An Akure Magistrate’s Court in Ondo State has ordered the remand of a 38-year-old man, Moses Udoh, in prison, for the alleged indecent sexual assault of his daughter.

The Police Prosecutor, Taiwo Oniyere, said that the defendant committed the offence on November 26, at 10.20 p.m., at his residence located at No 20 Igboniki Street, along LAO, Akure, Ondo State.

Oniyere, told the court that Udoh, on several occasions forcefully had sexual intercourse with his biological daughter.

According to him, the defendant severally threatened to kill the victim if she reported him to anyone.

According to the charge sheet, offence committed contravene Sections 25(a) and 86(2) of the Ondo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of 2021.

The plea of the defendant was not taken due to the nature of the offence.

Police prosecutor therefore urged the court to remand the defendant to prison, pending legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The trial Magistrate Temilola Olusola-Olujobi, thereafter, ordered his remand in prison.

Olusola-Olujobi also ordered the transfer of the case to the Family Court and adjourned it to December 10 for trial, because of the age of the victim. 

Meanwhile, in an interview, the victim narrated how her father, severally violated her in his room and threatened to kill her if she open up to anyone.

‘He started when I turned 10’

According to her “My father has been forcefully having sexual intercourse with me through my front and my back.

“He started it when I was 10 years old and I cannot count the number of times he has done it.

“Whenever my father was sleeping with me in the night, he would increase the volume of his radio, so that my voice would not be heard by neighbours around.

“He instructed me not to tell our neighbours about it and also threatened to kill me and the person.

“When I noticed that blood was coming out of my anus, which is now causing discomfort for me, I decided to tell his sister.”

A group of northern youths, Arewa Youths Initiative For Energy Reforms (AYIFER), has called on the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari, to do all within his powers to deliver the Kaduna Refinery on time and in good standard.

This was contained in a statement signed on Friday by Alhaji Bashir Al’Amin, National Coordinator, and Mr. Gideon Yakubu, General Secretary, and made available to newsmen.

According to the group, the hopes of the entire northerners lie in the completion of work and inauguration of crude productions in the Kaduna Refinery.

AYIFER urged Kyari to deliver a standard and full fledged petrochemical refinery, similar to the Dangote Refinery in Lagos, and resist any temptation to deliver the type in Port Harcourt, which it said, has been criticized by host communities and stakeholders, describing it as a blending plant.

The statement further quoted the group as expressing optimism that Kyari would deliver a standard refinery to the north, since it’s the only refinery legacy domiciled in the region, after the dearth or near collapse of other legacy industries and factories.

“We have not been to Port Harcourt Refinery since it was reopened, but the commentaries therefrom, especially the host communities and other Nigerians, are not encouraging at all. Some of these comments are uncharitable to Mallam Mele Kyari and even to the NNPCL, an embarrassment to the nation as a whole.

“We believe so much in Mallam Mele Kyari, as a seasoned geologist and explorationist and we know, at the right time, he would come out to address all the issues raised about the Port Harcourt Refinery. We will know by then if all their claims are genuine or not.

“But in the meantime, we are calling on him, to expedite action on Kaduna Refinery, so we can be at par with other regions in the country.

“We equally beg the NNPCL, headed by our able brother, to do professional work in rehabilitating the old refinery and deliver a standard and functional petrochemical refinery and not the type they call blending plant in Port Harcourt.

“We know that he is an extremely busy person and a lot too is happening around him. We have tried severally to pay courtesy visit to him, to intimate him about our demands, to no avail. We understand his tight schedules and we also know some sycophants may have access to him and want to mislead him. He should resist any temptation that could make him to do something that can jeopardize his good image. It’s our duty to protect him, because if he fails, we have failed. He is a young man that God has blessed. He needs our prayers.

“Since the extinction of groundnut pyramid in Kano, textiles in Kano and Kaduna, PAN in Kaduna, etc, and the Kaduna refinery getting moribund, a lot of our youth lost their jobs and all our hopes in the north are tied to this legacy refinery, trusting Almighty Allah would use our brother to deliver it well, and on time, too.

“We are solidly behind him in prayer and we shall come out soon to celebrate him, when our expectations are met, insha Allah,” the statement read.

