NEWS
Appeal Court Orders FRSC to Pay ₦10 Million in Landmark Human Rights Case
Umuahia, Nigeria – After a five-year legal battle, the Court of Appeal has upheld a High Court judgment in favor of Dr. Emmanuel Shebbs, awarding him ₦10 million in damages against the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for unlawful detention and violation of his fundamental rights.
The case arose from a 2020 incident during the COVID-19 lockdown when Dr. Shebbs was stopped by FRSC officers along Bende Road in Umuahia. Despite having valid vehicle documents and all required safety equipment, officers allegedly demanded a bribe. Upon refusal, they confiscated his driver’s license and accused him of fabricated offences.
Rather than comply or leverage his official status and connections, Dr. Shebbs chose to challenge the action in court. He filed a suit at the Abia State High Court, which ruled in his favor and initially awarded ₦30 million in damages. The FRSC appealed the decision, but the Court of Appeal affirmed the violation, reducing the compensation to ₦10 million.
“This case was never about the money,” Dr. Shebbs said. “It was about justice, accountability, and setting a precedent for young Nigerians who face similar abuses daily.”
The appellate court’s ruling in FRSC & Anor v. Shebbs establishes a judicial precedent: the FRSC has no legal right to seize a driver’s licence, vehicle, or documents without lawful justification or an intent to prosecute.
Dr. Shebbs has pledged to make the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment available to legal practitioners working on human rights cases, calling it his “humble contribution to the development of human rights law in Nigeria.”
He commended both the High Court and the Court of Appeal for what he described as a “revolutionary and legendary” decision, while also thanking his legal team and friends who supported him through the legal process.
“There is hope in the Nigerian judiciary,” he concluded. “Justice is possible—if you do the right thing and follow the law.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially released the results of its primaries for the eight federal constituencies in Abia State, as the party gears up for the 2027 general elections.
Chairman of the Abia State National Assembly Primary Election Committee, Barrister Erasmus Cishak, announced the results on Saturday night at the APC State Secretariat in Umuahia.
According to Barrister Cishak, the primaries were successfully conducted across all federal constituencies, with party members actively participating in the selection of candidates to represent the APC in the upcoming polls.
The successful candidates are as follows:
– Bende Federal Constituency: Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, emerged unopposed.
– Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency: Hon. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, was returned unopposed.
– Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency: Hon. Chris Nkwonta emerged as the candidate.
– Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency: Hon. Uzor Azubuike secured the ticket.
– Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency: Former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinedum Orji, won the primary.
– Isiala Ngwa North/Isiala Ngwa South Federal Constituency: Hon. Uzoma Theodore Uka clinched the nomination.
– Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency: Hon. Udo Alozie emerged victorious.
– Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency: Hon. Ikenna Nicholas was selected as the APC candidate.
Barrister Cishak commended party members and stakeholders for their orderly conduct during the exercise. He reiterated the committee’s commitment to ensuring transparency, fairness, and credibility throughout the primary process.
NEWS
No foreign soldier participated in the operation that eliminated terrorist commander, Abu Bilal Al-Minuki – Defense Headquarters
The Defence Headquarters has said no Nigerian soldier was killed during the operation that eliminated terrorist commander, Abu Bilal Al-Minuki.
Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, Director, Defence Media Operations, said this in an interview in a television programme.
Also, details of the action, which Trump described as a “complex mission” carried out by Nigerian and American troops, are beginning to emerge.
Onoja said months of intelligence gathering led troops to the terrorist’s exact location.
He said the final operation was launched only after commanders confirmed credible intelligence.
On foreign support, he said no foreign soldiers participated in the mission.
According to him, the United States only provided intelligence and surveillance assistance.
“There were no foreign boots on the ground during this operation. What we received were intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance support and other force enablers,” he said.
However, officials who wished to stay anonymous, told the New York Times the US military initially sought to capture the ISIS leader, Al-Minuki.
But they killed him in an air strike when he would not surrender. The strikes targeted his compound in the Lake Chad Basin.
The attack was carried out by about two dozen Nigerian and American special operations commandos, including members of the Navy’s SEAL Team 6.
The commandos attacked Al-Minuki and about three dozen fighters on two small islands in Lake Chad.
The sources added that after the enclave was identified, Nigerian forces, working alongside their U.S. counterparts, launched a coordinated air-and-ground assault on the area.
Also, the Special Forces units blocked escape routes, secured the perimeter and supported extraction operations. The fight lasted over three hours, the sources added.
NEWS
Senate amends Electoral Act: election notice period cut from 360 to 300 days to avoid 2027 polls clashing with Ramadan.
The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed an amendment to the Electoral Act 2026, cutting the mandatory notice period for general elections from 360 days to 300 days. The primary motivation is to ensure the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections do not coincide with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved the motion to rescind and recommit the bill after identifying that the original 360-day requirement could force the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to schedule the polls during Ramadan. He warned that elections held during the fasting period could negatively impact:
– Voter turnout
– Logistical arrangements
– Stakeholder participation
– Overall credibility and inclusiveness of the process
The amended Clause 28 now requires INEC to publish election notices “not later than 300 days” before the poll date, specifying the election date and nomination procedures.
The change came after consultations between National Assembly leadership and INEC. The commission had already announced February 20, 2027, for Presidential and National Assembly elections, and March 6, 2027, for governorship and state assembly polls.
Senate Committee on Electoral Matters Chairman Simon Lalong clarified that the dates were not deliberately set to conflict with Ramadan, but follow a long-term timetable established by former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu for elections from 2019 to 2031.
The amendment passed swiftly after the Senate invoked its standing orders to revisit the bill.
-
OPINION9 months ago10 seconds with Wike, reshaped my mindset on the difference between wants and needs – Udensi Bernard
-
NEWS9 months agoEFCC Detains Former Governor Tambuwal Over Alleged ₦189bn Fraud
-
NEWS9 months agoGov. Mbah Increases Corps Members’ Allowance to ₦20,000
-
POLITICS11 months agoDr. Okezie Ikpeazu: A Voice That Still Inspires – Enyinnaya Appolos
-
NEWS8 months agoRep. Unyime Idem Unveils ₦1bn Family Business Grant for Constituents
-
NEWS10 months agoPrince Paul Ikonne Applauds Governor Uzodinma’s Support for Aba State, Criticizes Governor Otti’s Stance
-
NEWS9 months ago
Ikonne to Otti: Fear God, Show Us 51 Schools for ₦54bn, Stop Forcing ₦36k Revenue on Aba Traders
-
ENTERTAINMENT11 months agoDon FM 103.7 and Ikoro FM 93.3 Commence Test Run