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More than 100 Nigerians serving jail terms in Ethiopia may soon be transferred to Nigeria as both countries conclude arrangements for a prisoner transfer agreement.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, arrived in Addis Ababa for the signing of the pact alongside the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.

The Nigerian delegation was received by Ethiopia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and the country’s Chief of Protocol.

According to Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the agreement is scheduled to be signed on Wednesday.

She disclosed that four Nigerian inmates died during the lengthy process of negotiations, judicial reviews and ratification of the agreement.

“We cannot afford to lose any more precious lives. We are determined to bring home the living,” she stated in a post on her X handle.

The minister identified Kaliti Prison and Aba Samuel Prison as the facilities where the affected Nigerians are being held.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the agreement as a product of the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Ethiopia, anchored on humanitarian considerations, justice and bilateral cooperation.

She said that while the Nigerian government continues to urge its citizens abroad to obey the laws of their host countries and protect the nation’s image, it remains committed to ensuring that Nigerians facing legal challenges overseas are treated fairly and in accordance with established legal frameworks.

The minister added that the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad remain a key priority of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

She also expressed appreciation to the Ethiopian government for its cooperation in bringing the agreement to fruition.

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A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday rescheduled further hearing for June 24 in the post-conviction proceedings being conducted in the N33.8 bilion case involving former Power Minister Saleh Mamman.

By the court’s schedule, a lawyer to Mamman, Mohammed Ahmed, is to appear to explain some aspects of an affidavit he filed, in which he made some allegations against the trial judge.

Yesterday’s adjournment was informed by the claim by another lawyer, Suleiman Yakubu that Ahmed was indisposed.

The court had on May 7 convicted Mamman on all 12-count charged on which he was prosecuted and sentenced him to 75 years imprisonment in absentia.

Upon an order for his arrest and production, the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) apprehended him somewhere in Kaduna and presented him before the court on May 26.

The court directed that he should be committed to the Kuje prison where he is must serve his sentence.

Also on May 26, the prosecution informed the court about its motion for the forfeiture of some recently discovered assets allegedly acquired unlawfully by Mamman.

But, before the application could be heard, lawyer to the defendant exited the court without the notice, a development that informed an adjournment till June 8.

The recently discovered assets, according to court documents filed by the EFCC, include: Walijam Apartments, located on No.43, Plot 435 Lobito Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja and Bloom Luxury Suites Nigeria Limited, located at No 5, Amana Crescent, New Estate Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna State.

They include a mansion on No 11, Misratah Street, Wuse 2, Abuja; a mansion on No 13, Misratah Street, Wuse 2, Abuja and A.U.A. Plaza, situated on Plot 734, Kade Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.

On June 8, lawyer to the prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo, (SAN) reminded the court that the business of the day for hearing of the prosecution’s motion for consequential order to forfeit some properties belonging to the convict (Mamman).

The trial judge, Justice James Omotosho drew Oyedepo’s attention to a counter affidavit filed for the defendant, but which was deposed to by his other lawyer,  Ahmed, who, in the affidavit, allegedly claimed that the judgment delivered on May 7 was done when the judge “became enraged.”

Oyedepo claimed not to have been served with the affidavit, following which Justice Omotosho ordered, who Yakubu, who appeared for Mamman, to give a copy to the prosecuting lawyer.

Justice Omotosho directed Ahmed, who deposed to the affidavit, should appear before his court on May 10 to provide explanation in relation to some of his averments in the affidavit he deposed to.

Ahmed was absent on May 10. Yakubu, who also appeared for the defendant, claimed Ahmed was ill.

Yakubu, who apologised for the manner he left the court on the previous date, claimed that Ahmed has been ill for some time, saying: “He has been coughing, and we don’t know if it is tuberculosis because the cough has defiled all drugs.”

He further claimed that Ahmed has gone to his village for treatment and urged the court to adjourn further hearing till the following week.

At that point, Justice Omotosho sought to know how Yakubu came to the conclusion that Ahmed suffered from tuberculosis.

Responding, Yabuku said it was because Ahmed had taken drugs and his ailments persisted, a response, that prompted prosecuting lawyer to express disappointment with the attitude of the defence lawyers.

Oyedepo said: “This is what we kept complaining about. We are counsel in the temple of justice my Lord. I don’t know when I started experiencing a bitter part of my colleagues in this matter.

“I don’t think this is proper. As it stands now, our motion is ripe for hearing.”

Oyedepo, who accused the defendant of deploying dilatory tactics, said: “these tactics will not work,” following which he agreed to an adjournment.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restored 22 state constituencies across Benue, Delta, Jigawa and Kogi states and fixed June 16 to June 25, 2026, for political parties to conduct primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The restoration followed court judgments directing the electoral body to reinstate constituencies that had been suppressed for years, thereby enabling affected communities to elect representatives into their respective state Houses of Assembly.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said in a statement on Wednesday, that the commission acted in line with constitutional provisions and the Electoral Act, 2026.

According to him, the restored constituencies are Nyamatsor, Ukum Afia, Konshisha III (Shangev-Tiev), Makurdi III (South East) and Gboko III in Benue State.

Others are Aniocha North II, Ika North East II, Sapele II, Ethiope West II, Warri South West II and Warri North II in Delta State.

In Kogi State, the commission restored Aujara in Jigawa State; and Adavi East, Eika, Ajaokuta North, Bassa-Komu, Dekina Town and District, Ijumu II, Kabba-Bunu II, Koton Karfe II, Igalaogwa and Ogugu in Kogi State.

“Pursuant to the judgment of the courts directing the restoration of some suppressed constituencies in Benue, Delta, Jigawa and Kogi States, and in line with the powers conferred on the Commission by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2026, the Commission has restored the following State Constituencies,” Haruna said.

To facilitate the participation of the restored constituencies in the 2027 elections, INEC said political parties would conduct primaries between June 16 and June 25, 2026, to nominate candidates for the seats.

The commission added that all other timelines and activities contained in the revised timetable for the 2027 general election would apply to the affected constituencies.

It also directed political parties to submit notices of their primaries before the scheduled dates due to the special nature of the exercise.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all other timelines and activities contained in the already published revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election shall apply to the restored constituencies,” the statement added.

INEC’s decision follows series of Court cases by communities that argued they had been denied constitutional representation for years.

Earlier this year, a Federal High Court in Lokoja ordered INEC to restore and conduct elections in several suppressed constituencies in Kogi State.

The Court held that the affected areas were entitled to representation in the state House of Assembly. The court ruled that elections must be conducted in the constituencies during the 2027 general election.

Similarly, the Court of Appeal had ordered the restoration of constituencies in Benue State, while the Senate also urged INEC to comply with judicial decisions requiring the electoral body to conduct elections in the affected areas ahead of the 2027 polls.

In April, INEC commenced technical processes for the restoration of the constituencies, including stakeholder consultations, fieldwork, constituency mapping and collection of demographic and geographical data needed for electoral planning.

The commission said the exercise was aimed at ensuring proper delineation and effective implementation of the court orders.