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*Embattled of Seplat Energy Plc, CEO, Mr. Roger Brown (Nigeria) A Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos on Thursday vacated the interim ex-parte orders previously made by the court, restraining the Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy Plc, Mr. Roger Brown, from participating in the management of the company. Trial judge, Justice Aneke vacated the order while ruling on applications filed by the Respondents, namely Seplat Energy Plc, Mr. Roger Thompson Brown, Mr. Basil Omiyi, and Persons affected by the ex parte orders in Suit No. FHC/L/402/2023. The court held that by virtue of Order 26 Rules 9 and 10 of the of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019, the interim orders of the court made on 8th March 2023 are hereby discharged and vacated. The court also refused the request of counsel to the petitioners to move his application for joinder. Justice Aneke held that the business of the day was for ruling on application to set aside the ex-parte orders made on 8th of March 2023

*Presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi (Nigeria) Presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi, Wednesday, said he had instructed his lawyers to take appropriate legal actions against Peoples Gazette and others over the claimed audio leak of a conversation between him and Bishop David Oyedepo. Obi described the supposed leaked audio as fake. Obi in a series of tweets, Wednesday, said: “I continue to thank all Nigerians, especially the youths and the Obidients, as they have remained focused on the core mission of a new Nigeria that is possible even after the February 25, 2023, presidential election. “Before, during, and after the campaign, it is on record that I have maintained my commitment and focus on issue-based campaign about a new Nigeria that is possible, a shift of emphasis from consumption to production, a new Nigeria characterized by inclusion, justice, equity, fairness, and prosperity. “I repeatedly stated that no one should vote for me bas

*National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr. Julius Abure (Nigeria) A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, sitting at Maitama, on Wednesday, stopped the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr. Julius Abure, National Secretary, Alhaji Farouk Ibrahim and two others from parading themselves as national officers of the party. Others affected by the order are the National Organising Secretary, Mr. Clement Ojukwu and Treasurer of the party. Trial judge, Justice Hamza Muazu made the order, while ruling in an ex-parte application argued by Ogwu Onoja, SAN. Plaintiffs in the matter are Mr. Martins Esikpali John O., Lucky Shaibu, Isah Zekeri, Omogbai Frank, Abokhaiu Aliu, Ayohkaire Lateef, Job Elomah and Dr. Abayomi Arabambi. Plaintiffs had prayed the court for: "A declaration that the 1st — 4th defendants cannot continue to remain in office as National Chairman, National Secretary, National Treasurer and National Organising Secretary of the 5th defendant consequent on t

*Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable arraigned in court (Nigeria) Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, who was arraigned before the Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ifo, Ogun State, on two separate charges bothering on assault and theft of musical equipment, has been admitted to bail in the sum of N300,000 and N500, 000 in the two charges with two sureties each in like sum. Portable was arraigned before an Ogun State Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ifo on Monday on charges bothering on assault and theft of musical equipment. Meanwhile, Portable was remanded at Ilaro prison, pending the perfection of his bail requirements, as the court adjourned till April 26, 2023, for the commencement of trial. Portable was detained at the police headquarters on Friday after ignoring many invites. When he appeared before the court on Monday, Portable pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him. Part of that charges read: “That you Badmus Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, and other

*ECOWAS Court of Justice (Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to use his “good offices and leadership position to immediately enforce the judgment by the ECOWAS Court of Justice prohibiting prosecutions of anyone on the grounds of ‘insulting’ or ‘stalking’ public officials online.” SERAP also urged him to “enforce and implement the ECOWAS Court judgment compelling your government to respect, protect and promote freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom.” In a letter dated April 1, 2023, by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation expressed “serious concerns about the shrinking civic space in the country as some state governors and government institutions are reportedly using section 24 of the Cybercrime Act and other repressive laws to crackdown on anyone seeking to assert their human rights, and media freedom.” SERAP said, “Many Nigerians and media houses continue to face thre

