Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has dissolved the state executive council, retaining only the position of Chief of Staff, which will now be held by Barr. Moses Atagher, the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

Atagher, an experienced administrator and former acting Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank, was appointed as the new Chief of Staff, effective immediately, at the close of the 12th executive council meeting of 2025.

Terso Kula, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, announced that the dissolution affects only the commissioners.

Governor Alia expressed his appreciation to the outgoing commissioners for their two years of service, encouraging those who may not be reappointed to remain loyal to the party and continue supporting the administration.

Speaking on behalf of the dissolved commissioners, Barr. Bemsen Mnyim thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve, describing the experience as a valuable learning process.

The former commissioners have been instructed to hand over their responsibilities to the permanent secretaries of their respective ministries.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Deputy Controller-General (DCG) Olumode Samuel Adeyemi as the new Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), effective August 14, 2025.

The announcement was made in a statement by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), signed by its secretary, Abdulmalik Jibrin.

“This appointment comes ahead of the imminent retirement of the current Controller-General, Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji Olola, on August 1, 2025, as he reaches the age of sixty.

“DCG Olumode Samuel Adeyemi brings a wealth of experience to this new role. He transferred from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fire Service to the Federal Fire Service and has progressed to the rank of Deputy Controller-General of Fire in the Human Resource Directorate at the Service Headquarters.

Throughout his career, Adeyemi has successfully completed all mandatory in-service training, participated in command courses, and attended various courses both within Nigeria and abroad.

He has served in numerous capacities and is a member and fellow of several professional associations, including the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria, the Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria, and the Chartered Institute of Treasury Management of Nigeria.

The Board also extends its appreciation to the retiring Controller-General, Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji Olola, for his remarkable contributions to the development of the Federal Fire Service, acknowledging his dedication, commitment, and the numerous initiatives he spearheaded during his tenure,” the statement added.

The Court of Appeal in Owerri, Imo State, has ruled that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) does not have the legal authority to seize drivers’ licenses, vehicles, or related documents without lawful justification.

This decision was made in Appeal No: CA/OW/199/2022, which was filed by the FRSC, the Corps Marshal, and an officer identified by Uniform No. COSS 35 (referred to as the 1st to 3rd Appellants), against Dr. Emmanuel Ugochukwu Shebbs (the Respondent).

The appellate court upheld the earlier judgment of the High Court of Abia State, which had determined that such seizures violate fundamental human rights.

Delivering a unanimous judgment, Justices Amina Audi Wambai, M. Lawal Abubakar, and Ntong F. Ntong confirmed the FRSC’s liability for the rights violation. However, the court reduced the damages awarded to the respondent from N30 million to N10 million, which included both general and exemplary damages.

The case originated from an incident in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown, when FRSC officers stopped Shebbs along Bende Road in Umuahia. He reported that, after inspecting his car and finding no faults, the officers demanded a bribe. When he refused, they conducted another inspection, claimed that his tire was worn out, and subsequently confiscated his driver’s license while issuing a N3,000 ticket.

Rather than pay the fine, Shebbs sought redress in the High Court in Abia, arguing that the unlawful seizure of his license violated his fundamental rights