News
Defamation: Banire seeks redress from FIJ, threatens N1Billion libel suit

Defamation: Banire seeks redress from FIJ, threatens N1Billion libel suit
By: Michael Mike
Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Convener of social advocacy group, United Action for Change, UAC, Dr. Muiz Banire has threatened to drag Foundation for Investigative Journalism, FIJ, to court for N1billion compensation if the organisation fails to meet his demands over damages done his 35 years legal and academic record.
This was disclosed in a letter titled “DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS AGAINST DR MUIZ BANIRE, SAN, OON PRE-ACTION PROTOCOL WRITTEN MEMORANDUM”, dated 7th May 2024 and addressed to FIJ by his lawyer, Kunle Adegoke SAN.
The letter whose copy was made available to journalists, read: “Our client Informed us, and we verily believe him, that: his attention was drawn to your organisation’s publication of
6th May 2024 with the caption: CONFIRMED: Muiz Banire Wrote the Petition That Triggered FIJ Reporter’s Abduction, published on your organisation’s website.
“In the said publication, your organisation wrote that our client is responsible for the abduction of one Daniel Ojukwu, a member of staff of your organisation.”
The letter further said “your publication deliberately conveyed the malicious
impression that our client engineered the kidnap of the aforementioned Daniel Ojukwu, thereby, suggesting that our client engages in criminal conduct; in this vein, your publication failed to mention that our client acted in line with his professional obligation in the representation of his client and that his office, M. A. Banire & Associates, authored the petition to the Inspector-General of Police on behalf of their client to report a case of
cyberbullying; your publication is, without a doubt, designed to damage the
reputation of our client, a purpose it is currently serving.
“Due to the popularity and effectiveness of your organisation’s online distribution network, millions of people have received and read your organisation’s defamatory publication; your organisation to note that your publication has dragged our client’s carefully nurtured good name in the mud and exposed our client to underserved public opprobrium; many that have read your publications, particularly his professional colleagues and associates, have expressed shock as to why our client would engage in the criminal behaviour your organisation attributed to him.
“Many also queried our client on the sins or transgressions of the said Daniel Ojukwu against the person of our client as to warrant our client resorting to the crime of engineering his abduction; to many of them, our client’s explanation that he had no personal relationship with the said Daniel Ojukwu and did not know him from Adam but only acted in his professional capacity as counsel to his client in the submission of a petition to the police on his client’s behalf fell on deaf ears; and your organisation has, through its false and heinous allegations, inflicted grievous damage on our client’s reputation.
“It is beyond cavil that the referenced publication casts a direct aspersion on the person of our client. To right-thinking members of society, you have presented
our client as a criminal who engages in abduction of people. Furthermore, your organisation’s publication has caused many to believe that our client, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a member of the Body of Benchers and a holder of a doctorate degree in Law, has no qualms in committing the heinous crime your organisation’s publications attributed to him.
“The gross implication of your organisation’s publication is that it has informed the world that our client is unfit to be a legal practitioner or an Officer of the Order of the Niger and is only fit for the four walls of a prison.”
The legal luminary therefore gave the organisation 14 days to retract and make amends, without which, he would be left with no other option than to drag FIJ before the court.
“It is in view of the foregoing that we, on behalf of our client, demand the following:
not later than 14 (fourteen) days from the delivery of this written memorandum to your organisation, your organisation immediately retracts the said publication and tenders an unreserved apology through all your organisation’s platforms and 5 (five) national daily newspapers circulating all over the federation, which must include the Punch Newspaper and ThisDay Newspaper;
“Not later than 14 (fourteen) days from the delivery of this letter on your organisation, pay the sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) as compensation for the reputation of our client that your organisation has maligned maliciously and/or recklessly.
As your organisation is aware, our client considers litigation only as a last resort. In this regard, our client is open to resolving this matter through conciliation, mediation, arbitration or other dispute resolution options you deem most suitable.”
At the expiration of the 14 days grace, the letter said Banire’s lawyers will pursue litigation to seek redress if the stated demands are not met. The court suit among other reliefs will seek “AN ORDER compelling your organisation to immediately withdraw the said publication and tender an unreserved apology in 5 (five) national daily newspapers, which must include Punch Newspapers and ThisDay Newspapers;
“An Order of the Honourable Court compelling your organisation to pay damages in the sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) as compensation for the person of our client that your organisation has defamed.”
Defamation: Banire seeks redress from FIJ, threatens N1Billion libel suit
News
Women engineers urge intensified action to tackle plastic pollution