Local rice prices in Nigeria surged 137.32 per cent in October 2024 compared to the same period last year, making it one of the country’s 10 most expensive staple foods.

The sharp rise was noted in the National Bureau of Statistics’ Selected Food Prices report for October 2024, which provided an in-depth overview of food price trends across Nigeria.

According to the NBS report, the average price of local rice in October 2024 stood at N1,944.64, a significant increase from N819.42 in October 2023.

The surge in local rice prices highlights the ongoing inflationary pressures on food prices, which have become a key concern for Nigerian households struggling with the rising cost of living.

On a month-on-month basis, local rice prices also saw an increase of 1.56 per cent, up from N1,914.77 in September 2024, further highlighting the persistence of inflationary trends within the food sector.

Geographically, there were significant variations in the price of local rice across Nigeria. Kogi State recorded the highest price for local rice at N2,693.41, while Benue State recorded the lowest price at N1,267.25.

These price disparities across states reflect regional variations in supply, demand, and the distribution channels for staple foods.

It is also indicative of the challenges that local farmers and producers face in meeting demand amid rising production costs and logistical challenges.

The NBS report also indicated that food inflation in Nigeria remained high in October, standing at 39.16 per cent year-on-year from 31.52 per cent in October 2023.

The year-on-year rise in food inflation reflects broader economic challenges, including the effects of exchange rate volatility, fuel price hikes, and supply chain disruptions.

On a month-on-month basis, the food inflation rate rose by 2.94 per cent, up from 2.64 per cent recorded in September 2024.

The NBS’ inflation report for October 2024 read, “The Food inflation rate in October 2024 was 39.16 per cent on a year-on-year basis, 7.64 percentage points higher compared to the rate recorded in October 2023 (31.52 per cent).

“The rise in Food inflation on a year-on-year basis was caused by increases in prices of the following items: guinea corn, rice, maize grains, rice, etc (bread and cereals class), yam, water yam, coco yam, etc (potatoes, yam and other tubers class), palm oil, vegetable oil, etc (oil and fats class) and Milo, Lipton, Bourvita, etc. (coffee, tea and cocoa class).”

The incremental rise in food inflation is a concerning trend for Nigerians, as it suggests that food prices are likely to continue their upward trajectory, putting further pressure on household budgets.

In addition to local rice, agricultural rice, typically sold by local farmers, saw an even steeper price increase.


The price of agricultural rice in October 2024 experienced a year-on-year increase of 138.90 per cent to N2,023.68 from N847.08 in the corresponding period of last year.

Prices of agricultural rice varied significantly across different states, with Nasarawa reporting the highest price of N3,120.49, while Benue had the lowest at N1,354.87.

Agricultural rice, which is usually a more affordable option compared to processed local rice, has become significantly more expensive, further exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis for many Nigerians.

The PUNCH observed that the prices of Ofada rice and imported rice had also seen significant increases, contributing to the broader trend of rising food prices in Nigeria.

Ofada rice, a local variety grown predominantly in the southwestern region of Nigeria, experienced a sharp price rise.

In October, the average price of Ofada rice stood at N2,428.65, up from N811.83 in October 2023, representing a 199.16 per cent rise year-on-year, reflecting the growing demand for the staple and the rising cost of production.

The price of Ofada rice varies considerably across states. In Osun State, for example, the price of Ofada rice was reported at N3,400, while in Adamawa State, it was slightly lower at N1,425.

Also, imported rice, which is largely sourced from international markets, has seen considerable price hikes, influenced by the devaluation of the naira, import tariffs, and global price fluctuations in the rice market.

The average price of imported rice in October 2024 rose to N2,471.28 per 1kg bag, up from N1,016.12 per 1kg bag in October 2023, reflecting an increase of 143.21 per cent year-on-year.

Kogi State recorded the highest price for this rice at N3,187.35, while Niger had the lowest at N2,017.04.

The increase is largely attributed to the ongoing challenges in the foreign exchange market, which have made importing rice more expensive, as well as the higher global rice prices exacerbated by factors such as the Ukraine conflict and rising energy costs.

The rise in the price of imported rice is further compounded by Nigeria’s reliance on imports to meet domestic demand for rice.

While local production has grown in recent years, it has still not been enough to fully meet the country’s needs, thus leading to an increased dependence on imported rice.

