Law & Crime
Court orders repatriation of 270 Nigerians detained in Ethiopian prison

The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to facilitate the repatriation of approximately 270 Nigerians imprisoned or detained in Kaliti Prison, Ethiopia.
Delivering the judgment on November 14 in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/303/2024, Justice Inyang Ekwo issued an order of mandamus, compelling the two agencies to fulfill their statutory duties and bring the detainees back home.
The suit was initiated by three Nigerians—Sunday Mmaduagwu, Henry Anyanwu, and Leonard Okafor—on behalf of the imprisoned citizens.
They alleged that the detainees were subjected to inhumane living conditions after Ethiopian authorities declared that they lacked the budget to care for the inmates.
The applicants claimed the prisoners faced starvation, lack of medical care, and restricted access to legal representation, with some dying due to neglect. “Every week, about two or three deaths are recorded.
“They have not been buried, nor have their corpses been returned to Nigeria,” Mmaduagwu stated in his affidavit.
The suit also highlighted cases of arbitrary arrests, where Nigerians traveling through Ethiopia were allegedly dispossessed of their valuables and falsely accused of crimes.
The applicants named NIDCOM, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Assembly, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Attorney General of the Federation as respondents.
They sought a court order mandating the government to intervene and repatriate the detainees.
In a counter-affidavit, the Senate dismissed the claims as “unfounded” and asked the court to throw out the case.
Usman Abdulhameed, Chief Legislative Officer of the National Assembly, argued that investigations by its committees on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs had found no evidence of incarceration or maltreatment of Nigerians in Ethiopia.
“The Senate is not aware of any communication from the Ethiopian government requesting Nigeria to repatriate its citizens,” Abdulhameed asserted.
Justice Ekwo, however, ruled in favor of the applicants, stating that they had presented a compelling case.
He criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NIDCOM for failing to act, emphasizing that it is the duty of the government to protect its citizens abroad.
“The motives of the applicants are not unreasonable. It is rationally expected that a citizen of a country who needs intervention abroad will receive the requisite succor from their home country,” Ekwo stated.
The court ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NIDCOM to take immediate steps to repatriate the detained Nigerians. However, it declined to declare that the detainees’ fundamental rights had been violated.
This judgment has been widely regarded as a wake-up call for Nigerian authorities to prioritize the welfare of citizens abroad.
As the government gears up to comply with the court’s directive, families of the detainees hope this will mark the end of their loved ones’ suffering in Ethiopian detention.
Law & Crime
Valedictory Session:Ewhrudjakpo, Ayemieye, Others Pour Encomium On Late Justice Alagoa

