
The Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, has ruled that only the national leadership of the Labour Party under Senator Nenadi Usman can authorize litigation in the party's name. This decision, stemming from a pre-election dispute, reaffirmed the legal authority of the Usman-led leadership to initiate or maintain court proceedings. According to Ken Asogwa, LP National Publicity Secretary, the court accepted the authority issued through the Office of the National Legal Adviser as valid, leading to the dismissal of an appeal filed without proper authorization and awarding N100,000 costs against the counsel who acted on the authority of Mr. Ceekay Igara. The party emphasized that this reinforces the principle that only the duly recognized national leadership, through its authorized officers, can engage counsel and conduct legal proceedings for the Labour Party. In response, Obiora Ifoh, spokesman for the Julius Abure faction, stated their dissatisfaction with the verdict and announced their intention to appeal to the Supreme Court, expressing optimism that the apex court would rule in their favor, maintaining that party leadership is an internal affair and that the Abure leadership's tenure, established at the Nnewi convention, is valid until 2028.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadThe Federal Government has announced plans to evacuate 270 Nigerian nationals from South Africa due to renewed xenophobic attacks and deteriorating security conditions. This will be the fourth special flight operated by Air Peace, departing Lagos for Johannesburg on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, and returning to Nigeria with the evacuees. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the aircraft is expected to depart Lagos at 3:30 p.m. and arrive back at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, around 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, expressed concern over the safety of Nigerians, especially following the deaths of Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu. She urged South African authorities to investigate these incidents and prosecute those responsible. The minister also called on Nigerians in South Africa to utilize the ongoing evacuation program, noting that President Bola Tinubu approved an extension beyond the June 30 deadline. Another evacuation flight is scheduled for July 7, with the final one expected on July 10. She advised citizens to prioritize their safety, emphasizing that lives cannot be replaced, unlike material losses.

Nigeria's telecom regulators and industry executives are calling on state governments to lower the cost of fibre deployment, citing rising infrastructure damage, inconsistent policy enforcement, and high rollout expenses as threats to broadband expansion. At a recent Lagos forum organized by the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria ATCON, stakeholders emphasized that the success of nationwide fibre-to-the-home expansion relies on cost reforms, stronger infrastructure protection, and improved coordination between federal and state authorities. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission NCC, stated that fibre infrastructure is fundamental to Nigeria鈥檚 digital economy and should be prioritized as a national development goal. He highlighted that the industry recorded over 27,685 fibre cuts, 27,000 cases of access denial, and 4,210 theft incidents between January and December 2025. The high cost of right-of-way approvals from some state governments was a recurring concern, with operators noting that excessive charges, approval delays, and multiple permitting requirements hinder investment and broadband progress. While 13 states have waived right-of-way charges and 16 others adopted the National Economic Council鈥檚 recommended rate of N145 per linear metre, operators also pointed to weak coordination and inadequate infrastructure planning as constraints. Tony Emoekpere, President of ATCON, stressed that fibre networks must withstand vandal
Must ReadThe Nigerian Postal Service is implementing a National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System to assign unique, machine-readable digital postcodes to every addressable location in Nigeria. This initiative aims to move beyond traditional landmark-based directions, which have posed challenges for deliveries, emergency services, and businesses. The project is seen as a critical layer of Nigeria's digital public infrastructure, essential for improving digital identity, payments, logistics, emergency response, and public services. The rollout will culminate in a national launch in October, providing an 11-character alphanumeric code for each location. Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer of NIPOST, Tola Odeyemi, stated that this system will serve as the foundation for more efficient governance and greater economic inclusion, impacting healthcare, social protection, planning, and emergency response. Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, emphasized its importance for solving crimes, containing threats, and saving lives. While Ghana's similar system faced adoption challenges, the success of Nigeria's initiative will depend on its integration and routine use by citizens, businesses, and government agencies, transforming NIPOST into a key player in the country's digital economy.