A coalition of opposition political parties in Enugu State has instituted a suit at the Federal High Court, Enugu Judicial Division, challenging the legality of a directive requiring political parties and candidates to pay N150 million as an advertising permit fee before conducting campaign activities through billboards and posters ahead of the 2026/2027 elections.
The suit, filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and their respective state chairmen, names the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency (ENSSAA), its General Manager, Mr. Francis Aninwike, the Enugu State House of Assembly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), and the Nigeria Police Force as defendants.
According to the originating summons dated June 15, 2026, the plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether ENSSAA and the Enugu State Government possess the constitutional authority to impose a mandatory N150 million advertising permit fee on political parties and candidates seeking to campaign through billboards during the 2026/2027 general elections.
The opposition parties argue that the regulation of election campaigns falls exclusively within the powers of INEC under the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They further contend that advertising regulation is a matter reserved for the National Assembly and ARCON, making any state legislation or executive directive on political campaign advertising unconstitutional and beyond the powers of the state authorities.
Among the reliefs sought, the plaintiffs are asking the court to declare the ENSSAA directive unlawful, null and void, set aside the policy, and restrain the agency and the Enugu State Government from enforcing the payment of the N150 million fee. They are also seeking an order compelling the Nigeria Police Force to protect political parties from alleged harassment or intimidation arising from the enforcement of the directive.
The suit was filed by legal practitioner Ike Ozor on behalf of the plaintiffs. The Federal High Court is expected to determine whether the controversial permit requirement violates constitutional provisions governing election campaigns and advertising regulation in Nigeria.
The legal challenge comes amid growing debate over the cost of political campaigning and the role of state agencies in regulating election-related advertisements ahead of the 2027 electoral season.

The financing arrangement for Nigeria’s flagship Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project has received international recognition at the 2026 Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group Annual Meetings in Baku, Azerbaijan, underscoring growing global confidence in the country’s infrastructure development agenda.
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) emerged winner of the ICIEC Most Impactful Project of the Year Award for its role in securing a $626 million Murabaha financing facility for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Development Project.
The award was presented by the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), a member of the IsDB Group and the world’s only Shariah-compliant multilateral insurer.
According to ICIEC, the financing package was supported by its Non-Honouring of Sovereign Financial Obligations (NHSFO) insurance policy, which covered 95 per cent of the financing provided to Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Finance.
The risk mitigation arrangement helped mobilise long-term capital for one of Nigeria’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, expected to significantly improve transportation, facilitate trade, enhance regional connectivity, and stimulate economic growth along the country’s southern corridor.
The recognition comes as the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu continues to push major infrastructure investments aimed at boosting economic productivity and attracting foreign capital.
Speaking on the significance of the award, ICIEC Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Khalid Khalafalla, described the Lagos-Calabar financing transaction as a landmark achievement that demonstrates the power of innovative Islamic finance and strategic partnerships in supporting development.
“ICIEC is proud to honour First Abu Dhabi Bank, Standard Chartered, and Agrobank for two landmark transactions that demonstrate the impact of Shariah-compliant risk mitigation,” Khalafalla said.
“These awards reflect how strong partnerships can mobilise capital, enable strategic infrastructure, expand access to trade finance, and deliver meaningful development impact across our member states.”
Khalafalla noted that ICIEC’s support for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway highlighted its growing role in de-risking investments and encouraging private-sector participation in large-scale infrastructure projects across member countries.
The event also recognised Standard Chartered Bank, which won the Most Innovative Trade Development Initiative of the Year Award for a €160 million Murabaha facility provided to Agrobank in Uzbekistan under ICIEC’s insurance cover.
The transaction marked Uzbekistan’s first Murabaha financing deal and established a Shariah-compliant framework for future trade and liquidity financing in the country.
Beyond the awards ceremony, policymakers, development finance experts, and representatives of multilateral institutions from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East gathered to discuss strategies for deepening regional integration and fostering sustainable economic growth.
During a high-level forum themed “Regional Integration for Sustainable Prosperity,” speakers emphasised the importance of cross-border infrastructure, trade facilitation, regulatory harmonisation, digital transformation, and stronger institutional cooperation as key drivers of economic resilience.
Experts from the IsDB, the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) highlighted the need for stronger regional partnerships to address common challenges, including supply-chain disruptions, economic uncertainty, and climate-related risks.
Participants also examined the findings of the IsDB Regional Integration Index, which provides member countries with analytical tools to guide policy decisions, prioritise investments, and strengthen regional cooperation frameworks.
ICIEC disclosed that it has insured more than $138 billion in trade and investment transactions since commencing operations in 1994. The corporation currently serves 51 member states and maintains one of the highest credit ratings in the political risk insurance industry, including an Aa3 rating from Moody’s and an AA- rating from S&P Global Ratings.
The international recognition of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway financing is expected to further strengthen investor confidence in Nigeria’s infrastructure sector and reinforce efforts to attract sustainable financing for critical development projects.

