| Source | Date | Title | Summary of Report | Subject/Category | Page No./Weblink | 1 | |
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| Vanguard | 8 January 2024 | PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU SUSPENDS BETTA EDU | Following the reported scandal against Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, including the approval of payment of 585 million naira into private accounts of civil servants. In the statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President noted that the action is in keeping with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians. He further directed the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as one or more agencies thereunder. This suspension is said to take immediate effect. | APC Ministers Betta Edu Tinubu | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/breaking-tinubu-suspends-betta-edu/ | ||
| Premium Times Vanguard | 8 January 2024 | SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS BENUE GOVERNOR’S ELECTION | The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia. Mr Alia who was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) defeated Titus Uba of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) at the 18 March 2023 poll. Mr Uba, who was speaker of the Benue State House Assembly when he vied to rule the state, accused Nigeria’s electoral commission, INEC, and Mr Alia of electoral malpractices during the election. After he lost his cases seeking to nullify Mr Alia’s election at the Benue State Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, Mr Uba approached the Supreme Court where he sought to invalidate the polls. However, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court led by John Okoro said issues raised in the appeal did not qualify as post-election matters. In resolving the dispute, the Supreme Court prevailed on the lawyer to the PDP and Mr Titus, Sebastine Hon, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to withdraw the appeal, paving the way for its dismissal on Monday. | Supreme Court Benue Hyacinth Alia APC | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/breaking-supreme-court-affirms-alias-election-as-benue-gov/ https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/657018-supreme-court-affirms-benue-governors-election-reserves-decision-on-ebonyi.html | ||
| ChannelsTV | 8 January 2024 | SUPREME COURT RESERVES ITS DECISION ON EBONYI STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION | The Supreme Court has reserved Judgement in the Ebonyi State governorship election appeal to a date that will be communicated to parties. Ifeanyi Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bernard Odo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) are challenging the victory of Governor Francis Nwifuru for the March 18 governorship poll in the state declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). They are alleging irregularities during the governorship poll and that Governor Nwifuru was not a member of the APC at the time of the election. After parties adopted their briefs of argument on Monday, 8 January 2024, Justice John Okoro reserved the Judgement. The Court of Appeal Lagos, had earlier affirmed the election of Fran¬cis Nwifuru as the duly elected governor of Ebonyi State, dismissing the appeal filed by Chukwuma Odii. The court held that the PDP and its candidate lacked the legal right to meddle in the internal affairs of the All Progressives Congress as it relates to the nomination of candidates. The Chairman of the APC in Ebonyi State, Stanley Okoro-Emegha, in reacting to the court’s disposition, expressed confidence in the judiciary to deliver a judgment that will serve the interest of democracy and Ebonyians, who came out to exercise their franchise on March the 18 Governorship election. | Ebonyi Supreme Court Governorship election | https://www.channelstv.com/2024/01/08/just-in-supreme-court-reserves-judgement-in-ebonyi-govship-election-appeal/ https://www.channelstv.com/2023/08/23/ebonyi-gov-election-pdp-apc-react-as-tribunal-reserves-judgment/ | ||
| Vanguard | 10 January 2024 | Perm Sec, Enitan takes over from suspended Betta Edu | Following the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation over the 585-million-naira scandal, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, has assumed responsibility for the ministry. The President has also tasked a panel that is headed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to, among other functions, conduct a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes. This is with a view to conclusively reforming the relevant institutions and programmes in a determined bid to eliminate all institutional frailties for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and win back lost public confidence in the initiative. | Betta Edu Permanent Sec Suspension | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/n585m-scandal-perm-sec-enitan-takes-over-from-suspended-betta-edu/ | ||
| This Day Live | 10 January 2024 | Court Orders Remand of Ex-minister, Olu Agunloye at Kuje Correctional Centre | A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja has ordered the remand of a former Minister of Power and Steel, Chief Olu Agunloye, at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja. The minister was recently arrested and detained for some days by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged criminal offences. The commission had said that it was investigating the former minister over alleged corruption and fraud in the $6 billion Mambilla hydropower contract. But the minister denied the allegation and pleaded not guilty to the charge read against him. The remand order was pending the hearing and determination of his bail application. | Kuje Power and Steel Minister Olu Agunloye | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/01/10/court-orders-remand-of-ex-minister-olu-agunloye-at-kuje-correctional-centre | ||
| Premium Times | 10 January 2024 | Tinubu reduces entourage on foreign trips for President, VP, Ministers, others | President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has slashed the number of officials that will accompany him and other top government officials on any foreign trip. The Presidential Spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, says the action is part of “massive cost-cutting measures.” According to him, the cost-cutting exercise affects the entire apparatus of the federal government including the office of the President, vice president and the first lady. | Tinubu Ministers Shettima | https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/657425-tinubu-slashes-nigerian-government-foreign-trips-delegation.html | ||
