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NBA, EU to Provide Free Legal Services to Ikorodu Residents

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NBA, EU to Provide Free Legal Services to Ikorodu Residents

By: Michael Mike

To ensure that Nigerians have access to legal services regardless of their financial or social status, the European Union (EU), in partnership with the International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA), is supporting the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in providing free legal advice and services to residents of Ikorodu, Lagos State.

As part of a sensitisation walk to commemorate this year’s Independence Day on October 1st, the NBA Ikorodu branch is partnering with the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria and the Duty Solicitors Network (DSN) to raise awareness about human rights issues, particularly those related to domestic violence, child rights, disability rights, and general human rights provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

The EU, through its Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme, implemented by IIDEA, is ensuring that volunteer lawyers from both the public and private sectors can provide these free legal aid services. The initiative also aims to protect citizens’ rights while advocating for good governance, accountability, and a corrupt-free government structure.

Speaking about the sensitisation walk, Bayo Akinlade, Convener of the Duty Solicitors Network (DSN), explained that, aside from participating in the walk, volunteer lawyers visited police detention facilities in the Ikorodu community, and spoke with inmates, offering free legal services to those in need.

He said, “Nigeria is 64, and because access to justice remains out of reach for most Nigerians, we as legal practitioners in Ikorodu believe that education and enlightenment are fundamental tools to help people understand how to access justice. In giving back to the community, we sought support from the European Union through IIDEA to deliver this service.”

“We also visited suspects who had been arrested by the police for various reasons. We will be providing them with free legal services to secure their bail or ensure that they are arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction within the constitutional time frames.”

Akinlade described the initiative as a “great opportunity” to provide free legal services, especially to those in the lowest levels of society who cannot afford professional legal advice.

“It is very important that lawyers have support to undertake this kind of walk. I am glad that the EU and IIDEA have stepped in.”

Speaking about the initiative, Ajibola Ijimakinwa, State Project Coordinator, RoLAC, said, “RoLAC is dedicated to making justice accessible to the most vulnerable in society, including women, children, juveniles, persons with disabilities, and victims of sexual and gender-based violence. We strive to ensure that every individual can seek and receive justice without barriers.

“Today, we are partnering with relevant stakeholders to remove legal and institutional barriers that prevent vulnerable groups from accessing justice, ensuring they have equal opportunities to be heard and protected.”

According to Olawumi Adeola, Chairperson of the NBA, Ikorodu branch, “For six years now, we have been involved in promoting the rights of the vulnerable and less privileged in the society. We move from one community to another, and carry out outreaches in market places to ensure that we sensitise the public on their rights, and also lead them on how they can achieve justice, rather than taking justice into their own hands.

“In situations where we feel that their case requires an immediate intervention, we refer them to our committees in the branch. We have the legal aid committee and the committee on domestic violence, child rights, and persons with disabilities. They sit on Tuesdays and Thursdays every week in our High Court. We ensure that we see those matters to a logical conclusion.”

Speaking about the impact that the support from the European Union has on their outreach to residents of Ikorodu, Adeola added, “The partnership with the European Union has helped us to reach out to a broader base. Sometimes, we do what we can with our limited resources. Therefore, partnership with an organisation like the European Union helps us to be able to cover a larger part of the society, and this is what we hope that we will be able to continue to do.”

Iyabo Akingbade, State Coordinator, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, explained that her organisation, which is an establishment set up by the Federal Government, provides free legal aid services and grants access to justice to the vulnerable people. “This programme is actually important for us to render our services in line with the mandate of the Council to the vulnerable people; to educate them on their rights, to educate them on the dangers of domestic violence, to educate them on the dangers dangers of trafficking in person, to let them know the rights of children, and to help suspects in police custody to gain their freedom.

“That is why we are partnering with this programme today to ensure that the rights of vulnerable people, whether as suspects or victims of domestic violence, are protected, and if they need free legal services for anything, even beyond legal advice, if it is something that involves filing a matter in court or defending them in court, we are ready to provide free legal services,” she said.

A landlord and beneficiary of the initiative, Taiwo Abiola, said, “I am very happy with this initiative because it has enlightened me on how to apply the rule of law to seek and get justice for myself. I currently have an issue with one of my tenants who has refused to leave my property after I have given him a notice of eviction because he has refused to pay his rent for a long period of time.

“Today, a lawyer has advised that I should not take the law into my own hands but report the case to the court to get justice. I also urge other landlords like myself to always follow the line of the law and not take laws into their own hands.”

NBA, EU to Provide Free Legal Services to Ikorodu Residents

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Zulum Delivers Relief, Cash Support to 434 Ngoshe Residents Rescued from Boko Haram

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Zulum Delivers Relief, Cash Support to 434 Ngoshe Residents Rescued from Boko Haram

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Government has distributed relief materials to 434 indigenes of Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area who were recently rescued by security agencies after spending three months in Boko Haram captivity.

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum visited the victims in Pulka on Monday and directed the immediate distribution of food and non-food items to support their recovery and reintegration.

In compliance with the Governor’s directive, the Director General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Ali Abdullahi Isa, promptly supervised the distribution exercise.

