Delta State Ministry of justice

15/08/2026

Delta Justice Ministry Charges NYSC Members on Diligence, Commitment to Duty
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‎By Odafe Isharo
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‎The Delta State Ministry of Justice has charged members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in the Ministry to be diligent, committed and dedicated to their duties throughout their service year.
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‎The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, gave the charge during an interactive meeting organised by the Ministry in Asaba to engage the corps members and provide them with an opportunity to interact directly with directors in the various departments, share their experiences and discuss any challenges they may be facing during their service year.
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‎The Attorney -General, who was represented by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Omamuzo Erebe, SAN, urged the corps members to take advantage of their service year to acquire knowledge, build themselves and gain valuable professional experience.
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‎He advised them to contribute meaningfully to the activities of their respective departments and units, while expressing their views and opinions through appropriate channels and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Ministry.
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‎Ohwovoriole encouraged the corps members to use the opportunity provided by the NYSC programme to prepare themselves for life after service, noting that the competitive nature of society required young people to distinguish themselves through hard work, competence and positive values.
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‎He said the Ministry was interested in the future aspirations of the corps members and would encourage them to identify their areas of interest so they could receive appropriate guidance and mentorship.
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‎The Attorney-General also disclosed that the Ministry had taken steps to improve the welfare of corps members serving in the Ministry, including an increase in their allowances.
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‎Speaking during the interactive session, directors in the Ministry urged the corps members to maintain positive attitudes, demonstrate discipline and remain committed to their assigned responsibilities.
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‎They encouraged them to give their best wherever they were posted, stressing that diligence, good conduct and excellence in service could open doors to greater opportunities in their future careers.
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‎The interactive meeting provided an opportunity for the corps members to share their experiences, raise concerns and receive guidance from the Ministry's management on how to make their service year productive and impactful.
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12/08/2026

Court Sentences Man to Life Imprisonment for Ra**ng Nine-Year-Old Girl in Asaba
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‎By Isharo Odafe
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‎The High Court of Justice of Delta State, sitting in the Asaba Judicial Division, has sentenced Abubakar Mohammed to life imprisonment for ra**ng a nine-year-old girl in Asaba, Oshimili South Local Government Area of the state.
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‎Justice Onome Marshal-Umukoro, who presided over the case, delivered the judgment on Monday, August 10, 2026, in Charge No. DTHC/ASB/CR/26/2025, State v. Abubakar Mohammed.
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‎Mohammed was prosecuted by the Delta State Ministry of Justice under Sections 3(1)(a) and 4(1) of the Delta State Violence Against Persons Law, 2020.
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‎The prosecution was led by Mrs. Victoria Ibegbulem, Principal State Counsel in the S*xual Offences Unit of the Ministry of Justice.
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‎In its judgment, the court held that the prosecution had proved all the essential elements of the offence beyond reasonable doubt.
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‎Justice Marshal-Umukoro relied principally on the direct evidence of the victim, which was supported by corroborative medical evidence, in finding the defendant guilty of r**e.
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‎In determining the appropriate sentence, the court considered the age and vulnerability of the victim, the abuse of trust, the circumstances surrounding the commission of the offence and evidence of a previous abuse allegedly accompanied by threats to the victim's life.
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‎The court held that the circumstances of the case warranted a sentence beyond the statutory minimum.
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‎Consequently, Mohammed was sentenced to life imprisonment without an option of fine.
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‎The court also ordered that the convict's name, photograph and other particulars be entered in the Register of Convicted S*x Offenders maintained by the Office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Delta State.
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‎The court further directed that the register be made accessible to the public.
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11/08/2026

11/08/2026

NBA Warri Branch Wins 4th Edition of Delta Attorney-General’s Cup
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‎By Isharo Odafe
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‎The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Warri Branch, has emerged winner of the 4th edition of the Delta State Attorney-General’s Football Tournament after defeating its Ughelli counterpart 5–4 in a keenly contested final.
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‎The final of the tournament, organised for NBA branches across Delta State, was played on Saturday at the Nana College Football Field, Warri.
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‎The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Delta State, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, commended the Warri Branch team for its impressive performance and determination throughout the competition.
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‎Ohwovoriole, who presented the championship trophy and a cash prize to the victorious Warri Branch, said the tournament was designed to foster unity, friendship and camaraderie among lawyers across the various NBA branches in the state.
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‎He added that the competition also provided an avenue for members of the legal profession to engage in physical exercise, promote fitness and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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‎The Attorney-General expressed satisfaction with the level of participation and sportsmanship displayed by the teams, noting that activities that promote interaction and healthy competition among lawyers would continue to be encouraged.
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‎In separate interviews with journalists at the final, the Chairman of the NBA Warri Branch, Mr. Francis Chukwuma Okala, and his Ughelli counterpart, Dr. Mackson Oruma, commended the Attorney-General for initiating the tournament.
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‎They described the competition as a laudable initiative that had provided an important platform for lawyers from different branches to interact beyond the courtroom, strengthen professional bonds and promote unity within the Bar.
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‎The NBA chairmen also appreciated the Attorney-General for successfully hosting the tournament in Warri and for his commitment to sustaining the competition.
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‎The tournament attracted a large number of spectators, including lawyers from across the state.
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‎Participating teams comprised the NBA branches of Asaba, Warri, Ughelli, Udu, Effurun and Sapele, which competed for honours in the fourth edition of the annual football tournament.
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09/08/2026

