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Enugu Govt partners FG to relocate Correctional Centre

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Government of Enugu State has commended the Federal Government for approving the relocation of the Enugu Correctional Centre located at the GRA, saying it is ready to partner with the central government to actualise it soonest.

The assurances were given by the governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, when he received members of the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions in his office at the Government House, Enugu, on Wednesday.

He told the team led by the Committee Chairman, Hon. Chinedu Ogah that the state government had always advocated for the relocation of the facility, which was built in 1915, from the city centre to a more suitable location.

“It is highly commendable that the Federal Government has sanctioned the relocation of Enugu Correctional Center. This is something we have been advocating for. So, I think you have a real partner in the state government, as we have a coincidence of objective. So, we are going to anxiously be waiting to hear from you on how you want us to engage.

“We already have a survey, which we have done and we are more than happy to share the survey of the new location with you and we will take you to that location to see for yourselves,” Mbah stated.

Mbah called for the automation of the justice dispensing system to reduce the congestion of the correctional centres, highlighting the efforts of his administration to automate the justice system.

“On our part, we are not going to relent in the intervention we have made in the entire justice reform system.

“We have now fully automated our court processes and the idea is to ensure that there is speedy dispensation of justice because we also realised that a lot of the inmates we have in the correctional centres are those who are awaiting trial.

“If we can ensure speedy dispensation of justice, then we would also have to adjust these congested correctional centres significantly.

“That is essentially what we are doing with this automation of not just court processes, but also even the court proceedings.

“That is why I said full automation because even the longhand is no longer required in our courts because we now have verbatim reporters. This is a process we had started a year ago.

“We are happy it is now coming to a conclusion stage,” Mbah concluded.

In his remarks, Hon. Ogah commended Governor Mbah on improved security of lives and property in the state, stressing that “people can now drive through Enugu State at any time of the day without any fear.”

He added that the state government’s investment in security technology and effort of the correctional officers and security had ensured there was no jailbreak in Enugu State, and lauded the development strides of the governor, which he said were providing jobs, boosting economic development, and diminishing crimes.

The Committee welcomed the governor’s proactive approach to relocating the correctional centre through the provision of the proposed new site and also sought the support of the government in the area of vehicles for the conveyance of inmates to and fro trial sessions.

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BREAKING: Professor Mahmood Yakubu Hands Over to May Agbamuche-Mbu as INEC Acting Chairman’s

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In a significant leadership transition, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has formally handed over the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will serve as the Acting National Chairman. The handover ceremony took place at the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

Professor Yakubu, who has been at the helm of INEC since 2015, expressed gratitude to Nigerians, INEC staff, and development partners for their support during his tenure.

He noted that the Commission had recorded significant progress in electoral transparency, technology adoption, and institutional reforms. Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu, in her acceptance speech, pledged to continue building on the foundation laid by Professor Yakubu, ensuring transparency, impartiality, and commitment to credible elections.

The transition comes as INEC prepares for several off-cycle governorship elections and the 2027 general elections. Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu’s experience and institutional knowledge are expected to ensure a seamless process. President Bola Tinubu is expected to nominate a substantive INEC Chairman in the coming weeks, subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure as INEC Chairman has been marked by significant electoral reforms, including the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. He has overseen two general elections in 2019 and 2023, introducing innovations amid criticisms of technical glitches and electoral integrity issues.

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Kenneth Okonkwo Elected to ADC National Working Committee

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Veteran Nollywood actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has been elected into the National Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as National Ex-Officio by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC). This appointment is seen as a testament to his dedication and leadership skills.

Date: October 7, 2025
Position: National Ex-Officio, National Working Committee of ADC
Electing Body: National Executive Committee (NEC) of ADC

Kenneth Okonkwo is a renowned Nollywood actor, lawyer, and public affairs analyst.

He recently resigned from the Labour Party, citing internal crises and lack of effective leadership. Okonkwo was a key figure in the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign and has been an outspoken advocate for good governance and transparency in Nigeria.

Okonkwo’s appointment to the ADC National Working Committee is expected to strengthen the party’s national appeal and contribute to its mission of promoting good governance and people-oriented leadership.

The ADC has been positioning itself as a viable alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and Okonkwo’s is seen as a significant boost to the party’s leadership.

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BREAKING: Tinubu Set To Announce Prof Amupitan, Dino Melaye’s Kinsman And Lawyer For 10 Years, As Next INEC Chairman

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Ekwutosblog learned that to formalise the appointment, the President has scheduled a meeting of the Council of State for this Thursday.

Barring any last-minute changes, President Bola Tinubu is expected to nominate Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following his 10-year tenure across two terms.

Ekwutosblog learned that to formalize the appointment, the President has scheduled a meeting of the Council of State for this Thursday. Amupitan is both a kinsman and longtime legal counsel for Senator Dino Melaye.

On September 26, 2025, Ekwutosblog exclusively reported that Amupitan had emerged as the likely candidate to succeed Yakubu as the INEC National Chairman.

Previously, Ekwutosblog exclusively reported that President Tinubu had directed Yakubu to proceed on leave ahead of the expiration of his tenure.

Sources described the move as a response to what they termed Yakubu’s “last-minute betrayal” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government that appointed him.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma reportedly met with President Tinubu shortly after the president returned from a 12-day working vacation, alleging that Yakubu’s efforts to register new political parties toward the end of his tenure had disrupted Tinubu’s preparations for a second term.

Sources told SaharaReporters that the governor also claimed that Yakubu was covertly supporting a candidate in the Imo State governorship election.

Following this briefing, Tinubu reportedly requested that Yakubu suspend all official duties and proceed on terminal leave.

Yakubu was first appointed INEC Chairman on October 21, 2015, by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, succeeding acting chairperson Amina Zakari. Following Senate confirmation on October 29, 2015, he was sworn in on November 9, 2015.

After completing his first term in November 2020, Yakubu was nominated for a second and final term by President Buhari, confirmed by the Senate, and sworn in on December 1, 2020.

“Tinubu is shopping for Prof. Yakubu’s replacement, and Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan is likely to be the next INEC Chairman,” a top government source told SaharaReporters in September.

 

Amupitan’s Profile

Amupitan is a legal scholar and administrator with over 34 years of academic and professional experience. A native of Ijumu Local Government Area in Kogi State, he is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Yemisi Amupitan, and together they are blessed with four children.

Amupitan began his academic journey at the University of Jos in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer. He steadily rose through the academic ranks, becoming a Reader in 2003 and a Professor of Law in 2008.

Over the years, he has held several key administrative positions, including Head of Department of Public Law, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors, and a member of the University’s Governing Council.

He has also served on the Governing Councils of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the Council of Legal Education. Today, he serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos.

In December 2023, Professor Amupitan was inaugurated as the second Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), thereby affording him affiliation with the school.

According to records online, he obtained his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Jos in 1987 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after completing the Barrister at Law program at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.

He went on to earn a Master of Law degree in 1993 and a Ph.D. in Law in 2007, both from the University of Jos. In recognition of his achievements in the legal profession, he was conferred with the prestigious title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.

His areas of specialisation include the Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, and Privatisation Law.

Amupitan has contributed to research, focusing on the legal frameworks for privatisation, reform of electoral laws, and reforms in petroleum and corporate governance laws.

He is an active member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Institute of Management, and the National Association of Law Teachers.

 

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