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UNILAG Dismisses ASUU Strike, Maintains Exams Will Hold

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  The management of the University of Lagos has chided the varsity’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities for declaring an industrial action without following due process. The ASUU UNILAG, rising from a congress held on Tuesday, asked lecturers to withdraw their services from Wednesday over what they described as ‘amputated’ January and February salaries received. The Chairman, ASUU, UNILAG chapter, Prof Idou Keinde, stated that the lecturers did not receive the full complement of their salaries: Consolidated Salary Structure for Academics, Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance and Professorial Allowance. Keinde vowed that the lecturers would not resume work until their full salaries are paid. But UNILAG, through its Head, Communication Unit, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, on Wednesday, said the university would continue to engage with the ASUU executive to address the issues, especially the unpaid Consolidated Academic Teaching Allowances. The statement read, “The Management of the University of Lagos has noted reports circulating in the media that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, UNILAG Chapter, at its Congress held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, directed its members to suspend their services over alleged unpaid Consolidated Academic Teaching Allowances. “Management observes that due process was not followed in making this declaration. Nevertheless, in its commitment to the welfare of staff and students, the university has continued to engage with the ASUU Executive to address all issues.” While noting that engagement with the ASUU would continue, the UNILAG management said the ongoing students’ examinations scheduled for Wednesday will proceed as planned. “The university is particularly mindful that students are currently at a critical stage of the academic session, with semester examinations already underway. “Any disruption at this time would adversely affect students, especially those scheduled to commence the Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme, internships, and those preparing to proceed to the Law School,” the statement added. It, however, noted that courses for which students have been informed by their Deans or Heads of Department that examinations will not be held will be rescheduled. “All examinations will continue as scheduled from Thursday, March 12, 2026, and deans are to ensure that necessary arrangements are put in place for the smooth and successful conduct of the examinations. “Management appeals to all members of the university community to remain calm and continue to go about their lawful academic activities as discussions with ASUU executive continue toward an amicable resolution of the issues raised,” the statement concluded.   Punch