Delta Safe for Investment as Criminal Database Nears Completion — Ohwovoriole
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‎By Odafe Isharo
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‎The Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, has said the state is becoming increasingly safe and attractive to investors with the development of a comprehensive criminal database designed to permanently document the records of persons charged with criminal offences.
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‎Ohwovoriole disclosed this while receiving the First Vice President-Elect of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Oghenero Okoro, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Asaba.
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‎Okoro’s visit was to express appreciation to the Attorney-General for his support and cooperation as the official leader of the Bar in Delta State during the recently concluded NBA national elections. The visit also provided an opportunity for the Attorney-General to formally present the certificate of return to the first Vice President-Elect.
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‎Speaking on the state’s ongoing justice-sector reforms, Ohwovoriole said the criminal database, which is nearing completion, would capture the biometric information of all persons charged with criminal offences, thereby creating a reliable and permanent record to support law enforcement and enhance public safety.
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‎According to him, the initiative is modelled after similar systems operating in other parts of the world, including Lagos State, and is intended to promote transparency, strengthen security and boost investor confidence.
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‎He stated that no criminal charge would be processed in Delta State without first obtaining the biometric details of the suspect, stressing that records would be preserved irrespective of whether the individual was eventually convicted.
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‎“The system will enable employers, investors and other stakeholders to verify whether an individual has a history of criminal involvement before engaging in employment or business transactions,” he said.
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‎The Attorney-General further disclosed that the state government had enacted legislation aimed at encouraging private investment in electricity infrastructure and other critical sectors.
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‎He explained that under the new law, individuals or organisations that purchase and install electricity infrastructure, including transformers, would retain ownership of the facilities or equipment to the extent provided by the law and would be entitled to reimbursement by the relevant electricity distribution company in accordance with its provisions.
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‎Ohwovoriole said the measure was designed to provide greater protection for private investors while encouraging individuals and organisations to contribute to the development of critical infrastructure across the state.
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30/07/2026

Court Sentences Killers of DELSU Student Elozino Ogege to Death After Nine-Year Trial
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‎By Odafe Isharo
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‎A Delta State High Court sitting in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area, has sentenced two men to death by hanging for the kidnapping and murder of 22 year old Miss Elozino Joshualia Ogege, a 300-level Mass Communication student of Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, bringing to a close a nine-year legal battle over one of the state's most notorious murder cases.
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‎Justice Flora Ngozi Azinge, who delivered judgment on Wednesday, convicted Macaulay Desmond Oghenemaro and Enaike Onoriode on charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit murder, and murder. The court, however, discharged and acquitted the third defendant, Nwosisi Benedict Uche, after finding insufficient evidence to sustain the charges against him.
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‎Ogege, an indigene of Isoko, Delta State, was gruesomely murdered in 2019 after reportedly leaving to meet an agent who had offered to help her secure accommodation within the DELSU community in Abraka. Her death sparked widespread outrage after reports alleged that parts of her body, including her eyes, breasts, and heart, had been removed in what investigators linked to a ritual killing involving suspected internet fraudsters, popularly known as "Yahoo Yahoo Plus" operators.
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‎The Delta State Government, through the Office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, arraigned the defendants on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, armed robbery, membership of an unlawful society, and murder.
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‎A fourth defendant, Robinson Obajero Ojokojo, a native doctor, alleged to have requested her body parts for money making purposes died in prison custody during the course of the prolonged trial.
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‎The case experienced several adjournments over the years, largely due to the repeated absence of counsel representing the first defendant. Following the adoption of final written addresses earlier this year, Justice Azinge reserved judgment, which was delivered on July 29, 2026.
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‎Reacting to the judgment, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Omamuzo Erebe, SAN, who led the prosecution alongside Okolotu Ugochukwu and Funkekeme Solomon Junior, described the verdict as a landmark judgment and a significant victory for justice.
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‎"Today, we witnessed the conclusion of a trial that commenced about nine years ago. The court found the first and third defendants guilty of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping, as well as conspiracy to commit murder and murder," Erebe said.
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‎"They received various terms of imprisonment on the different counts, but for the offences of conspiracy to commit murder and the murder of Miss Elozino Ogege, they were sentenced to death by hanging."
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‎Expressing sympathy for the deceased's family, Erebe said the judgment would hopefully bring them some measure of closure.
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‎"On behalf of the Delta State Government and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, we extend our condolences to the family. They have waited nine years for justice, and today justice has finally been served. Although this judgment cannot bring Elozino back, we hope it will help the family find closure," he said.
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‎He added that the judgment should serve as a strong warning against ritual killings and other violent crimes.

‎"This judgment sends a clear message to young people seeking quick wealth through ritual killings or other criminal means. No matter how long it takes, the law will eventually catch up with offenders. I urge everyone to desist from crime because the law will always take its course," he stated.
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‎Counsel to the 3rd defendant, Mr. Benjamin Okoh, also reacted to the verdict, describing it as "justice at last."

‎According to him, the judgment represented justice that was not only done but manifestly seen to have been done. He commended the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria for its efforts throughout the proceedings and expressed satisfaction with the court's decision.
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