The rising prices of local rice, Ofada rice, and imported rice have played a major role in driving up food inflation in Nigeria.

Last month, the Senator representing Jigawa North-West Senatorial Zone, Babangida Husaini, called on the Federal, State, and Local Governments to address the rising cost of basic food items, which continues to escalate nationwide despite the harvest season.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has assured that its employment process will be transparent and inclusive.

Kyari assured the 45,689 job applicants that they would take the Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBT) as part of the oil company’s recruitment process on Saturday (today).

According to NNPC spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, Kyari, while addressing applicants at the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society Centenary Resource Centre in Maitama, Abuja, said he was at the centre to ensure the process is smooth, transparent, fair, and credible.

“As an equal opportunity employer, NNPC Ltd. has made special provisions to ensure that applicants with disabilities can take the test without any hindrance,” he said.

The NNPC boss reiterated that only the most qualified candidates among the 45,689 applicants will be selected for employment.

In a related development, in a brief statement on its X handle on Saturday, the national oil company joined in celebrating the International Day for Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs).

NNPC promised inclusivity to the persons living with disability who were shortlisted for the recruitment exercise.

“In honour of the International Day for Persons Living with Disabilities, NNPC Limited proudly engaged with our staff living with disabilities and some shortlisted candidates for the ongoing recruitment CBT exams.

“This occasion reaffirms our commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and creating opportunities for everyone. Together, we are fostering a culture of excellence and equal representation,” it read.

Eight suspected armed robbers, including a rusticated operative of the Nigerian Army, have been arrested in Enugu over alleged armed robbery and financial fraud.

According to the Enugu State Police Command, the suspects specialized in interstate armed robbery and financial fraud.

A release by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said their arrest followed coordinated operations involving the Emene Division, Crack and Octopus Tactical Squads, alongside the neighbourhood watch group, adding that items recovered from them were firearms, ammunition, cash, and other stolen items.

Ndukwe gave the names of those arrest as Ismaila Isah (23), Sadik Ahmed (a dismissed soldier, 28), Abbas Usman (33), Mubarak Garba (24), Abubakar Haruna (23), Abubakar Sani (32), Obiri Chukwuebuka (22), and Bright Omeniru (22).

He added that two locally-made pistols loaded with a live and expended cartridge and a cash sum of three hundred thousand, four hundred and fifty naira (₦300,450.00) were recovered.

“Further recovered are ten laptops, land documents, ten mobile phones, assorted jewellery and watches, one MP3 player, one headphone, four power banks, two SIM cards, footwear, and bags,” he said.

He said, “The operation commenced on November 12, 2024, around 3:30am when operatives from the Emene Division, supported by neighbourhood watch members, responded to a distress call regarding an armed robbery at an estate in Emene.

“During the operation, Ismaila Isah was apprehended with one locally made pistol, the said ₦300,450.00, and some stolen items, while others escaped.”

He said Ismaila was later transferred to the Crack Tactical Squad for further investigation, noting that his confessional statements and subsequent discreet investigations led to the arrest of Sadik Ahmed, Abbas Usman, Mubarak Garba, Abubakar Haruna, and Abubakar Sani at their hideouts in New Garriki, Awkunanaw, Enugu. Another locally made pistol and additional stolen items were recovered.

According to him, operatives from the Octopus Tactical Squad utilised an intelligence report and arrested Obiri Chukwuebuka and Bright Omeniru in Owerri, Imo State, adding that during interrogations, the suspects admitted to using phones stolen by the syndicate to fraudulently withdraw funds from victims’ bank accounts. He said two SIM cards from different networks were also recovered.

Quoting him, “Investigations reveal that the suspects confessed to committing multiple armed robberies within the Enugu metropolis and using the victims’ mobile phones’ SIM cards to also commit acts of fraud. They further confessed to moving and selling the stolen proceeds in Imo and other states.

“Sadik Ahmed, the dismissed soldier, admitted to exploiting his background as a former security agent to bypass checkpoints during the interstate shipment of the stolen items.”

The suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations, said the PPRO.

Embattled Nigerian pastor and founder of the Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church, commonly known as SPAC Nation, Tobi Adegboyega, has narrated why he flaunts his extravagant lifestyle in the United Kingdom.