*Agba Jalingo, journalist and publisher (Nigeria) Reprieve on Thursday, came the way of journalist and publisher of an online news platform, CrossRiverWatch, Mr. Agba Jalingo, as a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, granted him bail in the sum of N500, 000, with one surety in like sum. Recall that Jalingo, who was remanded in Kuje prison, Abuja on Monday, was accused of publishing an article that disparaged one Mrs. Elizabeth Ayade, wife of the younger brother of Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State. He was arraigned on a two-count charge of Cybercrimes, brought against him by the police. The charge is punishable under Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015. He pleaded not guilty to the charge. At the hearing in the matter, Thursday, Jalingo, through his lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, applied to be released on bail pending the determination of the case against him. The prosecution did not oppose the bail application. It its ruling,

*Bayo Onanuga (Nigeria) The International Criminal Court, ICC, in the Hugue, Netherlands, has acknowledged the receipt of a petition by a Nigerian Law Professor, Dr. Gideon Christian against Bayo Onanuga, chief spokesman of Nigeria's President-elect, Bola Tinubu, over alleged inciting ethnic hate. ICC in a letter reference: OTP-CR-109/23, dated March 27, 2023, by Mark P. Dillon, Head of Information and Evidence Unit Office of The Prosecutor, reads: “Dear Sir/Madam, The office of the international criminal court acknowledges receipt of your documents/letter. “This communication has been duly entered in the communications register of office. We will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provision of the Rome Statute of the international criminal court. “Please note this acknowledgement letter does not mean an investigation has been opened, nor that an investigation will be opened by the office of the prosecutor. “As soon as a decision i

*Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state (Nigeria) Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, will know his fate on April 20, 2023, over the freezing 14 properties linked to him by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on February 22, 2023, as the court will rule on whether or not to vacate the order. Trial judge, Justice Nicholas Oweibo, adjourned after argument by the governor's counsel, Mr. Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedopo, SAN. The court had on February 22, made an interim forfeiture order following an exparte motion to confiscate 14 properties and firms in Lagos, Abuja, and the United Arab Emirates as well as N400million, recovered from one Aminu Falala. *Federal High Court, Lagos At the hearing in the matter on Tuesday, the Kogi state counsel told the court that he had an application dated March 9, 2023, seeking to vacate the order of the court made on February 22. Mohammed, argued that about the third quarter of

*Bayo Onanuga (Nigeria) A Nigerian Law Professor, Dr. Gideon Christian, has petitioned the International Criminal Court, to conduct an investigation into series of ethnically motivated violence resulting in injuries and death during the just concluded presidential and governorship elections in Nigeria and inciting ethnic hate by Bayo Onanuga, chief spokesman of Nigeria's President-elect, Bola Tinubu. In the petition to ICC, brought pursuant to art.15 of the Rome Statute entitled: "Request to Investigate the Election and Post-Election Violence in Nigeria as well as incitement to Ethnic Hate by Mr. Bayo Onanuga," addressed to Mr Khan, the Information and Evidence Unit Office of the Prosecutor, Netherlands, Dr. Christian, cited the European Union Election Observer Mission in Nigeria interim report on March 20, 2023, that noted multiple incidents of "organised violent attacks" which resulted in "many casualties and fatalities." He said that these i

*Agba Jalingo (Nigeria) A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday, ordered the remanded of a journalist and publisher of an online news outlet, CrossRiverWatch, Mr. Agba Jalingo, in Kuje prison custody, accused of publishing an article that disparaged one Mrs. Elizabeth Ayade,  wife of the younger brother of Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State. Jalingo, who is a frontline critic of the governor Ayade's administration, was accused of engaging in false publication that was intended to cause annoyance, ill will and insult to the person of Mrs. Ayade. He pleaded not guilty to the charge. Trial judge, Justice Zainab Abubakar remanded Jalingo at Kuje prison. He was arraigned on a two-count charge brought against him by the police. The charge is punishable under Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015. Meanwhile, following his arraignment, the prosecution applied for a trial date, which was not opposed by the defence counsel. Jalingo

*Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola (Nigeria)Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and all relevant security agencies to immediately investigate and make public their findings on the rumoured visit of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola to the United Kingdom for medical reasons and the allegation that it was in disguise to meet with President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu in London. The CNPP, in a statement by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said this has become necessary to preserve the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola was reported to have been sighted in London, United Kingdom pretending to be a physically-challenged old man, for a secret meeting with the President-elect. According to the Peoples Gazette, an online news medium, Supreme Court sources said Ariwoola’s disguising was a clandestine preparation for a meeting with Tinubu. The CN

