President of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Afam Osigwe, SAN, has lamented that judges and magistrates appear to be tools in the hands of politicians and ‘big men’.

Osigwe said this on Wednesday during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ monitored by DAILY POST.

He said that free speech is being concealed in Nigeria under the guise of cyber crime and defamation.

“Free speech is being muzzled in Nigeria under the guise of charging people to court and investigating them for cyber crime and criminal defamation.

“Even when the matters are ordinarily bailable, judges and magistrates appear to be tools in the hands of politicians and ‘big men’ and refuse bail even where there is no basis for not granting bail.

“This is a violation of the right to freedom of expression and an abuse of the democratic space.

“Because these public office holders should be held to a higher standard of accountability and if they deprive people of the ability to criticize and hold them to account, then democracy dies.

“If our judges become willing tools in giving them that which they desire, which is to put those people out of circulation, then there’s something wrong and the judiciary becomes a willing tool in the hands of the oppressors and thereby becomes an oppressor itself,” he said.

Lagos State Government has announced a comprehensive traffic diversion plan ahead of the 2026 Lagos City Marathon scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

The plan, released by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, is aimed at ensuring smooth traffic management and public safety during the event, which will feature both 42-kilometre and 10-kilometre races taking place simultaneously across designated routes in the state.

According to the ministry, the 42-kilometre marathon will commence at Ahmadu Bello Way, by the MRS Gas Station, and run through the entire stretch of the Coastal Road, which will serve as the finishing point of the race.

The 10-kilometre race, on the other hand, will begin at Durosimi Etti Street in Lekki Phase 1. From there, runners will proceed through Ozumba Mbadiwe, Bishop Oluwole Street, Akin Adesola Street and Sanusi Fafunwa Street, which marks the endpoint of the shorter race.

In line with the traffic management arrangement, the state government disclosed that all adjoining roads, junctions and intersections connected to both race routes will be temporarily blocked from 12:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2026. The roads, however, will be opened intermittently to motorists as the race progresses.

The ministry further stated that all affected roads will be manned by operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), alongside other security agencies, to restrict access to the main race corridors and ensure orderliness throughout the duration of the marathon.

Reacting to the development, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, reassured residents that adequate measures had been put in place to ease movement during the event.

“Traffic Management Officials will be strategically positioned to help motorists navigate their journeys,” Osiyemi said, while urging Lagosians to plan their trips ahead of time.

He also advised members of the public to make use of alternative routes and, where possible, adopt other modes of transportation to reduce inconvenience during the partial road closures.

In an advisory issued by the ministry, motorists were implored to remain patient, noting that the temporary restrictions form part of the traffic management plans for the 11th edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon Race 2026.

The state government appealed for the understanding and cooperation of road users, stressing that the measures are necessary for the successful hosting of the marathon and the safety of participants and the general public.

A socio-cultural organization, Edo First, has accused Obaro Ologbo, the South South Zonal Director of the National Health Insurance Authority’s (NHIA) of influencing the relocation of the NHIA office from Benin to Port Harcourt, River State.

However, Ologbo described the allegation as a “big, fat lie”, stating that the decision to relocate the office is the decision of the Abuja office.

In a February 4 internal memo signed by Director, Human Resources, Halima Zakari, named new seven zonal offices that have been created to run the affairs of the NHIA.

The memo stated in part, “This is to inform all that the NHIA Governing Council at its first retreat in August, 2025 approved the creation of two news departments – Strategic Purchasing Department Risk and Regulatory Services Department

“These Departments have been forwarded to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for ratification. However, the Departments have commenced operational activities.

“Furthermore, the organizational structure of the Authority now has seven Zonal Offices as follows. They are North Central Zonal Office (Ilorin);  North East Zonal Office (Maiduguri); North West Zonal Office (Kano}; South East Zonal Office (Enugu); South-South Zonal Office (Port Harcourt); South West Zonal Office (Ibadan) and Lagos Zonal Office (Lagos).

“All staff are requested to take note.”

The group said the decision to relocate its zonal office from Benin City to Port Harcourt, is a deliberate affront on Edo State.

A statement on Tuesday signed by the group President, Edosa Idahosa and Secretary, Ehiadolor Osakue, accused the zonal director of orchestrating the move for selfish reasons, citing proximity to his adopted home base of Bayelsa.

