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CJN, Fubara, Others Eulogise Mary Odili
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has congratulated Hon. Justice Mary Odili, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, whose one year tenure as Chairman, Body of Benchers has come to an end.
The CJN described Justice Odili as a lady of great integrity whose intellectual credentials stand out in the discharge of her duties.
Ariwoola said this last Thursday while delivering a speech at the send forth party in honour of Hon Justice Mary Odili as the outgoing Chairman, Body of Benchers at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja.
This was contained in a statement by Media Advisor to the Odili Family, Emma Okah.
Justice Odili bowed out last Thursday as the Chairman of Body of Benchers and was succeeded by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN.
While commending her dedication to duty and untiring efforts to raise the integrity bar of the Legal Profession, the CJN said that Justice Odili was effective and made sterling contributions during her tenure as the Chairman, Body of Benchers.
According to the CJN, “Your tenure as the Chairman of this August Body witnessed many remarkable achievements geared towards the development of the Legal Profession. Your passion and service to the Body of Benchers cannot be overemphasised nor downplayed as you have boldly written your name in gold in the annals of this August Body”.
Also speaking at the event, the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, described Justice Odili as a seasoned Jurist whose outstanding career in the bench reflected the discipline and intellectual hardwork that she brought to bear while serving in the Bench.
According to Fubara, those who have followed the career growth of Justice Odili and her accomplishments would agree that what you put in is what you get out. In other words, like one motor company once said, “Good thinking, Good product”, he said
The governor said, “Hon Justice Mary Odili rose from the ranks up to the High Court and from there, she was promoted to the Court of Appeal and finally to the Supreme Court. Those are lines of diligent work and commitment to duty. You also saw the documentary that was shown. So, when it comes to her life as a judicial officer, the records are there and it is only a good product that can beget a good product”, noting that this is the reason why she is excellent in what she is giving out.
Delivering his goodwill message at the event, the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who was represented by Amb. Humphrey Orjiakor, congratulated Justice Odili for a successful tenure in office and described her as a round peg in a round hole.
He noted that Justice Odili was a great woman whose contributions to the growth and development of the Bench and the Bar as well as her commitment to truth, patriotism and rule of law remained unquestionable.
Also speaking at the occasion, the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, said Justice Odili left no one in doubt that she had set out to make a difference in the Body of Benchers by constantly discharging her responsibilities with ease.
According to her, Justice Odili’s one year tenure as Chairman, Body of Benchers was not only remarkable but a millenium of good working relationship with the Bench and the Bar.
She noted that “Justice Odili championed the cause of improving the welfare of judicial officers and pursued the amendment of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee Rules to enthrone a more disciplined legal profession”
Justice Odili’s successor, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, in his address, said his predecessor left a big shoes for him, extolling Odili’s sterling qualities and creativity in managing the affairs of the Body.
While congratulating her for a successful tenure in office, he pledged to continue to pray to be able to maintain the standard of leadership that Justice Odili had set in the Body of Benchers.
Speaking in the same vein and on behalf of Chairmen of Committees of the Body of Benchers, Rafiu Lawal-Rabana, SAN, noted that the one year tenure of Justice Mary Odili, even though short, was eventful and remarkable for initiating some positive changes including setting up a management committee comprising of Chairmen of Committees of the Body.
According to him, Justice Odili’s candor, humility and diplomacy in approaching issues earned her the respect of everyone in the Body of Benchers, noting that “history will judge her as contributing positively to the growth of the Legal Profession and working towards enhancing the welfare and work environment for the judiciary”.
Speaking on behalf of the Odili family, Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, who is the first daughter of Justice Mary Odili, described her mother as a calm, intelligent, humble and caring woman.
“She paid attention to everyone in the house and walked them through the various paths they needed to succeed and even in marriage, she remained a support pillar for all of them in the house”, she said.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of Award and Medal to the outgoing Justice Odili, performed by the CJN, while the incoming Chairman of the Body of Benchers Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN officiated the cutting of the cake to mark the end of her tenure.
Other dignitaries at the event included Justices of the Supreme Court and Justices of other jurisdictions; members of Body of Benchers, SANs, Presidential spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale; Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi; Senator Ben Obi and wife; Chief (Dr) Abiye Sekibo, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, Hon Awaji-Inonbek Abiante, among others.
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had lauded the courage and commitment of troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.
Abubakar gave the commendation during a morale-boosting visit to the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, Borno.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, yesterday, in Abuja.
