By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna
Legal Practitioners in the Country have been charged to guide against filling controversial,frivolous and duplicated applications that may lead to conflicting court orders, which will hinder a smooth political process.

The Chief Judge of Niger State,Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik gave the charge at the opening ceremony of the Minna Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),2026. Law week held at Siyyam International Conference Centre in Minna.

Justice Halima Abdulmalik also admonished members of the Bench to remember their oaths of office to do Justice to all manner of people, and dispense Justice without fear or favour,affection “ or ill-will our roles as judges,do not stop in the courtroom: they inevitably impact society,either positively or negatively”.

She pointed out that as they navigate the c usual challenges associated with transitions of this kind,all hands must be on deck,whether as lawyers,politicians,judicial officers,or citizens of the country.

The Chief Judge who was represented by Justice Danladi Ahmed Badegi of Suleja High Court,noted that the call has become imperative “ because our individual efforts only be litimust test of our readiness for egalitarian society “ but we shall also one day be called to account for our roles in ensuring this nation’s success or failure”

The Law week, with the Theme: “Law,Governance and Politics: The Role of the Legal Profession in Advancing the Rule of Law in Nigeria’s Democracy” Justice Halima stated that in her assessment the law week could not have come at a better time. Stressing that the theme,itself is apt,carefully chosen,and highly relevant given the current climate in Nigeria, as “ we transition from one Democratic tenure to another”

She urged legal practitioners to help the nation as the country commenced the transition into another Democratic dispensation.

“ You can do this by avoiding the filling of controversial,frivolous,and,in many cases duplicated applications that may eventually lead to conflicting court orders,thereby hindering a smooth political process” the Chief Judge asserted.

She expressed her commendation to the Minna Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association and the Suleja Branch and congratulated the newly recognized Bida Branch of NBA as well appreciated all practicing lawyers within the state for the support and cooperation to her leadership and the Judiciary since her assumption in office.

The Chief Judge pointed out that despite operating under strict fiscal constraints, the Niger State Judiciary under her leadership,has recorded significant milestones aimed at ensuring efficient,swift and professional service delivery to the people.

The milestones,according to the Chief Judge,include Bar and Bench relations which was proudly reintroduced “ our most cherished Bench and Bar forum and institutionalized the ceremonial celebration of the new legal year to Forster camaraderie and professional alignment” .

Speaking earlier,the Chairman Minna Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),Ishyaku Barau Esq. expressed his profound appreciation to the organizing Committee for the success of the 2026 edition of the law week.

He said the law week was an annual event set aside for legal practitioners within the branch to come together aimed at brainstorming on the professional discussion on how to engage intellectual engagement towards moving the legal practices forward.

The Chairman commended the national president of the NBA under the leadership of Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN for giving birth to the newly created Bida Branch of Nigerian Bar Association under his leadership out of Minna Branch

By Our Correspondent

Fear grips residents of Obafemi – Owode Local Government Area of Ogun as Gunmen suspected to be bandits have allegedly killed two serving personnel of the Nigerian Army in the area.

The bandits were said to have opened fire on the Army personnel in the early hours of Monday in what many eyewitnesses described as surprise attack.

Though details of the attack still remained sketchy as at the time of filling this report, but in a viral video in circulation clearly shown a blood-soaked corpse of an Army personnel, clad in camouflage being evacuated in a pick-up van with plain-clothe security operatives suspected to be police officers and other civilian sitting closed to the corpse in the van.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Ogun State Command, Oluseyi Babaseyi denied knowledge of such incident either in Abeokuta or any other part of the state.

Reacting through a phone call, the Spokesperson of the Army Public Relations Demand (APRD) at the 35 Artillery Brigade Command in Alamala Barracks, Abeokuta, Major Idereghi Samuel confirmed the attack.

Idereghi, who stressed that he was yet to get the details of the attack however, promised to get back to journalists as soon as the details and propers address of where the incident occurred.