The statement read in part, “The relocation of the NHIA from Benin to Port Harcourt can be traced to the zonal director.

“The Edo State Government in its magnanimity provided rent-free accommodation for about 20 years and a Certificate of Occupancy for a permanent site, but the zonal director, from Delta State, refused to work in Benin. The zonal office is currently suffering from neglect

“We, therefore call on the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, and influential Edo State personalities to look into the matter and prevent the relocation.

But Ologbo told the PUNCH in a telephone interview that he was not instrumental to the relocation of the zonal office, noting there are channels of decision in the organization.

He said, “Why would I do that? There is a board, there is a top management. There are a lot of channels before decisions are taken. If there is a group saying things, they may not know how the decisions are being made.

“I am happy you are reaching out to me. I am denying the claim. It is not true. It is absolutely a big, fat lie. I can’t be instrumental to government’s decisions. It’s not me. Why should that be?”

The National Health Insurance Agency is a government body, established to provide financial access to healthcare for all citizens, aiming for universal coverage by pooling funds, regulating schemes, and managing enrolment for formal and informal sectors, replacing older, less effective systems like Nigeria’s previous National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

It manages contributions, offer benefit packages (for employees, families, elderly, self-employed), and partner with providers to ensure affordable, quality care for everyone.

The Nenadi Usman–led Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party, LP, has alleged that the Julius Abure faction vandalized the party’s headquarters on Tuesday night.

Recall that Nenadi-led faction backed by the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, on Tuesday took over the party’s Secretariat in Abuja.

The move followed a Federal High Court ruling that recognised Nenadi as the Interim National Chairman of the party.

However, the Abure-led faction on Tuesday night allagedly stormed the facility and allegedly pulled down Nenadi’s billboard.

Nenadi group raised the alarm in a post on its official X account on Wednesday morning, describing the alleged invasion as a sad development.

The post reads, “Former and expelled Julius Abure led hoodlums to vandalize our National HQ and pulled down our billboard. Very sad”.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a clarification on its earlier reaction to the Electoral Amendment Bill passed by the 10th Senate.

In a follow-up statement, signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi on Tuesday, the party explained that its initial response was based on early media reports suggesting that the Senate had passed a version of the bill that guarantees real-time transmission of election results.

According to the ADC, real-time electronic transmission of results is a long-standing safeguard needed to protect votes and preserve electoral integrity.

However, the party said more detailed reports later revealed that the bill, as passed, contains a controversial provision that introduces discretionary clauses.

The ADC noted that these clauses are capable of weakening the guarantee of real-time electronic transmission and could open the door to the manipulation of election results.

“In light of these facts now on record, the ADC wishes to clarify its position,” the party said.

The ADC stated that any provision in the electoral law that creates ambiguity, discretion, or technical loopholes around the transmission and collation of results undermines the integrity of elections.

“The credibility of elections rests not on assurances but on clear, unambiguous legal guarantees that protect the will of the people,” the statement said.

The party maintained that only an Electoral Amendment Act that clearly mandates real-time electronic transmission of results, can build public confidence and strengthen democracy.

The ADC urged the National Assembly to address and remove any provision that weakens this safeguard and align the final version of the bill with the recommendations of the Conference Committee on e-transmission of results.

“The ADC remains committed to standing with Nigerians in defense of transparent, credible, and verifiable elections,” the statement added.

Lagos State House of Assembly, in collaboration with representatives of waterfront communities affected by recent demolitions, have expressed support for the state government’s proposed Water City development for the impacted areas.

This position was reached as part of a five-point resolution agreed upon during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Tuesday evening at the Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja.

The discussions involved leaders from Makoko, Sogunro and Oko Agbon waterfront communities.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Chairman of the Adhoc Committee on Rules and Business and Majority Leader of the House, Mr Noheem Adams, explained that the Water City initiative is designed to serve the long-term interests of residents in the affected communities.

According to Adams, the state government will set up a 10-member committee drawn from the communities to carry out a self-enumeration of properties impacted by the demolitions.

He said the committee is expected to conclude the exercise within two weeks and submit its findings to the Adhoc Committee for further review.

