This research study examines the legal framework governing the juvenile justice system which involves the trial and sentencing practices. It focuses on the comparison between the rehabilitation approach and the punishment approach to the juvenile justice, as well as its impact on young offenders and other children. It further examines whether the modern juvenile trial and sentencing practices tilts towards the rehabilitation approach to juvenile delinquency or not. The juvenile justice system seeks to protect, rehabilitate, and properly reintegrate young offenders into the society. This system includes all operating units- law enforcement, juvenile courts, and correctional centers, operating under specific laws and procedures that have been designed specifically for minors. The system is primarily governed by the Child Rights Act 2003 and also regulated by the Children and Young Persons Act in Nigeria. An overview of the juvenile justice system forms the foundation of the research study as a result of its necessity to the second ambit of the topic- ‘A Legal Analysis of Juvenile Trial and Sentencing Practices’. However, the body of this research study tends to focus more on the comparison between rehabilitation and punishment as well as the impact it has on young offenders and other children, which is particularly the composition of the first ambit of the topic. Accordingly, the work recommends for an enhanced implementation of the rehabilitative approach which obviously will not be beneficial only to the offender but to the society at large.

This research examines the law of defamation in Nigeria, focusing on its causes, effects, and legal implications while comparing it with developments in the United Kingdom and the United States. The study evaluates the tensions between freedom of speech and reputation, the persistence of criminal defamation through instruments such as the Cybercrimes Act, and the emerging intersection with hate speech regulation. It identifies the inadequacies in Nigeria’s defamation framework, particularly the overreach of criminal sanctions, and contrasts them with more speech-protective approaches in other jurisdictions. The research adopts doctrinal and comparative methodologies, relying on statutes, case law, and scholarly commentary. It finds that while defamation law in Nigeria provides essential protection for reputation, its continued criminalization undermines democratic values and freedom of expression. The study concludes by recommending comprehensive reform including the decriminalization of defamation, clearer cyber regulation, and stronger civil remedies that balance reputation with free speech in the digital age.

The study investigated the influence of teacher training on English language proficiency among secondary school students in Ovia North East Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State, Nigeria. It also examined the perceived effectiveness of current teacher training programmes for English language teachers; determined the level of English language proficiency among secondary school students; investigated the relationship between teacher training and students' English language proficiency; identified the challenges faced by English language teachers despite their training in promoting students' English language proficiency. To guide this study, four research questions were raised. This research adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study is made up of all English language teachers and all secondary school students in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. Using simple random sampling, and purposive sampling, ninety-two (92) secondary school students (specifically SS1-SS3) were selected. The instruments for data collection were a questionnaire titled "Teacher Training and Proficiency Questionnaire" and "Student English Language Proficiency Test ". The findings of this study revealed that teacher training programmes enhanced instructional skills and teaching quality, though they suffered from inadequate resourcing and limited follow-up mechanisms. Secondary school students exhibited moderate proficiency levels across vocabulary, grammar, speaking, listening, writing, and comprehension skills. The findings in research question three showed a significant positive correlation between teacher training quality and students' English language proficiency, confirming that better-trained teachers achieve improved student outcomes. It was also found that teachers faced substantial challenges including inadequate instructional material. Based on the findings, this study recommends that school authorities should ensure mandatory employment of qualified English language teachers in secondary schools; the government and educational stakeholders must address the factors affecting students' performance by providing adequate teaching and learning materials, employing more qualified teachers, and creating conducive learning environments; school authorities should adopt the suggested improvement strategies including provision of variety of teaching materials, regular in-service training for teachers, and increased instructional time for English language learning to enhance teacher effectiveness and student outcomes.

