News
IWD: Kaduna Gov’t Backs Women’s Parliamentary Seats
By Amina Samuel, Kaduna
The Kaduna State government has pledged full support for increased female representation in parliament and the broader fight for women’s rights in the country.
Speaking at the launch of the Her Seat in Parliament and Governance: Ward-to-Ward Campaign in Kaduna, the Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, emphasized the government’s commitment to empowering women politically, socially, and economically.
Represented by the Deputy Director of Gender Affairs, Mrs. Lami Usman, Salisu reaffirmed that under Governor Uba Sani’s leadership, the state would continue engaging women in sensitization and empowerment programs to foster national development.
The campaign, organized by the League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) in collaboration with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), aims to support the proposed 74 Special Seats Bill and ensure at least 35% affirmative action for women across all levels of governance.
In her address, Kaduna State Chairperson of NILOWV, Barrister Julie Ariahu, highlighted the urgency of addressing gender disparities in governance.
She pointed out that despite Nigeria’s commitment to international conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, women remain underrepresented.
“The National Gender Policy recommends 50% representation, yet about 15 states in Nigeria have no female lawmakers in their state assemblies,” Ariahu stated.
She cited Rwanda and Tanzania as examples of African nations where special parliamentary seats have successfully increased women’s representation.
The initiative has received backing from key stakeholders, including NAWOJ’s National President, Comrade Aisha K. Bura, who was represented by the North-West Vice President, Comrade Rabi Muhammad Gwadabawa. She urged other states to follow Kaduna’s lead in implementing the campaign.
Former lawmaker Comrade Florence Aya, who represented Kaura constituency in the Fourth Assembly, lamented the slow progress of women’s political participation in Nigeria.
She stressed that special seats in parliament remain the only viable solution to bridging the gender gap in governance.
Several organizations, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA), and the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), also expressed support for the bill.
NLC Kaduna Chapter Chairman, Comrade Ayuba Magaji Suleiman, commended NILOWV and NAWOJ for amplifying women’s voices and pledged the union’s full backing.
The event concluded with the unveiling of the national emblem for the Her Seat in Parliament and Governance campaign by Commissioner Salisu.
The campaign launch comes amid growing scrutiny of gender representation in Nigeria’s political landscape.
According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Nigeria ranks among the bottom 10 countries globally in women’s representation in parliament. Reports indicate that in 15 states, there is not a single female lawmaker in the state assemblies.
In a significant development, the Rivers State House of Assembly has officially launched an investigation into the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, amid serious allegations of age falsification.
The decision was made during a plenary session on Thursday, where lawmakers unanimously voted to invite the Department of State Services (DSS) to conduct a thorough inquiry into these claims. This resolution, passed by a voice vote, underscores the assembly’s commitment to accountability and transparency in the judiciary.
As the investigation unfolds, details regarding the specific allegations and supporting evidence are anticipated to be released to the public. The DSS is expected to initiate its inquiry promptly, shedding light on this pressing issue.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
The Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of blogger, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), for “criminal defamation” of a Gospel Artist, Mercy Chinwo.
The magistrate ordered the Nigeria Police Force, together with other law enforcement agencies, to arrest VeryDarkMan and produce him to court to answer to the criminal allegations levelled against him.
Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna issued the bench warrant on Thursday, March 13, 2025 when VeryDarkMan failed to appear before the magistrate followed a court summons on March 5, 2025 for him to do so.
Although lawyer to VeryDarkMan, Deji Adeyanju, appealed to the Magistrate to rethink the bench warrant and that he would personally produce his client in court, the Magistrate rejected the appeal and insisted that VeryDarkMan be produced in court by security agencies.
The bench warrant stemmed from alleged defamatory statements made by VDM on social media, accusing Chinwo of involvement in a contractual dispute and the purported diversion of $345,000 linked to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as Eezee Tee.
In support of her claims, Chinwo furnished the court with documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to substantiate that VDM’s allegations were not only entirely false but damning and injurious to her public image and reputation.
The complainant’s lawyers led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of Abuja-based law firm, Law Corridor, Chinwo said the alleged actions of the defendant are contrary to Sections 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015.
Chinwo’s counsel had also dragged VDM before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, seeking N1.1bn damages against the blogger.
The lawyer sought an order compelling VDM to delete, retract, and issue a public apology for all allegedly false and defamatory statements made against Chinwo and her brand.
Accuses Chevron Against Taking Side With Itsekiris, Warns American Oil Company To Obey Court’s Judgement
Leaders of Benikrukru Community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State are now facing threats from the various militant groups and individuals from the Itsekiri ethnic nationality following the judgement of the Federal High Court, Warri, which barred the management of the American Oil Conglomerate, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) from paying compensation to some Itsekiri communities in its Abiteye fields located in the coastal axis of Delta State.
Reports available to newsmen showed that Itsekiri militant groups are sending out threats to unleash violence and blow up the nation’s economic assets as well as death threats to notable citizens of Benikrukru community in the aftermath of the judgement delivered against Chevron and hitherto Itsekiri host communities in the Abiteye oil fields on January 31st, this year.