Women engineers urge intensified action to tackle plastic pollution
The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), on Monday, called for urgent global action to tackle plastic pollution causing environmental crisis.
APWEN, under its “STEM for All” initiative, North-East zone, made the call, while commemorating the 2025 World Environment Day in Gombe.
Speaking virtually, President of APWEN, Engr. Adebisi Osim, said it is imperative to encourage recycling of plastics, as part of measures to reduce pollution.
Osim noted that the amount of plastics manufactured annually for use had made it necessary for urgent actions to be taken, to ensure a cleaner and safer environment.
“Today’s theme, “End Plastic Pollution” is not just a catchy phrase, It is a wake-up call; a global one and we are answering that call, not with panic, but with STEM-driven solutions and people-centered action.
“According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the world produces over 430 million tonnes of plastic annually, and over two-thirds of that becomes waste.
“Alarmingly, less than 10 per cent is recycled, and the rest clogs our drains, litters our streets, chokes our rivers, and poisons marine life.
“Here in Nigeria, the World Bank estimates that Lagos alone generates 13,000 metric tonnes of waste per day, and 15 per cent of that is plastic.
“We see it daily in pure water sachets lining our gutters, single-use bags littering markets, and microplastics infiltrating our food chains,” she said
.
Osim called on stakeholders to invest more in recycling the plastics towards reducing the need for new plastic production, which will in turn lower greenhouse gas emission.
She assured that state chapters are collaborating with young people, to design plastic alternatives, using local materials, and to build waste-sorting systems using simple robotics.
Osim added that the chapters will also explore the conduct of STEM fairs, which are focused on sustainable innovation.
In the same vein, Chairman of the Gombe chapter of APWEN, Engr. Deborah Danladi, urged stakeholders to invest in plastic waste recycling, to save the environment, as well as create jobs and wealth for youths.
Danladi also underscored the need for more action and sensitisation to ensure collective approach to addressing the menace of plastic pollution.
Women engineers urge intensified action to tackle plastic pollution
News
UN Agencies Drum Support for Adequate Investment in MSMEs

UN Agencies Drum Support for Adequate Investment in MSMEs
By: Michael Mike
The United Nations (UN) agencies in Nigeria have hammered on the need for adequate investment in the development of Micro, Small and Medium sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to advance economic growth in the country.
The agencies disclosed this during the commemoration ceremony of the 2025 MSMEs Day on Monday in Abuja.
The event was jointly organised by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) and World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
Director, UNIDO Sub-regional Office, Abuja, Mr. Philbert Johnson, who was represented by National Programme Officer at UNIDO, Mr. Reuben Bamidele,, said that MSMEs role in nation building cannot be underestimated, therefore the need for adequate investment to ensure their sustainable growth is of uppermost importance.
Johnson said: “We are gathered together today to discuss proper ways to promote innovation and growth within the MSMEs sector.
“In Nigeria, as we know not less than 40million MSMEs are making huge contribution to the economic growth of the country, by providing employment and serving as means of livelihood for people.
“MSMEs, thereby, contribute to the growth of Gross Domestic Products across sectors of the country’s economy. We gathered to dissect the challenges MSMEs face and also, to work closely together towards achieving sustainable growth.”
The ILO Country Representative, Dr Vanessa Phala, stressed the need for strategic measures to be taken to bolster MSMEs impact on the nation’s economy.
Phala, who was represented by ILO’s National Project Coordinator for the Social Dimension of Ecological Transition, Stephen Agugua, said: “We look at how MSMEs can drive the future of the economy through job creation and employment. When you think of job creation and employment that is where ILO comes in.
“MSMEs are key to the growth of every economic sphere: Through this dialogue platform ILO will know the challenges MSMEs are facing and look at pathways for ensuring sustainable solutions collectively.”
The UNDP Deputy-Director, Ms Varsha Redkar-Palepu, represented the National Programme Specialist and Trade Focal Point at UNDP by Claire Henshaw,, described MSMEs as pivotal to nation building.
She noted that MSMEs form the foundation of inclusive and sustainable development in Nigeria, “MSMEs are vital engines for job creation, innovation and social mobilisation, particularly for women and youths. While operating on margins of formal economic systems, we need to put MSMEs at the centre of our development.
“In Nigeria and across Africa, MSMEs holds the key to transforming economic opportunities to meaningful development and the ambition into tangible outcomes,” Phala said.
On his part, Managing-Director of Prohealth, a private organisation, Dr Chinedu Nnabuihe who spoke on behalf of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), commended the UN agencies for putting the event together.
According to him, the event is dedicated to the invaluable role MSMEs play in advancing innovation, creating jobs, increasing inclusive and sustainable economic growth across the country.
“In Nigeria, MSMEs are the engine of our economy, driving local production, supporting livelihood and contributing significantly to national GDPs. This is amidst challenges posed by economic situation, limited access to finance and infrastructure.
“Nigeria MSMEs have continued to demonstrate resilience, creativity and determination. At NECA we remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering an enabling environment in supporting MSMEs development,” Nnabuihe said.
The event attracted stakeholders from Small and Medium Enterprises Development (SMEDAN), Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Nigeria Association of of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Others include, National Insurance Commission (NICOM), Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).
Highpoint of the event was visit by the stakeholders to the exhibition stand of MSMEs, overview of UNDP engagement with MSMEs, government agencies’ engagement with MSMEs and WIP-intellectual property for MSMEs.
End
News
NDLEA is Central to Africa’s Action Plan on Drug Control, Crime Prevention- AU Commission