By David Owei, Yenagoa.
Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, along with the state Chief Judge, Justice Matilda Ayemieye, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Biriyai Dambo (SAN), and other personalities have poured encomiums on the late Justice Stanley Shenko Alagoa, describing him as one of the best justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who spoke at a special valedictory session held at the court of the Chief Judge in Yenagoa at the weekend, said there were a lot of positive lessons to learn from the exemplary life of the late Justice of the Supreme Court.
He eulogized Justice Alagoa as an incorruptible judge, emphasizing that his judicial pronouncements and judgements would be quoted for as long as justice system remains in Nigeria, and called on his family to take solace in his worthy legacy.
His words: “There are two sets of people in the world – those who left their shoes dirty, and those who left theirs clean. The late Justice Alagoa is of the latter group.
“Alagoa was a man of integrity. He condemned corrupt politicians as a challenge to the Nigerian Justice System. It is not how long a man live, but how well.
“Justice Alagoa has taught everyone in Nigeria a lesson; His pronouncements and judgements will be quoted as long as the justice system remains. Let us immortalize him by promoting what he represented.”
In her remarks, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Matilda Abrakasa-Ayemieye, pointed out that the late Justice Alagoa was the first Bayelsan to climb to the Supreme Court of Nigeria and did so much in contributing towards the development of the country’s legal jurisprudence.
Justice Ayemieye, who described Alagoa as one of the finest jurists at the Supreme Court, explained that he was a man of integrity, whose notable contributions to the growth of the Nigerian justice delivery system would not be easily forgotten.
She, however, used the opportunity to remind the living that they came from God and shall return to Him in due time, stressing that everyone shall give account of him or herself at an appointed time.
On his part, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Biriyai Dambo (SAN), said “it is evident from from his biography that Justice Alagoa was a diligent judge who rose through the ranks to the pinnacle of his illustrious career at the Supreme Court,” and deserved the honour of being given a befitting funeral.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa Branch, Mr. Somina Johnbull, noted that the deceased who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1974, describing him as an exemplary ambassador of the state judiciary having been one of the three judges from Bayelsa that ascended to the Supreme Court.
Other dignitaries present at the session were retired Justice Francis Tabai; the Chief Judge of Rivers State represented by Justice A. Victor; the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Daniel Ayah, retired Justice Margaret Akpomiemie, the Head of Service, Mrs Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeama, amongst others.
In a related development, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, at the weekend, also led a delegation of political leaders and stakeholders of Bayelsa West to pay a condolence visit to the family of the late His Royal Majesty, King Joshua Igbagara, the paramount ruler of Ibeni -Oyiakiri Kingdom in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking at the Biogbolo residence of the departed first class traditional ruler, the Deputy Governor noted that the Sagbama Area, Bayelsa West, and by extension, the entire state and Nigeria had lost a great leader who positively impacted so many lives
He, however, pointed out that “for the fact that the late King Igbagara lived for about 90 years, his departure should be seen as a heroic incident that calls for celebration having exceeded the biblical age benchmark of 70 years.”
While assuring the Igbagara family of government’s support in the burial of the one-time Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, Senator Ewhrudjakpo, enjoined them and the entire Ibeni-Oyiakiri clan to draw strength from the good life their father and king had lived.
Responding on behalf of the family, the first son of the deceased, Prince Austin Igbagara, expressed gratitude to the Deputy Governor and the political leaders and stakeholders for condoling with them in their trying moment.
Prince Igbagara, who disclosed that the monarch died in Lagos after a brief illness, promised the Bayelsa West delegation that the family would officially inform them when a date is fixed for the funeral of their departed father.
The delegation had Hon. Commissioner for Special Duties (Bayelsa West), Mr. Michael Magbisa, and his tourism counterpart, Mr John Ala: the Chairman of Sagbama Local Government, Mrs. Alice Tangi-Allen; and chieftains of the PDP, Hon. Fyneman Wilson, Dr. O.O. Osusu; Engineer Numupre Wills; Chief Victor Okubonanabo, the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Chief Lambert Ototo, among others.
Law & Crime
Niger CJ frees 45 awaiting trial inmates of Suleja’s Prison custody

By Uthman Baba-Al-Naseer, Minna
A total of Forty Five inmates on awaiting trial and Convicts have breath the air of freedom during the visit of the Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice ♎ Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik statewide working visit to Correctional Centres
The Chief Judge commenced the four days working visit on the 6th,March 2025 in Suleja Federal Medium Correctional centre where five convicts were pardoned for being remorseful while serving their jail terms.
Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik,in continuation of the visit to bring relief to the correctional facilities across the state, was at the Minna old Medium Correctional centre between Monday, 10th,and Tuesday,11th,2025 and a total of twelve Convicts were discharged.
Also, the Chief Judge ordered for the summary trial of fourteen others to be given lighter convictions from the date of their arrest and detention in the correctional Custody.
At the Minna new Medium Correctional centre in Tunga, a total of twenty five other inmates standing trial were discharged by the Chief Judge while twelve inmates standing trial on various Offences had their cases reviewed.
Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik concluded the working visit to Children remand home at Angwan Daji where she released five under aged children two among them were kidnapped.
Equally,the Chief judge granted bail to two siblings Anas Umar,and Mubarak Umar who were arrested at Gauraka in Tafa Local government area of Niger State.
They were alleged to have been in possession of aluminum believed to have been stolen and sold to scrap dealers (Yan gwongwon).
The Chief Judge directed the Ministry of women affairs to take the adoption of the two siblings with the aim of keeping them in their custody for proper upbringings.
Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, while expressing her disgust on the increasing rates of crime among juveniles,in the state, she called on parents and guardians to leave up to their responsibility of inculcating proper upbringings to their children.
She noted that the involvement of Anas into crime was initiated by his brother stating that their parents have deviated from their parental responsibilities.
Law & Crime
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