In one of the widely circulated threat messages, a self-acclaimed “General Iwedundun Akpakpa, said,
“It has come to the attention of GEN.
IWEDUNDUN AKPAKPA, leader of the Itsekiri Defense Council (IDC), that there is a
48-hour ultimatum given to all Itsekiris working in the Abiteye flow station to accept that they are ljaws or leave the flow station, the ultimatum also included that all Itsekiris in their God given land of Abiteye should leave the community within 48hours and Deghele and Bateren Community will start paying rent to over a paid purported court judgments in a location in Abiteye.”
The Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, had ordered Chevron to “discontinue payment of compensation to Ode-Itsekiri and Deghele communities.”
The judgement was delivered by Hon. Justice H. A. Nganjiwa, as a result of a suit filed by indigenes of Benikrukru community against Chevron, Ode-Itsekiri, and other defendants in the case marked FHC/WR/CS/49/2024.
Plaintiffs in the case, Pa. Kwekwewei Onimiyenmene, Pastor Paul Willie, Elder David Kiriodougha, Captain John Abase, Elder Dogood Ogoloru, and Madam Goldcoast Jimmy, on behalf of Benikrukru Community, had sought a declaration of the court to vacate the Consent Judgment, which was first entered on March 12, 1982, in several suits involving Gulf Oil Company (now Chevron), which had expired.
Listed in the suit were Chevron Nigeria Limited as 1st, David Mode Akoma, 2nd, Doris Odemi 3rd, Pa. Samson Amaola 4th, Steve Edema 5th, Henry Temisan 6th, defendants respectively (the 2nd-6th defendants are sued for themselves and as representatives of the Ode-Itsekri/Deghele communities of Delta state).
Also listed as respondents were Dr. Peter Etchie, Friday Etuwewe, Esimaje Henry, Olori-ebi Lugard Etchie, Isaac Etchie and Sunny Etchie are listed as the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th, defendants respectively (the 7th-12th defendants are sued for themselves and as representatives of the Omateye family of Bateren community of Delta state).
The plaintiffs sought among other things the continued application of a 1982 Consent Judgment which they claimed had expired and is no longer enforceable, which hitherto governed compensation payments for the use of lands belonging to the Benikrukru community in the Gbaramatu Kingdom.”
The court granted the prayers of the plaintiffs.
Apparently frustrated by the outcome of the suit, Itsekiri militias and other aggrieved individuals have threatened to unleash terror on Benikrukru community, its leaders and indigenes.
Specifically, Akpakpa, said, “Let it be known that Abiteye land and all surrounding lands (Deghele and Bateren) belong to the Itsekiris. It was the Itsekiris who leased the Abiteye flow station to Gulf in the 90s; all the documents are there. We, the IDC, will ensure that all Itsekiri land is protected at all times.
“In the coming days, we will cause damages that will not only be felt by the Delta State Government but will also be felt by the federal government of Nigeria. When this happens, both the state and federal governments should hold (name withheld) responsible for the bloodbath and economic losses that this will lead to in Nigeria.”
“No Itsekiri child will be sent out of his land; the illegal community known as Kenyagbene on the soil of Abiteye will be brought down.
Benikrukru will be brought down.
This will be another round of the Okuoama crisis in Warri South West. It will happen. We shall all dance naked,” the faceless Itsekiri militant added.
To this end, fears have gripped Benikrukru and its citizens following the threat by the Itsekiri to unleash mayhem on the areas in protest against the landmark judgement.
Meanwhile, a Niger Delta group, Movement for Peace and Justice in the Niger Delta (MPJND) has fingered the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, as sponsor of the threat of violence by Akpakpa and others.
The MPJND, in a statement issued yesterday by its National Coordinator, Okejoto Ezekiel, said the Itsekiri king was the brain behind the planned action by his subjects to cause chaos in reaction to the outcome of the land dispute.
To exonerate himself, the group asked the Olu of Warri to come out clean by publicly condemning the planned actions and call his subjects to order.
Rather than result to violence, the group enjoined the Itsekiri monarch to prevail on his subjects to employ legitimate means to seek redress.
“The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III should be held responsible if his subjects carry out their threats to unleash terror on Benikrukru community and its citizens. We should not forget the bloody Warri crisis in a jiffy. No group has a monopoly of violence. The Itsekiri king should call his people to order so as to clear the doubts that he is the one instigating and encouraging them,” the group added.
In the same vein, the group accused Chevron’s management of apathy towards the judgement.
It accused Chevron of demonstrating lukewarm attitudes in carrying out the orders of the court as contained in the judgement.
MPJND in the statement, further said that top echelons of Chevron were having sympathy for the Itsekiri by alleged refusal to comply with the court order.
The group cautioned Chevron against partisanship, adding that, “Chevron must obey the judgement of the Federal High Court, Warri, ordering it to stop forthwith payment of compensation to Ode-Itsekiri, Deghele and other Itsekiri communities in the Abiteye fields.”
“It’s appalling that the management of Chevron is taking side with the Itsekiri in the legal debacle despite that a court of competent jurisdiction has taken a position by delivering a landmark judgment on the vexatious issue.”