Iran Strikes Israel, Gulf Nations as Oil Prices Fluctuate

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Iran unleashed a wave of attacks against Israel and Gulf nations on Wednesday, including targeting a Saudi oilfield, as reports of a proposed record release of oil reserves helped calm markets and prices. The war sparked by United States-Israeli strikes on Iran has spread across the region and beyond, causing spiking energy costs, fuel rationing and even school closures. G7 leaders will meet by video conference later on Wednesday to discuss the war’s economic consequences, particularly the “energy situation,” the French presidency said. The International Energy Agency will decide on a proposal for its largest-ever oil reserve release, the Wall Street Journal reported. The United States on Tuesday said it was hitting Iranian ships capable of mining the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial passageway for oil that has been effectively closed by Iranian threats. The US military posted video footage of Iranian boats blasted apart, saying it had destroyed 16 minelayers near the strait, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil passes. “If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before,” President Donald Trump wrote on social media. Trump faces mounting political risks over the surging cost of oil, months before US elections. Crude prices spiked five per cent late Tuesday before turning lower on Wednesday after the reserve release report. Trump said the US military could accompany tankers through the strait, but his administration acknowledged that a post by the energy secretary announcing a first such escort was untrue. Early on Wednesday, the UK maritime agency said a container ship off the coast of the United Arab Emirates had been hit by an “unknown projectile,” illustrating the ongoing risks to transport through the region. With an eye on jittery markets, Trump on Monday said the war would be short, although his Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, said Tehran would be hit by unprecedented fire on Tuesday. **’Not seeking ceasefire’** The Israeli-US attacks came weeks after Iranian authorities ruthlessly crushed mass protests, although the United States and Israel said they were not necessarily seeking to topple the Islamic republic. Iranian authorities warned against dissent at home, with the country’s police chief saying protesters would be viewed and dealt with as “enemies.” “All our forces are also ready, with their hands on the trigger, prepared to defend their revolution,” national police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said in comments aired by IRIB. Tehran also intensified its assault on targets in the region, with the government announcing it carried out its own “most intense and heaviest” salvo, firing missiles for three hours at cities across Israel. AFP journalists heard air raid sirens and explosions in Jerusalem. Emergency services reported no immediate injuries, although Channel 12 said several people were hurt in Tel Aviv. New salvos were reported early on Wednesday, with no reports of injuries. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they also fired on Bahrain and Iraqi Kurdistan, both of which have a heavy US military presence, and also targeted a US air base in Kuwait, Iranian media said. Kuwait said it had downed eight drones, without offering further details. Drones and ballistic missiles were also intercepted elsewhere in the Gulf, including multiple drones heading to the Shaybah oilfield in Saudi Arabia, its defence ministry said. Earlier, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former top commander in the elite Revolutionary Guards, said in an English-language post on X: “Certainly we aren’t seeking a ceasefire.” “We believe the aggressor must be punished and taught a lesson that will deter them from attacking Iran again,” he added. Seven US military personnel have been killed and about 140 injured since the start of the war, according to the Pentagon. **Fright in Tehran** The United States and Israel launched the war on February 28 with an attack that killed Iran’s veteran leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been named his successor, though he has yet to appear in public. In Tehran, one woman in her 40s said she found some reassurance in her impression that the bombings “don’t target ordinary buildings.” “The noise of the bombings is extremely disturbing,” she said. Iran’s health ministry said on March 8 that more than 1,200 people had been killed and over 10,000 civilians injured. The conflict has spread as far as Sri Lanka, where US forces torpedoed an Iranian ship, and Australia, which said on Wednesday it had granted asylum to two more members of the Iranian women’s football team. Iraq and Lebanon, both home to Iran-backed fighters, have become proxy battlegrounds in the war. In Iraq, Iranian-linked groups said on Tuesday that five of their fighters died in strikes they blamed on the United States. In Lebanon, hundreds of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands have fled their homes following Israeli air strikes and ground operations targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah. New Israeli strikes were reported in Beirut’s southern suburbs on Wednesday, with the health ministry saying another five people had been killed in the southern town of Qana. An Israeli strike also hit a central Beirut neighbourhood on Wednesday morning, state media reported. Iran complained to the United Nations that four of its diplomats died in a strike on a seafront hotel in central Beirut on Sunday, which Israel said was aimed at “key commanders” from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. The effects of the war are being felt globally, with the UN trade and development agency warning of rising costs for essentials such as fuel and food hitting the world’s most vulnerable people. In Egypt, which increased the cost of fuels by up to 30 per cent, mother-of-six Om Mohamed fretted about the future. “We were barely getting by as it is. I don’t know how people will manage,” she told AFP at a Cairo market. AFP

PDP Chieftain, Segelu Writes Makinde, Seeks Recognition For Loyalty, Late Father’s Sacrifice

