described as waste and unelected global interference.

He noted that the United States administration also highlighted a reduction in the UN budget and the elimination of thousands of positions in 2026.

Trump further defended US military action against Iran, called on Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitions and support for terrorism, while leaving open the possibility of a negotiated settlement.

He also opposed what he considered excessive international regulation of artificial intelligence, stressing the importance of maintaining America’s technological advantage.

Ejiofor described the overall message of Trump’s address as being centred on national sovereignty, institutional accountability and the continued use of American economic and military influence.

He stated that the atmosphere at the General Assembly reportedly became more contentious during Netanyahu’s address, as several delegations walked out when the Israeli leader began speaking.

According to him, Netanyahu used his address to defend Israel’s military actions against Iran and its broader security policies.

Ejiofor said Netanyahu maintained that Iran remained a major security threat to Israel and argued that Israel’s actions were necessary to protect itself and address regional threats.

According to Ejiofor, Netanyahu also invoked the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, including the deaths of Israeli civilians and the hostage crisis, as central to Israel’s security position.

He said Netanyahu rejected allegations that Israel’s conduct amounted to genocide and argued that Hamas operated from civilian areas.

According to him, Netanyahu also criticised governments and protesters who condemned Israel while, in his account, overlooking threats posed by Iran and Hamas, as well as the persecution of Jews and Christians.

He said the Israeli Prime Minister further expressed confidence that the Iranian regime would eventually fall and that the Iranian people would become free.

Reflecting on the speeches, Ejiofor argued that the 2026 UN General Assembly demonstrated the continuing importance of sovereignty, national security, economic strength, military capability, diplomacy and national interest in international affairs.

He said that although the United Nations provides a platform for global diplomacy, participating countries continue to approach international affairs through the prism of their respective national interests.

The commentary also drew attention to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s absence from the 81st UN General Assembly.

Ejiofor noted that Nigerians who had been wondering why the President did not attend the gathering, and why he had not visited the United States since assuming office, should not interpret his absence as an indication that the President was missing.

Ejiofor stated that Tinubu was in France on annual leave and that the leave had reportedly been extended by several days.

With a touch of satire, Ejiofor contrasted the President’s absence from New York with the presence of other world leaders, suggesting that Tinubu had chosen France as the venue for his break while other leaders addressed the international community at the UN.

He observed that the United Nations would remain in place and that New York would not relocate.

The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) has declared Stake.com unrecognised as a tax-registered and compliant gaming operator in Kaduna State, pending the platform’s full compliance with applicable regulatory and tax requirements.

KADIRS, in a statement, directed Stake.com to immediately regularise its operations in the state by registering with the Service, declaring its taxable activities and income, filing all applicable returns and paying outstanding taxes and other statutory revenues.

The Service also required the gaming platform to maintain accurate records and comply with other requirements prescribed by relevant laws and regulatory authorities.

The position followed recent regulatory actions against Stake.com, with gaming regulators alleging that the platform failed to register its operations, declare applicable activities and remit required gaming taxes and levies despite previous compliance notices.

KADIRS said its position was also in line with the decision of the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN) regarding Stake.com and similar administrative and regulatory decisions taken by other states.

The tax authority further cited the Supreme Court judgment in Attorney-General of Lagos State and Ors v. Attorney-General of the Federation and Ors, Suit No. SC/1/2008, delivered on November 22, 2024, as an important legal basis for state-level regulation of gaming activities.

According to KADIRS, the Supreme Court held that the National Assembly lacked constitutional authority to legislate on lottery and games of chance as a nationwide matter, while affirming the powers of state Houses of Assembly to legislate on and regulate lottery within their respective jurisdictions.

The court consequently nullified the National Lottery Act 2005 as applicable to the states, while recognising the distinct constitutional position of the Federal Capital Territory.

KADIRS said the judgment established an important legal precedent requiring gaming operators to comply with applicable state licensing, regulatory and tax requirements before carrying out gaming activities within a state.

The Service therefore directed Stake.com to regularise its status and fulfil all applicable regulatory and tax obligations before it can be recognised for taxable operations in Kaduna State.

It also advised individuals, agents, businesses and institutions engaging with Stake.com in connection with taxable activities within Kaduna State to exercise due diligence and ensure that all statutory requirements have been met.

KADIRS said it remained committed to protecting the integrity of the state’s revenue system, enforcing tax laws and working with relevant regulatory authorities to promote a transparent and properly regulated gaming environment.