This study, titled Election Petitions: Towards Curbing Electoral Malpractice in Nigeria, critically examines the role of election petitions in promoting electoral integrity within Nigeria’s democratic framework. Elections, though indispensable to representative government, have been persistently undermined by malpractice, including vote buying, ballot stuffing, intimidation, and falsification of results. The study interrogates whether Nigeria’s system of election petitions is adequate to address these challenges. Using a doctrinal and comparative methodology, the study reviewed constitutional and statutory provisions, judicial decisions, and scholarly works. It analysed the jurisdiction of tribunals and courts, procedures, grounds, timelines, and remedies in electoral adjudication. It also examines electoral offences under the Electoral Act 2022 and how election petitions and criminal prosecution in Nigeria have helped to curb electoral malpractice in Nigeria, and its challenges. The study found that while election petitions are indispensable for resolving disputes and legitimizing elections, they are constrained by heavy evidentiary burdens, strict timelines, judicial technicalities, and high litigation costs. There is also the issue of weak enforcement of electoral offences. Comparative analysis revealed best practices such as Kenya’s emphasis on technology and transparency, as well as Romania and Ghana’s electoral commission accountability, and India’s robust judicial sanctions. The study concludes that Nigeria’s system requires reform to strengthen judicial independence, ease evidentiary burdens, improve INEC’s accountability, and establish an Electoral Offences Commission. Such reforms will enhance the deterrent effect of election petitions, curb malpractice, and consolidate democratic governance.

Melanoides tuberculata is a freshwater snail of medical importance and serves as an intermediate host for several parasitic trematodes that affect both humans and animals. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of trematode infections in M. tuberculata snails from River Siluko in Ovia South-West Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. A total of 83 snails were collected in two batches: 17 and 66 specimens in May and July, 2025, respectively. All snails were subjected to standard cercarial shedding techniques and examined for the presence of trematode larvae under a dissecting microscope. Thereafter they were crushed and also examined. None of the snails shed cercaria. However, trematode larval stages (redia and furcocercous cercariae) were recovered from two (2.41%) of the snails examined after crushing. Only the snails examined in May were infected while none was infected in July. This finding showed that M. tuberculata from River Siluko harbors trematode infections, although at a relatively low prevalence. This indicates the role of M. tuberculata as an intermediate host for trematodes infection. The finding provides insight into the potential health risk posed by the aquatic environment of River Siluko. This study contributes to the understanding of the epidemiology of snail-borne trematode infections in the region and offers valuable data that can support public health planning, especially in community like Siluko that relied on water from the river for domestic and recreational activities. There is therefore need for continuous monitoring of freshwater snails parasites infection in the area.

Fire outbreaks in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings continue to pose significant threats to lives, property, and the environment, largely due to delayed detection and inefficient response mechanisms. Traditional fire-fighting systems often rely on manual operation or wired infrastructure, which may limit their effectiveness during emergencies. This study presents the design and development of a smart wireless fire-fighting system aimed at improving early fire detection, rapid alerting, and efficient fire suppression within building environments. The proposed system integrates temperature sensors, smoke sensors, and flame sensors with a microcontroller unit to continuously monitor environmental conditions in real time. Wireless communication technology is employed to transmit data and alerts to a central control unit and authorized mobile devices, enabling remote monitoring and timely response. Upon detecting abnormal conditions indicative of fire, the system automatically triggers alarms and activates fire-suppression mechanisms such as water sprinklers while simultaneously notifying building occupants and emergency responders. The design emphasizes low power consumption, scalability, and reliability, making it suitable for both smalland large-scale building applications. Simulation and prototype testing results demonstrate that the system is capable of accurately detecting fire incidents at an early stage and responding within a short time frame, thereby reducing potential damage and enhancing occupant safety. The wireless architecture eliminates complex wiring requirements, reduces installation costs, and allows easy expansion and maintenance. Overall, the smart wireless fire-fighting system provides an effective, intelligent, and cost-efficient solution for modern building fire safety management and contributes to the advancement of smart building technologies.

his study examines the impact of fiscal federalism and revenue allocation on local government autonomy, using Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State as a case study. Despite the constitutional recognition of three tiers of government, Nigeria's centralized fiscal framework often undermines the financial and administrative independence of local councils. The study specifically explored how the concentration of revenue powers and the operation of the State Local Government Joint Account (JAC) affect the developmental capacity of Oredo LGA. Adopting a descriptive research design, the study utilized a sample of 150 staff members from the Oredo Local Government Council, selected through stratified random sampling. Data collected via structured questionnaires were analyzed using mean scores, standard deviation, and Chi-Square statistical tests. The findings reveal that Nigeria's current fiscal federalism significantly limits the financial autonomy of Oredo LGA, as heavy reliance on statutory allocations and state-level interference through the JAC system disrupts budget implementation and service delivery. Furthermore, the council faces internal challenges in revenue generation, including technological gaps and low tax compliance. The study concludes that without genuine fiscal independence, local governments remain administrative appendages of the state rather than effective agents of grassroots development. Consequently, it is recommended that the federal government implement direct statutory allocations to local councils to bypass the bottlenecks of the Joint Account. Additionally, the study suggests strengthening legal safeguards for local autonomy and investing in modern technology to enhance internally generated revenue, thereby ensuring sustainable development and improved public service delivery at the grassroots level.