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  A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party in Oyo State, Chief Olayinka Segelu Akintola Oladimeji, has written an open letter to Governor Seyi Makinde, reaffirming his loyalty to the governor while lamenting what he described as a lack of recognition despite years of political support and contributions to the party. In the letter, Oladimeji said his support for Makinde’s administration had never been motivated by personal gain but by his commitment to the progress and development of the state. “I write at this important moment to reaffirm my unflinching personal loyalty and respect for you as the Executive Governor of Oyo State. My support for your leadership has never been driven by personal gain or expectations of reward,” he said. He added that his commitment to the governor and the party was rooted in his concern for the stability and development of the state. “Rather, my commitment has always been motivated by my deep concern for the progress, stability, and development of our dear state, Oyo State,” he stated. Oladimeji noted that he had consistently contributed to the growth of the party and supported Makinde during election campaigns and other political activities. According to him, during the 2018/2019 gubernatorial election that brought Makinde to power, he donated a campaign bus to support the campaign. “For instance, during your first gubernatorial campaign in 2018/2019, I personally donated a campaign bus in support of your emergence as governor,” he said. He added that he also supported the governor’s re-election bid in the 2022/2023 governorship election by facilitating the branding of three campaign vehicles. “During your second campaign in 2022/2023, I also facilitated the branding of three campaign vehicles to further support your re-election bid,” he said. Oladimeji further stated that he extended support to elected officials during the 2024 local government elections in Lagelu Local Government Area. “In addition, during the 2024 Local Government elections, I extended similar support to all elected officials in Lagelu Local Government Area, including every councillor,” he said. Despite these contributions, the PDP chieftain said he had not received any meaningful recognition. “However, it is also important for me to reflect honestly on the journey so far. Despite these sacrifices and contributions, I have not enjoyed any meaningful recognition or the dividends that often follow such sustained commitment,” he said. Oladimeji also recalled earlier political discussions regarding his aspiration to represent the Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency, stating that the support he had hoped for did not materialise. “From earlier engagements during the period when Chief Bisi Ilaka served as Chief of Staff, to subsequent political discussions surrounding my aspiration for the Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency, the support I had hoped for did not materialize,” he said. The party chieftain also appealed to the governor to immortalise his late father, Olusegun Moses Akintola Oladimeji, whom he described as a committed political figure who paid a heavy price for his political beliefs. “I also made sincere appeals for the immortalization of my late father’s name in recognition of his sacrifices and contributions to the party and the people of Oyo State,” he said. He recalled that his father suffered humiliation during the early years of Nigeria’s democratic journey. “While serving as the Oyo State Party Chairman in the early years of our democratic struggle, he was publicly attacked and stripped naked by thugs at the Premier Hotel around 2001/2002 simply because he stood firmly for the party and the principles he believed in,” he said. Oladimeji added that the late politician was later assassinated while serving as a member of the House of Representatives. “Years later, on September 14, 2007, he was brutally assassinated in his constituency office at Ejioku in Lagelu Local Government Area while serving the people as a Member of the Federal House of Representatives,” he said. According to him, such sacrifices should not be forgotten in the political history of the state. “These painful sacrifices remind us that politics must never forget those who paid dearly to build its foundation,” he said. Despite his concerns, Oladimeji reaffirmed his loyalty to Makinde and his commitment to the development of Oyo State. “Despite the disappointments and setbacks along the way, I continue to choose the path of loyalty, patience, and faith in God, believing firmly that history and the people will always remember those who served with sincerity, courage, and sacrifice,” he said.

Former Super Eagles Coach Adegboye Onigbinde Dies At 88

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  ABUJA — FORMER Super Eagles coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, has died at the age of 88, bringing to an end the life of one of Nigeria’s most respected football tacticians and administrators. His passing, which occurred three days after his 88th birthday, was confirmed by his daughter, Mrs. Bolade Adesuyi, on Monday, March 9, 2026. Onigbinde, a High Chief of Modakeke in Osun State, was widely respected in Nigerian football circles for his tactical depth and long-standing contributions to the development of the game both on and off the pitch. He had two separate spells in charge of the Nigeria national football team. During his first tenure between 1981 and 1984, he led Nigeria to a runners-up finish at the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations. Nearly two decades later, he returned to the national team to guide Nigeria at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, marking his second stint as head coach of the Super Eagles. Throughout his decades-long involvement in football, Onigbinde earned widespread respect for his tactical insight, discipline, and commitment to nurturing talent, leaving a lasting imprint on the development of the game in Nigeria. His death marks the passing of one of the country’s most influential football figures, and tributes are expected from across the Nigerian football community. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in the coming days.   Independent NG

