News
Calls for the Repositioning of PDSS made
Calls for the Repositioning of PDSS made
By: Michael Mike
The Police Duty Solicitor Scheme (PDSS) has been asked to be repositioned so that Nigerians everywhere in the country can effective access justice.
The call was made at a stakeholders meeting at the weekend in Abuja to commemorate the International Human Rights Day.
Experts at the occasion called for renewed understanding among police officers on how the PDSS supports the Police Force from investigation to court appearance.
Among those who spoke at the event include the former Inspector General of Police and Chairman, Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,, Lateef Fagbemi SAN; Director General, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Aliyu Abubakar; Project Manager, Criminal Justice Reform, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC Phase II) Programme, Dr. Oluwatoyin Badejogbin among others.
The event which marked the end of the 16 Days of Activism against Sexual and Gender Based Violence 2023, was organised by the European Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC II) of International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) in collaboration with the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON).
In his opening remarks, the Director General, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Aliyu Abubakar highlighted the benefits of the Scheme to include: fosterimg community policing and strengthening service delivery by the Police; increase protection and promotion of the legal and human rights of suspects and detainees; improve accountability and transparency in the Police Force; promote access to justice for the poor; vulnerable and marginalized persons; improve the quality of legal assistance and justice delivery in Nigeria and increase Nigeria’s compliance with her international human rights obligations.
He asked for cooperation from the Police hierarchy ahead of rolling out of the Scheme nationwide.
Delivering his keynote address, Arase noted that the introduction of the PDSS, in response to the imperative outlined in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), was a watershed moment in our commitment to safeguarding the rights of individuals in police custody.
According to the Police Service Commission boss, the gains achieved through the PDSS have been transformative, not only in principle but in tangible, life-changing ways.
He however called for a more comprehensive and integrated approach that addresses systemic issues within the country’s criminal justice system.
He said: “Historically, detainees faced prolonged periods in police facilities without access to legal representation, leading to routine violations of their rights. The PDSS, driven by a commitment to justice, has become a mechanism through which lawyers provide free legal services to detainees across Nigeria, ensuring that their rights are not only protected on paper but upheld in practice.
“While the success of the PDSS is evident in specific regions, there is a need for widespread replication and adoption. The lessons learned in Anambra, Edo, FCT, and Lagos should serve as a blueprint for other states, fostering a culture of legal responsibility and collaboration that transcends regional boundaries”.
On his part, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,, Lateef Fagbemi, represented by Gladys Odigbaro, Director of Solicitor Department, Federal Ministry of Justice pointed out that the enforcement of Force Order 20 and other relevant provisions of Administration and Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) are commendable milestones in the concerted efforts to address the crisis of arbitrary, irrational and interminable pretrial (awaiting trial) detentions in the country.
He noted that the Scheme also comes with the advantage of preventing undue congestion of inmates in correctional facilities with the consequential benefit of saving government the resources required to maintain a large population of inmates or detainees.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who was represented by AIG Shehu Gwarzo, said the Police Duty Solicitor Scheme as captured by Force Order 20, aims to contribute to the realization of the ongoing reform programme of his administration.
He said: “Force Order 20 addresses ‘free legal services for arrested and/or detained persons in police formations’ and institutes the PDSS as a country-wide mechanism for its delivery. It expands the provision of legal services in police stations by ensuring prompt access to Duty Solicitors for suspects. It implements the constitutional promise of access to counsel in police stations in Nigeria.”
On what informed the event, Dr. Oluwatoyin Badejogbin, Project Manager, Criminal Justice Reform, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (Phase II) Programme of International IDEA said it was aimed at establishing renewed commitment of the IGP to grant duty solicitors access to police detention centres as well as initiate renewed understanding among Police on how the PDSS supports the Police Force from investigation to court appearance.
Police spokespersons from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were among participants at the event.
Calls for the Repositioning of PDSS made
Nine PAP Foreign Scholarship Beneficiaries Bag Master’s Degrees From UK Varsities
•••771 to Graduate in Nigeria in 2025
•••Otuaro Hails Scholars’ Performances
By: Michael Mike
Nine students awarded foreign post-graduate scholarships by the Presidential Amnesty Programme have graduated from their master’s degree rprogrammes in universities in the United Kingdom.
The successful scholars are the first graduates in the offshore post-graduate scholarship deployment to UK institutions by the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024-2025 academic session.
They graduated from the Anglia Ruskin University, University of Dundee and The University of Law with master’s degrees in cyber security, data science and engineering, law, construction and civil engineering management, project management, and ICT.