The Service urged Stake.com to comply with all applicable registration, tax, licensing and regulatory requirements without further delay.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has said the latest decision by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to reduce the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 350 basis points to 23.0 percent from 26.50 percent would create a more supportive environment for manufacturing.

The association, in a statement issued by its Director General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, however, cautioned that lower interest rates, alone, would not resolve the structural constraints that continue to raise the costs of production in the sector.

It described the MPR reduction as representing a significant easing of the monetary policy stance of the apex bank, expressing the optimism that the adjustment would lower the borrowing cost and improve the operating environment for businesses, particularly manufacturers, whose activities depend heavily on working capital and investment financing.

It also noted that the MPR reduction would go a long way in supporting manufacturers’ capacity to finance inventory, raw materials, production cycles, equipment acquisition, and business expansion.

On the retention of the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) at 45 per cent for Deposit Money Banks, and 16 per cent for Merchant Banks, the association expressed concerns that a substantial proportion of banks’ deposits would continue to be held as reserves.

‘While reserve requirements remain important for financial and monetary stability, the relatively high CRR may continue to constrain the proportion of deposits available for lending to productive sectors,’ the association noted.

It, therefore, advocated for stronger coordination between monetary and fiscal authorities to ensure that monetary policy easing is complemented by targeted fiscal and structural interventions.

Such coordination, the association argued, was necessary to translate the reduction in the policy rate into lower lending costs, improved access to credit, increased productive investment, an improved operating environment, and stronger industrial growth.

MAN also wants the government to expand access to concessionary, single-digit financing for manufacturers, particularly SMIs and businesses operating in strategic sectors, as part of its efforts at supporting sustainable economic growth and industrial development:

The association appealed to the government to, progressively, review the high CRR for Deposit Money Banks, where prevailing macroeconomic conditions permit, to create greater lending capacity for productive sectors, and safeguard financial-system stability.

MAN asked the Federal Government to partner with deposit money banks (DMBs) and the Bankers’ Committee to ensure that the 350 bps MPR reduction, translates directly into lower prime and maximum commercial lending rates for local manufacturers.

On ways of reducing the cost of manufacturing, MAN urged the government to intensify efforts at addressing structural production constraints, particularly electricity costs, transport and logistics expenses, infrastructure deficits and insecurity, which, it argued, had continued to raise operation cost in the sector.

Chief Executive Officer of Winhomes Global Services Limited, Engr. Stella Ifeoma Okengwu, has called on the Federal Government to strengthen institutional protection for Nigerians in the diaspora who bring their capital and expertise into the country.

Okengwu made the call on Monday while recounting her encounter with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

She said her interaction with the Vice President centred on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), diaspora participation in Nigeria’s development and the challenges faced by Nigerians abroad who invest in the country.

According to her, the experience reinforced the need for government to move beyond encouraging Nigerians in the diaspora to invest and ensure that their investments are adequately protected once they return their capital to the country.

She said many Nigerians abroad were willing to contribute to national development but could become discouraged when they encountered institutional and regulatory obstacles after investing.

‘Patriotism cannot replace investment protection.

‘If a Nigerian-American brings capital home, builds a legitimate enterprise, creates employment and introduces foreign investment, that person should be able to trust the institutions responsible for protecting lawful investment,’ she said.

Okengwu said the consequences of such challenges went beyond individual investors, as experiences shared by diaspora investors could influence the confidence of other Nigerians and foreign investors considering Nigeria.

‘When diaspora investors encounter serious institutional obstacles, the consequences extend beyond one investor or one project.

‘Stories travel. Investor confidence travels with them. And when confidence disappears, capital can disappear too,’ she said.

She said her discussion with Shettima gave her an opportunity to communicate the human dimension of diaspora investment, noting that behind investment figures were families, employees, businesses and people who had chosen to put their resources into Nigeria.

Okengwu described the Vice President as attentive during their interaction, saying he listened to her concerns about the difficulties associated with bringing investment back to the country.

She, however, stressed that such engagements should ultimately translate into policies and institutional reforms that would improve the experience of investors.

Okengwu also highlighted what she described as the Federal Government’s initiatives concerning development in the South-East, saying such measures would ultimately have to be judged by their implementation and impact on residents.

She noted the establishment of the South East Development Commission and other initiatives aimed at promoting economic development and attracting investment to the region.

According to her, the people of the South-East should be able to measure the impact of such initiatives through improved infrastructure, investment, employment opportunities and greater confidence in public institutions.