This is coming on the heels of his immigration status trial at the UK’s immigration upper tribunal that ruled that the 44-year-old pastor be deported.

The court claimed that Adegboyega had arrived in the UK on a visitor’s visa in 2005 but did not leave when it expired, and had sought to remain in the European country on human rights grounds.

However, defending the claim on his extravagant lifestyle in the court, Adegboyega told the judges, Bruce and Rastogi that his wife, Mary Olubukola Alade, who earns £100,000 per year working for AON has been funding him.

He added that his motive for the flaunting was to help young people who are the major congregation in his church believe that there are legitimate ways of making money.

The court ruling obtained by The PUNCH quoted the controversial pastor as saying, “I live with my partner, Mary Olubukola Alade, who earns £100,000 per year working for AON. I spend my time working for the church, for which I am unpaid. I am entirely supported by Mary.

“I have a first-class law degree from Nigeria but I have ‘sacrificed’ my legal career to help those who cannot help themselves.”

The court also heard, “For instance, people have pointed to the fact that he wears designer clothing and drives expensive cars. He was adamant that all of his personal possessions had been paid for by Mary.

“He has never taken a penny from the church. He believes that it is important for him to dress the way that he does because he needs to inspire these young people – they need to understand that there are legitimate ways of making money, for instance through entrepreneurship.”

Reacting to the court’s ruling on his deportation, Adegboyega on Thursday dismissed the allegations, insisting that no amount of persecution would bring him down.

He said, “I’m right here at home, no cause for alarm. Naturally, I will dismiss things that have to do with retrogression; every Nigerian should be proud of me. Living in the UK, a city that is well known for pulling people down, I have survived all sorts, so the matter that they are propagating is the smallest matter.

“No panic, I love London city, it is my city and nobody can do anything. Of all the people of colour you know here – pastors and leaders, I have survived everything.

“I’m here, I am at home, nobody should panic for me. I succeeded well in this country despite all challenges and I’m in the league of people you look up to. I have survived that well, nothing has changed, nothing will change.”

New details have emerged on why the United Kingdom immigration upper tribunal approved the deportation of Pastor Tobi Adegboyega, founder of Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church, commonly known as SPAC Nation.

The 44-year-old pastor, who arrived in the UK on a visitor’s visa in 2005 but did not leave when it expired, had sought to remain in the European country on human rights grounds. He had married a British citizen.

After the Home Office denied his request, he appealed to the first-tier tribunal, which equally turned him down.

Subsequently, he appealed to the upper tribunal on August 15, 2022.

The controversial pastor, through his lawyer, Dele Olawanle, told the tribunal that his church had initiated various intervention programmes to rescue troubled youths on the streets of the UK from gangs and crime.

Adegboyega also argued that his deportation would harm his projects and community influence, which he claimed had been supported and recognised by prominent UK figures, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior figures within the Metropolitan Police.

He also claimed that he had played an instrumental role in setting up a food bank which had provided 136,000 meals for children, adding that he “intervened in the lives of many hundreds of young people, predominantly from the black communities in London, to lead them away from trouble”.

Adegboyega added that he established a network of safe houses throughout London where he accommodated young people trying to avoid gang conflicts.

But the upper tribunal judges, Bruce and Rastogi, insisted that Adegboyega must return to Nigeria despite his arguments.

In the judgement document obtained by Saturday PUNCH, the court rejected Adegboyega’s appeals, citing his unlawful stay in the UK and exaggeration of his community work claims.

The tribunal ruled that Adegboyega had “grossly inflated” his contributions, describing his claims as “hyperbolic” and unsupported by substantive evidence.

The court noted that the pastor failed to provide corroborative evidence that the UK police endorsed and supported his works.

The court insisted that his work could continue without his presence in the UK and dismissed his marriage to a British citizen as insufficient to counterbalance his immigration violations.

“We do, however, note the absence of corroborative evidence in respect of the most prominent agencies that the appellant (Adegboyega) claims as his supporters.

“There was nothing before us from the Metropolitan Police, Downing Street, the Mayor of London or the Home Office, all institutions which the appellant claims to have enthusiastically endorsed his work,” the court affirmed.

