Posts in category: Edo State News

The Edo State Government, through its Ministry of Justice, has issued a stern warning to Mr. Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor over a social media publication described as malicious and defamatory against the Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, and Commissioners in the state executive council.

In an official letter signed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Rt. Hon. Dr. Samson R. Osagie, dated June 8, 2025, the state government condemned the viral post circulated on June 6, 2025, alleging irregularities and incompetence within the administration.

The government described the publication as baseless, malicious, and intended to bring the Governor and his cabinet into disrepute.

The controversial post reportedly claimed that the state government had only held three Executive Council meetings in eight months and accused the Governor of residing mostly in Abuja while manipulating contract awards from the capital.

The author also alleged that state funds were being saved to pay for a Supreme Court judgment, referencing past contracts initiated by the previous administration.

Dr. Osagie dismissed the claims as “completely false,” emphasizing that Governor Okpebholo’s administration, which is not yet eight months old, has convened several Executive Council meetings, resulting in key developmental decisions, including ongoing flyover projects in Benin City.

The government further accused Mr. Ifaluyi-Isibor of criminal defamation and warned that it would take both civil and criminal legal action if a public retraction and apology were not made within 24 hours.

The demanded apology must be published across all social media platforms and in at least one national newspaper.

“This publication amounts to criminal defamation,” the Attorney General stated. “We intend to proceed against you through the security agencies for you to prove the criminal allegations you have made.”

The government’s response signals a strong stance against misinformation and perceived attempts to undermine its credibility, particularly as political attention intensifies ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Edo State Government, through the Ministry of Justice, remains steadfast in its commitment to Governor Monday Okpebholo’s agenda of ensuring a crime-free state. This commitment was demonstrated today, Thursday, June 5, 2024, with the delivery of judgments by the Court of Appeal, Benin Division, in two significant cases.

In Appeal No. CA/B/80C/2024, State v. Ibadin Terry, the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the lower court, convicting the appellant for armed robbery and dismissing the appeal. The brief was meticulously argued by Dr. Samson R. Osagie (HAG), O. Otokunrin Esq., Assistant Director and E. Ederaro Esq. Assistant Chief State Counsel in the Edo State Ministry of Justice

Similarly, in Appeal No. CA/B/13C/2023, Taofeek Abdullahi v. The State, the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the lower court, convicting the appellant for kidnapping. The brief was comprehensively argued by the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice assisted by two State Counsel to wit : O. Otokunrin Esq., E. Ederaro Esq., and D.O. Edomwonyi Esq.

In a statement, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Samson Osagie, reaffirmed the Edo State Government’s commitment, through the Ministry of Justice, to continue to working tirelessly towards ensuring a safe and secure environment for its citizens.

The Honourable Attorney General affirmed that State counsel prosecuting criminal cases involving kidnapping, armed robbery, arson, murder etc have been mandated to continue to diligently prosecute all matters assigned to them while commenting them for their steadfast and dedication to duty, pledging the commitment of Governor Monday Okpebholo administration to stamping out criminality from Edo State.

Clementina Agweda
Public Relations Officer
Office of the Attorney General

Dr Samson Osagie, Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Edo State has congratulated the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress on the victory at the Court of Appeal.

While hailing the judgment of the Court of Appeal, the learned Attorney General commended the Court of Appeal for painstakingly analyzing the submissions of the parties in the appeals against the judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal of 2nd April, 2025 and given a judgment that further dispensed Justice to the matter in favour of the Governor of Edo State and the All Progressives Congress.

Dr Osagie encouraged the Governor to continue in his development agenda for Edo State and not to be distracted.,describing the judgement as a trumph for democracy as the court’s decision underscores the strength of Nigeria’s democratic Institutions and reaffirms the will of the people

He has called on all well meaning Edo people to support the Governor in his patriotic determination to make a reality a new Edo State that is rising.

Clementina Agweda
Public Relations Officer,
Office of the Attorney General and Commisioner for Justice,Edo State

The Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Edo State, Dr. Samson Osagie, has congratulated Engr. Sylvester Agbogbon on his appointment as the Acting State Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement, the HAG cited his hard work, loyalty, and consistency as the attributes that have propelled him to this enviable position and urged him to utilize his new office to assist in repositioning the State’s APC for greater successes in future elections.

Dr. Osagie further expressed optimism that Engr. Agbogbon’s leadership would bring about remarkable success for the party in Edo State.

He extended his best wishes and prayed that God grants him wisdom, strength, and good health as he embarks on this new responsibility.

Clementina Agweda
Public Relations Officer,Office of the Attorney General and Commisioner for Justice,Edo State.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Edo State, Dr. Samson Osagie, extends warm greetings to all children in Edo State and across Nigeria on this joyous occasion of Children’s Day Celebration. Celebrating with the children, the Honourable Attorney General acknowledges the innocence, curiosity, and boundless potential that defines the spirit of childhood.

He emphasizes the importance of recognizing the need to nurture and protect the rights of every child, noting that it is the collective responsibility of everyone to ensure children grow up in a safe, supportive, and enabling environment that allows them to thrive.

While commending the strength, creativity, and enthusiasm of children, Dr. Osagie stated that these qualities inspire us all to be better individuals and build a brighter future. He urged governments at all levels to continue prioritizing the welfare, education, and development of children.

