In a historic attempt to decolonise the country’s judiciary, President Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso has formally banned judges from wearing wigs from the British and French colonial eras.

President Traoré emphasised in his announcement the importance of eschewing colonial-era traditions and implementing customs that respect Burkina Faso’s cultural identity.

The action is in line with his larger plan to fortify national identity and declare the nation’s autonomy from outside influences. The colonial wigs, which have traditionally stood for outside authority in African legal systems, are gradually being abandoned.

Covenant University (CU) has again been listed as Nigeria’s overall best university in Times Higher Education (THE) 2025 Rankings.

In the 2025 rankings, the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria came second, displacing the University of Ibadan which occupied the position for the 2024 ccrankings.

The Times Higher Education World Rankings is a comprehensive global ranking of universities published annually.

The 2025 rankings THE said it ranked more than 2,000 institutions from 115 countries and territories.

Globally, Oxford holds on to the top spot for the ninth consecutive year, bolstered by significant improvements in industry engagement and teaching. MIT rises to second place, overtaking Stanford, which drops to sixth.

The ratings were done based on 18 carefully calibrated performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across five areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.

University of Oxford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Harvard University
Princeton University
University of Cambridge
Stanford University
California Institute of Technology
University of California, Berkeley
Imperial College London
Yale University

Top ranked Nigerian universities

1. Covenant University
2. Ahmadu Bello University
3. Landmark University
4. University of Ibadan
5. University of Lagos
6. Bayero University
7. Federal University of Technology Akure
8. Federal University of Technology, Minna
9. University of Benin
10. University of Ilorin

11. University of Nigeria Nsukka
12. Ekiti State University
13. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
14. Federal University of Technology, Owerri
15. Federal University Oye-Ekiti
16. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
17. Lagos State University
18. Nnamdi Azikiwe University
19. Obafemi Awolowo University
20. University of Port Harcourt

21. Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto
22. Abia State University
23. Akwa Ibom State University
24. Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike
25. Ambrose Alli University
26. Baze University
27. Bells University of Technology
28. Benson Idahosa University
29. Bowen University
30. Delta State University, Abraka

31. Evangel University, Akaeze
32. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun
33. Godfrey Okoye University
34. Lagos State University of Education
35. Lagos State University of Science and Technology
36. Nasarawa State University, Keffi
37. Niger Delta University
38. Nile University of Nigeria
39. Osun State University
40. Rivers State University

41. Thomas Adewumi University
42. University of Cross River State
43. University of Maiduguri
44. Veritas University, Abuja

By Francesca Hangeior

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit by the Incorporated Trustees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, challenging the powers of the National Assembly to amend its budget in the 2024 Appropriation Act.

Justice Omotosho ruled, among others, that SERAP lacked the locus standi to institute the suit.

The judge upheld the argument of Dr. Sheriff Adesanya, who represented the 1st Respondent (the Senate President), that the interest of SERAP and that of the 20 concerned citizens it represented, was no greater than that of the general public.

Furthermore, Justice Omotosho agreed with Dr. Adesanya (of Abiodun Adesanya & Co) that the plaintiff’s claims were without merit.

He dismissed the case in its entirety.

SERAP, through Andrew Nwankwo of Eko Akete Chambers, had contended that the National Assembly’s unilateral increase of its budget allocation from ?197 billion to ?344 billion contravened Section 81 of the Constitution, the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, and democratic principles, particularly the separation of powers.

The organization sought a declaration that the budgetary increase was unconstitutional and requested orders compelling the National Assembly to adhere to constitutional procedures by re-presenting any amended appropriation bills to the President for approval before enactment.
Apart from arguing that the Plaintiffs had no standing to initiate the suit, Dr. Adesanya also defended the procedural validity of the National Assembly’s budgetary actions, Saying SERAP failed to show that the lawmakers’ action was procedurally irregular.

The lawyer had told the court that “It is respectfully submitted that the presumption of regularity enjoyed by the National Assembly’s Act must be rebutted by the Plaintiffs.

“Apart from speculative claims by the Plaintiffs that the altered appropriation bill was not forwarded to the President after amendment by the National Assembly, there is no evidence (assuming such alteration necessitated representation to the President) to support this assertion.”