Beating Barca would make us Newcastle Legends – Howe

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  Eddie Howe has urged his players to become Newcastle legends by emulating the club’s famous 1997 Champions League win over Barcelona when they face the Spanish giants in the last-16 first leg. Newcastle host the La Liga leaders on Tuesday in a potentially life-changing moment for Howe’s side. Fans still talk in reverential tones about Faustino Asprilla’s hat-trick and Keith Gillespie’s brilliant performance in the Magpies’ 3-2 win over Barca in the Champions League group stage 29 years ago. Howe, then starting his playing career at Bournemouth, watched that remarkable match on television as a teenager. Now, Howe and company have a chance to etch their own names in the annals of Newcastle history by defeating Hansi Flick’s star-studded team. “Yes, I watched the game. I was very focused on my playing career. But you couldn’t watch that moment. It was one of those legendary games,” Howe told reporters on Monday. “Of course, we want people in future years to be talking about this team. Tino Asprilla gets a hat-trick from those Keith Gillespie deliveries on the right. “I’d want our players to be talked about the same way in 20 or 30 years.” Newcastle have made it to the Champions League last 16 for only the second time. Howe is well aware of the magnitude of the achievement after he arrived at Newcastle in 2021 with the club in disarray. Together with the financial muscle provided by Newcastle’s Saudi owners, Howe has transformed the club from laughing stock status. – ‘A moment for us to grab’ – Newcastle won their first trophy in 56 years when they shocked Liverpool in the League Cup final last season. Beating Barcelona would be an even greater feat for Howe, who urged his players to seize what could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “There are only 16 teams left, and we are one of them. It is very much an opportunity to grab a moment that we may never get again. You don’t know what life brings tomorrow, let alone future seasons,” Howe said. “We don’t want to kick ourselves, we don’t want to waste the opportunity and think what ifs. “So this is a moment for us to grab. In my time here, just over four years, we have worked to get to this point. “As long as we perform to our maximum, we have to accept the result.” Having labelled the Barca game as the biggest match in Newcastle’s history, Howe said adopting an underdog mentality could help stun the five-time European champions. “That’s very much the mentality we need, rising to the occasion, embracing the size of the game,” he said. “The underdog role to a degree in my time here has helped us in my time here, when we have been in that situation when we felt the odds were stacked against us. “We are going to need to use every psychological tool because there’s no denying we are playing a very good team, an outstandingly well-coached team. “All our Champions League games have been a great rehearsal for this moment.” Newcastle have already faced Barca this season, losing 2-1 at home in the group stage thanks to a Marcus Rashford double. “When you are playing the very best teams, you take a lot of that with you going forward,” Howe said. “We can take a lot from the performance. Hopefully, we can learn lessons from that tie.” AFP

US Warns Citizens of Possible Terror Threat to Facilities, Schools in Nigeria

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  The United States Embassy in Nigeria has warned of a possible terrorist threat targeting US facilities and US-affiliated schools in the country. In a security notice issued via its website on Monday, the embassy said the alert was intended to inform American citizens in Nigeria of potential risks and advised them to take additional precautions when visiting U.S. diplomatic missions and affiliated institutions. According to the notice, U.S. citizens should exercise increased vigilance when travelling to its offices in Abuja and Lagos, as well as schools affiliated with the United States. “The U.S. Embassy in Abuja informs U.S. citizens of a possible terrorist threat against U.S. facilities and U.S. affiliated schools in Nigeria. “The Embassy recommends that U.S. citizens take additional precautions when traveling to the U.S. Embassy, the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, and U.S. affiliated schools, to include varying times and routes,” the statement read. The embassy advised American nationals to vary their travel times and routes, avoid predictable routines, and ensure their mobile phones are charged in case of emergencies. “Be aware of your surroundings, keep a low profile, review your personal security plans, vary your regular routes, keep your cell phone charged in case of emergency, stay alert in public places, avoid crowds and demonstrations, and familiarize yourself with emergency exits when entering buildings,” it said. The embassy did not spell out the source of the threat. The warning in Nigeria also comes amid a global security warning by the United States after Washington and Israel attacked Iran, which has responded with missile and drone attacks against its U.S.-aligned neighbours. It also follows protests in Lagos and some northern states by members of the South-West leadership of the Islamic Movement, who denounced the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in strikes by the United States and Israel. The development comes as Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, wife of Iran’s Supreme Leader, reportedly died from injuries sustained during recent United States and Israeli strikes at her residence in Tehran. Recall that President Donald Trump on Christmas Day ordered U.S. bombings of Nigeria, saying he was targeting jihadists. The attack came after Trump complained that Christians were facing persecution in Africa’s most populous nation, an assessment that is contested in a country that has seen widespread violence against both Christians and Muslims.

