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AG MNYIM MISLEADING THE ALIA ADMINISTRATION

…He Should Honourably Resign
By Terver Akase
We read a newspaper report in which the Benue State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim, was quoted as saying, “the present government is still suffering from the consent judgments amounting to N3.6 billion entered into by the immediate past administration of Samuel Ortom.”
We recall that in October last year (2023), the same Attorney General, Barrister Mnyim, claimed in a widely published report that the current government inherited a debt profile of over N14 billion as consent judgment from the Ortom administration.
The apparent contradictions in the statements of the Attorney General smack of the schemes of an official who, though appointed to advise and guide the government on legal matters, is on a mission to mislead the same government and set his principal on a perpetual collision course with others for reasons only known to him. If the Attorney General has no idea what his role in government is, the honorable thing to do is to resign instead of engaging in hackneyed anti-Ortom narratives to massage his motives.
Barrister Mnyim, as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, is expected to know that a majority of the issues he raised in the said media report pertain to pensions and gratuity cases. There are records to show that the Ortom administration inherited pension and gratuity arrears that spanned several previous administrations, with many court cases filed by pensioners still unresolved when Chief Ortom took office in 2015.
One such case was the enhancement of minimum wage for Benue teachers. The teachers had concluded plans to embark on a strike before His Excellency Ortom was sworn into office in 2015. He had to swiftly meet with the aggrieved teachers, who explained to him the source of their frustration. Governor Ortom pleaded with the teachers to shelve the planned strike and assured them that his administration would not only implement the N18,000 minimum wage but also begin to pay the teachers’ salary arrears that had accumulated before he took over. Governor Ortom fulfilled the promise to the relief and appreciation of the teachers.
When the present administration came to power in 2023, relying on the advice of the state Attorney General’s office, the payment arrangement that the Ortom government had agreed upon with Benue teachers—who felt betrayed and approached the court to seek redress—was jettisoned. So if there is any garnishee court order, the Attorney General knows better than anyone else that the decision to default on the arrears payment agreement the government had with the teachers is one of the bases for the litigations resulting in garnishees.
It is equally imperative to state that when Chief Ortom came to office in 2015 and met pension arrears of other retirees running into billions of naira, some of the court cases had led to the garnishing of accounts of the state. In his characteristic humanitarian approach, Governor Ortom recognized the fact that the senior citizens had served the state honourably and deserved to be treated with dignity. Consequently, he chose not to contest the claims of the pensioners in court and instead sought amicable resolutions to the disputes.
The State Government under Governor Ortom reached an agreement with the retirees and began to pay their pension arrears and gratuity as financial resources permitted at the time. This was in the face of a challenging economic climate characterized by significantly reduced federal allocations to states. Nigeria experienced two separate recessions in 2016 and 2020, while the COVID-19 pandemic worsened the economic situation.
The Attorney General should blame himself for the wrong advice that resulted in the government’s decision to abandon the payment arrangements established by the previous administration, prompting the retirees to revert to legal action.
Interestingly, the current Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Mnyim, previously represented clients who litigated against the Benue State Government. He should clarify to the media whether the cases he handled contributed to the garnishee orders leading to the reported N3.6 billion.
The former Benue State Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, prays for his successor, His Excellency Governor Hyacinth Alia, and wishes that he succeeds in providing the dividends of democracy to our people. This is why since he left office over a year ago, he has not engaged in any act of sabotage against the Alia administration, and he has no intention of doing so.
Chief Ortom will continue to pray and wish the present administration well, believing that the success of Governor Alia is the success of all Benue people.
Terver Akase, is a media Adviser, to the immediate past governor of Benue state.
News
SDGs must be integrated into development plans – FG

The Federal Government has emphasized that achieving the **Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)** requires their full integration into national and sub-national development plans rather than treating them as isolated initiatives.
The **Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire**, made this call during the **North-East Regional Consultation in Gombe**, part of Nigeria’s **2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR)** preparations for the **High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York this July**. Represented by **Dr. Bala Yunusa, Senior Technical Adviser**, she explained that the **United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)** established the HLPF as a global review mechanism for the 2030 Agenda. Nigeria, now conducting its third VNR, is engaging stakeholders across all six geopolitical zones to assess progress, challenges, and future opportunities.
A statement from her **Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communication, Desmond Utomwen**, highlighted the urgent need to accelerate SDG progress. Citing the **2024 UN Sustainable Development Goals Report**, she revealed that only 17% of SDG targets are on track, nearly 50% show minimal or moderate progress, and over one-third have stalled or regressed. She attributed Nigeria’s slow SDG progress to dwindling financial resources, the COVID-19 pandemic, and persistent insecurity.
Orelope-Adefulire stressed the importance of **robust Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (MER) mechanisms**, including SDG Progress Reports and the VNR, to track achievements and challenges. She called for stronger collaboration among public and private sectors, the UN Development System, donor agencies, academia, and civil society to ensure no one is left behind.
Referring to the **“Pact for the Future”** adopted during the **79th UN General Assembly**, she reaffirmed world leaders’ commitment to bold and transformative actions for SDG acceleration. She also echoed **UN Secretary-General António Guterres’** call for massive investments and strategic partnerships to drive key transitions in food security, energy, and digital connectivity.
She commended **Nigeria’s Multi-Stakeholder Core Working Group for the 2025 VNR**, acknowledging the contributions of members from government agencies, the UN Development System, private sector groups, civil society organizations, and academia.
The **North-East Regional Consultation** brought together 150 participants from six states, focusing discussions on institutional frameworks for SDG implementation, progress across the 17 SDGs, and challenges and lessons learned.
**Gombe State SDGs Focal Person, Engr. Sulaiman Turaki**, described the event as a critical dialogue shaping Nigeria’s next VNR. He urged stakeholders to actively contribute, ensuring the review accurately reflects progress, challenges, and opportunities while ensuring no one is left behind in the country’s development efforts.
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Nnamdi Kanu’s trial under ‘repealed’ law, mere charade – Lawyer

