Abia State Governor Alex Otti has reacted to the ongoing strike action by members of the Abia State chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, saying that the union’s leaders have refused to credit the workers with over three hundred million naira released by his administration.

Otti, who spoke at Queen Elizabeth Chapel in Umuahia on Sunday during the 2025 Armed Forces Celebration service, said his attention was drawn to newspaper reports where the NBA had advised him to pay judiciary workers.

Otti, who said that his administration is not owing workers, explained that leaders of JUSUN refused to participate in a minimum wage negotiation organised by his administration but opted to prepare their own calculations in their office, which he said was discovered to be filled with errors.

According to him: “On the 24th of December, we remitted N283,242,318.50 to the judiciary.

“Interestingly, as of this morning, they have refused to pay their workers. Now, the judiciary is an arm of government that is independent. Our job is to remit the money to their account, and their job is to pay their workers.”

Otti said that he approved an additional N27 million for the judiciary workers and paid their thirteenth-month salary, wondering why they remained on strike.

The governor advised judiciary workers to hold their union leaders responsible and also advised the Nigerian Bar Association to properly understand the situation.

He used the church service to reassure the retired and serving men of the Nigerian Armed Forces that his administration would continue to support them.

In his remarks, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Legion, Commodore Ekekwe Duroha (retd), said surviving ex-servicemen and widows of retired officers should be assisted in this hard economic situation.

Billionaire businessman Prince Arthur Eze has urged President Bola Tinubu to forgive the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
Eze said that, unlike former President Muhammadu Buhari, who detained Kanu, Tinubu has a spirit of forgiveness and harbours no enemies.

Speaking with journalists in Enugu, the notable industrialist also stated that Tinubu means well for the Igbo nation, as evidenced by his recent actions regarding the Southeast.

Eze said these measures were an indication that Tinubu loves the Southeast.

According to Eze: “We need to thank the President for his concerns towards addressing the infrastructure gaps in the Southeast region.

“We have to thank Tinubu for establishing the Southeast Development Commission, SEDC.

“Remember, we have clamoured for this commission since the end of the Nigeria-Biafra war without success.

“It is only Tinubu who has demonstrated his love for us by establishing this commission. That commission will solve our problem.

“Nnamdi Kanu was detained by Buhari, not Tinubu. Buhari is a hardliner. But we shall beg Tinubu to forgive him. He has the spirit of forgiveness. He has no enemy.”

Kanu has been detained since he was rearrested in Kenya and subjected to extraordinary rendition back to Nigeria.

Since returning to Nigeria, courts have dismissed all the charges against the IPOB leader, but the Nigerian government has refused to release him.

However, several relevant stakeholders in the Southeast have been clamouring for Tinubu to release Kanu.

Last year, the Southeast governors expressed willingness to meet with Tinubu in a bid to push for Kanu’s release.

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has vowed to upturn the results of the September 21, 2024 governorship election which was won by the All progressives Congress, APC, and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo.

The party made this vow as the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal resumed sitting on Monday.

This was contained in the communiqué released at the end of a meeting of the leadership of the party including its governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo.

According to the communiqué signed by the Secretary, Edo State PDP Caretaker Committee, Henry Tenebe on Sunday, the meeting was convened at the instance of the Chairman, State Caretaker Committee, Tony Aziegbemi.

The party reiterated its resolve to reclaim the mandate, which it said was duly given to it by the people of Edo State in the last governorship election.

It urged all party faithful and the people of the state to keep supporting and praying for its progress and that of the gubernatorial candidate on the journey.

The state PDP said it acknowledged and appreciated the commitment, loyalty, and steadfastness of party members and faithful supporters across Edo State, urging them never to relent in their support and prayers for the party and its leadership.

It expressed grave concern over the current state of Edo under the APC-led administration, saying that the state has suffered significant setbacks in the last few months.

“The PDP reaffirmed its unshakable commitment to the rule of law and upholding constitutional democracy in the State. The party strongly believes that law, order and security are essential for the peace, progress and development of Edo State and Nigeria as a whole.

“The party chairmen unanimously passed a vote of implicit confidence in the State Caretaker Committee led by Tony Aziegbemi, and the party’s candidate in the last governorship election, Asue Ighodalo. They commended both leaders for their outstanding leadership and exemplary efforts in piloting the affairs of the party in the state, which have fostered unity and progress in the Edo State chapter of the PDP,” the communique read in part.