News
Edo 2024: Court refuses to hear suit seeking Ighodalo’s disqualification as PDP candidate
A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined jurisdiction to hear a suit seeking to among others, prohibit Asue Ighodalo from being presented as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the forthcoming governorship election in Edo state.
In a judgment on Wednesday, June 26, Justice Obiora Egwuatu the court declined jurisdiction because the suit was premature having been filed without the plaintiff first exhausting the PDP’s internal mechanism for dispute resolution.
The judgment was on a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/304/2024 filed by a PDP governorship aspirant in Edo State, Anselm Ojezua.
Listed as defendants in the suit are Ighodalo, the PDP, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Egwuatu upheld the objection raised by Ighodalo’s lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) that the suit was incompetent, the plaintiff having failed to comply with the mandatory internal procedure for dispute resolution as provided in the constitution of the PDP.
The judge however did not go into the substance of their case having upheld the preliminary objection raised by Ighodalo’s lawyer.
Justice Egwuatu said: “In the final analysis, having held that the institution of this suit was premature, the preliminary objections succeed in part.
“I therefore decline jurisdiction to entertain this suit. In effect, I resolve the sole issue for determination in favour of the defendants and against the plaintiff.
“Where a court finds that it lacks jurisdiction to entertain a suit, the court has a duty to terminate the proceedings before it.
“On the basis of the above principle of law, I abstain from proceeding further to resolve the merits of the case and the challenge to the affidavit of facts of the third defendant raised by the plaintiff.
“Accordingly, this suit is struck out for want of jurisdiction,” the judge said.
Ojezua had sued to challenge the outcome of the February 22 primary election that produced Ighodalo as the PDP governorship candidate.
He had contended that the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the guidelines of PDP were grossly violated in the conduct of the primary election held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
The plaintiff alleged that a fake and adulterated delegates list was used in the conduct of the indirect primary election.
He then prayed to the court to void the primary election.
…as labour minister call for stricter laws to protect workers
By Gloria Ikibah
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, has expressed serious concern over the state of workplace safety in Nigeria, calling for urgent legislative action to prevent further injuries and fatalities.
Speaker Abbas made the call during the 2025 World Day for Safety Conference, with the theme: “The Legislative Perspective: Safety First – Building a Safer Future for All Nigerians”, organised by the House Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday.
The Speaker who was represented by Ondo lawmaker, Rep. Oluwatimehin Adelegbe, said that the occasion was a reminder of the need to protect Nigerian workers from occupational hazards.
He said: “Today’s event is very significant, especially in the lives of workers across the globe. It reminds us of the need to guarantee the safety of workers against occupational hazards and fatalities.
“In societies where life is not given the right premium, workers are exposed to various accidents and dangers. Every worker has a right to be protected.”
Speaker Abbas acknowledged the global importance of the World Day for Safety, which was launched in 2003 by the International Labour Organization (ILO), and shared alarming statistics. “About 2.3 million workers lose their lives every year from workplace injuries and health hazards, with about 160 million non-fatal injuries,” he noted.
Abbas lamented the lack of reliable data In Nigeria, and said the most recent figures—238 deaths and 3,461 injuries in the construction industry—date back to between 2014 and 2016. “Even those reports are incomplete,” he added.
He also cited a study at the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba, which found that 52.7 percent of health workers surveyed had experienced needle pricks, while 53.3 percent reported incidents of blood splashes, and linked this to greater risks during outbreaks like Ebola and COVID-19, recalling the sacrifices of Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh and Nurse Justina Ejelonu, who died after coming in contact with the index Ebola case in 2014.
The Speaker blamed many of the injuries in construction sites and criticised the neglect of safety in public buildings.
“Unsafe acts and unsafe working conditions, including lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), hoisting gear, appropriate scaffolds and ladder protection.
“Most public buildings and workplaces in Nigeria are design-built and opened for use without safety checks. Apart from fire extinguishers, you hardly see buildings marked with reflective signs that guide workers in emergencies”, he lamented.
Abbas promised that the House would review and streamline existing laws to improve enforcement and public health protections.
“As the law-making body, the House of Representatives is poised to cause the necessary review of existing laws and seek ways to make them more effective in safeguarding public health and safety”, he added.
The Chairman Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations, Rep. David Idris Zacharias in his welcome address said the event marked a historic moment in our nation’s journey towards building a safer, more resilient society.
He stressed that safety must be prioritized, embedded in every policy, and included in every planning phase of our national projects. Whether it’s construction, road, workplace, environmental, or food safety, these are not peripheral issues—they are central to our well-being.
According to Zacharias, the committee’s mission is not only to pass laws but to ensure they are implemented effectively.
He acknowledged that enforcement gaps, poor awareness, and weak appreciation of safety still plague the country. However, he added, and that these challenges present us with immense opportunities to innovate, collaborate, and learn from others.
The committee chairman therefore called for partnerships with businesses, labour unions, NGOs, and the public.
He promised stronger enforcement, increased funding, more monitoring, and public awareness campaigns.
“Safety must be everyone’s concern. From the smallest corner shop to the largest industrial complex, we all have a role to play. We envision a future where safety is embedded in every organisation’s culture, every construction project, and every government policy,” he said.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, in his message called for stronger legislation and cooperation among stakeholders to build a safer work environment for all Nigerians.
He also emphasised that while innovation is necessary, it must not come at the cost of workers’ welfare.
He said: “The theme of today’s conference, The Legislative Perspective: Building a Safer Future for All Nigerians, highlights the critical role of legislation in helping to shape a resilient and future-ready occupational safety and health framework.
“Legislation is central to navigating the digital frontier responsibly; ensuring that innovation does not erode the foundational rights, dignity, and welfare of the Nigerian worker.
“The safety of our workers must be anchored on secure technologies, sound data protection, and inclusive policy frameworks that uphold international labour standards”.
Dr. Dingyadi also stressed the importance of collaboration through the tripartite model involving government, employers, and workers’ organizations, to ensure policies are both enforceable and inclusive.
He further acknowledged delays in reviewing labour laws but said progress had been made, and called for unity across all sectors to build a lasting culture of safety.
“Year 2024 marked significant progress with the publication of Nigeria’s revised OSH Country Profile and the Federal Executive Council’s approval of landmark OSH regulations such as the Construction Safety Regulations 2024”, he added.
The Minister also spoke about the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Bill, which he said was developed through wide consultations.
“The Ministry has led the development of the Occupational Safety and Health Bill, which has been crafted through our distinctive Tripartite Plus framework. We count on the continued partnership of all stakeholders to make this a reality.
“Together, let us rise to the challenge of building a resilient safety culture, underpinned by innovation, inclusivity, and a shared commitment to protecting the lives of all Nigerian workers”, Dingyadi stated.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Monday received 203 stranded Nigerians repatriated from Libya at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The returnees—comprising 50 men, 96 women, 29 children, and 28 infants—arrived via an Al Buraq chartered flight. Assisted by the International Organisation for Migration and other agencies, the group included two medical cases taken to hospital, while others were relocated to Igando IDP resettlement centre for reintegration.
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