Tinubu to Governors: State Police Must Begin Now

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that the establishment of state police in Nigeria can no longer be delayed, stressing that urgent action is required to tackle rising insecurity, banditry, terrorism and kidnapping across the country.

The President spoke on Monday night after breaking the Ramadan fast (Iftar) with state governors at the Presidential Villa, where he said all levels of government must work together to reclaim ungoverned spaces being exploited by criminal groups.

“What I promised you will not be postponed. We will establish state police to combat insecurity. Start looking around you,” Tinubu told the governors, emphasising that Nigeria’s security challenges had reached a point where decentralised policing could no longer be ignored.

He reminded the governors that they had all, through deliberations at the National Economic Council (NEC), agreed on the need to create state police as a strategy to curb insecurity and protect communities. According to him, the consensus underscored the urgency of addressing widespread criminality that has disrupted livelihoods and instilled fear across many parts of the country.

Tinubu, however, acknowledged that critical issues such as funding, command structure, oversight, accountability and coordination with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies were still being worked out. He noted that these modalities must be carefully designed to ensure professionalism, prevent abuse and guarantee effective collaboration.

The President also urged governors to intensify grassroots development, saying neglect, unemployment and poverty at the local government level often fuel criminal activities. He appealed to state leaders to embrace inclusiveness and ensure that development opportunities reached the most vulnerable.

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“Be all-encompassing. Let’s spread development opportunities to the grassroots and embrace the downtrodden, the young ones and all our supporters,” he said.

Describing the coincidence of the Muslim Ramadan fast and the Christian Lenten season as symbolic, Tinubu said the period reflected shared values of discipline, sacrifice and unity, urging Nigerians to continue to pray together and support one another.

Addressing internal political tensions, the President advised members of his party to exercise tolerance during ongoing congresses, stressing that unity and harmony were essential for national stability.

“Tolerate everybody. Let the young ones breathe. Build structures anchored on unity, harmony and sacrifice,” he said.

Acknowledging that criticisms and commendations would continue to trail his administration, Tinubu expressed optimism about Nigeria’s trajectory, saying the country was emerging from economic uncertainty.

“We are out of the dark tunnel of uncertainty. The economy is picking up. Let’s help those who are unemployed,” he added.

Responding on behalf of the governors, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma described the gathering as a symbol of religious harmony, unity and partnership between the federal and state governments. He praised the President for fostering political stability and strengthening collaboration with governors, pledging continued support for ongoing reforms.

The dinner was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, members of the Federal Executive Council, several state governors and senior government officials, including Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Tinubu to Governors: State Police Must Begin Now

U.S. Court Orders ICE to Release Nigerian Detained Since 2012

A U.S. District Court in Minnesota has ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to release Michael Opeoluwa Egbele, a Nigerian national who entered the United States illegally in 2003 and had been held under immigration detention since his arrest in 2012. The court ruled that his detention was unlawful due to prolonged enforcement delays and lack of proper legal notice.

Senior U.S. District Judge John M. Gerrard delivered the ruling on February 18, 2026, giving ICE until February 20 to free Egbele and file a status report confirming his release. The judge highlighted that ICE had no legal grounds to hold him, noting the unique circumstances of his long-standing supervision arrangement.

Egbele’s legal troubles began in 2012 after his arrest on a drug-related offence, which triggered deportation proceedings. At the time, he applied for asylum and requested that his removal be withheld, but his claim was denied, and he was issued a final deportation order in July 2012. However, ICE did not enforce the removal, and Egbele did not appeal.

Instead, he was released on supervision in December 2012, under which he was required to report regularly to ICE. This arrangement continued for more than a decade until January 2026, when ICE detained him during a routine check-in.

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Egbele argued in court that he was never notified of any revocation of his pre-existing order of supervision and was not given a legal explanation for his detention. ICE claimed the supervision was revoked partly because Egbele failed to obtain a travel document to Nigeria, as required under his supervision.

Following his arrest, Egbele was unable to contact his wife, a U.S. citizen, or his lawyer for several days. He was initially held at an ICE facility in Montana and later transferred to a detention center in New Mexico, with his location undisclosed for days.

The federal government argued that the Minnesota court lacked jurisdiction because Egbele was held outside the state, but the judge rejected this, stating that ICE could not unilaterally terminate a decades-long supervisory arrangement without due process. The court emphasized that Egbele’s right to proper notice and legal protections had been violated.

Judge Gerrard ordered that Egbele be released immediately under the conditions of his original supervision and directed ICE to file a compliance report by February 20, 2026.

Legal experts say the ruling highlights broader concerns about long-term immigration detention, due process rights, and the enforcement of removal orders in the U.S., particularly when individuals have established long-term ties or arrangements with immigration authorities.

U.S. Court Orders ICE to Release Nigerian Detained Since 2012

Nigeria Wins $6.2 Million Arbitration Against UK Tech Firm

Nigeria has scored a landmark legal victory, securing $6.2 million in an international arbitration against UK-based technology firm European Dynamics UK Ltd over a disputed national electronic government procurement (e-GP) contract. The ruling reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to performance-based government contracts and protecting public resources.

The arbitration decision, delivered on February 3, 2026, by sole arbitrator Funmi Roberts at the International Centre for Arbitration and Mediation, dismissed all claims by the UK contractor. The award is final and not subject to appeal, according to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

The dispute originated from a Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) contract to design, develop, and implement a national e-procurement platform, supported by the World Bank to enhance transparency and efficiency in federal procurement.

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European Dynamics had claimed over $6.2 million, including:

• $2.4 million for alleged milestone completions
• $3 million in general damages
• $800,000 in settlement costs

However, the tribunal ruled the claims lacked merit, citing deficiencies during User Acceptance Testing (UAT) such as functional gaps and performance errors, which the contractor was required to fix at no additional cost.

The BPP insisted payments must be strictly tied to verified deliverables, rejecting earlier efforts at an out-of-court settlement. The tribunal upheld this stance, emphasizing that software development and customization contracts are performance-based and must meet technical and statutory standards before payments are made.

Nigeria’s legal team, led by Johnson & Wilner LLP with Basil Udotai heading the arbitration, achieved what the BPP Director-General, Adebowale Adedokun, described as a historic victory. European Dynamics had previously won arbitration cases in other African countries but lost against Nigeria, signaling a shift in how government procurement disputes are handled.

Attorney-General Fagbemi stated that this ruling sends a clear message that Nigeria will no longer be taken for granted, demonstrating strengthened legal and technical capacity in managing complex international contracts. Experts suggest the outcome will influence future e-procurement reforms to ensure compliance, accountability, and efficient management of public contracts.

Nigeria Wins $6.2 Million Arbitration Against UK Tech Firm