Appeal Court dismisses Aiyedatiwa’s Appeal on Re-election Eligibility

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  The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, challenging a ruling of the Federal High Court in Akure in a suit questioning his eligibility to contest the next governorship election in the state. In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel on Monday, the appellate court held that the trial court properly exercised its discretion when it granted an application by the plaintiff, Dr Akindele Egbuwalo, to amend his originating summons in the case. Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, who read the lead judgment, ruled that Aiyedatiwa failed to show that the Federal High Court’s decision to allow the amendment occasioned any miscarriage of justice or denied him the right to a fair hearing. The appellate court therefore dismissed the appeal for lacking merit and awarded N2m in costs against the governor. The ruling affirmed the November 24, 2025, decision of the Federal High Court in Akure, which granted Egbuwalo leave to amend the originating summons in his suit challenging Aiyedatiwa’s eligibility for re-election. Earlier in the proceedings, the Court of Appeal also dismissed an application filed by Aiyedatiwa seeking to set aside an order it made on January 27, 2026, staying further proceedings in the suit before the Federal High Court. The court held that the stay of proceedings did not amount to arresting the judgment of the trial court but was a lawful exercise of the appellate court’s jurisdiction aimed at protecting the integrity of its proceedings. According to the court, the appeal had already been entered, records compiled, and briefs filed as of the time the order was made. The panel further held that “the order was necessary to preserve the res in the matter and prevent the appellate proceedings from being rendered nugatory.“ It added that asking the Court of Appeal to set aside the order it validly made on January 27, 2026, would amount to inviting the court to sit on appeal over its own decision. The court noted that the option available to the governor was to challenge the decision before the Supreme Court. The panel subsequently awarded another N2m in costs against Aiyedatiwa.  

BREAKING: Again, Dangote Refinery Hikes Petrol Price to N1,175

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  The cost of goods and services across Nigeria is expected to rise further following a fresh increase in petrol prices after the Dangote Petroleum Refinery raised the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit to N1,175 per litre, marking the third upward adjustment within a week. The latest price revision comes hours after The PUNCH projected that petrol prices could rise for the third time within a week following the temporary suspension of petrol sales at the refinery on Sunday. The refinery announced the price hike to marketers on Monday, raising the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit to N1,175 per litre from N995 per litre announced on Friday, representing an increase of N180 or about 18.1 per cent within three days. It also revised the gantry price of Automotive Gas Oil, commonly known as diesel, to N1,620 per litre. A senior official of the refinery, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed the adjustment to our correspondent, stating that the revision had already been communicated to marketers and depot operators. “Yes, the gantry prices have been adjusted. PMS is now N1,175 per litre while Automotive Gas Oil is N1,620 per litre,” the official said. “The market has been extremely volatile, and replacement costs have shifted significantly in recent days. These adjustments reflect prevailing market fundamentals and the cost environment we are currently operating in.” Checks by our correspondent on the industry pricing platform, petroleumprice.ng showed that the revised rates had already been updated across petroleum depot pricing systems, indicating a shift in the benchmark price used by downstream marketers. The new price is the third surge in petrol prices within a week, following adjustments that pushed gantry prices from N774 to N995 per litre. As a result, retail pump prices in several states now exceed N1,000 per litre, as some stations now dispense petrol at about N1,200/litre, intensifying economic pressures on Nigerians. The latest hike is expected to trigger another round of increases at filling stations nationwide, as higher fuel costs typically translate into higher transportation, logistics, and production costs for businesses. It also betrays efforts by the Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, to secure crude oil supply for the Dangote Petroleum Refinery through third-party international traders, in a bid to sustain domestic refining operations. Officials, however, warned that the intervention may not immediately translate into lower petrol prices for consumers. Nigerians currently grapple with high fuel prices, following the recent hikes in the cost of the commodities by the $20bn Lekki-based refinery.  

