Benchmark Naija

 Ilofuan P. Igbuan is a senior lawyer based in Benin with a fledging law firm. He was the Pioneer National Chairman of Young Lawyers Forum (YLF). He was the Treasurer, NBA, Benin Branch under the leadership of R.O. Isenalumhe, Esq., during which time  the Bar House was built and commissioned for use.  He has held several positions in the branch including membership of committees. He one time Secretary of Law Week. He has been very keen and active in both national & local Bar affairs. He is about about sustaining the gains of this executive through electing trusted persons with notable antecedents in NBA, Benin Branch. Do have a nice day.

World soccer ruling body, FIFA, has imposed a 150,000 Swiss Franc (about 154,128.75 USD) fine on Nigeria following the unruly behaviour of the fans at the end of the second leg Qatar 2022 World Cup play-off between the Super Eagles and Black Stars of Ghana at the Moshood Abiola Stadium on March 29. There was reported break of law and order after the ill-fated 1-1 draw encounter as the Black Stars edged Nigeria out of the Qatar 2022 race on the away goals rule. In a dispatch by FIFA, the body’s Disciplinary Committee decried the poor organisation of the match for lack of order and security at the match, adding there was ‘failure to implement existing safety rules and failure to ensure that law and order are maintained in the stadium, invasion of the field of play and throwing of objects’. Apart from the 150,000 CHF fine, Nigeria will play its next home match without fans.

 Monday Adjeh, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Bwari Branch, has felicitated with members of the branch who are Muslims. In a statement sighted by Bench Mark Naija, he stated that the Eid Mubarak is a time to show love and sacrifice. He prayed the Almighty Allah to accept the prayers and sacrifices of the Muslim faithfuls. 

As reactions from well meaning Nigerians, both at home and abroad are still trailing the banning of coverage of African Independent Television of President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari’s programmes of activities until further notice, a human rights group in Nigeria, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has strongly condemned Buhari’s action over the plan to resuscitate the anti-democratic ethos in a democratic setting, noting that General Buhari’s action shown that the President-elect has hidden agenda in governance of this country for the next four years. The rights group however declared that General Buhari should be tutored on how to conduct the act of governance in a democratic era, believing that democracy was new in the President-Elect dictionary and strange to his nature because of his military dictatorship background, stressing that the Freedom of Press is one of the ground norms of entrenching democracy in the world. The group therefore urged the genuin...

Change is set to hit the country and there has been cases of several leaders in Nigeria turning a new leaf. Its no news that Nigeria is a very great country with a capacity of greatness. The country is endowed with vast human as well as natural resources. Despite the high revenue generated by this country from oil which is supposed to be a blessing, Nigeria has been hit by the resource course theory. This means the oil factor has been a deficiency to the development of the country. This has encouraged a high rate of corruption and desperation for political power. Several politicians have used political power as a gateway to enrich their pockets. With the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as the new leader of the country, there seem to be so much fear in Nigeria among politicians who have massively siphoned public funds. Rumours have it that Buhari is bracing up for a massive clampdown on all corrupt officials in Nigeria. The petroleum Minister, Diezani Alision Maduekwe was smart enough to...

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has reversed the controversial decision taken by President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to bar the Africa Independent Television, AIT, from covering his activities. The party said all accredited media organizations in the country, including the AIT, are free to cover the activities of the president elect. AIT journalists were on Monday denied access to Mr. Buhari’s temporary office when they showed up to cover his official engagements. His spokesperson, Garba Shehu, cited family and security concerns for the decision. “AIT has been asked to stay aside based on security and family concerns. In addition, Buhari has decided that they will have to resolve some issues relating to issues of standard and ethics. “We will be talking with them to try and resolve the matter, but for now the station has been asked to stay aside, because like I said there are some family and security concerns. They have been asked to step down their coverage until we res...

Security advisers of the President-Elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari on Monday barred the television crew of the African Independent Television from covering the activities of their principal until further notice.      It was gathered that the security team cited adverse security reports and ethical issues as reasons for their action. Members of the AIT crew, who were at Defence House, venue of a meeting between the President-elect and a visiting Cuban delegation, led by its Ambassador to Nigeria, were asked to leave the vicinity until further notice. The crew, who did not speak on record, insisted they would remain and continue to do their jobs because they had yet to be “formally informed.” “Yes, we were told but we cannot just leave; we have a job to do. In any case, we have not been officially informed about what we have done wrong,” one of them said. Director of Press of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, conf...