The CAS said their sacrifices were etched in the history of the nation, and in the hearts of millions of Nigerians who sleep safer because of the troops’ vigilance.
He emphasised that their bravery and resilience in the face of adversity have not gone unnoticed, saying his visit underscored the vital role airpower plays in neutralising threats and protecting communities.
Abubakar pledged continued investment in cutting-edge technology to empower frontline units.
According to him, the NAF remains steadfast in its mission, guided by leadership, strengthened by unity, and driven by the selfless service of its personnel.
The visit comes at a critical moment, reinforcing the importance of public support for military operations and spotlighting the human element at the heart of national defence.
Nigeria’s soft drinks and beverage market continues to show strong growth potential, making it the leading consumer of soft drinks in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association.
A statement by the VDMA disclosed during a press conference held in Lagos ahead of drinktec 2025, that Nigeria consumed over 53 billion litres of soft drinks in 2024, placing it well ahead of other African countries such as Ghana and South Africa.
Despite challenges such as inflation and a weakening naira, Nigeria’s growing population, rising urbanisation, and expanding middle class are key factors driving demand in the beverage sector.
Bottled water led the segment with 48.7 billion litres sold in 2024, a figure projected to rise by 27% to 62 billion litres by 2028.
Carbonated soft drinks followed with 3.4 billion litres, expected to reach 4.4 billion litres by 2028, while energy drinks are forecasted to grow by 30% over the same period. Juices, though relatively small, are also on an upward trajectory.
“The Nigerian beverage market is expanding quickly due to increasing accessibility and affordability,” VDMA stated, citing data from Euromonitor International.
Set to take place in Munich from 15 to 19 September 2025, drinktec is the world’s leading trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry.
VDMA, a key exhibitor and technical partner for the event, revealed that Nigerian participation is expected to be strong, especially as the country anticipates economic recovery.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has condemned the recent ban placed on a song by Nigerian musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, describing the development as a return to the culture of censorship and a threat to the right to free expression.
Abdulkareem had waxed a song titled “Tell Your Papa” which criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued from New York University, Abu Dhabi, yesterday, Soyinka criticised the action and its wider implications, saying it echoed past attempts to stifle artistic and socio-political commentary in Nigeria.
“Courtesy of an artist operating in a different genre – the cartoon – who sent me his recent graphic comment on the event, I learnt recently of a return to the culture of censorship with the banning of the product of a music artist, Eedris Abdulkareem,” Soyinka said in the piece posted on PM news.
He expressed irony in suggesting that the ban did not go far enough, stating, “It is not only the allegedly offensive record that should be banned – the musician himself should be proscribed. Next, PMAN, or whatever musical association of which Abdulkareem is member, should also go under the hammer.”
Soyinka noted that he had not listened to the banned song but stressed that the issue transcends content and concerns a fundamental democratic principle.
“It cannot be flouted. That, surely is basic. This is why I feel that we should look on the bright side of any picture and thus recommend the Aleshinloye cartoon – and others in allied vein – as an easy-to-apprehend, easy-to-digest summation of the wisdom of attempting to stifle unpalatable works of art or socio-political commentary,” he said.
He also pointed out the irony that censorship often benefits the targeted artist.
The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him,” he added.
The literary icon warned that such censorship was not only counterproductive but also dangerous to democratic development.
“We have been through this before, over and over again, ad nauseum. We know where it all ends. It is boring, time-wasting, diversionary but most essential of all, subversive of all seizures of the fundamental right of free expression,” Soyinka said.
He warned that the ban creates “a permissive atmosphere of trickle-down power,” where state authorities feel emboldened to clamp down on dissent.
Soyinka’s statement also touched on broader issues of impunity and mob violence in Nigeria, lamenting the recent lynching of 19 youths in Edo State.
“My heart goes out to friends, colleagues and families of victims and traumatised survivors of this senseless slaughter. Our thirst for justice must remain unslaked,” he said.
Referencing the 2022 killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, Soyinka criticised the culture of impunity, saying, “Identified killers were set free to gloat, and paste their photos on the Social Media… in full daylight glare, in the presence of both citizen voyeurs and security forces.”
He called for accountability, warning that “as long as the culture of impunity is given the sheerest strain of legitimacy in any given cause, such gruesome assaults on our common humanity will continue to prevail.”
Soyinka concluded by urging the relevant regulatory body to reverse what he described as a “petulant irrationality,” warning that any government that only tolerates praise-singers “has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.”