News
NBA, benchers set for showdown as Olanipekun leads call to bar ceremony
Crisis is brewing between leaders of two top lawyer groups, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Body of Benchers over the call to bar ceremony presided over by Chairman of the BoB, Woke Olanipekun (SAN).
Olanipekun was said to have ignored the warning of the NBA led by Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, by presiding over the call to bar ceremony which began on Tuesday.
The call to bar is a graduation for new lawyers.
Maikyau had in a letter dated December 4 asked Olanipekun to withdraw from the BoB leadership following the action of Ms Ogunde, a partner in his law firm, who sought a client’s engagement of her principal (in a $130m case) over his alleged influence on judges.
Maikyau requested that Olanipekun should salvage the reputation and integrity of the BoB and the legal profession, by allowing the call to bar ceremony scheduled for 6 and 7 December 2022 to be presided by Justice Mary Peter Odili (Rtd), the vice chairman of the body.
But at the event on Tuesday, Olanipekun presided over the ceremony in defiance of the protest of the NBA president.
The NBA president boycotted the event implying that the legal profession is in for another round of rift.
He said, “The NBA under my leadership cannot be part of the ceremony superintended by the current chairman of the BoB for all the reasons stated in my letter under reference.
“To do so will be to endorse, celebrate or condone a practice that I consider unwholesome and unprofessional, by virtue of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007,” the NBA said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee under the BoB had exonerated Olanipekun of the allegation.
Responding to that in his letter on December 4, Maikyau stated that while he did not contend the correctness or otherwise of the committee’s decision, “Suffice however to say that the public reactions that trailed the emergence of that email and the decision exonerating the law firm would give a bit of insight into how this Body is presently being viewed by some members of the profession and the Nigerian public.”
Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof Isa Chiroma, announced at the event that 4,711 applicants qualified to be enlisted into the legal profession.
Olanipekun admitted all the applicants and ordered them to put on their wigs.
“By the powers conferred on me as Chairman of the Body of Benchers, I hereby admit each and every one of you into the bar as barristers,” he said.
Olanipekun, apparently replying to his critics, said at the ceremony that every life bencher has an idea of when to assume office as chairman of the BoB
He said the term of the BoB chairman is one year.
“At the end of the tenure of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman automatically transits into the position of Chairman. By the grace of God, come March 21, 2023, Justice Mary Odili will assume the position as Chairman of the body while we transit into the committee of elders as past chairmen,” he said.
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News
NiMet Predicts Thunderstorms, Rain Across Nigeria Till Wednesday
NiMet Predicts Thunderstorms, Rain Across Nigeria Till Wednesday
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted thunderstorms and rainfall across several parts of Nigeria from Monday to Wednesday.
The agency, in its weather outlook released on Sunday, also warned that strong winds could occur ahead of thunderstorms in some areas.
For Monday, NiMet expects thunderstorms and light rain over parts of Taraba and Kebbi during the morning. Later in the day, moderate rainfall is expected across several areas in the North-East, Kaduna, Taraba and Kebbi.
In the North-Central region, parts of Niger State could experience thunderstorms and light rain in the morning, while most parts of the region may record thunderstorms with moderate rainfall by afternoon or evening.
The southern states are also expected to experience wet conditions. NiMet forecasts cloudy skies in the morning, with isolated thunderstorms and light rain over parts of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River. More thunderstorms and light rain are expected later in the day.
Tuesday and Wednesday Forecast
On Tuesday, the northern region is expected to have patches of cloud in the morning, with thunderstorms and light rain possible in parts of Taraba.
By afternoon or evening, most parts of the region could experience thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rain.
In the North-Central, parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Nasarawa and Plateau states are expected to receive thunderstorms and moderate rainfall later in the day.
Southern areas, including parts of Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia and the South-South, may also experience thunderstorms and light rain.
NiMet expects more widespread rainfall on Wednesday, particularly across northern and North-Central states. Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Adamawa and Taraba are among the areas listed for morning thunderstorms and moderate rain.
The agency also forecasts thunderstorms and moderate rainfall across much of the South later on Wednesday.
NiMet advised residents to secure loose objects and take precautions against strong winds. Motorists were urged to avoid driving during heavy rainfall, while residents were advised to disconnect electrical appliances during thunderstorms and stay away from tall trees.
Airline operators were also advised to obtain airport-specific weather information when planning flights.
