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Enugu Catholic Diocese lauds Gov. Ugwuanyi, Peter Mbah’s invaluable support

July 31, 2022

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*As governor inaugurates Mary Agro Farms

The Catholic Diocese of Enugu has commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, among others, for their commitment and invaluable support towards the full actualization of the Diocese’s agricultural dream project, the Mary Agro Farms, located at Udi Town, Udi Local Government Area.

The Diocese expressed gratitude to Gov. Ugwuanyi for his immense contributions to the Church as well as his support towards the development of the permanent site of Mary Agro Farms at Omughu/Obunofia, Enugu State, for massive expansion.

Speaking when Gov. Ugwuanyi inaugurated and inspected the farm project at St. Mary’s Parish, Udi LGA, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for “always making it possible for us to partner with the Government of Enugu State, and the support you have been given us as the Father of the State”.

The event also witnessed the graduation ceremony of the first batch of trainees of Mary Agro Farms, Udi.

In his welcome address, the Auxiliary Bishop of Enugu Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Ernest Obodo, who is also the Director of Mary Agro Farms, on behalf of Bishop Onaga and the entire Presbyterium and laity of the Diocese as well as the management, staff and students of the farm, also thanked the governor for his administration’s positive intervention towards the acquisition of land for the permanent site of the farm.

Bishop Obodo said that the Diocese is committed to partner Enugu State government to make the state “a food basket of Nigeria as well as provide employment for the teeming youths of our state”, adding: “In this way we shall together stop crime in our society”.

Noting that Mary Agro Farms has enjoyed enormous support from public-spirited individuals and collaborations from Austria, the Enugu Catholic Diocese appreciated an entrepreneur and the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for being “the first to give his support to this project”, revealing that “he (Mbah) sunk the first water project for Mary Agro Farms in 2018”.

Inaugurating the farm project, Gov. Ugwuanyi applauded the vision of the Diocese under the visionary leadership of the Most Rev. Onaga for embarking on the enterprise, “an integrated resource-efficient farm engaged in livestock and crop farming and seeks to grow the critical manpower for agriculture through training of our youths in the farming processes”.

Expressing delight that the trainees will be offered post-training mentorship and Start-up input support upon graduation, Gov. Ugwuanyi disclosed that Agriculture has been a major plank of his administration.

The governor pointed out that “Enugu State is one of the six participating states in World Bank supported Agricultural Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project”.

He stated that the project is currently providing numerous benefits to the people of Enugu State such as Youth and Women Empowerment Programme through which 1700 youths and women are being supported through training, registration of their Agribusiness with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), development of Business Plans, Starts-up grant for establishment of Agribusiness enterprise and mentorship for sustainability.

Gov. Ugwuanyi further stated that the APPEALS project is also providing support to Technology Adoption by assisting existing farmers with improved technology and farm inputs for enhanced production, processing of farm produce, market linkages and alliances; adding that the construction of farm access roads, aggregation centers and cottage processing centers, etc, will soon commence.

The governor, who equally disclosed that his administration has trained 520 youths of the state at CSS Integrated Farms, Keffi, Nasarawa State in two batches, on different sections of the agricultural value chain, said: “We started ranching with Efigbo to help re-invent the Igbo heritage, launched the Coal City Rice to offer our people quality locally produced Rice that competes favourably with any other brand, etc”.

Gov. Ugwuanyi congratulated the first batch of trainees of Mary Agro Farms on their graduation and charged them to engage the world and deploy the skills and character inculcated in them and conquer.

Acknowledging the enabling leadership of Bishop Onaga and the hands-on superintendence of the Auxiliary Bishop, Most Rev. Obodo as well as the entire management of the farm towards the success of the enterprise, the governor said that “Your efforts to feed the body and soul are cherished, for a healthy soul resides in a healthy body (anima sana in corpora sano)”.

