…Judge rejects whistleblower claim, awards N250,000 costs against former official

From Adeko Ukpa

The National Industrial Court in Abuja has upheld the dismissal of a former Deputy Director in the Finance Department of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Mr. Yisa Usman, ruling that his conduct amounted to gross misconduct and willful disobedience of constituted authority.

Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, in a judgment delivered on June 2, 2026, dismissed Usman’s suit challenging his July 2023 dismissal and held that his actions had eroded the confidence reposed in him by his employer.

Usman had approached the court seeking an order nullifying his dismissal, arguing, among other claims, that he was denied fair hearing and that the Minister of Education lacked the authority to approve his removal in the absence of a governing board for JAMB.

However, the court found no merit in his claims.

In the Certified True Copy of the judgment in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/266/2023, Justice Obaseki-Osaghae held that the claimant deliberately disobeyed constituted authority and failed to avail himself of opportunities provided by JAMB to defend himself before disciplinary authorities.

“From the totality of the evidence adduced, I find that the conduct of the claimant is grave and weighty. He willfully disobeyed constituted authority. This eroded and undermined the confidence reposed in him by the defendant to carry out his duties,” the judge ruled.

The court also dismissed Usman’s contention that he was denied fair hearing before his dismissal.

Justice Obaseki-Osaghae held that the former deputy director was issued queries over allegations of misconduct, responded to them in writing and was subsequently invited to appear before the Board’s Directorate Staff Disciplinary Committee.

According to the court, he declined to honour the invitation despite being given adequate notice.

Relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in Imonikhe v. Unity Bank Plc, the judge held that the requirements of fair hearing had been met.

“The claimant was issued with queries on misconduct, and by his own evidence he gave detailed responses in writing to the queries.

“The defendant was not satisfied with his response and invited him to appear before the committee. The claimant was given four days to appear before the committee. By his own choice, he refused to appear before the disciplinary committee.

“Fair hearing is simply ‘hear the other side’. I find that the claimant was given a fair hearing in the issuance of queries, in the consideration of his responses, and in the invitation to appear before the disciplinary committee,” the court held.

On the issue of the Minister of Education’s authority to approve the dismissal, Justice Obaseki-Osaghae ruled that the minister acted within the powers conferred by the JAMB Act.

The judge noted that Usman had previously benefited from a ministerial approval when he was promoted to the rank of Deputy Director in 2017 and could not now challenge the same authority.

“In the absence of a governing board, the management seeks directives and approvals from the ministry. Evidence of this can be seen in the approval by the Honourable Minister of the claimant’s promotion to the position of Deputy Director with effect from January 1, 2017.

“He did not complain that the minister had no powers to approve his promotion then; how can the claimant now challenge the approval given by the minister for his dismissal?

“The power of the minister to approve the dismissal of the claimant from the service of the defendant is statutory and contained in Section 6 of the JAMB Act. The authority of the minister to approve the claimant’s dismissal in the absence of the governing board is valid and within his supervisory powers to direct the defendant board,” she ruled.

The court further rejected Usman’s claim that he was victimised for whistleblowing activities and petitions he had written against the JAMB Registrar and the Board.

Justice Obaseki-Osaghae held that the reasons cited in the dismissal letter were strictly related to allegations of serious misconduct and his refusal to appear before the disciplinary committee.

“The reasons stated by the defendant for the claimant’s dismissal are his responses to allegations of serious misconduct and his refusal to appear before the Board’s Directorate Staff Disciplinary Committee.

“The claimant’s decision not to appear at the disciplinary hearing was his own choice. The reasons stated in the dismissal letter are unrelated to his whistleblowing activities,” the judge said.

The court observed that the numerous petitions and complaints submitted by Usman to the Federal Ministry of Education, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), other anti-corruption agencies and human rights organisations were investigated and found to be unfounded.

According to the judgment, Usman himself admitted that the JAMB Registrar was cleared of all allegations.

“By the claimant’s own admission in paragraph 23 of his additional deposition, the Registrar was exonerated from all the allegations and given a clean bill of health, and by extension the Board,” the judge noted.

The court also observed that after his dismissal, Usman was charged to court by the police in January 2024.

Having resolved all issues in favour of JAMB, the court dismissed the suit and awarded costs of N250,000 against Usman in favour of the examination body.

…50 editors, journalists to inspect projects across five states

..:Tour begins in Ebonyi, ends in Imo

…Organisers say initiative will deepen factual reporting on government programmes

By Adeko Ukpa

The Renewed Hope Ambassadors, in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team, will this weekend commence a five-day media tour of major Federal Government projects in the South-East as part of efforts to showcase the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The South-East edition of the Renewed Hope National Media Tour is scheduled to begin in Ebonyi State on Saturday, June 13, and conclude in Imo State on June 17, 2026.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Tunde Rahman, the exercise will bring together more than 50 editors and journalists from media organisations across the country for an extensive inspection of key infrastructure and development projects being executed by the Federal Government in the region.

