News

Court frees 13 inmates unlawfully detained in Taraba, awards N448m damages

Published

6 months ago

November 4, 2025

Thirteen male inmates who had been unlawfully detained for periods ranging from one to six years without trial have regained their freedom.

This is following a landmark judgment of the Federal High Court, Jalingo, delivered on Monday.

The inmates, who expressed overwhelming joy as they stepped out of detention, were released through the intervention of human rights lawyer, Barrister John Okezie, who represented them pro bono.

Okezie, as gathered by our reporter, had filed separate fundamental rights enforcement suits against the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, and the Department of State Services, DSS, challenging their unlawful detention.

Delivering judgment, Justice Maskur Salisu described the prolonged incarceration of the men as a flagrant violation of their constitutional rights.

He ordered their immediate release and awarded a total of N48 million in damages against the security agencies.

“The prolonged detention of citizens without trial is not only unconstitutional but an affront to human dignity,” Justice Salisu declared.

He further warned that law enforcement agencies must operate strictly within the bounds of the law and respect the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria..

The court found that the detainees had been held in various facilities across the state for years without being charged to court.

In each case, Justice Salisu ruled that their rights to liberty and fair hearing had been grossly violated, condemning the actions of the security agencies as “reprehensible and unlawful.”

The judgment was officially enforced on November 3, 2025.

Human rights advocates, who spoke with our reporter, hailed the ruling as a milestone for civil liberties and a strong statement against arbitrary detention in Nigeria.

Speaking with journalists, Barrister Okezie said his motivation was to help decongest prisons and ensure that justice is accessible to all, regardless of financial status.

“This was a pro bono effort aimed at ensuring that justice is not reserved for only those who can afford it,” he said.

He urged the freed men to make the most of their second chance and avoid any conduct that could return them to prison.

Some of the released inmates, visibly emotional, expressed profound gratitude to Okezie for his intervention.

“We would still be rotting in jail if not for his help,” one of them said, adding: “we’ve learned our lessons and will live better lives.”

The ruling was observed to have been widely celebrated as a victory for human rights and a powerful reminder of the judiciary’s vital role in safeguarding citizens against abuse of power by law enforcement agencies.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 321

News

Senate names new minority whip as two more senators defect to APC

Published

6 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Senate on Wednesday appointed Senator Tony Nwoye as the new Minority Whip, following a fresh wave of defections that has further boosted the numerical strength of the All Progressives Congress in the upper chamber.

Nwoye, who represents Anambra North Senatorial District, was unanimously selected by the Senate minority caucus to fill the vacancy created by the exit of his predecessor.

His emergence comes on the heels of the defection of former Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu, from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC on Wednesday, one of several high-profile crossovers that altered the balance within the opposition ranks.

In a letter read on the floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Ngwu said his decision was driven by the need to align with Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah and President Bola Tinubu.

He also described the APC as the most stable political platform in the country.

Nwoye was elected into the Senate in 2023 on the platform of the Labour Party before defecting to the African Democratic Congress in late 2025, positioning him within the opposition bloc prior to his new leadership role.

The reshuffle in minority leadership came amid a broader pattern of defections that has steadily eroded the strength of opposition parties in the Senate since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.

In a related development, Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro, representing Gombe South, also announced his defection from the PDP to the APC, citing internal crises within the opposition party.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Aliyu Wadada, formally announced his defection from the Social Democratic Party to the APC.

Wadada, who has also been endorsed as the APC consensus governorship candidate for Nasarawa State ahead of the 2027 elections, said he had previously aligned with the ruling party but completed the formal procedures of his defection on Wednesday.

Reacting to the developments, Senator Adams Oshiomhole commended the lawmakers, describing their defections as voluntary and consistent with constitutional provisions.

He said the increasing movement of legislators into the APC reflects growing confidence in the party’s leadership and the administration of President Tinubu.

With the latest defections, the APC’s strength in the Senate has risen to 91 lawmakers—further consolidating its dominance and tightening its grip on legislative proceedings as political realignments gather pace ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Post Views: 20

News

Lagos clarifies sanitation modalities, warns defaulters ahead of April 25

Published

6 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Lagos State Government has provided further details on the reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise, set to resume on Saturday, April 25, 2026, with movement restrictions and enforcement measures in place.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said, “The exercise will hold every last Saturday of the month between the hours of 6:30 am and 8:30 am.

During this period, there will be controlled movement across the state to allow residents to carry out thorough cleaning of their homes, surroundings and drainage frontages.”

He stated that enforcement teams comprising officials of the ministry, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Kick Against Indiscipline, Lagos Waste Management Authority, and local government sanitation inspectors would “conduct physical inspections during and after the sanitation window to ensure compliance,” warning that “defaulters will be sanctioned in accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017.”

Wahab also stated, “LAWMA intervention trucks will go around to cart away bagged wastes generated during the exercise,” noting that “there will be rewards for the cleanest Local Government Area, Local Council Development Area, and the cleanest street as part of efforts to encourage healthy competition and community participation.”

He urged residents to cooperate with the initiative, saying, “We urge all residents to take ownership of this exercise and join hands with the government in building a cleaner, safer and more sustainable Lagos.”

The clarification follows the symbolic flag-off of the exercise along the Mushin–Agege Motor Road corridor on March 14, ahead of its full implementation later this month.

News

Court remands suspected coup plotters in DSS custody

Published

6 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the remand of six defendants in the custody of the Department of State Services after they were arraigned on a 13-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism.

At the sitting, which commenced at about 1:46pm, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), informed the court that the charge was ready and sought leave to have it read to the defendants.

Proceedings were briefly stalled after the third defendant informed the court that his counsel was indisposed, while counsel to the sixth defendant said his client understood only Arabic and Hausa, prompting the court to stand down the matter to secure an interpreter.

When the court reconvened at about 2:18 pm, all six defendants took their pleas and denied the allegations, pleading not guilty to the 13 counts.

Following the arraignment, the prosecution applied for their remand in DSS custody and urged the court to grant an accelerated hearing of the case, a request that was not opposed by most defence counsel, although the first defendant’s lawyer indicated an intention to file a bail application.

Ruling, the trial judge ordered an accelerated hearing, directed that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody with access to their lawyers, and adjourned the matter till April 27, 2026, for commencement of trial.