The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported a concerning spike in Lassa fever infections, with 82 new cases and 20 fatalities recorded across the country in just one week. This significant weekly toll underscores the persistent public health challenge posed by the viral hemorrhagic fever, which is endemic in Nigeria. The new infections were reported across a wide geographical spread, affecting Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Nasarawa, Kano, Ebonyi, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi, Kebbi, Kaduna, and Benue states, indicating a broad national transmission risk that requires urgent containment efforts.
In a separate development within the nation's capital, a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and four other respondents was stalled on Tuesday. The hearing could not proceed due to the inability of El-Rufai's legal counsel to serve the respondents with the necessary court processes. This procedural delay highlights the complexities often encountered in high-profile legal proceedings within the Nigerian judiciary system.
El-Rufai's lawsuit seeks substantial financial redress, with the former governor asking the court to award him ₦1 billion in damages from the ICPC and the other defendants. The additional respondents named in the suit include the Magistrate’s Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Federal Ministry of Justice, represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation, who are listed as the second to fourth respondents. The core of El-Rufai's legal challenge is a request for the court to declare a search warrant, issued on February 4 by the Chief Magistrate’s Court of the FCT, as invalid and of no legal effect. This warrant had authorised a search and seizure operation at his residence.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Abdulmalik granted the request for an adjournment to allow for proper service of court documents. The judge subsequently fixed March 11, 2026, for further mention of the case, setting the stage for the next phase of this closely watched legal battle. The outcome of this suit could have implications for the procedures followed by anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies when investigating individuals who have held high public office.
The political dimension of the case was amplified by a statement from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a political party. The ADC criticised what it described as selective enforcement of the law in the handling of legal cases involving two of its prominent members, insisting that justice must be applied evenly and without political bias. In its statement, the party noted, 'The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has been monitoring the ongoing legal cases involving two of our leaders, Mr Abubakar Malami… and Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.'
Further elaborating on its position, the ADC, through a spokesperson identified as Abdullahi, emphasised its commitment to the rule of law while calling for fairness. 'As a law-abiding party, it is important to state for the record that the ADC believes no citizen, regardless of stature or past office, is above the law,' Abdullahi said. This public intervention underscores the potential for legal proceedings to become focal points for political discourse and allegations of partiality within Nigeria's vibrant and often contentious political landscape.
On a different policy front, three key federal agencies have launched a coordinated nationwide campaign. The National Orientation Agency (NOA), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) have initiated an enforcement drive focused on the ban on sachet alcohol. The campaign was launched at the NOA Headquarters in Abuja, with the NOA taking the lead role in public sensitization and driving behavioural change regarding the consumption of the banned products. This inter-agency effort represents a significant push to address public health concerns linked to the widespread availability of alcohol in small, affordable sachets.
In regional governance news, Abia State has introduced a significant modernization of its public transport system. The state government announced the rollout of a cashless payment system for shuttle bus services, a move unveiled on Sunday, 1 March. This initiative aims to streamline transactions, improve efficiency, and potentially enhance revenue collection within the state's transport sector. It reflects a growing trend among Nigerian states to adopt digital solutions for public service delivery and governance.
