Nigerian carrier, United Nigeria Airlines, Monday, handed over social media influencers, Martins Otse, better known as VeryDarkman, and Freedom Atsepoyi, known as Mr Jollof, to airport security over the incident that happened during the boarding of Flight UN0523 at Asaba International Airport, Delta State. The airline’s Public Relations Officer, Chibuike Uloka, in a statement, confirmed an altercation between VeryDarkman and Mr Jollof, saying the crew responded immediately and professionally to de-escalate the situation.

Uloka said both passengers were deboarded without delay to ensure other passengers safety.

The statement reads: “United Nigeria Airlines confirms that an altercation occurred between two passengers, identified as Martins Vincent Otse VeryDarkman and Freedom Okpetoritse Atsepoyi Mr Jollof, during the boarding of Flight UN0523 at Asaba International Airport on the morning of November 17, 2025. “In full compliance with global aviation safety protocols, our crew responded immediately and professionally to de-escalate the situation. Both passengers were deboarded without delay to ensure the safety, comfort, and security of all other passengers and crew members. They were subsequently handed over to airport security for further investigation.

“United Nigeria Airlines places the highest priority on safety and maintains a zero-tolerance policy for any conduct that threatens the security or well-being of passengers or crew. After all standard procedures were completed, the flight departed safely while the passengers involved in the altercation were still with the authorities.”

ABUJA– President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, urged the judiciary to take decisive actions to tackle concerns about its integrity, warning that justice must never be for sale. According to him, citizens have not only expressed frustration at delays in the determination of cases, but also expressed anxiety over the lack of access to justice.

“Our courts must no longer be places where cases languish for years; they must become beacons of efficiency, where disputes are resolved swiftly, and where litigants depart with renewed confidence in the rule of law,” President Tinubu stated as he flagged off the 2025 All Nigerian Judges Conference of the Superior Courts, in Abuja.

Describing the theme of the conference: “Building a Confident Judiciary,” as apt and fitting, President Tinubu maintained that confidence is the lifeblood of justice.

He said his administration, with utmost seriousness, “stands ready to support every effort by the Judiciary to preserve its dignity and eliminate misconduct,” saying “this is not a task for the National Judicial Council alone; it is a collective duty that rests on every judicial officer.”

Addressing the judges, President Tinubu, said: “A judgment may be grounded in law and delivered with clarity, but unless the public perceives it to be fair, impartial, and untainted, its moral authority is diminished.

“The confidence of the people is, therefore, not an abstract aspiration; it is the living measure of the Judiciary’s legitimacy and the true currency of justice. “We must acknowledge, with candour, that public perception of the judicial process has not always been favourable. “Citizens have expressed frustration at delays, concerns about integrity, and anxiety over access to justice. These perceptions, whether wholly justified or not, cannot be ignored.  “They call upon us to reflect, to reform, and to restore. For ultimately, justice does not exist for the Bench or the Bar; it exists for the people. Their faith in the judicial process is the foundation of our national stability.

“In this regard, I wish to reaffirm, with clarity and conviction, the unwavering commitment of my administration to supporting the Judiciary in fulfilling its constitutional mandate.

“The Judiciary does not exist in isolation; it functions within a larger democratic framework in which all three arms of government must work in synergy, with mutual respect and shared responsibility to the Nigerian people.

“The Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary must remain united by purpose, even when separated by function. “My administration believes that a Judiciary that is strong in capacity, efficient in process, and uncompromising in integrity is not merely desirable; it is indispensable to the survival of our democracy and the prosperity of our nation. We cannot build a just society without a fearless and functional Judiciary.

“In this spirit, we have resolved to provide the institutional and material support that will enable our courts to perform their duties with dignity, confidence, and efficiency.

“Support must be tangible, not ceremonial. It must translate into improved working conditions, modern infrastructure, and well-equipped courtrooms where justice is dispensed promptly and transparently.

“Our courts must no longer be places where cases languish for years; they must become beacons of efficiency, where disputes are resolved swiftly, and where litigants depart with renewed confidence in the rule of law.

“The modernisation of judicial infrastructure remains a central priority. Technology is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. The digitisation of court processes, the adoption of integrated case management systems, and the provision of secure and reliable judicial facilities will receive sustained attention from this administration. “However, let us be clear: no amount of reform can succeed if integrity is compromised. Justice must never be for sale, and the Bench must never become a sanctuary for compromise. Corruption in any arm of government weakens the nation, but corruption in the Judiciary destroys it at its core. When justice is compromised, governance loses its integrity, and democracy loses its foundation.”

Continuing, he said: “Discipline within the Judiciary must be firm, transparent, and consistent. Only a Judiciary that cleanses itself can command the moral authority to cleanse society.

“My Lords, as you deliberate in the coming days, I want you to remember that the Judiciary is not an end in itself; it is an instrument of justice for the people. Its moral power flows not merely from the Constitution, but from the trust and confidence that ordinary citizens repose in it.

“A courageous, transparent, and principled Judiciary is the greatest guarantee of freedom; a slow, compromised, or disconnected Judiciary is its greatest threat.

“This is why I urge you, in your discussions, to be bold and practical. Go beyond diagnosing old challenges and commit to actionable solutions. Ask the difficult questions on: How do we reduce the backlog of cases? “How do we strengthen discipline within the ranks? How do we make justice more affordable and accessible to the poor, the weak, and the voiceless? And above all, how do we build a Judiciary that truly remains the last hope of the common man?.

“Distinguished Judges and delegates, I see before me not just interpreters of the law, but guardians of Nigeria’s moral conscience and architects of her democratic destiny. You hold in your hands the power to shape the moral compass of our Republic; to ensure that no citizen is too weak to be heard and no authority too powerful to be restrained by law.

“The task is weighty, but it is noble, and I assure you that this administration will continue to stand beside you, listen to you, and support you in fulfilling this sacred responsibility.

“Let me conclude by reminding us all that the story of our democracy is still being written. Each fair judgment strengthens the Republic; each courageous ruling preserves its soul. Let us, therefore, resolve that the chapters written in our time will be remembered for integrity, courage, and fidelity to the rule of law.”

The Arewa Youth Alliance for Religious Harmony has expressed concern over calls for the removal or resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, describing the demands as unnecessary and potentially distracting. At a press conference on Saturday at the Arewa House in Kaduna, the group said attempts to pressure Amupitan out of office were “ill-advised” and amounted to politicising an academic opinion he expressed years ago while lecturing at the university. Reading the statement, the Alliance’s Chairman, Elder Joseph Fain Chori, noted that the North is currently dealing with significant socio-economic and security challenges and urged stakeholders to avoid actions that could deepen ethnic or religious divisions.

“It is important that issues of national importance are approached responsibly. We must guard against allowing misunderstandings to escalate into sentiments that create tension,” he said.

Chori encouraged Nigerians to focus on strengthening institutions responsible for electoral integrity rather than personalising debates around individuals. He commended INEC for what he described as the transparent conduct of the recently concluded Anambra governorship election.

According to him, the emergence of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate demonstrated that Nigeria’s electoral process remains competitive and open to diverse outcomes.

“The result has encouraged many political actors and reinforced confidence in the possibility of credible elections,” he said.

The group argued that removing Amupitan shortly after supervising an election that received positive feedback would be counterproductive and could create unnecessary instability within the electoral system.

It urged northern leaders and Nigerians across political lines to support INEC as preparations begin for the 2027 general elections.