She said the region, like other parts of Nigeria, needed an environment where private, institutional and diaspora capital could operate with confidence.

‘Their ultimate significance will depend on implementation,’ she said.

‘The people of the South-East should be able to measure progress through infrastructure, investment, jobs, economic opportunities and improved confidence in institutions.’

Reflecting on the Federal Government’s efforts to attract investment, Okengwu said attracting capital was only one part of the process, arguing that maintaining investor confidence after investments had been made was equally important.

She said Nigeria’s investment drive would be strengthened if investors could demonstrate through their experiences that the country’s institutions protected legitimate investments.

‘The strongest advertisement Nigeria can give the international investment community is not another conference brochure.

‘It is the testimony of an investor who can say: ‘I invested in Nigeria. The institutions worked. My rights were respected. My investment was protected. I would invest again,” she said.

Okengwu said thousands of Nigerians in the diaspora had the capacity to contribute capital, skills, professional networks and international business connections to Nigeria’s development.

She argued that diaspora engagement should therefore extend beyond remittances to include investment, entrepreneurship, technology transfer and professional expertise.

The investor also said acknowledging positive interactions with public officials should not be interpreted as unconditional political support.

She said public officials should be appreciated when they demonstrate openness to citizens while remaining accountable for the outcomes of government policies.

‘I can say that Vice President Shettima treated me with humility and listened compassionately to my concerns while still believing that government must be held accountable for results. Both things can be true,’ she said.

Okengwu said her encounter with the Vice President left her hopeful that greater dialogue between government and Nigerians in the diaspora could help address some of the institutional barriers confronting investors.

She called for greater collaboration between government, public institutions, citizens and investors to build confidence in Nigeria’s investment environment.

‘Let compassion become policy. Let listening become action. Let invitations to the diaspora be accompanied by institutional protection,’ she said.

Okengwu said Nigerians abroad remained willing to contribute to the country’s development but needed greater assurance that their investments would be protected.

‘Nigeria does not lack talent. Nigeria does not lack investors. And Nigeria certainly does not lack Nigerians abroad who desperately want their homeland to succeed. What we need is a bridge of trust between government, institutions, citizens and investors,’ she added.

Two leading political parties at the weekend declined comments on the implications of the Supreme Court judgment of Thursday, which affirmed the powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over political parties’ membership registers and the nomination of candidates, setting aside a contrary judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.

The apex court, in its judgment delivered on Thursday, September 24, 2026, upheld the validity of Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, ruling that the provisions are not inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.

The judgment followed an appeal filed by INEC against the July 16, 2026 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had voided provisions of the Electoral Act dealing with political party membership registers and candidate nomination.

Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Honourable Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, declined to comment on the issue when contacted on Sunday, insisting that it would only state a position after receiving the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment.

He said: ‘We are yet to receive the CTC of the judgement as such cannot comment.’

The National Secretary of the ruling APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru, also said his party has no official reaction as he declared that the party national secretariat was not in custody of the CTC of the apex court judgment.

Senator Basiru also noted that APC was not a party to the suit and maintained that the justices of the Supreme Court could not have nullified the candidacy of Honourable Chinda, the APC candidate in Rivers State.

He said: ‘I haven’t read the judgment; our party isn’t a party to the suit. Our candidate in Rivers State isn’t a party to the suit.

‘As a legal practitioner, I can’t make a comment on a judgment that I haven’t read. We have asked the INEC, which is a party to the suit to avail us a copy of the judgment. Until we see a Certified True Copy of the judgment of the Supreme Court, it will be difficult for us (APC) to take an informed position on the judgement.’

INEC awaits legal advice

INEC has said that it is yet to meet to consider Supreme Court ruling that validated Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of Electoral Act 2026.

National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, IVEC, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, disclosed this in phone interview with Nigerian Tribune on Sunday.

Asked about position of INEC on the ruling, Haruna said ruling was delivered on Thursday towards weekend and Commission has not met to consider its implications.

‘You said the ruling was on Thursday, which is towards the weekend. So, INEC hasn’t met yet to consider the implications based on that. And you can’t take anything for granted. You can’t say since the ruling favours us; this is exactly what it is. Until we sit down and hear advice from the legal department before we can say this is our position,’ he said.

Apex Court declared what the law has been – Raji

Reacting to the judgment and whether it could have a retrospective effect, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr Ahmed Raji, said the issue of retrospect did not arise because the Supreme Court had merely declared what the law had always been.

