Category: Opinions

Let me hasten in congratulating Prof Ibrahim Gambari, the newly appointed Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, who replaces the late Abba Kyari. As jubilations all over the place continue, it is important to sound a note of warning to all Nigerians that it is not yet uhuru. Truly, Prof Gambari is an experienced diplomat. However, I feel it… Read More

Friday, May 15, in this Corona-tainted year of 2020 marks the 65th birthday of the inimitable journalist’s journalist Sonala Olumhense. I doubt that I would ever have become a journalist if not for my eventful meeting with the man called SO, or to put it in a more hip and contemporary vein, EssOh! It was at Rutam House in Lagos… Read More

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management is a key player in the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. The ministry is manning the flank  responsible for implementing palliative policies designed to cushion the apocalyptic consequences the pandemic inflected on economic backbone of poor households in Nigeria.  Incorporating national economic institutions, ministries, and bodies responsible for welfare related matters in… Read More

Nigerians were obviously traumatised by the discharge of duties by the office of the Chief of Staff since Buhari’s Presidency. “Kyariphobia” seemed to grip the nation in expectations of who the next Chief of Staff to the President will be. The fear was justified but misplaced.  The life and time of Abba Kyari was beautiful until he became Buhari’s Chief… Read More

When President Muhammadu Buhari signed the not-too-young to rule into law, Nigerian youth went frenzy. But every appointment made by Buhari makes mockery of the law. From bungled decisions and actions taken by Buhari on critical national and international issues, it is evident that there’s leadership age gap disconnect between him and Nigerian youth. The exclusion of youths from high… Read More

Very recently, the Comptroller-General of the Correctional Centres gave an order to his officers not to admit new defendants into correctional centres, presumably as part of COVID-19 precautions. This executive order is now being complied with, and it has very grave implications for the rule of law and the administration of justice in Nigeria. The reports across the country is… Read More

“Treacherous people do not last, only memories of their treason last.”    – Amit Abraham, the founding Deputy Vice Chancellor at the Mount Zion International University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda. In 1984, when Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi was first nominated as the Minister of External Affairs by General Ibrahim Babangida who was then the Chief of Army Staff under the regime… Read More

A. Background In its recent judgment in Ude Jones Udeogu v Federal Republic of Nigeria (unreported Appeal No SC. 662C/2019; delivered May 9, 2020), the Nigerian Supreme Court declared section 396(7) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 (‘ACJA’) to be inconsistent with provisions of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999. Specifically, the Supreme Court held that section 396(7) of… Read More

First, let me express agreement with Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy who has characterized Nigeria’s leaders as “hypocritical.” As Guest Speaker at the Justice Akanbi Foundation anniversary in Abuja, Gambari said that Nigeria leaders merely pay lip service to governance. He is right, and many other Nigerians say the same thing everyday. The difference is that… Read More