He stressed the importance of openness and accuracy in the enumeration process, noting that information provided by the communities would be verified against existing government data.

Adams also directed stakeholders in Makoko to submit the names of their nominees for the committee to the House once constituted.

Reacting to the outcome of the meeting, the Baale of Sogunro Community, Chief Abraham Mesu, lauded the intervention of the Lagos State House of Assembly, describing it as timely and reassuring. He said the proposed Water City project has the potential to significantly enhance living conditions while ensuring that indigenous residents remain central to the redevelopment process.

Although he acknowledged the hardship caused by the demolitions, Mesu reaffirmed the community’s readiness to work with the state government to achieve a sustainable solution.

Similarly, the Baale of Makoko Waterfront, Chief Emmanuel Shemade, disclosed that community leaders had agreed to halt any rebuilding of demolished structures pending further directives. He expressed satisfaction with the assurances given at the meeting, particularly regarding plans to regenerate the area without forcing residents out of their ancestral communities.

Shemade also commended the state government’s commitment to provide an aerial survey image within one month, clearly outlining the extent of the demolished areas.

Earlier at the meeting, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Geographic Information Services, Dr Olajide Babatunde, said the Water City project forms part of a broader regeneration strategy for the waterfront settlements.

He noted that the initiative was informed by concerns over congestion and substandard living conditions, adding that provisions had been made to ensure affected residents receive appropriate compensation.

Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) of federal tertiary health institutions have attributed poor funding for medical research to budgetary constraints and repeated cuts during the budgeting process, as the House of Representatives criticised teaching hospitals for allocating less than one per cent of their budgets to research.

Speaking on behalf of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors, the Secretary of the committee and Chief Medical Director of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Pokop Bupwatda, told lawmakers that although research is usually captured in hospital budget proposals, the allocation is often removed before final approval.

Bupwatda said limited funding has weakened the capacity of teaching hospitals to carry out meaningful research, despite their statutory mandate as centres of medical innovation and training.

He called for increased funding for the health sector to enable the recruitment of qualified manpower and improved staff welfare, warning that poor conditions of service have worsened the ongoing “japa syndrome” among medical professionals.

According to him, many federal hospitals are critically understaffed, particularly with medical doctors, and even when approvals are granted to recruit, few doctors apply. He added that despite these challenges, existing personnel have continued to provide quality healthcare services and deserve commendation.

Bupwatda also raised concerns over operational challenges facing tertiary health institutions, including the release of only about 30 per cent of the 2025 budget to federal teaching hospitals and medical centres, a development he said has constrained service delivery despite efforts by the House to improve budgetary allocations.

He identified power supply as a major financial burden, noting that hospitals spend huge sums on electricity due to the need for constant power to run critical equipment. According to him, federal hospitals currently operate under Band A electricity tariffs, further increasing costs alongside the expense of running generators.

However, the House of Representatives faulted the CMDs for failing to prioritise research during budget preparations. The Chairman of the House Committee on Health Institutions, Dr Patrick Umoh, said teaching hospitals had allocated less than one per cent of their budgets to research and had not consistently pushed for improved research funding.

Umoh expressed disappointment that many teaching hospitals now operate like general hospitals, rather than research-driven institutions, warning that the neglect of research undermines the country’s health system.

“Teaching hospitals are supposed to be centres of research. You have never raised the issue of lack of funding for research, but you talk more about infrastructure. That makes you part of the problem,” he said.

He added that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the sector’s poor research preparedness, noting that none of the hospitals visited during oversight functions had showcased functional research centres.

Sokoto State Police Command has disbursed N29.6 million in Group Life Assurance benefits to families of officers who died or sustained serious injuries in the line of duty.

The cheques, totalling N29,638,584.78, were presented to 10 beneficiaries on Tuesday.

The presentation was carried out on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Musa, by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Finance and Administration, Umar Sokoto, alongside members of the command’s management team.

Umar said the payment was part of the Nigeria Police Force’s Group Life Assurance Scheme aimed at providing financial support to families of deceased officers.

He urged the beneficiaries to make prudent use of the funds to support their households.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Hamimatu Ahmad, widow of one of the deceased officers, expressed appreciation to the police authorities for the intervention.

The command said the disbursement forms part of ongoing welfare efforts for personnel and families of officers who died in active service.