Chinedu Agbodike, a citizen, has initiated legal action against the federal government and the Nigerian Army over what he described as “indiscriminate proliferation” of military checkpoints in the south-east geopolitical zone.

The suit was filed at the High Court of Enugu State on June 17, 2026.

Agbodike is the applicant in the suit, filed on his behalf and on behalf of citizens of Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, and Abia states.

Counsel to the applicant are Aloy Ejimakor, P.N Agazie, B.C. Anys, B.K Agazie, Chinwe Agazie, Eguzoribe Ozioma, E.C Eze, and Iloanya
Florence.

The respondents are the chief of army staff (first
respondent), Nigerian army (second respondent), attorney-general of the federation (third respondent), and federal government (fourth respondent).

THE PRAYERS

The lawyer asked the court to declare that the
“indiscriminate deployment” of military checkpoints and roadblocks in the south-east zone, which according to them, have allegedly resulted in
harassment, extortion, and arbitrary arrests, constitute violations of the fundamental human rights of citizens.

The lawyer asked the court to declare illegal and
unconstitutional the “routine” deployment of military personnel for checkpoints duties and roadblock operations in the south-east.

“A DECLARATION that the assumption by the 1st and 2nd Respondents of internal policing functions constitutionally vested in the Nigeria Police Force under Section 214 of the Constitution amounts to an
unlawful usurpation of powers and is therefore unconstitutional and same constitutes abuse and violation of human rights of the people of South Eastern Nigeria,” part of the suit reads.

“A DECLARATION that the excessive militarization of Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo and Abia States amounts to an unjustifiable and disproportionate interference with the rights to freedom of movement, personal liberty, human dignity and freedom from discrimination guaranteed under Chapter IV of the Constitution, thereby violating the constitutional rights of the people of South Eastern Nigeria.

“A DECLARATION that the discriminatory profiling and targeting of citizens by the 1st and 2nd Respondents at various military checkpoints/roadblocks on the roads of Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra and Imo States on account of their ethnicity, age, mode of dressing, hairstyle,
tattoos, language, physical appearance or perceived affiliations is unconstitutional, illegal, oppressive and a violation of their Constitutional rights under Chapter IV of the Constitution, particularly Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.”

The lawyer sought an order directly the first to third
respondents to “immediately dismantle, remove and discontinue all military checkpoints and routine roadblocks operating on federal and state roads within Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo and Abia States except where such deployments are
specifically authorised by law and justified by exceptional security circumstances, in accordance with due process of law”.

The lawyer asked the court to order the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice to establish a panel to investigate human rights violations allegedly committed by military personnel at checkpoints in the south-east.

The lawyer sought N500 billion as “exemplary, aggravated and general damages against the Respondents jointly and severally for the
widespread and continuing violation of the fundamental rights of citizens of the South-East Region of Nigeria”.

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Political analyst and former ally of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Segun Sowunmi, has predicted that President Bola Tinubu may get a weak result during the 2027 presidential election.

Sowunmi insisted that the 2027 presidential election may be between Tinubu and Atiku.

Featuring on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Sowunmi predicted that Tinubu might win 22 states in the 2027 presidential election.

He said: “The election is between Tinubu and Atiku no doubt about it and I believe that he’s going to win significantly better numbers in the Southeast because those are not places they usually get better numbers before.

“Of course, he is going to get good numbers in the
Southwest. I even suspect that the South South may even bring in more good numbers than the Southeast, the way I’m looking at things.

“The president is going to do very well in the Northcentral, and he will do significantly better than he did the last time in the Northwest.

“For the Northwest, you have to look at where the big players are, the big boys that control the election and the big money.

“And when it comes to the Northeast, the vice president will have to pull his weight a little bit more and their governors would try more.

“Where I expect the president to be weak is probably in the North but in that North where the president may be weak, I have looked at all
the governors and big players there.