The Deputy Governor, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, the Bishop of SAN Mali Diocese, Most Rev. Hassan Florent Kone, the Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Nnayelugo Chidi Aroh, the Chairman of Udi LGA, Hon. Philip Okoh, his Ezeagu counterpart, Hon. Chukwudi Ozoeluba, the Chairman, Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, the PDP Candidate for Enugu West Senatorial District, Engr. Osita Ngwu, the PDP Candidate for Udi South Constituency, Hon. Okey Aneke, the Chaplain, Enugu State Government House, Rev. Fr. Chinedu Ozoude, the Chairman, JAAC, Dr. Hyacinth Ngwu were among the dignitaries at the event.

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Opinion

Suspension of Mike Ozekhome SAN: A Hasty Decision By The LPPC And The Prejudicial Effect Of Same

by Newsdesk Africa

June 26, 2026

By Sheriff. C. ADELE, Esq On June 23, 2026, the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), at its 173rd General Meeting, approved the suspension of Chief Mike Ozekhome from the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). The suspension, announced pursuant to Paragraph 26(6) of the Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is to remain in force pending the final determination of disciplinary proceedings before the LPPC’s Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee. While the LPPC asserts that the suspension is intended to "safeguard the integrity, dignity and prestige of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria", this decision raises profound concerns about procedural propriety, jurisdictional overreach, and the prejudicial effect it portends for both the legal profession and the administration of justice. This article critically examines the hasty decision of the LPPC, its implications, and why it constitutes a premature verdict that undermines the very principles of natural justice the legal profession is sworn to uphold. Chief Mike Ozekhome, a prominent constitutional lawyer and human rights advocate, is currently facing disciplinary proceedings before the LPPC’s Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee. The proceedings relate to his involvement in a controversial property dispute in the United Kingdom concerning a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London. Chief Ozekhome is also standing trial before an FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on a 12-count charge, to which he has pleaded not guilty. What is particularly significant and troubling is that the same issues before the LPPC are also pending before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), the body statutorily charged with the responsibility of sanctioning legal practitioners for professional misconduct. The LPDC is yet to make any determination on the substantive allegations against chief Ozekhome. Yet, the LPPC has proceeded to impose a suspension that, in practical effect, constitutes a pre-determinative sanction. The Distinct Jurisdictions of the LPPC and LPDC To appreciate the gravity of the LPPC’s decision, it is essential to understand the distinct and separate roles of the LPPC and the LPDC under Nigerian law. The LPPC is a statutory body established under Section 5 of the Legal Practitioners Act. Its primary function is to consider and determine eligible applicants for the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the LPPC is also empowered to make rules as to the privileges to be accorded to Senior Advocates of Nigeria. While the LPPC has disciplinary powers over SAN holders, these powers are ancillary to its primary function of conferring and regulating the rank. The LPPC's disciplinary authority is derived from its guidelines, including Paragraph 26(6) of the Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria. However, this authority is limited to matters pertaining to the rank itself and the privileges associated with it. The LPDC, by contrast, is a committee of the Body of Benchers established under Section 10 of the Legal Practitioners Act. Its mandate is far broader and more fundamental: it is the primary disciplinary body for all legal practitioners in Nigeria. The LPDC exercises jurisdiction over all lawyers called to the Nigerian Bar and is empowered to investigate allegations of professional misconduct and impose sanctions ranging from admonition to suspension and disbarment. The Critical Distinction The distinction between these two bodies is not merely academic, it is fundamental to the proper administration of justice in the legal profession. The LPPC is primarily a conferring and privilege-regulating body. The LPDC is the disciplinary body par excellence. While the LPPC may have incidental disciplinary powers over SAN holders, these powers cannot supplant or pre-empt the primary disciplinary jurisdiction of the LPDC. When the same issues are pending before both bodies, as they are in chief Ozekhome’s case, the LPDC’s determination on professional misconduct must logically precede any disciplinary sanction from the LPPC. The LPPC cannot independently determine facts of professional misconduct that are the exclusive province of the LPDC. The Hasty Decision: A Premature Verdict The LPPC’s decision to suspend chief Ozekhome from the rank of SAN pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings is, with respect, a hasty and premature verdict that suffers from several fundamental flaws. Procedural Impropriety ...