Raji told Nigerian Tribune: ‘The Supreme Court merely pronounced the state of the law. The issue of being retroactive does not arise. What it means is that the law has always been what the Supreme Court said it is.’

The national leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) also declared that the pronouncement of the Supreme Court on the suit instituted by the Zenith Labour Party would not in any way affect the emergence of its Governorship Candidate in Nasarawa State, Mohammed Adamu.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Araba Rufus Ayenigba, told Nigerian Tribune, ‘Adamu’s membership of the SDP had been for three months or so before the governorship primary election through which he emerged as the SDP candidate.

‘The ruling does not affect the former IGP in any way; he joined SDP on May 24, 2026, on the day he resigned his membership of APC.

‘His name was listed on the party register and forwarded to INEC more than 3 months before the substitution primary election, which was conducted on September 5, 2026.’

The party insisted that Adamu was validly nominated, and he remained the candidate who is legally recognised by INEC.

Ruling won’t affect Obi’s nomination – NDC spokesman

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) equally dismissed reports suggesting that the Supreme Court’s recent judgment could affect the nomination of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for the 2027 general election.

Reacting to the report, NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, dismissed suggestions that the judgment had created a legal obstacle to Obi’s candidacy.

‘We hope that those who are afraid of Peter Obi on the ballot will concentrate on telling Nigerians why they should be re-elected or voted for rather than spreading mischievous information. The Supreme Court judgment will not and shall not in any way affect Peter Obi,’ director said.

Implications for parties, candidates – SANs

Speaking in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr Abiodun Layonu, insisted that the question of whether the decision would operate retrospectively should be approached differently from the ordinary rule concerning the retrospective application of legislation.

The SAN posited that legislation ordinarily does not operate retrospectively unless the law expressly provides otherwise, subject to constitutional limitations.

However, Dr Layonu distinguished between the operation of legislation and the effect of a judicial pronouncement by the Supreme Court.

In his words, the significance of the apex court’s judgment was that it had now authoritatively determined that the disputed provisions of the Electoral Act were valid.

Layonu explained that because the provisions were part of the Electoral Act from the time the legislation was enacted, the Supreme Court’s validation meant that their legal validity had now been affirmed at the highest judicial level.

According to Dr Layonu, ‘It would therefore be inaccurate to simply describe the judgment as giving the Electoral Act retrospective effect. Rather, the Supreme Court had determined the legal status of the provisions as contained in the legislation, meaning that conduct occurring after the enactment of the law could be subject to those provisions where applicable.’

The SAN stressed that the earlier Court of Appeal judgment could not necessarily be relied upon by a candidate or political party seeking to avoid the consequences of the Supreme Court’s subsequent pronouncement.

Another SAN, Mr Francis Amobi Nzelu, saw the judgment from the perspective of the changing relationship between political parties, candidates, INEC and the electorate.

Nzelu queried the continued relevance of the traditional position that political parties have the final say in determining their candidates, particularly considering the statutory framework governing party primaries under the Electoral Act 2026.

The SAN said political parties in earlier periods operated under a system in which their conventions effectively selected candidates to represent them in elections.

The senior lawyer suggested that the introduction of direct primaries, under which registered party members participate in determining candidates, had changed the character of the process.

Nzelu held that where a party member had obtained nomination forms, got screened and cleared, participated in a primary election and emerged victorious; questions could arise if the party subsequently sought to remove the person’s name.

Nzelu insisted that such circumstances should also be considered from the standpoint of the electorate, which ultimately votes for candidates at general elections.

On his part, a human rights crusader, Ige Asemudara, described the decision of the Supreme Court as a development that would reinforce order and adherence to established electoral rules.

The legal luminary stated that persons who were not listed on the membership register of a political party within the statutory period should not seek to participate in the party’s primary process.

Asemudara referenced instances where aspirants dissatisfied with the outcome of primaries in one political party subsequently moved to another party and sought to contest under its platform.

The Supreme Court, according to Asemudara, had restored clarity regarding the relevance of party membership registers and the statutory requirements governing participation in party primaries.

Reacting to the judgment, legal practitioners, Ubong Esop Akpan and Victor Giwa urged the electoral body not to interpret the decision as an automatic disqualification of candidates whose emergence may be questioned.

According to Akpan, who expressed his preference for the Court of Appeal’s decision which upheld party autonomy, the Supreme Court had settled the constitutional validity of the statutory provisions but did not determine the validity of individual candidates.