“Let me give you an example of Katsina, the last time PDP won, one of the persons that worked very hard there was the then Director General of Atiku Campaign, we won Katsina though we lost the election, I went back to go and thank them and I have looked now Shema is no longer there, Isa
Kenta is going to the APC, I have seen what Rabi is doing there.

“Take Kano for instance, they now have Shekarau over and above Ganduje, I have also looked at the big money people in Kano, I have looked at Dangote, BUA owner, you see these things don’t yield that way.”

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The trial of former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and seven others over alleged misappropriation of public funds has been adjourned until October 14 by the Kano State High Court.

Ganduje, alongside his wife Hafsat Umar, faces an 11-count charge bordering on bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and diversion of billions of naira.

Other defendants include Abubakar Bawuro, Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lasage General Enterprises Ltd.

At Wednesday’s hearing, prosecution counsel Victor Oni informed the court that the state was ready to proceed and sought to withdraw an earlier motion filed on March 31, substituting it with a fresh application dated May 15.

The defence, represented by Mrs Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo and other counsels, raised no objections.Counsel to the sixth defendant, however, filed a preliminary objection and requested a date for hearing.

Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu subsequently struck out the prosecution’s earlier motion and adjourned the matter to October 14 for consideration of the objection.

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The Anambra State-owned security outfit, Agunechemba, has successfully dislodged a terror group’s camp in Aguata Local Government Area, killing three armed men while several others escaped with gunshot wounds.

The operation, carried out Tuesday night by Agunechemba operatives attached to the FOB Unit in Aguata, led to the recovery of a Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG), AK-47 rifles, the gang’s operational white Hilux van, charms, handbags, and other incriminating items.

In a statement on Wednesday, Agunechemba’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Nweke Nweke, revealed that the gang had previously attacked the convoy of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s Chief of Staff, Ben Nwankwo, killing four people, including two police officers and two civilians.

According to Nweke, the raid was conducted in partnership with the police after intelligence gathering pinpointed the gang’s hideout. During a fierce gun battle, three members of the group were neutralised.

“This gang had been masquerading in Federal Government security uniforms and had previously attacked the convoy of the Chief of Staff to Governor Soludo. Their downfall came during a firepower encounter with our operatives,” the statement read.

The gang was reportedly operating across Anambra South Senatorial District, engaging in kidnapping, armed robbery, and other violent crimes.

Prince Ken Emekayi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Security; Sylvester Ofodeme, Chairman of the State House of Assembly Committee on Internal Security; and Chief Chinenye Ihenko, Agunechemba’s Head of Operations, hailed the operation as a major breakthrough in the fight against insecurity.

The recovered weapons and vehicle are expected to aid further investigations into the group’s activities.

This latest success underscores the state government’s ongoing efforts to clamp down on criminal networks and restore peace across Anambra.

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France has recorded its first confirmed case of Ebola virus disease, with health authorities tracing the infection to a doctor who recently
returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The French health ministry announced the development on Tuesday, describing it as the first time the highly infectious viral disease
has been detected within the country.

According to AFP, the patient was identified shortly after arriving in France from the DRC, where an Ebola outbreak has been ongoing for
months.

Health officials said the doctor was isolated immediately upon arrival, before laboratory tests later confirmed the infection.

The ministry said the case was detected in mainland France and stressed that containment measures were activated promptly to prevent any
potential spread of the virus.

Sebastien Lecornu, France’s prime minister, said authorities were monitoring the situation “very closely” and working to ensure that all
necessary public health protocols were followed.

The case marks the first confirmed Ebola infection reported outside Africa since the latest outbreak began in Central Africa.

The current outbreak has primarily affected the Democratic Republic of Congo, while Uganda has also recorded infections.

The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15 following a series of unexplained deaths in the eastern province of Ituri.

In June, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported that Uganda and the DRC had recorded a
combined 894 confirmed Ebola cases and 204 deaths.

Ebola is a severe viral haemorrhagic fever that spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons. Symptoms
often include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.

French health authorities have not disclosed further details about the patient but said surveillance and contact-tracing measures are
underway.

