
News
Supreme Court Justice Chima Centus Nweze dies at 64
Justice Nweze passed away yesterday, at the age of 64, reports said.
According to the information obtained by TheNigeriaLawyer, Justice Nweze had been battling illness for the past few years, and his health had significantly declined during this time.
In fact, his ailing health played a role in the recent unrest among Supreme Court Justices, who expressed their concerns during the tenure of the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
At present, the South East region is facing a notable absence in the Supreme Court, as Justice Odili is currently retired, while Justice Ngwuta sadly passed away two years ago.
He is one of the justices who stood out during the ruling on the application filed by Emeka Ihedioha, a former governor of Imo State. Ihedioha had asked the apex court to review its judgement on his removal from office, but while the majority of the seven-man panel disagreed with him, Chima Nweze, found merit in the application.
In his dissenting judgment, Nweze asked the court to set aside the January 14 judgment that removed Ihedioha from office, describing it as a nullity and in bad faith.

He also nullified the declaration of Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as governor on account of “wrong declaration” and held that Uzodinma misled the court into unjust conclusion with the unverified votes in 388 polling units.
“This decision of the Supreme Court will continue to hunt our electoral jurisprudence for a long time to come,” he said.
“In my intimate reading of the January 14 judgment, the substance of Ihedioha’s matter was lost to time frame. This court once set aside its own earlier judgment and therefore cannot use time frame to extinguish the right of any person.
“This court has powers to over rule itself and can revisit any decision not in accordance with justice. This court has a duty of redeeming its image. I am of the view that this application should succeed. I hereby make an order setting aside the decision of this court made on January 14 and that the certificate of return issued to the appellant be returned to INEC. I also make an order restoring the respondents as winner of the March 9 governorship election.”
Nweke’s position came as a surprise to those who expected the ruling to be unanimous – as it is in most cases. Of the seven judges on the panel, he was the only one who was not on seat when the court sacked Ihedioha.
At that time the verdict was unanimous.
‘ATIKU’S APPEAL IS WITHOUT MERIT’
Nweze was part of the supreme court panel that refused the request of Atiku Abubakar, PDP presidential candidate, to inspect servers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
At the time, Atiku was challenging the declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the 2019 presidential election.
“I see no reason for departing from the reasoning of the lower court. I find that this appeal is without merit, and it is accordingly dismissed,” Nweze had held in the ruling that was unanimous.
Atiku finally lost the appeal.
LEGAL CAREER
In 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan approved the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to appoint Nweze to the supreme court. Thereafter, he went through a screening at the senate and was confirmed as a judge of the apex court.
Before then, Nweze served as a judge of the court of appeal. He had earlier served as judge of the high court of Enugu. Nweze
Nweze was legal adviser to Okwesilieze Nwodo, a former governor of Enugu state. The jurist, who was born on September 25, 1958, bagged all his degrees – from bachelors to Ph.D – from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).
He attended St John Cross Seminary, Nsukka between 1972 and 1977. Nweze was called to the bar in 1984 and completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in Bauchi in 1985.
He had served as chairman, Ogun state governorship and legislative houses election petition tribunal in 1999; chairman, robbery and firearms tribunal, Nsukka, 1998 and 1999; and member, Ondo state local government election petition tribunal in 1999. (Text, excluding headline, courtesy of The Nigerian Lawyer)
News
Firm expresses concern over repeated missing Court File in Ojukwu Property case
Ojukwu Transport Limited, OTL, has raised concerns over what it described as the repeated absence of court records in its ongoing property dispute with Bianca Ojukwu and her sons, even as it filed a motion for stay of execution pending the determination of its appeal.
Proceedings before Justice A.M. Lawal of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, last Monday were stalled for the second time in six weeks due to the unavailability of the case file.
The matter was adjourned after the file was reportedly not returned to court.
A similar situation occurred on May 8, 2026, when the case could not proceed because the file was unavailable.
OTL alleged that the file had been taken from the Ikeja Judicial Division to Lagos more than two months ago for the execution of a warrant and had not been returned.
The claimants’ legal representatives were absent from court on both occasions.

Describing the development as troubling, OTL said the repeated absence of the file had effectively stalled proceedings and raised questions about accountability in the handling of court records.