Dr. Osagie concluded by wishing every Nigerian child a happy Children’s Day, filled with laughter, love, and cherished moments.

Clementina Agweda
Public Relations Officer,Office of the Attorney General and Commisioner for Justice,Edo State.

TACKLING THE CURRENT ISSUES ON – INSECURITY, ECONOMY AND CO-EXISTENCE, BEING A PAPER DELIVERED AT THE LAUNCHING OF BRAVINS MAGAZINE AT PRESTIGE HOTELS, BENIN CITY ON 24TH APRIL, 2021.

PROTOCOLS.

Let me congratulate Engr. Pedro Omo Aghahowa, a UNESCO Cultural Ambassador for blazing the trail in his numerous initiatives at promoting the Edo culture and show casing our rich heritage as a people with so much homogeneity.

The choice of today’s topic: Tackling the current issues on insecurity , economy and our co-existence is apt and captures the prevailing socio-economic and political realities of our present Nigeria.
For those that witness the years immediately after Independence and before the Civil War, today’s Nigeria was never contemplated.
After several years of military interruption of civil rule, in 1999, Nigerians entered into social contracts with the new democratically elected leaders with so much expectations
However, politics and other mundane considerations like ethnicity and religion have been militating factors our national development thus resulting in pervasive insecurity and economic under development.
As a result there has been a yawning gap between expectations and realities. This unholy culture overtime has greatly ebbed the initial confidence the people have for their Government. It is sardonic that our Nation has suffered stunted growth over the past years despite the huge Financial accretions from our rich Natural Resources. This is the paradox of our reality as a nation of people suffering in the midst of plenty.
Unfortunately, this has given birth to large-scale insecurity and intolerance amongst the people.
Lately, Nigeria has been enmeshed in a firebox of insecurity with very many avoidable deaths . This insecurity challenge has further plunged the entire Nation into constant regrets and sorrows. Successive Governments have tried everything from Military force to ‘Carrot-and-stick’ approach to Diplomacy but the problem seems to rise with greater monstrosity defiling all the present medication it is getting.
This may not be unconnected with the increasing Ethnic hate, Religious bigotry, Political rivalry and a growing population of disgruntled citizens who feel they have been shortchanged and given very limited or no access to the common patrimony.
Not only has the continued state of insecurity threatened the very fabric of national integration in the country and created the ecology of fear, disquiet and anxiety, it has also meted a deadly blow to Industrial Development.
Over time many recommendations and probable solutions have been suggested by scholars and experts in addressing this national blight.
In this paper, focus is on tackling the challenges of insecurity, poor Economy and lack of Peaceful Coexistence. But first we must identify the nature of insecurity in Nigeria and how it affects the Economy and Coexistence of the people.

INSECURITY IN NIGERIA
Insecurity as it affects a Nation as Nigeria is the presence of internal and external threats detrimental to her sovereignty. Conversely, Insecurity is the antithesis of security. Drawing copiously from the nature of insecurity in Nigeria, the etiologies of Insecurity within Nigeria is twofold : REMOTE and PROXIMATE.
The REMOTE FACTORS include –
*Absence of Institutional Capacity.
*High-level Inequality and disregard for *Fairness and Justice.
*Ethno-Religious Conflicts.
*Sharp disconnect between the People and the Government.
*Poor funded and weak Military.
*Rivalry amongst Security Agencies.
*Selective justice for criminals and perpetrators of violence.
*Weak Legal framework.
*Loss of Socio-cultural and communal value system.

PROXIMATE FACTORS include –
*Porous Borders
*Rural-urban drift
*Rocial irresponsibility by Companies to their host communities which often spark up Social unrest.
*High unemployment and poverty level
*Armed Banditry and Terrorism etc.
Notable amongst the insecurities in present day Nigeria are :
Terrorism by Boko Haram and ISWAP.
Armed Banditry in Northern Nigeria
Herdsmen attack and cattle rustling
Kidnapping and abduction
Perennial Electoral Violence.
Armed Robbery.

PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
*Adequate funding for Security Agencies and proper utilization of the funds in *High-tech training of personnel and acquisition of state of the art weapons and gadgets. More importantly, security agencies should have a cordial interrelation amongst themselves in terms of intelligence gathering and sharing.
The revival and moral values indoctrination at homes, schools, places of worship and at work places not just by parents and teachers alone but by Socio-cultural/religious organizations and every stakeholder in the Nigeria Project.
Good governance and accountability.
Upgrading and building strong legal frameworks.
Sensitization campaigns on Peaceful Coexistence.
The impact of insecurity on our economy is better imagined than described. Prices of essential goods have skyrocketed. Our productive capacity have dwindled with the result that unemployment have become the norm.
Tue value of our currency have plummeted with its potential of drowning further. The economy is shambles on accounts of insecurity. Foreign direct investment into Nigeria have suffered huge setbacks. Businesses are closing down while economic activities are badly affected.

All these put together have led to distrust and mutual suspicion with the result that people are agitating for succession. We have unreservedly displaying hatred towards one another thus affecting negatively national unity and cohesion.

We must as a matter of urgency embrace a total overhaul of our governance and Justice administration machinery with a view to restoring confidence in ourselves.
Now is the time to act, else we become another Sudan and Syria. God forbid.

Thank you very much.

Hon Samson Osagie
Legal Practitioner and Notary Public.
Former Minority Whip House of Representatives.