Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi has commended the contribution of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to the legal community, describing it as “exceptional”.

Fagbemi made the commendation at the inauguration of the construction of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal Complex, in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said that Wike’s exceptional leadership and steadfast support to the judiciary was unique.

“Your dedication to this project and overall contribution to the legal community have been instrumental to making the constriction of the Court of Appeal Complex possible.

“This marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance the judiciary infrastructure and capacity; ensuring justice is acceptable to all, irrespective of tribe ethnicity and religion,” he said.

The minister also thanked President Bola Tinubu’s unwavering support to the judiciary, adding that the recent salary increment to judicial officers was a testament to this commitment.

According to him, ensuring that judicial officers are reasonably compensated and motivated to perform their duties with diligence and integrity.

“This progressive step will undoubtedly strengthen the judiciary and enhance the admiration of justice in our nation.”

He expressed concern that the judiciary was majorly now the last of the big shots.

He said: “Gone are those days when judiciary is regarded as the last hope of the common man. I took exception to it.

“It is the big people now, who patronise the judiciary and not the common man.

“If you have any doubt, when election is approaching, come and see the way some people behave like rain-beaten chickens.

“So, the judiciary is no longer the last hope of the common man alone; it is majorly now, the last hope of the big shot.”

He, however, said that the construction of the Court of Appeal Complex was a treatment of Tinubu’s commitment to upholding the rule of law.

He further said that the move was also an “acknowledgment of the vital role of the judiciary in maintaining peace and order in our society.

“The complex will serve as a beacon of hope for many; providing a convenient environment for the delivery of justice.”

Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau, equally said that the NBA was proud of Wike’s support to the judiciary.

Maiykau pointed out that 16 ministers have steered the affairs of FCT since creation in 1976, but only Wike saw the need for an appeal court complex project.

“It is when we now have a lawyer, a member of the NBA, steering the affairs of FCT that we are having this.

“With due respect to those who have served as ministers previously and the previous administrations, if they have had justice in focus; if they had given attention to that which is responsible to our existence as a nation, which is justice, this would have happened a long time ago.

“It is only today, 48 years after the creation of FCT that we have found someone who has justice in him, and this is simply the expression of justice inside of him.

“We also have someone who knows about justice and the implication of justice, that it is an important component of the existence of this country,” he said.

The NBA president commended Tinubu and Wike for demonstrating a clear understanding of the importance of justice to the existence of every nation.

He also thanked Tinubu for his selection of Wike and Fagbemi, whom he said were contributing significantly in strengthening justice administration in the country.

Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State on Wednesday, signed the Public Ranch Management Agency bill into law to end herders and farmers clashes in the state.

The governor also assented the Enugu State Environmental and Climate Protection, Enugu State Sports Development Fund and the Enugu State Properties Protection bills into law.

Signing the bills before the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Uche Ugwu, the governor said the laws were essentially designed to benefit people of the state.

He thanked the lawmakers for the support they had continued to give to his government and expressed gratitude in expeditious manner in which they treat executive bills.

“We did not take your supports for granted. We recognized the importance of having a legal framework to accomplish the goals we set for ourselves.

“We know we must put in place robust policies that should be guided by a legal framework,” he said.

Explaining the Public Ranch Management Agency Law, Mbah acknowledged that the bill had generated a lot of controversies, misunderstood and misinterpreted by some people.

According to him, the government was accused of introducing something beyond ranching.

“We have to put an end to the idea of having cattle graze openly and creating friction between our farmers and the herders. Our objective is to ensure it ends.

“In the 24th century, there is no reason why we should encourage open grazing of cattles. The bill will help people act in a civilized manner.

“Having cattles enclosed in a location where we provide other services, ensure there is enough pasture, create abattoir and a proper cattle market,” he said.

On the Property Protection Law, the governor said the law was in line with his government promise to people to create the ease of doing business in the state.

He said that the growth projection they made to grow Enugu economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion would only happen through private sector investment, which we would ensure possessed genuine title documents.

“We frown against land grabbers who go out there to grab land even when they do not have any title document.

“The law is designed to penalise such act and a warning to people that go to empty land because it has not been developed to grab it. There are severe and strict punishment for them under this law,” he stated.

Speaking on Environmental and Climate Protection Law, Mbah noted that from on set his government set out clear policies and plans to protect environment as ozone layer poses danger to humanity.

“Youth Development Fund Law will assist the state to rebuild capacity, nurture talents from the grassroots and encourage school sports.

“It will develop our sports sector as we view sports not just for recreation but a veritable sector that can create business and employment,” Mbah said.

Earlier, the Speaker, Mr Uche Ugwu, thanked Mbah for making the signing of the bills into law possible.

According to him, since the proclamation of the 8th Assembly, the executive have sent critical bills to the House of Assembly and these bills do not make much meaning unless Mbah gives his assent.

“These bills will change the landscape and economy and everything that pertained the standard of living of the citizens and residents of Enugu State,” he said.

The Benue State Government on Wednesday imposed a 24-hour curfew in Ukum Local Government Area (LGA), following serious security breaches in the area.

Gov. Hyacinth Alia announced the measure at a news briefing in Makurdi shortly after the State Security Council meeting.

Alia, represented by Dep. Gov. Sam Ode, said the curfew became imperative, “following the wanton destruction of government’s property and threats to lives in the area”.

He said the government was surprised with the grave security situation in the area, “which has led to the breakdown of law and order and wanton destruction of government property and threat to lives”.

He said that the curfew was to ensure the safety and protection of lives and property of the residents.

The governor, therefore, charged all the stakeholders and security agencies to take note of the measure and ensure strict compliance.

According to him, the curfew would take effect in and around Ukum for 24 hours, from 3pm today (Wednesday) to 3pm on Thursday, July 4.

“Thereafter, it will be from 6pm to 6am, beginning from Thursday, July 4, untill further notice.

“This is the announcement from the Benue State Government’s seat of power,” the governor said.

Large number of youths on Wednesday took over Ayati -Sai Road in Ukum LGA and barricaded it to protest the alleged incessant killings in the area.

The youths also invaded the council Secretariat in Zaki Biam and destroyed things to express their displeasure over what they described as “government’s insensitivity” toward the alleged killings in the area.

The Police Command in the state said that all the tactical teams within the area had arrived to beef up security in the area.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Sewuese Anene, said that the Commissioner of Police was on his way to the local government headquarters to ensure that there was law and order.

Ukum LGA has been a flashpoint of criminality with frequent spate of killings and kidnapping by local militias.

Wednesday’s protest, according to a resident of Ayati Village, was triggered off by the killing of 11 people by local bandits on Tuesday night .

The source, which spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “you know how volatile the LGA has been in recent times.

“There is hardly a day we don’t experience killings and kidnapping, unfortunately, the State Government has not shown seriousness in tackling the development.

“Tuesday night, these bandits invaded Ayati Village and killed several people.

“At the time the youths recovered 11 corpses, it triggered off anger, making them to storm the road to protest the killing.

“Some of the youths also went with the recovered corpses to the council secretariat to vent their anger and destroy the council’s propwrty,” he said.

There has been a massive deployment of security personnel to the area to enforce law and order.