Amid the delays, the company disclosed that it had filed and served a motion for stay of execution at the Court of Appeal, seeking to halt enforcement of the judgment pending the determination of its appeal against the 2022 decision in Suit No. LD/1539/2012.
OTL maintained that the application became necessary because steps were being taken to enforce the judgment despite its pending appeal.
The company also contended that the properties in dispute had previously been the subject of a warrant of execution arising from a separate judgment delivered in 2018 by Justice Adedayo Oyebanji in Suit No. LD/794/2011.
The case was subsequently adjourned to October 8, 2026.
Present in court on both adjourned dates on behalf of Ojukwu Transport Limited was one of its directors, Dr. P. Ike Ojukwu.
Counsel to OTL are Ifeanyi Okumah Esq and Chief O. Ugolo, SAN, while Bianca Ojukwu and her sons are represented by Nick Omeye Esq and Co.
News
DSS releases, compensates man wrongfully arrested over alleged links with Boko Haram
The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has ordered the immediate release of a man wrongfully linked to Boko Haram terrorists.
The setting free followed a DSS investigation review panel that cleared Nura Idris of allegations of collaboration with Boko Haram terrorists.
Aside from giving Idris N3 million monetary compensation to meet his immediate needs, the DSS DG promised to help the wrongfully detained herder in his business, a practice common with the DG.
According to a security source, the farmer and animal rearer from Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was arrested by a sister security agency in Suleja, Niger State, in June 2024, for alleged links with terrorists, and was thereafter transferred to DSS custody.
Following a thorough review of Nura’s case, the DSS investigation panel found no basis for the charges against him, prompting the DGSS to order his immediate release and payment of compensation.
Receiving the compensation, Nura thanked the DGSS for what he described as a kind gesture, saying the money would help him restart his life.

“I thank the DGSS for his kindness. I was well treated in DSS custody and I pray that Allah rewards the DGSS immensely,” the source quoted Nura as saying.
His father, Yusuf Idris, who received Nura upon his release, also expressed appreciation to the DGSS for his compassion and generosity, and assured that the compensation would be put to good use.
“When such cases are recorded, the DSS would usually follow up with the detainee, provide psychological and medical support, after which the Agency would further set up any business of the victim’s choice”, another source disclosed.
The release is part of an internal review exercise which the DSS began last year. The exercise is aimed at reassessing prolonged inherited cases to ensure that erroneously detained individuals do not remain in detention.
“The setting free and compensations across multiple cases underscores the DSS’s growing reputation for institutional integrity and humanness,” added the source.
“The Service under the current DG, has continued to show that safeguarding national security and citizens must go hand in hand with upholding the rights and dignity of citizens,” declared the source.
“Recall the case of Sunday Ifedi and his wife, Calista who were arrested on 8th November 2021 and detained in Wawa facility, three years before the appointment of the current DG in August 2024,” added the source. Sunday was released on 16th December, 2025, after the review of detainees ordered by the DG cleared him of ties with the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the DG awarded him N10 million as compensation.
“Importantly, plans are underway by the DSS to rebuild a restaurant in memory of Ifedi’s wife, Calista, who died while in custody in a detention facility in Wawa. The initiative is to compensate Sunday for the allegations that his late wife operated a restaurant being patronized by IPOB, for which they were arrested. This brings to bear, over thirty cases that have since been reviewed with over N300m paid as compensation,” the source disclosed.
It would also be recalled that, barely one month after ordering the release and payment of N10 million compensation of one Abuja-based business woman, Mrs. Chineze Ozoadibe, in October 2025, the DSS boss ordered the release of one Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor, arrested in July 2022, for his alleged involvement in the activities of the proscribed IPOB. Five other detainees wrongfully linked to IPOB were by the same directive of the DG, released and each given an initial N2 million cash compensation. Last month, the DSS also released a Yobe State resident, Ya’u Mohammed, after investigations confirmed that he had no connection to terrorism.
Following his release, the Service provided initial financial support worth N2 million to assist his reintegration and restoration of his livelihood.
“There are many more instances where DSS investigations have established innocence and have been followed by efforts to facilitate reintegration,” stated the source, adding, “these are the kind of measures the DSS is using to build public trust.”
News
Adeboye, Oyedepo thank Trump, seek more US action against terrorism in Nigeria
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, have praised the United States President, Donald Trump, for taking recent military actions against terrorism and called for more of such action to stem the tide of the unrelenting terror attacks by extremists in Nigeria.