Also, 711 undergraduate and post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries are expected to graduate from universities within Nigeria this year.
The PAP, on Wednesday, 3 December, 2025, organised a graduation reception for the scholars in London.
Otuaro has congratulated them on their successful graduation, stressing that they completed their programmes in record time which shows the seriousness they had put into their studies.
He said they have justified the Federal Government’s investment in their education with their successful graduation, and urged other beneficiaries not to be distracted in their academic pursuits.
“We congratulate these scholars on their successful graduation. It shows that they took their studies seriously. That is what we demand of every scholarship beneficiary, whether at the undergraduate or post-graduate level”, Otuaro said.
He reiterated his unwavering commitment to expanding the scholarship scheme to create more opportunities for indigent students of Niger Delta extraction to access higher education with a view to closing the human capital development gap in the region.
Otuaro said it was for this reason he deployed 3800 beneficiaries in-country in the 2024-2025 academic year, and increased the figure to 3900 in the 2025-2026 academic session with 200 for foreign scholarships.
Otuaro has so far deployed 7700 students for the PAP scholarship scheme within Nigeria in less than two years.
Within this period, also, he has also deployed 162 students from the region for post-graduate programmes in targeted disciplines in the UK universities.
According to him, this is in conformity with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu for the Niger Delta, who has given unprecedented support to the PAP because of his sincere love for the area.
The PAP boss said, “Our decision aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for the Niger Delta. We will continue to create more higher educational opportunities for students from indigent backgrounds in our region.
“We are also deepening the implementation of the programme’s mandate in informal education and other areas for the sustainable peace and socio-economic advancement of the region.”
Nine PAP Foreign Scholarship Beneficiaries Bag Master’s Degrees From UK Varsities
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited Established for Realization of Ondo Project
By: Michael Mike
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited has been incorporated to seamlessly allowed for the Refinery and Free Trade Zone in Ondo State.
A press statement on Thursday read that: “In furtherance of our commitment to the execution of these two major projects – Refinery and Free Trade Zone in conjunction with the Ondo State Government, the joint partners have taken another giant step by incorporating a joint company, namely – SUNSHINE JOINT VENTURE INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED – as the vehicle to be used in executing these projects. A move that further reinforces the sincerity of purpose and total commitment of the funding partners to move ahead together as a united front.
According to the release by Wale Adekola on behalf of the JV, the Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limitedwill, going forward serve as the vehicle to work with the Ondo State Government through the Ondo State Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA) in the implementation of the executed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
The statement added that: “In moving the projects forward for implementation, the JV team met in Dubai to finalize the funding modalities and put in place structures and plans for the commencement of activities for ground breaking and community engagements. These initial activities are aimed at complementing the 50th Anniversary of the creation of Ondo State and the one year anniversary of the election of the Executive Governor of the Sunshine State, His Excellency, Chief Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa CFR.
At the Dubai meeting were key officers of the JV Company, including: Messrs SALEHI FARHAD; ZAHERI NAVID; EGHBAL KORDJAMSHIDI; SAHEED ZAHERI; DR. STEPHEN DIKE; HENRY OWONKA AND MRS. NAMVAR MARYAM.
The statement further informed that, plans have been concluded to mobilize the relevant contractors working with the locals and host communities to put up structures that will host the information center, architectural models to showcase the projects on offer and facilities that will serve the team. All these are being planned with ONDIPA to execute the relocation and accommodation of the host communities that are likely to be affected by the projects and create a seamless transition that will engender peaceful co-existence and harmonious relationship with our host communities.
The JV company further reiterated its commitment to work with Ondo State Government (through ONDIPA) to change the infrastructural landscape of the Sunshine State and for mutual benefits.
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited Established for Realization of Ondo Project
Edo: Seven suspected bandits arrested along Benin-Agbor Road
By: Zagazola Makama
Seven suspected bandits were arrested along the Benin–Agbor Road in Edo State during stop-and-search operations, security sources confirmed.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspects, all Fulani youths, were intercepted after being offloaded from a truck at about 1800 hours on 2 December 2025. A search revealed pictures of assault rifles, including AK-47s, on their mobile phones.
Upon interrogation, the suspects claimed to have travelled from Adamawa State. Investigations are ongoing for the possible recovery of actual firearms and to determine their involvement in criminal activities.
Security agencies have urged members of the public to report any suspicious movements to help prevent criminal acts in the area.
Edo: Seven suspected bandits arrested along Benin-Agbor Road
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