A legal practitioner, Barrister Chinedu Ifeanyi Iloeje, has publicly declared that a man previously believed to be his son is not biologically related to him, following the outcome of a DNA test.
In a public notice published in a newspaper, Iloeje stated that he was allegedly misled by the man’s mother into believing that the individual, identified as Chinedu Francis Iloeje, was his biological son.
According to the notice, DNA testing conducted on the matter established “beyond any doubt” that the man is not his son. The lawyer further clarified that he never legally adopted the individual, despite the latter bearing the name Chinedu Francis Iloeje.

Disclaimer

Barrister Iloeje explained that the man’s original name is Chinedu Francis Onwualu and stressed that he has no legal or biological relationship with him.
The notice also informed members of the public, the Greater Iloeje Family, the Umuodu Village Union, Uwani Amokwe Town Union, St. Theresa’s Catholic Church Amokwe, Udi Local Government Council, and other stakeholders of his declaration.
He stated that the disclaimer was made in good faith and while of sound mind, urging the public to take note of the clarification.
The publication has sparked discussions on paternity disputes and the increasing reliance on DNA testing to resolve questions of biological parentage.

By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced the indefinite suspension of the Office of the National Leader and the position of Director of Radio Biafra, both previously held by detained separatist leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The decision was reached during a meeting of the movement’s leadership on June 17, amid growing concerns over alleged attempts by individuals and groups to exploit the suspended office to carry out activities contrary to the organization’s objectives.
IPOB also effectively dismantled its information arm, Radio Biafra, by suspending the office of its director, a position previously occupied by Kanu.
In a statement issued by the Head of the Directorate of State (DOS), Chikadibia Edoziem, the group said the suspension takes immediate effect and will remain in force until further notice.
According to the statement, the move is aimed at safeguarding the movement’s operations, protecting IPOB members worldwide, particularly those in the South-East, and preventing security breaches that could threaten the region.
The DOS warned that anyone claiming to be the National Leader of IPOB or acting on behalf of the suspended office would do so at their own risk, stressing that such actions would not be recognized by the organization.
“Any crime or criminal activity undertaken in the name of the suspended Office of the Leader shall not be attributed to IPOB but solely to the individual or individuals responsible for such actions,” the statement said.
The group further stated that IPOB would no longer accept responsibility for the actions of individuals or groups who do not hold active positions within the movement or who have not been authorized by the Directorate of State.
The leadership explained that the decision forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen and reposition the Biafran self-determination movement, making it more responsive to its stated objectives.
IPOB emphasized that the movement was founded and nurtured collectively by Biafrans in the diaspora and was not established by any single individual. It added that no person, regardless of status or position, has the authority to dissolve the Directorate of State, which it described as the apex governing institution of the organization.
The DOS cited several reasons for the suspension, including intelligence reports alleging meetings between operatives of Nigeria’s security agencies and Kanu in detention, concerns over monitored communications, and claims that some communications from prison had allegedly contributed to arrests and deaths of IPOB members.
The group also expressed concern over what it described as plans by certain individuals to establish a new militia capable of triggering another wave of violence in the South-East, as well as alleged efforts to dissolve the Directorate of State and weaken the IPOB structure.
Reaffirming its commitment to non-violence, the Directorate of State stated that the struggle for self-determination must remain peaceful and should never become a basis for causing suffering, hardship or death among the people it seeks to represent.
“We affirm that the pursuit of our inalienable right to self-determination is peaceful and non-violent and must never become a basis for causing harm, hardship, or death to the very people we seek to liberate from the injustices and atrocities perpetrated by the Nigerian system,” the statement added.
The development comes amid reports of internal disagreements within the IPOB hierarchy and speculation about attempts to establish a parallel separatist structure under the umbrella of the movement.