Each rescued person received a bag of rice, a bag of maize grits, a mattress, a wrapper, and a shadda, while children received two pairs of clothing.

In addition, 208 heads of households received N50,000 each, fulfilling Governor Zulum’s earlier pledge of financial assistance.

Speaking during the distribution, the SEMA Director General said the intervention was part of the government’s immediate response to ease the hardship faced by the rescued victims.

“I am here at the instance of His Excellency, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who was here some few days ago, and to deliver the items he directed that it should be given to you as emergency relief,” Ali stated.

The rescued individuals are currently receiving medical care and psychosocial support at a government facility. Upon completion of the rehabilitation process, they will be reintegrated into their respective communities.

The exercise was carried out alongside the Chairman of Gwoza local government, representatives of the Ngoshe community, and other officials.

Zulum Delivers Relief, Cash Support to 434 Ngoshe Residents Rescued from Boko Haram

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Democracy Day: Zulum gives 2 MRAPs, other logistics to Army, celebrates with IDPs

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Democracy Day: Zulum gives 2 MRAPs, other logistics to Army, celebrates with IDPs

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, marked Democracy Day with the handover of two Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and critical logistics to the Nigerian Army, after joining internally displaced persons (IDPs) for a symbolic celebration and distribution of food items to 2,500 beneficiaries.

The armoured MRAPs delivered to the Theatre Command of Operation Hadin Kai on Friday are intended to enhance troop protection against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and ambushes which remain a persistent threat in the fight against insurgents. Additional logistics include operational Hilux vehicles and motorcycles for frontline soldiers in difficult terrains.

Zulum also marked Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebration with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Madinatu camp where he distributed food supplies, non-food items, and cash gifts to thousands of beneficiaries.

The distribution, held at the Madinatu IDP camp, served to consolidate Zulum’s resettlement gains. Over the past seven years, Borno State Government has successfully resettled more than 2 million IDPs in their ancestral communities in a dignified and voluntary manner.

“It gladdens my heart today, the 12th of June, 2026, to celebrate June 12th, Democracy Day, here in Madinatu Camp, the only formal camp that is standing inside Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, today, to the glory of God and the benefit of mankind, for the distribution of food and non-food items. Inshallah, this camp will be closed this year. This will be our last distribution exercise in this camp, or the second to the last,” Zulum said.

However, Governor Zulum used the occasion to announce a timeline for the camp’s closure. The governor ordered that Madinatu camp be shut down within one month, vowing to similarly close most IDP camps across various Local Government Areas in the coming phase of his administration’s resettlement strategy.

“Democracy must translate into restoring the dignity of our people,” Zulum told the IDPs. “Living in camps is not a permanent solution. Our goal remains to return every displaced person to their ancestral homes with security and means of livelihood.”

In addition to the food items, Zulum approved N50,000 each for the 2,500 beneficiaries present at the event.

“Each of the 500 beneficiaries mentioned will receive a 25kg bag of rice and a 25kg bag of sorghum. Women will receive wrappers. I also promise to provide 50,000 naira to each beneficiary. This amount can be credited into their own individual accounts, inshallah,” Zulum said.

The exercise was attended by the APC’s State Deputy Chairman, Garba Mulima, APC State Vice Chairman (Central) Abdur Rahman Abdulkarim, Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mallumbe, Member representing Jere at the State Assembly, Abba Kyari Kolo, commissioners and commissioner designates and several other senior government officials.

Democracy Day: Zulum gives 2 MRAPs, other logistics to Army, celebrates with IDPs

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Gov. Yusuf Commends DSS Over Arrest of Suspected Gun Courier in Kano

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Gov. Yusuf Commends DSS Over Arrest of Suspected Gun Courier in Kano

By: Michael Mike

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for the arrest of a suspected gun courier intercepted while allegedly transporting weapons believed to be destined for criminal elements in Katsina State.

The commendation was contained in a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Thursday, June 12, 2026.

Governor Yusuf described the operation as a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against banditry, terrorism and other violent crimes threatening communities across Northern Nigeria.

According to information provided by the DSS, the suspect, identified as Muhammad Abubakar, 30, was apprehended in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State while allegedly transporting four rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) tubes, three AK-47 rifles and two empty magazines to Funtua in Katsina State.

Preliminary investigations reportedly revealed that the suspect collected the weapons from an individual identified as Bello in the Maigatari border area of Jigawa State and was expected to receive N450,000 upon successful delivery of the arms.

Governor Yusuf praised the professionalism, vigilance and intelligence-driven approach of DSS operatives, noting that the timely interception prevented the weapons from falling into the hands of bandits and other criminal groups.

He said the operation underscored the critical role of intelligence gathering and effective collaboration among security agencies in tackling emerging security threats across the country.

The governor reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State Government to supporting security agencies through sustained cooperation, logistics assistance and policies aimed at strengthening public safety throughout the state.

He also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing credible information to security agencies to aid efforts to combat crime and maintain peace.

Governor Yusuf expressed confidence that ongoing investigations would lead to the arrest and prosecution of all individuals connected to the alleged arms trafficking network.

The statement was signed by Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano.

Gov. Yusuf Commends DSS Over Arrest of Suspected Gun Courier in Kano

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