“For instance, there was nothing at all to support his assertions that his presence in London is needed to ‘calm the nerves of people from ethnic minorities’ following the ‘fascist uprising’ of August 2024, or that his presence is an ‘absolute necessity’ to fighting crime. There was no corroboration for his claim to have visited Downing Street on ‘countless occasions’. These are examples of areas of the appellant’s evidence where we are satisfied that he has sought to grossly inflate his influence.

“When we asked him to describe an average day, the appellant told us that he schedules six church events per day, seven days a week. These can be all over London. He visits as many as 20 congregants per week in their own homes, and is often called upon to spend between 3-4 hours talking on a one-to-one basis to a troubled young person. He also told us about the time that he spends supervising and helping some of the many business ventures, or ‘CIC’s set up with SPAC Nation’s help, and to organising the foodbank. Even allowing for his admission that sometimes this packed itinerary causes him to run late, we find it to be implausible that he has the time to undertake all of this work personally. We consider it far more likely that this work is distributed among the many pastors, congregants and supporters of SPAC Nation.”

I depend solely on my wife

Earlier, Adegboyega told the court that he had always depended on his wife, Mary.

“He states that he lives with his partner, Mary Olubukola Alade, who earns £100,000 per year working for AON. He spends his time working for the church, for which he is unpaid. He is entirely supported by Mary.

“He has a first-class law degree from Nigeria but he has ‘sacrificed’ his legal career to help those who cannot help themselves,” the court heard.

Adegboyega also told the tribunal why he flaunted an extravagant lifestyle.

“For instance, people have pointed to the fact that he wears designer clothing and drives expensive cars. He was adamant that all of his personal possessions have been paid for by Mary. He has never taken a penny from the church. He believes that it is important for him to dress the way that he does because he needs to inspire these young people – they need to understand that there are legitimate ways of making money, for instance through entrepreneurship.”

Known for his flamboyant lifestyle, the self-styled pastor has long been at the centre of controversies involving alleged financial misconduct and a lavish lifestyle that have drawn criticism.

The British Broadcasting Corporation released a documentary detailing how Adegboyega, popularly known as PT among his followers, allegedly defrauded his church members in the guise of helping them create their own businesses.

In the documentary, victims claimed that they were “brainwashed” into believing their financial sacrifices would fund community programmes to rescue troubled youths on the streets of UK from gangs and crime, only to find the money allegedly misappropriated to support the pastor’s lavish lifestyle, including designer wardrobes and luxury cars.

But Pastor Tobi did not face any criminal proceedings neither was he convicted of any crime.

The celebrity pastor threw a lavish birthday party in November. The party was attended by popular Nigerian artistes, including Davido and Kcee.

“Let us just have fun as one family tonight and if I get into trouble like I do most times, my lawyer is there right on my table, so nothing can touch me”, Adegboyega said to the cheering audience.

The cleric, who is usually seen in the company of celebrities displaying an affluent and opulent lifestyle,became enmeshed in a scandal when the UK Charity Commission and High Court investigations revealed financial impropriety involving over £1.87m, leading to the closure of his church in 2022.

Responding to the latest ruling on his immigration status on Instagram, Adegboyega dismissed the allegations, insisting that no amount of persecution would bring him down.

He said, “I’m right here at home, no cause for alarm. Naturally, I will dismiss things that have to do with retrogression; every Nigerian should be proud of me. Living in the UK, a city that is well known for pulling people down, I have survived all sorts, so the matter that they are propagating is the smallest matter.

“No panic, I love London city, it is my city and nobody can do anything. Of all the people of colour you know here – pastors and leaders, I have survived everything.

“I’m here, I am at home, nobody should panic for me. I succeeded well in this country despite all challenges and I’m in the league of people you look up to. I have survived that well, nothing has changed, nothing will change.

“I’m here, number one in London City and nothing is going to bring us down.” 

Few hours later, another video of Adegboyega surfaced online showing him dancing with others.

He claimed his companies had raised over £1m since the news of his deportation surfaced.

“They have raised over £1m in 24 hours since yesterday’s news. This is a blessing I couldn’t see coming,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, Adegboyega still has an option of appealing the upper tribunal judgement at the Court of Appeal of England and Wales.

According to the UK Home Office, he must file the appeal within 28 days of being given permission to do so by the upper tribunal.