Electronic prescription (e-prescribing) systems, which promise improved patient safety, increased productivity, and a reduction in pharmaceutical errors, have revolutionized the healthcare industry by replacing traditional paper-based prescriptions. By allowing medical professionals to electronically communicate prescriptions directly to pharmacies, e-prescribing lowers the risk of human error and unreadable handwriting. Research has demonstrated that this digital strategy improves workflow and patient care in addition to streamlining the prescription procedure (Baruah et al. 2020; Samad et al. 2021)

This study examines the Use of Force in Public International Law, the prohibition of the use of force as provided for in Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter and the exceptions to the use of force as provided for in Article 51 of the Charter. It also examines the non-state actors— Hezbollah’s and Houthi’s attacks against the State of Israel, the unwillingness of the Governments of Lebanon, Syria and Yemen to address those attacks, and the State of Israel’s right to self-defense which includes preemptive strikes and preventive strategies with focus on the State of Israel’s legitimate rights to resort to the use of armed force guaranteed by the principle of jus ad bellum. The significance of the Caroline Test in Customary International Law, the Bethlehem Principles, and state practice as justifications for the State of Israel’s anticipatory/preemptive attacks against Lebanon, Yemen and the Islamic Republic of Iran. By carefully examining the fundamental principles provided for in the United Nations Charter and customary international law, this study aims to explore the key requirements that must be satisfied before a given state can legally resort to anticipatory/preemptive self-defense. The concept of anticipatory/preemptive self-defense under Public International Law has always been contentious and controversial, however, in the aftermath of the terrorists’ attacks of September 11, 2001, the principle has become even more controversial, as the US President, Bush adopted a new national security strategy. Consequently, the Bush administration contended that the United States “must adapt the concept of imminent threat to the capabilities and objectives of today’s adversaries… the greater the threat, the greater is the risk of inaction—and the more compelling the case for taking anticipatory action to defend ourselves, even if uncertainty remains as to the time and place of the enemy’s attack.” 1The debate as to whether anticipatory/preemptive self-defense is legally justified is largely dependent on the understanding of the contemporary dynamics of Public International Law, as there has been a clear shift from what was obtainable at the Charter was adopted. There is absolutely no doubt that the resort to anticipatory/preemptive military action without a corresponding imminent threat is unlawful and unjustified, however, if the extant legal framework as provided for by the United Nations Charter does no longer precisely reflect the current Public International Law, then it would be argued that resort to anticipatory/preemptive self-defense may, in fact be lawful, though politically unwise.2The focus of this study is to evaluate through doctrinal legal research, analysis of critical international jurisprudence, state practice, and the analysis of case study the extent to which the State of Israel’s anticipatory/preemptive self-defense complies with the well-established rules of Public International Law as it pertains to international peace and security which are fundamental to the objectives of the United Nations Charter. Further, it critically examines the doctrine of anticipatory/preemptive use of force against the backdrops of contemporary threats of the acquisition of nuclear weapons, terrorism, proxy warfare, drone and missile attacks.

This study examines the impact of performance appraisal as a tool for enhancing productivity in an organization, with a focus on the Edo State Civil Service. Performance appraisal serves as a critical mechanism for evaluating employee performance, identifying areas for improvement, and fostering professional development. The study explores the effectiveness of appraisal systems in motivating staff, aligning individual objectives with organizational goals, and enhancing overall productivity. A mixed-methods approach was adopted (primary, utilizing surveys, interviews, and secondary data organizational data) to assess the perception and effectiveness of appraisal practices among civil servants. The study concluded that well-structured performance appraisals contribute significantly to employee motivation, skill development, and job satisfaction, while poorly implemented systems lead to dissatisfaction and reduced productivity. The study recommends regular training for supervisors, transparent evaluation criteria, and employee involvement in appraisal design to optimize productivity and organizational success. These insights underscore the importance of performance appraisal as a strategic tool for achieving organizational excellence in the public sector.