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President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to confirm the appointment of Professor Abayomi Fashina, immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, as a non-career ambassador and high commissioner-designate.

The request was conveyed in a letter read during Wednesday’s plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Tinubu explained that the nomination was made in line with constitutional provisions guiding diplomatic appointments and urged lawmakers to act swiftly.

“In accordance with the provisions of section 121, subsections 2, 3, and 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the nomination of Professor Abayomi Sunday-Fashina as non-career ambassador/high commissioner-designate,” the letter stated.

Akpabio subsequently referred the nomination to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for screening. The committee is expected to scrutinize Fashina’s credentials and submit its report within one week, after which the Senate will vote on his confirmation.

The appointment is part of the Tinubu administration’s broader effort to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic corps, with a mix of career and non-career envoys being deployed to strategic foreign missions.

By constitutional requirement, ambassadorial nominees must undergo Senate screening to assess their competence, professional background, and suitability for diplomatic service. Non-career ambassadors are typically drawn from academia, politics, public administration, and other sectors where they have demonstrated leadership and distinguished service.

Fashina, an academic and administrator, is widely recognized in Nigeria’s higher education sector, having served as Vice Chancellor of FUOYE. His nomination is expected to attract close legislative scrutiny during the screening process.

If confirmed, he will join other ambassadorial appointees tasked with advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives, strengthening bilateral relations, and promoting the country’s economic and diplomatic interests abroad.

The Senate is expected to conclude consideration of the nomination once the Foreign Affairs Committee submits its report next week.

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio has cautioned Nigerian governors against abusing state police when it is finally established.

Akpabio issued the warning on Tuesday during plenary as the National Assembly prepares to approve state police to tackle insecurity in the
country.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday sent a Constitution Alteration Bill to the National Assembly, seeking the establishment of state police.

The Nigerian Senate fixed Wednesday (today) for the passage of the state police bill.

“Many of us like to go back home after we are through here, without being afraid of the state police.

“Even the current governors will one day leave office, they should not be afraid of the state police they created.

“Your conscience will be looking at you, and they will be interested in what you say. Since 1960 Nigeria did not have the courage to decentralize the police. This is the first time we’ll do it.

“And this will be done in two phases; one will be through alteration of the constitution and the other one we will embed an Act of
Parliament in order to bring out the modalities to avoid abuses,” Akpabio said.

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Residents of Igboho in Oyo State erupted in celebration after a kidnapped family, including a pregnant woman, her children, and a sibling, were released following a two-hour ultimatum issued by Yoruba activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.

Videos circulating on social media showed large crowds singing, dancing, and rejoicing at the victims’ return to the community.

The release came shortly after Igboho addressed community leaders and traditional rulers, expressing outrage over rising kidnappings and insecurity in the area.

He accused some elements within the Fulani community of involvement in the abductions and referenced a recent case where a ransom bearer was allegedly killed.

“I am Sunday Igboho. I am calm because my fathers asked me to be calm with you. Let this be the last time such a thing will happen,” he warned, while giving a two-hour deadline for the release of the victims.

Igboho had earlier shown restraint at the request of traditional rulers but threatened decisive action if his ultimatum was ignored. Details of exactly how the victims were freed remain unclear, but the swift development has been widely attributed to his intervention.

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President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji on his landslide victory in Saturday’s governorship election.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu commended the people of Ekiti State for conducting a peaceful and orderly election and for reposing their trust in the governor.

The President also praised security agencies for ensuring law and order during the poll. Tinubu described Oyebanji as the first governor in Ekiti State’s history to secure back-to-back re-election, noting that the victory represents a strong vote of confidence in continuity and people-centred governance.

He urged the governor to remain magnanimous in victory and to carry all stakeholders along as he consolidates on his achievements in infrastructure, agriculture, education, healthcare, and youth development.

The President called on other candidates and political parties to rally behind Oyebanji for the overall interest of Ekiti State.

INEC declared Oyebanji winner after he polled 319,224 votes, defeating his closest rivals from the PDP and ADC.

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