‘I personally prefer the Court of Appeal decision on grounds of party autonomy. But the Supreme Court has the final say in these matters and we must deal with its real-world consequences.

‘I caution against interpreting the judgment as an automatic disqualification of candidates whose nominations may be questioned.’

On his part, Giwa submitted that INEC should not use the Supreme Court’s decision as a weapon against political parties, adding that most political parties acted based on the Court of Appeal’s decision.

He said that the Supreme Court’s decision might not be a political tsunami, asserting that if democracy is truly all-encompassing, INEC should not use the decision of the apex court against political parties.

‘INEC should not use the judgment of the Supreme Court against the political parties.

The reason is this, the trial court upheld the power of INEC but the Court of Appeal removed that power.

‘Most political parties acted based on the decision of the Court of Appeal; they acted in compliance with the court order.

‘Now that the Supreme Court took a different decision, will you now say those political parties, which based on the Court of Appeal’s decision did their own primaries, then later submitted their lists of members outside of the time provided by INEC?

‘If democracy is all-encompassing, you don’t have to eliminate anybody. Moving forward, INEC should not take it against any political parties,’ Giwa said.

Judgment does not automatically nullify PDP nominations – Kwara legal practitioner

A legal practitioner based in Kwara State, Taofiq Olateju, has said that the Supreme Court’s judgment on sections of the 2026 Electoral Act should not be interpreted as automatically nullifying nominations of politicians who recently defected and emerged as candidates of other political parties in Kwara State.

Olateju said the interpretation of the judgment circulating on social media does not, in his view, accurately reflect its legal effect, stressing that the decision must be considered within the specific facts and circumstances of each case.

According to him, the effect of the judgment on any particular candidate would depend on the facts surrounding the candidate’s membership, the relevant party’s membership register, the nomination process and compliance with the applicable electoral requirements.

Olateju therefore maintained that documentary evidence could become important in determining disputes over party membership and nominations, rather than relying solely on political declarations concerning defection or membership.

The Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS), in collaboration with the Tax Club Society of Bayero University Kano (BUK), has trained students on Nigeria’s ongoing tax reforms, tax administration and regulatory changes.

The one-day workshop, held on September 17 at the Conference Room of KIRS, was organised to equip members of the BUK Tax Club with practical knowledge to better understand tax-related issues and prepare for careers in taxation.

The workshop was themed, ‘Exploring Nigeria’s Tax Reforms, Administrative and Regulatory Changes and What Every Taxpayer Needs to Know.’

It brought together students from the Departments of Accounting, Law and Taxation, with tax professionals from KIRS and a representative of the Kano and District Society of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) serving as resource persons.

The sessions focused on key tax concepts, tax administration and the laws governing taxation in the state, with participants given practical insights into the application of tax rules and the responsibilities of taxpayers.

The workshop also exposed the students to the role of the CITN, including its membership requirements and career opportunities available to students and other individuals interested in pursuing careers in taxation.

Speaking at the event, Executive Chairman of KIRS, Alhaji Bashir Maitama, FCTI, CNA, MNIM, commended the Tax Club Society for initiating the programme.

Maitama urged the students to make effective use of the knowledge gained from the workshop, saying the exposure would help them apply tax principles in their respective professional fields.

He also advised the students to strike a balance between their participation in Tax Club activities and their academic responsibilities.

According to him, graduating with excellent academic results should remain a major priority for every university student, even while participating in professional and extracurricular activities.

The KIRS chairman expressed optimism that programmes of this nature would help develop a new generation of informed professionals with a better understanding of Nigeria’s tax system.

He said such knowledge would also position the students to contribute meaningfully to tax administration, compliance and the wider development of society.

The Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS), Kano State Command, has deployed personnel to Garko Local Government Area following reports of suspected rabid dogs attacking and biting 18 residents in the area.

This was contained in a statement signed by the State Commander of the NFSS, Abdullahi Al’ameen, issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Usman Abdullahi-Umar, a copy made available to the press in Kano.

He disclosed that the command received a distress report at about 2 p.m. that a dog suspected to be infected with rabies had attacked residents in Garko town.

According to him, the dog had bitten 11 people in Garko before moving into neighbouring communities, including Raba, Kadage, Gurjiya and Dausai, where it attacked and injured seven additional residents.

‘The dog had so far bitten 11 persons in Garko town before moving to neighbouring communities, including Raba, Kadage, Gurjiya and Dausai.

‘It also attacked and bit seven additional persons in the affected communities,’ he said.

He added that the command had received another report indicating that two other dogs were suspected to have been infected with rabies in the area.