They spoke to a packed audience drawn from a cross section of activists of all races and cadres from across the United States.
The event was in Washington DC during an award night for President Trump, two Congressmen: Rep. Chris Smith and Rep. Riley Moore, both of whom have tabled a bill seeking to end terrorism in Nigeria by punishing the sponsors, and other activists who have championed the cause of religious freedom in Nigeria.
The RCCG leader also spoke on the criticism that he had maintained a stoic silence while extremists carried out the killing and kidnap of Christians and other vulnerable communities across Nigeria, noting that as an elder religious leader, he embarked on a “spiritual warfare” rather than scream to escalate tension with concomitant reactions.

Bishop David Oyedepo delivered his keynote address at the gala night represented by 4 persons- Pastor Deji Akin Abiri, Pastor Dayo Ojo, Apostle Jacob Sharpe and Pastor Seyi Adeyeri
According to him it was not a surprise when President Trump intervened, having followed events and warned of dire consequences for the perpetrators of the violence.

The grand event, tagged: “Faith Heroes Award Gala.” was organised by the Save Nigeria Group, USA with the participation of the US-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition at the Hilton Garden Inn, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.Nigerian lifestyle content
Adeboye, who rued that “terrorism is now at my doorstep,” appealed for a global coalition, led by the United States and its Western allies, to help defeat terrorism in Nigeria, while cautioning that the violence that has consumed communities across the country was no longer distant from him.
The appeal came as former United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback, and Dr. Katrina Swett, a prominent advocate for human rights, religious freedom and international justice, criticised Nigerian authorities for failing to protect citizens of all faiths from extremist violence.

In an emotion-laden address after receiving an award at the gala, Adeboye said terrorism had worsened since the December attacks on terrorist camps in northern Nigeria.
He said the United States and other Western powers would need to take more decisive action if peace was to return to Nigeria.
Drawing from Isaac Newton’s first law of motion, he said Nigeria was trapped by what he described as a structure of untouchables, powerful actors who make the fight against terrorism difficult from within.
He said: “There are certain people in my country that, I regret to say, are untouchable, and only God can deal with them.
“If you want to help us, help us more.
“No matter who is in office in Nigeria, only God can help us.
“Use your influence to help us.”
Adeboye thanked President Trump and the United States Government for what he described as assistance to Nigeria. Nigerian lifestyle content
But he said the work had not gone far enough.
He said Nigeria needed the combined effort of countries such as the United States, Britain, Australia, and other Western allies to help confront terrorist groups and restore peace.
While acknowledging that people of different religions have suffered from terrorist attacks, Adeboye said Christians had become the prime targets of many of the killings.
He added that none of the major ongoing attacks could be traced to Christians.
The cleric also responded to criticism that he had not done enough because much of the violence was concentrated in northern Nigeria.
He said the scale of the crisis had moved beyond what any religious leader or local institution could address alone.
He warned that without external support, Nigeria might not know peace, saying terrorists were emboldened and communities were being overrun.
Adeboye said his church had established an internally displaced persons camp to help victims of terrorist violence.
He said victims were being provided food and relief, and that plans were underway to establish a secondary school for young people in the camp, along with skills training for adults.
The crisis, he said, had created an estimated 11 million displaced persons, many of whom had lost homes, livelihoods, and access to education.
Adeboye, however, said he did not support sweeping accusations that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was doing nothing to fight terrorism. Executive Branch
He said, like Trump, Tinubu’s role as commander-in-chief was to give instructions to the military, but the effectiveness of those instructions depended on execution.
He also said he had advised Tinubu to meet with Trump to demonstrate seriousness in the fight against terrorism before the December military action.
Though Adeboye said he does not agree with everything Trump says, he described the American president as the best politician he had ever known because, according to him, Trump acts on his promises.
“To be a good politician, you must be able to speak two different things from the same mouth,” Adeboye said, adding: “And I like him because when he says: ‘I want to do this,’ you better get ready.”
He said that as Trump winds down the Iran war, he should complete what the cleric described as the good work he started in December against terrorist camps in Nigeria.Nigerian lifestyle content
He said the terrorists were mocking the faith of their victims.