2027: Sani, Abbas ask Kaduna APC to Deliver Two Million Votes

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  Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Tuesday charged the newly elected State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress in the state to deliver no fewer than two million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections. The directive came as Isaac Atiku Sankay emerged as the consensus chairman of the party during the state congress held at Murtala Muhammed Square, Kaduna. Sankay, born in 1983, is the current Special Adviser on Peace and Conflict Resolution to the Governor and was adopted by stakeholders after consultations across the 23 local government areas of the state. Addressing delegates at the congress, Sani described the exercise as a defining moment in the continued consolidation of the APC in the state. “This congress reflects our internal cohesion and democratic discipline. It shows that Kaduna APC is united and prepared for the future,” the governor said. He disclosed that 6,885 ward executives were elected across the 255 wards in the state during the ward congresses. According to him, 621 local government executives also emerged from congresses conducted across the 23 local government areas. “At the state level, 36 executive members have been affirmed and sworn in. This underscores the strength of our party structure and our presence in every community,” Sani added. The governor maintained that the adoption of consensus candidates was not a sign of weakness but an indication of political maturity and unity. “Our focus is governance, development and electoral victory. We must begin mobilisation from the polling units and ensure alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he stated. In his remarks, Abbas urged the new executives to immediately swing into action and unite all factions within the party. “You must deliver over two million votes for President Tinubu and the same for Governor Uba Sani in 2027. That is the task before you,” the Speaker said. He commended the outgoing leadership for securing victories for the party in the 2015 and 2023 elections, expressing confidence that the 2027 target was achievable. In his acceptance speech, Sankay thanked God and party leaders for the confidence reposed in him, pledging to justify the trust. “I will serve with discipline, courage and measurable results. We will strengthen internal democracy, deepen grassroots mobilisation and create opportunities for youth and women participation,” he said. The outgoing State Chairman, Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada (retd.), thanked party faithful for their support during his eight-year tenure, noting that he was leaving behind a more united and formidable APC in Kaduna State.

Lawyers’ Absence Stalls El-Rufai’s N1bn Suit Against ICPC, Others

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  The fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and others was on Tuesday, stalled at the Federal High Court in Abuja due to the absence of counsel for the respondents. El-Rufai is seeking N1bn in damages over what he described as an unlawful search of his Abuja residence. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, is before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. When the matter was called, only Ubong Akpan appeared in court for the applicant. There was no representation for the respondents. Akpan informed the court that although the case was slated for mention, the respondents had yet to be served with the court processes. He, therefore, sought an adjournment to enable proper service. Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter until March 11 for further mention. El-Rufai had dragged the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate’s Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney-General of the Federation to court as 1st to 4th respondents, respectively. In the originating motion dated and filed on February 20, by his lead counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, the former governor is praying the court to declare that the search warrant issued on February 4, by the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate’s Court, authorising the search and seizure at his residence is invalid, null and void. He is also asking the court to hold that the warrant lacked particularity, contained material drafting errors, was ambiguous in its execution parameters, overbroad in scope and unsupported by probable cause, thereby amounting to an unlawful and unreasonable search contrary to Section 37 of the Constitution. The applicant further prayed the court to declare that the invasion and search of his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19 at about 2pm by operatives of the ICPC and the police constituted a gross violation of his fundamental rights. According to him, the action breached his rights to the dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution. El-Rufai also urged the court to declare that any evidence obtained pursuant to the allegedly invalid warrant is inadmissible in any proceedings against him, having been procured in breach of constitutional safeguards. He is seeking an order restraining the respondents and their agents from further relying on, using or tendering any evidence or items seized during the search in any investigation, prosecution or proceedings involving him. The former governor further asked the court to direct the ICPC and the Inspector-General of Police to immediately return all items seized from his residence, alongside a detailed inventory. He is equally seeking N1bn as general, exemplary and aggravated damages. The breakdown of the claim includes N300m as compensatory damages for psychological trauma, emotional distress and loss of personal security; N400m as exemplary damages to deter future misconduct by law enforcement agencies; and N300m as aggravated damages for what he described as the malicious, high-handed and oppressive conduct of the respondents. He also claimed N100m as the cost of filing the suit, including legal fees and associated expenses. In his grounds of argument, Iyamu contended that the search warrant was fundamentally defective for allegedly lacking specificity in the description of items to be seized, containing typographical errors, ambiguous execution terms and overbroad directives without verifiable probable cause. He argued that the alleged defects contravened Sections 143 to 148 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, Section 36 of the ICPC Act, 2000, and constitutional provisions protecting citizens from arbitrary intrusion. Specifically, counsel submitted that Section 143 of the ACJA requires that an application for a search warrant be supported by information in writing and on oath setting out reasonable grounds for suspicion, which he claimed was absent in the instant case. He further argued that Section 144 mandates a particular description of the place to be searched and the items sought in order to prevent the issuance of general warrants, but that the warrant in question vaguely referred to “the thing aforesaid” without adequate detail. Iyamu maintained that the execution of the warrant on February 19 resulted in an unlawful invasion of his client’s residence and inflicted humiliation and distress. The case is expected to come up again on March 11.   Punch

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