Prominent human rights lawyer, Barrister Christopher Chidera, has raised concerns over the Nigerian government’s plan to prosecute Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), under the repealed Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013. He described the move as legally unsustainable and urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to reconsider.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Chidera argued that since the 2013 Act has been revoked, it cannot serve as a legal basis for Kanu’s trial.
“Any attempt to prosecute the IPOB leader under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013 is legally untenable and procedurally flawed,” he stated.
He warned that continuing with the case under an obsolete law could undermine Nigeria’s justice system and attract international criticism.
Chidera further urged the government to negotiate with Kanu before March 20, 2025, to avoid exposing systemic flaws in the judiciary.
“The section of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013 on which the prosecution relies is no longer an active law in Nigeria. The jurisdiction to prosecute Kanu under this Act ceased with its repeal. Continuing with this prosecution would draw scrutiny and criticism both domestically and internationally,” he added.
With Kanu set to represent himself in court on March 21, 2025, legal analysts predict heightened scrutiny of the case.
“Reports that Mazi Kanu will assume his own defence signal a significant shift. His self-representation may reveal inconsistencies and vulnerabilities within Nigeria’s judicial system,” Chidera noted.
Describing the trial as a critical test for Nigeria’s judiciary, Chidera called on Tinubu’s government to seek a diplomatic resolution before the March 20 deadline.
“Political dissent cannot be extinguished by force, and the Biafran struggle will not be subdued by crackdowns or detention without trial,” he emphasised.
As the court date approaches, all eyes remain on how the government will handle the high-stakes legal battle, with potential implications for Nigeria’s political and judicial credibility.
News
2027: Stakeholders allege Akpabio, others have sold APC to PDP in Akwa Ibom

ey stakeholders within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State have raised serious allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, state party chairman Stephen Ntukekpo, and Minister of Petroleum (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo. The group claims that these leaders have sold out the party to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in return for the latter’s support for Akpabio’s bid for a third term as Senate President in 2027.
The accusations were made public through an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, titled “The Worrisome State of the APC in Akwa Ibom State: A Call for Your Intervention”. The letter was signed by Elder Okokon James, Peter Ibanga, and Chief Victor Affiah, who represent the Uyo, Eket, and Ikot Ekpene Senatorial districts, respectively.
In the letter, the APC stakeholders express their frustration with the actions of the party’s leadership in the state, stating that Ntukekpo and Ekpo have openly claimed to be acting on Akpabio’s orders to deliberately weaken the party in Akwa Ibom. According to the group, this was done to facilitate an easy victory for the PDP in the upcoming 2027 elections. They argue that this arrangement is part of a deal to secure support for Akpabio’s third-term Senate ambitions.
The group warns that if urgent intervention is not taken to revitalize the APC in the state, party members will abandon the party and join a coalition of opposition forces, undermining President Tinubu’s prospects in his second term campaign. They allege that the APC in the state has been effectively dismantled by its own leaders, leaving little support for Tinubu when he visits next year.
“This is a betrayal of trust,” the stakeholders write, accusing Akpabio and Ekpo of undermining the party that helped propel Akpabio to the Senate Presidency. They further allege that if the party’s situation worsens, the responsibility will fall squarely on the shoulders of Akpabio and Ekpo.
The letter also criticizes the inaction of Governor Umo Eno and his team, suggesting that while the Governor is strengthening his political base, APC leaders in the state are failing to make any significant moves to bolster the party.
In response, the Senate President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, dismissed the allegations, calling them “spurious and mischievous.” Eyiboh defended Akpabio’s efforts, pointing to the numerous appointments the Senate President has secured for party members, which he argues are evidence of his commitment to strengthening the party.
Eyiboh further labeled the signatories of the letter as “non-existent” and stated that the claims were baseless and intended to stir unnecessary controversy.
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