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By Francesca Hangeior, Abuja

The Federal Government has secured the release and repatriation of 136 Nigerians imprisoned in Ethiopia, nearly two years after an Abuja Federal High Court ordered it to intervene in their prolonged detention.

The breakthrough followed the signing of a Prisoner Transfer Agreement between Nigeria and Ethiopia in Addis Ababa on June 11, 2026, bringing to fruition the November 14, 2024 judgment of Justice Inyang Ekwo.

The agreement was facilitated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and her Ethiopian counterpart, Gideon Timothewos. It was signed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and Ethiopia’s Minister of Justice, Hanna Arayaselassie.

The agreement paved the way for the return of the 136 Nigerians, many of whom had spent years in Ethiopian prisons serving sentences for drug-related and immigration offences.

The development marks the implementation of Justice Ekwo’s judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/305/2024, filed by Mmaduagwu Pius Sunday and others against the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Court records showed that more than 270 Nigerians were serving various prison terms in Ethiopia, with many held at the notorious Kaliti and AbaSamuel prisons in Addis Ababa.

Reports of overcrowding, poor medical care, malnutrition and alleged abuse had heightened public concern, especially following the deaths of some inmates, including Chizoba Favour Eze, Uchenna Nwanneneme and Basil Lawrence Ilobi.

In his judgment, Justice Ekwo held that the Ethiopian government’s admission that it lacked the resources to adequately cater for the inmates made intervention by the Nigerian government imperative.

He consequently granted an order of mandamus compelling the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NIDCOM to facilitate the prisoners’ repatriation.

“The first and second respondents cannot be allowed to argue their way out of their respective statutory functions,” the judge ruled, holding that the applicants had established a compelling case for government intervention.

Despite the judgment, implementation stalled for several months, prompting families of the detainees to petition President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly and NIDCOM in September 2025, demanding the conclusion of a prisoner transfer arrangement between both countries.

Diplomatic efforts gathered momentum in 2025 and 2026, with Odumegwu-Ojukwu leading negotiations with Ethiopian authorities, including Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Legesse Geremew Haile, to fast-track the agreement.

Speaking during one of the engagements, the minister said: “Our people do not want to hear that another Nigerian inmate has died in an Ethiopian prison,” stressing that Nigeria had fulfilled all the procedural requirements for the transfer arrangement.

The agreement was eventually signed in Addis Ababa earlier this month, with both countries describing it as one “rooted in the principles of humanity, justice and cooperation”, paving the way for the transfer of the 136 Nigerians back home.

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By Francesca Hangeior

Shade Okoya, the wife of billionaire businessman Alhaji Razaq Okoya, has broken her silence amid swirling rumours about her marriage with a cryptic but firm message.

The development comes after anonymous Instagram blogger alleged that the businesswoman was involved in an affair with a younger man.

In a post that sparked widespread reactions online, the faceless blogger shared photos of Shade Okoya alongside comedian Tee A, captioning them:

Nice glasses, nice view… gosh and that blue light in the background makes the whole picture very demure.”

The blogger further suggested that the two were “very good family friends,” a claim that has continued to generate debate across social media.

In response to the allegations, Shade Okoya took to her Instagram page to share a video accompanied by a message expressing her unwavering faith in divine justice.

Rather than addressing the claims directly, she declared that she trusts God to vindicate her, emphasizing that his judgment is greater than human opinions or accusations.

She said; “I leave every unseen battle in God’s hands. He alone knows the truth, He alone judges perfectly, and His justice never fails. No lie outlives the truth, and no injustice escapes His perfect judgment.

May every soul reap only what they have sown, Amen”, she wrote.

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By Francesca Hangeior, Abuja
 
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday admitted activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, to fresh bail in the sum of N200 million, weeks after revoking his earlier bail over his failure to appear for trial

Justice Muhammad Umar, in a ruling, directed Sowore to provide two sureties before the bail could take effect.

One of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from his community, while the second must own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory.

The judge also ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the court registrar pending the determination of the case.

After granting the application, Justice Umar handed Sowore over to his lawyers and adjourned further proceedings until Monday, July 6, when the defendant is expected to open his defence.

 
Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services on allegations bordering on cybercrime, following social media posts in which he allegedly referred to President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal.”

He has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.

The court revoked Sowore’s bail on June 16 and issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to attend proceedings.