NiMet Predicts Thunderstorms, Rain Across Nigeria Till Wednesday
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News
Working People United Celebrates Oluremi Tinubu at 66, Commends Her Humanitarian Efforts
Working People United Celebrates Oluremi Tinubu at 66, Commends Her Humanitarian Efforts
Civic organisation Working People United has congratulated Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on her 66th birthday, praising her contributions to humanitarian services, education, healthcare and the empowerment of vulnerable Nigerians.
Oluremi Tinubu celebrates her 66th birthday on Monday, September 21, 2026, with messages of goodwill coming from individuals and organisations across the country.
In a congratulatory message issued on Sunday, National Coordinator-General of Working People United, Prince Williams Akporeha, described the First Lady’s years of public service as an important part of her contribution to Nigerian society.
Akporeha said the organisation recognised Oluremi Tinubu’s continued involvement in programmes designed to improve the welfare of children, women, young people and underserved communities.
He particularly highlighted her advocacy and interventions in education, healthcare access, youth development and economic empowerment, saying such initiatives were directed at addressing challenges faced by ordinary Nigerians.
According to the group, the First Lady’s humanitarian activities have focused on providing practical support to communities and creating opportunities for people who might otherwise have limited access to social and economic resources.
Working People United also commended Oluremi Tinubu’s interest in family welfare and children’s development, describing those areas as important to the long-term development of the country.
The organisation said efforts to strengthen access to basic education and healthcare, particularly at the grassroots, remained critical to improving the quality of life of Nigerians.
It also praised initiatives aimed at providing young people with skills and economic opportunities, noting that youth empowerment could help reduce vulnerability and expand participation in the economy.
Akporeha urged the First Lady to sustain her advocacy for vulnerable Nigerians as she begins another year of her life.
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He said the organisation was joining Nigerians across the country to celebrate Oluremi Tinubu and acknowledge what it described as her commitment to humanitarian service.
Working People United wished the First Lady good health, wisdom, strength and fulfilment as she continues her public responsibilities and supports initiatives focused on the welfare of Nigerians.
The group also expressed hope that her birthday would provide an opportunity to renew attention to issues affecting children, women, young people and low-income families, particularly in education, healthcare and economic empowerment.
Oluremi Tinubu, a former senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, has been involved in public service and humanitarian activities for several years.
As First Lady, she has continued her intervention programmes through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), which has focused on areas including education, health, agriculture, social investment and economic empowerment.
Her recent programmes have included support for women, vulnerable households, students, farmers, young people and families affected by economic hardship.
The birthday messages therefore come as the First Lady continues her public engagements and humanitarian programmes across different parts of Nigeria.
Working People United Celebrates Oluremi Tinubu at 66, Commends Her Humanitarian Efforts
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International
18 Suspects Transferred to US Over 2021 Killing of Haitian President Moïse
18 Suspects Transferred to US Over 2021 Killing of Haitian President Moïse
Eighteen suspects accused of involvement in the 2021 assassination of former Haitian President Jovenel Moise have been transferred from Haiti to the United States to face trial.
US officials said the suspects were transported to Florida on Sunday, as American authorities continue their prosecution of people allegedly connected to the plot.
Federal prosecutor Jason Reding Quinones said the suspects were flown from Haiti on a military aircraft to face proceedings in the Southern District of Florida.
He said US authorities had so far indicted 30 people in connection with the assassination and warned that the prosecutions were not over.
Among those transferred was Joseph Felix Badio, a former anti-corruption official with Haiti’s Ministry of Justice who has been identified as a major suspect in the investigation.
Haitian government and police sources said the other suspects included Colombian nationals who were allegedly part of the group involved in the operation.
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Colombian Nationals Among Suspects
Colombia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that 17 of its citizens had been transferred from Haiti to the United States.
The ministry said the Colombian government was monitoring the development but had not participated in the decision or process that led to the transfer.
Moise was killed at his private residence in Port-au-Prince on July 7, 2021. Investigators said a group of about 20 Colombian military-trained mercenaries had been hired in connection with the operation.
The president’s security detail came under scrutiny after failing to prevent the attack.
In May, four men were convicted in a Miami federal court over charges connected to the plot, including conspiracy to kill or kidnap Moise and providing material support for the operation. They could face life imprisonment.
US prosecutors said the men were linked to CTU Security, a Florida-based private security company, and had allegedly been attracted by the prospect of lucrative contracts after Moise was removed from power.
The assassination plunged Haiti further into political and security turmoil. The country has since struggled with gang violence and remains without a president, while preparations continue for elections scheduled for December, subject to security conditions.
18 Suspects Transferred to US Over 2021 Killing of Haitian President Moïse
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