He said personnel of the NFSS Garko Division, led by the Divisional Forest Officer, Auwalu Muhammad, had been deployed to the affected communities to track and contain the suspected rabid dogs.

Al’ameen urged residents of Garko and neighbouring communities to remain vigilant and promptly report sightings of stray or suspected rabid dogs to the nearest NFSS office or other security agencies.

He also advised anyone bitten by a suspected rabid dog to seek immediate medical attention.

The commander assured residents that the NFSS would continue to monitor the situation and take necessary measures to prevent further attacks.

It’s happening in your kitchen right now. It happened the last time you cried cutting an onion, or watched your bread puff up in the oven.

Here are seven things you’ve probably done a hundred times, without knowing there was real chemistry hiding inside them.

Why onions make you cry

Think of an onion like a tiny, sealed bomb factory. Inside the onion, there are two separate ingredients kept apart from each other, like chemicals in two different rooms. As long as the onion stays whole, nothing happens.

The moment you slice it open, those two rooms crash into each other. One turns into a stinging gas almost instantly. That gas floats up, touches your eyes, and your body panics and starts making tears to wash it away.

So the tears aren’t the onion being ‘strong.’ It’s really just two harmless things that become a tear-gas-like chemical the second they meet.

Why bread rises

Picture yeast as a tiny, invisible creature that’s actually alive, and hungry. You feed it sugar hiding inside the flour. It eats the sugar, and like anything that eats, it ‘burps.’ Except its burp is a gas called carbon dioxide.

On its own, that gas would just float away and nothing would happen. But when you knead the dough, you’re stretching the flour into something like a net made of rubber bands. That net catches every single burp instead of letting it escape.

Thousands of trapped burps later, your flat dough has puffed up into soft, fluffy bread.

Why cut fruit turns brown

An apple has two things inside it that don’t do much on their own, but react the moment they touch, a bit like two paints that only make a new colour once they’re mixed together.

Normally, those two things are kept apart inside separate little compartments in the apple’s cells, the way you’d keep two paints in separate tubes.

The moment you cut the apple, those compartments break open. Air rushes in, the two things touch for the first time, and they react.

That reaction makes a brown colour, the same basic type of colour that’s in your own skin and hair. The apple isn’t going bad, and it isn’t unsafe to eat. It’s just reacting to being cut open and meeting the air, the same way the two paints would react the moment you mixed them.

A little lemon juice on the slice slows this down, because the sourness makes it much harder for that reaction to happen.

soap actually cleans

Water and oil hate each other. You’ve seen this yourself: oil just sits on top of water and refuses to mix in, no matter how hard you stir.

Soap is clever because each tiny soap piece has two ends that want different things. One end loves water. The other end loves oil and grease.

When you wash your hands, the oil-loving ends grab onto the grease and dirt, while the water-loving ends stick out and let water carry the whole clump away. It’s like soap builds a thousand tiny suitcases, packs the dirt inside, and water carries all the suitcases down the drain.

Why iron rusts

Rust is what happens when metal slowly ‘loses a fight’ to water and air. When water sits on iron for long enough, the iron actually gives away some of its tiny electrical particles. Oxygen from the air happily grabs those particles for itself.

Once the iron has given those particles away, it’s not really the same strong metal anymore. It turns into that reddish-brown, flaky stuff we call rust. This is exactly why a dry metal spoon barely rusts, but the same spoon left wet in a sink for weeks will.

Why ice floats instead of sinking

Normally, when something freezes solid, it becomes heavier and denser than it was as a liquid, and sinks. Water breaks that rule completely.

When water freezes, its tiny particles lock hands and arrange themselves into a spread-out, open pattern, almost like people holding hands and standing far apart instead of squeezing close together. That spread-out pattern actually takes up more space than liquid water does.

Because it takes up more space for the same weight, ice becomes lighter than the water underneath it, so it floats. This is also why a frozen lake freezes on top first, while fish stay perfectly fine swimming underneath all winter.

Why zobo changes colour when you add lemon or lime

Zobo already contains a natural colour changer, and most people never realise it. The petals used to make zobo are full of a pigment that behaves differently depending on what it touches. Around something sour, like lemon or lime, it turns a brighter, deeper red. Around something more neutral, it leans more purple.

This is the exact same trick scientists use in a lab to test whether something is sour (acidic) or not, just using fancier equipment. Your zobo cup has basically been running a real chemistry experiment every single time you squeezed lime into it.