[PUNCH]

TikTok has moved closer to a potential ban in the United States after a federal court upheld a law that forces the Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its business to an American company or face a ban.

In a ruling Friday, the U.S Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia rejected TikTok’s arguments that the legislation violated the First and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution.

The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, mandates that TikTok be sold to a non-Chinese owner by January 19, 2025, while U.S app stores and internet services could be fined for hosting the platform after the deadline.

TikTok is expected to appeal the ruling at the Supreme Court,

The incoming U.S. President, Donald Trump, who first tried to ban TikTok during his first term, recently suggested that he no longer wants to ban the app.

In March, Trump posted on Truth Social that he opposed a ban on TikTok as it would rival Facebook, and Zuckerberg, whom Trump has accused without evidence of interfering in the 2020 presidential election.

TikTok’s trouble is rooted in concerns about ByteDance’s potential to share user data with the Chinese government or manipulate TikTok’s algorithm for propaganda purposes.

U.S. government’s lawyers argued that ByteDance’s control over the algorithm poses a national security risk.

The three-judge panel supported the view, noting TikTok’s vast influence.

“In part precisely because of the platform’s expansive reach, Congress and multiple Presidents determined that divesting it from the (People’s Republic of China’s) control is essential to protect our national security,” the judges wrote.

They dismissed TikTok’s claims that the law infringes on free speech.

“What the Act targets is the PRC’s ability to manipulate the content covertly.

“Understood in that way, the Government’s justification is wholly consonant with the First Amendment,” the judges stated.

If the ban proceeds, it will take effect one day before Trump’s inauguration.

Afe Babalola, the senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says he took legal action against Dele Farotimi, a human rights advocate, to address the “falsity of his allegations and hold him account for his actions”.

On Tuesday, operatives from the police command in Ekiti arrested Farotimi in Lagos over a petition about alleged defamation and cyberbullying.

Farotimi had, in a statement, alleged that officers attached to the Ekiti police command had perfected plans to abduct him from Lagos.

He accused the command of deploying questionable means to lure him for arrest despite honouring the invitation of the zone 2 police headquarters in Lagos some weeks ago.

The police accused Farotimi of “criminally defaming” Babalola, the legal luminary, in a book titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System”.

On Wednesday, the Ekiti state magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti remanded Farotimi after he was arraigned on a 16-count. The activist pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Since his arrest, there have been strident calls on social media for his release, including from political bigwigs like Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar.

Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, has asked Nigerians to join a “nationwide/global protest” against the judiciary over the prosecution of the human rights activist.

However, in a statement on Friday issued by Afe Babalola & Co., his law firm, the erudite lawyer said no amount of street yelling and media tactics would stop the prosecution of Farotimi.

“We acknowledge several concerns and suggestions on this subject and the inference that the firm and its members would be better served by ignoring these published falsehoods,” the statement, signed by Adebayo Adenipekun, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), reads.

“However, if we do not take any action to correct the false, reckless, and malicious statements by this author, our silence will necessarily be interpreted as an admission of guilt.

“Afe Babalola & Co is a law-abiding organisation that operates strictly within the law. We are aware of the implications of the steps we are taking and the possibility of spin and manipulation by this author, his acolytes, uninformed members of the public, and others who, like him, view us maliciously.

“Still, we are convinced that the legal steps we take now and in the future are the only way to address the falsity of the author’s allegations and hold him to account for his deliberate assault on the integrity and reputation that our founder, Aare Afe Babalola, OFR, CFR, SAN, LLD, has built and passed on to us over the past seven decades using nothing but hard work, legal knowledge, and trenchant advocacy.

“The constitution recognises fundamental human rights, and our firm has championed these rights in over sixty years of its existence.

“However, these rights are not absolute; the freedom to speak is not freedom from consequences of speech. And the subject of speech also has a fundamental right to hold the speaker accountable using lawful means.

“Since the matter is sub judice, we do not intend to join issues in the media on the merits of our complaints or the strength of evidence against Mr. Farotimi.

“Unlike him, we believe in the justice delivery system every time—not only when it favours us. In six decades of litigating cases across Nigeria, we have encountered several lawyers who prevailed against us in court.”

“Their existence disproves Mr. Farotimi’s wild accusations and indicates that at the end of this process, only the law will matter—not the media tactic or street yelling.”