Rahman said the tour is designed to provide media practitioners with firsthand knowledge of ongoing projects, completed interventions and developmental initiatives being undertaken by the Tinubu administration.

He explained that the media engagement would feature project inspections, interactions with stakeholders, media briefings and strategic discussions on national development issues.

The statement noted that all five states in the South-East geopolitical zone—Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, Abia and Imo—would be covered during the exercise.

“The five-day media engagement will bring together over 50 editors and journalists from across Nigeria for an extensive tour designed to showcase the achievements, ongoing projects and developmental strides of the administration of President Bola Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the statement said.

Rahman described the initiative as a unique platform for promoting factual and evidence-based reporting on government programmes and strengthening relations between the media and public institutions.

According to him, the tour will also provide Nigerians with direct information on the impact of policies and projects being implemented across various parts of the country.

“The Renewed Hope National Media Tour remains a unique platform for promoting factual reporting, strengthening government-media relations and providing Nigerians with firsthand information on the impact of policies and programmes being implemented across the country,” he said.

The South-East tour follows a similar exercise conducted earlier in the North-West geopolitical zone, where over 70 editors and government officials undertook inspections of major Federal Government projects.

Among the projects inspected during the North-West tour were the Kaduna-Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project, the Kebbi corridor of the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway, the Kaduna Western Bypass, irrigation schemes in Jigawa State and ecological intervention projects in the Wujuwuju-Jakara area of Kano State.

Organisers expressed optimism that the South-East edition would further enhance public understanding of government programmes and provide independent assessments of ongoing infrastructure and development initiatives across the region.

By Adeko. Uukpa

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has cautioned judicial officers across the country against delivering judgments that could undermine Nigeria’s democratic process, warning that the international community is closely monitoring developments in the nation’s courts.

Frank, who spoke amid ongoing legal disputes involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its erstwhile deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, expressed concern over what he described as attempts to deploy the judiciary against opposition political parties ahead of future elections.

He called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the National Judicial Council (NJC), judges of the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court to uphold the independence of the judiciary and resist pressure from politicians.

According to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, judicial decisions in politically sensitive cases must be guided strictly by the law and not partisan considerations.

“The Chief Judge and all judges of the Federal High Court, as well as judges across the country, should be cautious in the way they handle political and other sensitive cases at this time. They should be careful because the international community is watching and paying attention,” Frank said.

The political activist specifically referenced legal battles involving ADC and ex-deputy national vice chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, alleging that efforts were being made to secure court orders capable of weakening the Senator David Mark led opposition ADC and restricting its participation in the democratic process.

He claimed that he is aware of subterranean moves by the presidency to blackmail and intimidate the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court with corruption allegations in order to ensure that the ongoing ADC suit is assigned to a pliant judge who will rule to stop the Presidential Candidate of the ADC, Atiku Abubakar and the party’s candidates for the position of Senate, House of Representatives, Governor and House of Assembly members in the forthcoming general elections.

He however warned that any such move would be resisted by well-meaning Nigerians towards sustaining and preserving democracy in the country.

He urged judges handling such matters to ensure justice is dispensed without fear or favour, warning that any judgment perceived as politically motivated could damage public confidence in the judiciary.

Frank who is a Senior Advisor, Global Friendship City Association (GFCA), USA, claimed that developments within Nigeria’s justice system were attracting growing international scrutiny.

“If they are not aware, I am reminding them that the international community is monitoring what is happening in Nigeria, including what many perceive as fraudulent judgments. There will be consequences and actions against those involved,” he stated.

He further alleged that judicial officers who aid attempts to derail democracy through questionable rulings could face sanctions from foreign governments and international institutions.

“From now on, if they do not know, I am telling them that there will be consequences from the international community, particularly from the American government, for judges who give judgments aimed at truncating democracy,” he said.

Frank also warned that such repercussions could extend beyond individual judicial officers.

“The consequences will affect not only them but also their families. There could be certain actions taken against them and their families. They should therefore be very careful,” he added.

Extending his appeal to all levels of the judiciary, Frank stressed that appellate courts were equally expected to protect democratic values and preserve the integrity of the electoral process.

“This warning is not only for the Federal High Court. It also applies to the entire judiciary, including judges of the Court of Appeal and Justices of the Supreme Court,” he said.

Describing the current political climate as critical, Frank urged judges not to allow themselves to be used as instruments for settling political disputes or excluding legitimate political actors from contesting elections.

“Everyone must understand that this election is very sensitive and very critical. If judges allow themselves to be used by the government or by politicians to undermine the process, there will be consequences,” he warned.

He maintained that democracy could only thrive where all qualified political parties and candidates are allowed to participate freely, insisting that the judiciary has a pivotal role in safeguarding the nation’s democratic institutions.