NDLEA is Central to Africa’s Action Plan on Drug Control, Crime Prevention- AU Commission
By: Michael Mike
The Commission of the African Union has said the formulation of new action plan on drug control and crime prevention on the African continent would not be complete without inputs from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) because of its central role in law enforcement on the continent.

The AU Commission stated this on Monday during an assessment visit to the NDLEA’s National Headquarters in Abuja by a three-member delegation including the team lead Dr. Olubusayo Akinola, Head of Social Welfare, Drug Control and Crime Prevention; Dr. Abiola Olaleye, Senior Drug Epidemiology and Research Officer; and Prof. Johan Strijdom, Senior Drug Control Consultant.
The visit was to evaluate the African Union Plan of Action on Drug Control and Crime Prevention (2019-2025).
Akinola said: “We are here to understand the status of implementation of this continental action plan on drug control and crime prevention. We are in the process of re-evaluating and starting another continental action plan that will take us from 2026 to 2030. So, we have identified a few countries to understand how this action plan was actually implemented in the member states. And if there are gaps and the new and current emerging trends that we can include.
“So, we understand very well the work of NDLEA and we believe that the formulation of the new action plan will not be finalized and concluded until we have inputs from NDLEA Nigeria, because you are basically on the forefront when it comes to law enforcement on the entire continent.”
The AU Commission delegation commended the NDLEA for its sustained provision of critical and policy-relevant data, which has significantly informed and shaped the work of the Commission over the years. The visit, according to the delegation, aimed to obtain a comprehensive update on the current status of implementation of national drug control strategies, identify operational and institutional gaps, and explor#####eiiii#ehue#pp7l#######el#e7l77#e7l7#wlAfrican##wle potential areas for technical assistance, particularly in relation to capacity development, forensic science capabilities, canine detection units, and other strategic enablers of drug control efforts.
Welcoming the delegation, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), emphasized the importance of the mission, stating that he considered it imperative to receive the team personally due to the strategic relevance of their engagement.

He said: “We are particularly pleased that the African Union is giving due weight to the implementation of the continental action plan, not merely as a theoretical exercise, but by undertaking direct field consultations with national counterparts. This grounded, evidence-informed approach will undoubtedly result in a more pragmatic and responsive framework for implementation.”
Marwa highlighted the urgency of addressing the continent’s growing drug challenge, adding that while global projections estimate a 10–11% rise in drug use prevalence, Africa is expected to experience a surge of up to 40%. “This disparity signals a looming crisis that demands coordinated and accelerated action. We deeply appreciate the AU’s leadership in this space and commend your proactive efforts,” he added.
NDLEA is Central to Africa’s Action Plan on Drug Control, Crime Prevention- AU Commission
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