“They are asking: ‘Where is their God?’” Adeboye said, adding that he had gone to God in agony and deep prayer several times over the crisis.
Brownback, a former Governor of Kansas, who also served in the United States Senate and House of Representatives, said it was painful that Nigeria was still bleeding, making apparent reference to the latest killings of 22 persons in Plateau State by suspected Islamist terrorists.
He warned that Nigeria risked losing the nation if terrorists were allowed to overrun it.
He said the United States wanted to help Nigeria defeat terrorism so that Nigerians could fulfil the promise of their country.
He described Nigeria as being “out in the fork” and urged Nigerians and their allies to subdue terrorist networks, including Fulani terrorist groups, and resist any attempt to turn the country into a caliphate.
Swett, in her remarks, described Nigeria as a country of extraordinary people and said America must do more to help Nigeria fight terrorism.
“Yes, the future is in the hands of Nigerians, but America has powerful leverage to do more,” she said.
She expressed satisfaction that the Trump administration was placing Nigeria at the centre of international discussion on religious freedom and terrorism.
In his remarks, Stephen Osemwegie, President of Save Nigeria Group USA and convener of the US-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition, said the mission would not be complete until the entire terrorist network in Nigeria was dismantled.
“Terrorism is not a Nigerian or American issue,” Osemwegie said, adding: “We need global support to establish global peace.”
He urged both chambers of the United States Congress to speedily pass H.R. 7457, the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2025, and send it to President Trump for signature.Nigerian lifestyle content
Osemwegie paid tribute to two members of Congress, Christopher Smith of New Jersey’s 4th Congressional District and Riley Moore of West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, for their sustained efforts in keeping terrorism in Nigeria on the American policy agenda.
He also praised Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo and Leah Sharibu, describing them as symbols of Christian resilience in the face of persecution.
The event, which organisers called: “Thank You, America,” brought together religious leaders, Nigerian diaspora advocates and American human rights voices pressing for stronger action against terrorism and religious persecution in Nigeria.
Among those honoured with the Faith Heroes Award was Bishop Oyedepo, who was represented at the event.
For the organisers, the Washington gathering was both a tribute and a warning: a tribute to those they say have stood for persecuted Christians in Nigeria, and a warning that without global intervention, the crisis could further unravel Africa’s most populous nation.
My Heart Bleeds — Oyedepo
Echoing the profound urgency in a powerful keynote address, Bishop Oyedepo, who extended his apologies for his physical absence, but whose words resonated deeply through the hall, declared that Nigeria is “virtually at the brink of collapse.”
The fiery Chancellor of Covenant University threw his weight behind a monumental legislative move unfolding in Washington: “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026.”
Citing the horrific data compiled within the US Congressional findings, Oyedepo confronted the stark reality of Nigeria’s bleeding landscape.
The findings reveal that between 2009 and 2025, an estimated 50,000 to 125,000 Christians have been martyred, with over 19,000 churches destroyed.
Shockingly, the report confirms that Nigeria alone accounts for a staggering 72 percent of all Christians martyred worldwide.Nigerian lifestyle content
Pointing directly to the operations of Fulani-ethnic militias, Boko Haram, and ISWAP, Oyedepo backed the US legislative framework seeking to designate these militant groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) under international law, referencing the brutal massacres in Benue and Plateau States that claimed over 9,500 lives between 2023 and 2025 alone.
“From the above, you can see that the happenings in our country today call for urgent action from all stakeholders and well-meaning individuals to prevent a situation of total anarchy,” he warned, adding: “The intervention of the United States of America in Nigeria’s affairs is a most welcome one.”
He expressed deep gratitude to President Trump for his passionate concern.
He added: “My heart bleeds as I put down these few lines.
“We look forward to a nation that will be safe, peaceful, and prosperous again.”
Diaspora Ignites Washington
The Gala Night capped off a week of intense advocacy by Save Nigeria USA, which began on Saturday with a massive, roaring Save Nigeria Rally at MacPherson Square, just steps away from the White House.
With 26 civil society groups united under a single banner, the diaspora community has made it clear: they will no longer remain silent while their homeland bleeds.
Oyedepo was represented by Pastor Deji Akin Abiri, Pastor Dayo Ojo, Apostle Jacob Sharpe, and Pastor Seyi Adeyeri.
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