*Mr. Roger Brown (Nigeria) A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Thursday, adjourned till March 30, 2023, to rule on several applications challenging the suspension of the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Seplat Energy PLC, Mr. Roger Brown, from parading himself as the CEO of the company. Trial judge, Justice Chukwuejekwu Aneke adjourned for ruling, after hearing applications seeking to vacate the ex-parte order and to strike out the suit by counsel to the respondents. The court had on March 8, restrained Roger from parading himself as the CEO of the company pending the determination of a suit instituted against him and others by some aggrieved stakeholders of the company over allegations of racism, favouring of expatriate workers, discrimination against Nigerians, and breach of good governance. The court made order while ruling on a motion ex parte by Jeph Njikonye, SAN, on behalf of some aggrieved stakeholders of Seplat. The aggrieved stakeholders, who are petitioners/app

*Federal High Court, Lagos  (Nigeria) A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has struck out the Federal Government's suit seeking to recover and forfeit the sum of N70trillion it alleged was stashed in 29 bank accounts by looters. Justice Peter Lifu held that the Federal Government's lawyers and the private lawyers which it subsequently gave a fiat, did not diligently prosecute the case. The judge expressed shock that the plaintiffs/applicants' counsel from Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, to Femi Falana, SAN "suddenly developed cold feet over this alleged public interest case." The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney-General of the Federation/ Minister of Justice are the plaintiffs/applicants in suit FHC/L/CS/968/2021. The 19 Defendants/Respondents, including 17 banks, are Zenith Bank Plc, Polaris Bank Plc, Citi Bank Ltd, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Standard Chartered Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc, Unity Bank Plc, Keystone Bank Plc, Heritage Bank

*Fe deral High Court, Lagos (Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project , SERAP , has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari and National Broadcasting Commission , NBC , before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, f or “the arbitrary use of the NBC Act and broadcasting code to sanction and threaten to revoke the licences of broadcast stations in the country and shut them down over their legitimate coverage of the 2023 general elections.” Joined in the suit as d efendant is Mr Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture. The NBC had last week reportedly sanctioned 25 broadcast stations and issued ‘final warnings’ to 16 others for allegedly violating provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code during the February 25, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections. But in the suit number FHC/L/CS/469/2023 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is asking the court to determine “whether the broadcasting code used by the NBC to sanction some bro

* Federal High Court sitting in  Lagos (Nigeria) A senior investigating officer with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , EFCC , Mr . Orji Chukwuma , ha s narrated to a  Federal High Court sitting in  Lagos , on Tuesday, how a former acting Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Haruna Jauro, and two others laundered various sums of funds allegedly belonging to NIMASA. Trial judge in the matter is J ustice Tijjani Ringim.   Jauro alongside Dr. Dauda Bawa and a company, Thlumbau Enterprises Limited, is being prosecuted on a 19-count charge of stealing and money laundering to the tune of N304,118, 500 . At the resumed hearing on Tuesday the prosecution presented its third prosecution witness, PW3, Orji Chukwuma who investigated the alleged crime.   Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Chukwuma, of the Chairman Monitoring Unit, EFCC, Abuja, told the court that he was Head, Special Task Force Unit 3

*Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, corporate headquarters, Abuja (Nigeria) The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has ordered banks in the country to comply with the judgment of the Supreme Court, ordering o ld N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes to r emain l egal t ender till December 31, 2023. CBN’s Ag. Director, Corporate Communications , Isa AbdulMumin in a statement on Monday, said: “ In compliance with the established tradition of obedience to court orders and sustenance of the rule of law principle that characterised the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, and by extension, the operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as a regulator, Deposit Money Banks operating in Nigeria have been directed to comply with the Supreme Court ruling of March 3, 2023. “ Accordingly, the CBN met with the Bankers’ Committee and has directed that the old N200, N500 and N1000 banknotes remain legal tender alongside the redesigned banknotes till December 31, 2023. “ Consequently, all co