| Premium Times | 10 January 2024 | Plateau Massacre: Police arrests 3 Suspects | The police on Tuesday said they had arrested three suspected members of a gunrunning syndicate in connection with the 24 December attack on some communities in Plateau. This follows the attack on Christmas Eve when over 100 people were killed in three local government areas of Plateau. The attack has been condemned by Nigerians and President Bola Tinubu has ordered security agencies to fish out the suspects. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks in a state where thousands of people have been killed in similar incidents blamed on ethno-religious differences. However, the suspects were arrested following a report that three persons, who were in transit from Keffi, Nassarawa State, to Niger/Kwara states were attacked and killed by unknown persons. | Massacre Plateau Police Suspects | https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/657532-plateau-massacre-police-announce-arrest-of-three-suspected-gunrunners.html | ||
| Premium Times | 12 January 2024 | Bye-election: 12 candidates jostle for Gbajabiamila’s seat in Surulere | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State has said Twelve candidates from different political parties will be contesting the 3 February Surulere Federal Constituency I bye-election. According to Prof. Ayobami Salami, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, a list of 14 political parties was forwarded from the national headquarters to partake in the process but only 12 political parties eventually participated and have been submitted for publication. | INEC LGA Election Bye-election | https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/657931-bye-election-12-candidates-jostle-for-gbajabiamilas-seat-in-surulere.html | ||
| Daily Trust | 12 January 2024 | SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS ENO AS GOVERNOR OF AKWA IBOM STATE | The Supreme Court has dismissed three separate appeals of the APC, YPP and NNPP seeking the nullification of the election of Akwa Ibom State governor, Umo Eno of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on account of alleged certificate forgery. Lead counsel to the respective parties withdrew their separate appeals following the hints from the court’s panel of justices that they have no merit. The petitions of the parties were thereafter dismissed by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji upon their withdrawals. | Supreme Court Governor Eno INEC | https://dailytrust.com/supreme-court-affirms-eno-as-akwa-ibom-gov/ | ||
| Vanguard | 12 January 2024 | OSUN APC SUES ADELEKE FOR ALLEGEDLY APPOINTING A MEMBER OF PDP AS OSIEC CHAIRMAN | The All Progressives Congress (APC) has instituted a suit against Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun at the Federal High Court, Osogbo, for allegedly appointing a member of the Peoples Democratic Party as the Chairman, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC). The opposition party is asking the court to set aside the appointment of Mr Hasim Abioye as OSIEC Chairman. | APC Osun PDP OSIEC Adeleke | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/osun-apc-sues-adeleke-for-allegedly-appointing-pdp-member-as-osiec-chairman/ | ||
| Vanguard | 12 January 2024 | BREAKING: SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS SANWO-OLU AS LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR | The Supreme court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel led by Justice Inyang Okoro, has affirmed Governor Sanwo-Olu as the Governor of Lagos State, dismissing the two separate appeals against his return as winner of the governorship election on March 18 as lacking merit. The appeals were brought before the court by candidates of the Labour Party, LP, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, and that of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Abdulazeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor. The LP and its candidate had prayed to the court to determine whether Sanwo-Olu, was qualified to contest the election, considering that his deputy and running mate, Obafemi Hamzat, has dual citizenship. The appellants alleged that the Lagos State deputy governor took the citizenship of the United States of America, USA. They argued that since the deputy governor, by his action, was constitutionally ineligible to contest the election, it invalidated Sanwo-Olu’s candidature at the election. However, the Supreme Court in its lead judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Garba Lawal held that there was no evidence that Sanwo-Olu’s deputy denounced his Nigerian citizenship. It held that the prohibitions in Section 28 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, was not applicable to a person that is a Nigerian citizen by birth. The appeals were thereafter dismissed | Supreme Court APC SANWO-OLU LAGOS GOVERNOR | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/breaking-supreme-court-affirms-sanwo-olu-as-lagos-governor/ | ||
| This Day Live | 15 January 2024 | NATIONAL ASSEMBLY POSTPONES RESUMPTION TO 30 JANUARY 2024 | The National Assembly will now resume plenary on January 30 instead of January 23, 2024. In an announcement addressed to all Honourable Members of the House of Representatives, the Clerk to the House of Representatives said the new resumption date will be Tuesday, January 30, 2024. The short message titled: “Announcement” and signed by Danzaria reads: “I am directed inform Hon Members that the resumption date for both Senate and House of Representatives has been shifted upwards from Tuesday, 23rd January, 2024 (earlier announced) to Tuesday, 30th January, 2024 at 11:00am prompt. All inconveniences are regretted.” The Senate and House of Representatives had delayed their Yuletide recess to enable them consider and pass the 2024 budget. | NASS PLENARY | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/01/14/national-assembly-postpones-resumption-till-january-30 | ||
| This Day Live | 15 January 2024 | PDP Heads to NJC over Appeal Court Verdict Ousting Plateau Lawmakers | The National Working Committee (NWC) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sent petitions to the National Judicial Council (NJC) and Federal Judicial Service Commission over its members in the Senate, House of Representatives, and Plateau State House of Assembly sacked by the Court of Appeal last year. The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had in November last year sacked all 16 members of PDP in the Plateau State House of Assembly for pre-election matters bordering on alleged disobedience of court order and lack of political structure. Before then, the appeal court had sacked four PDP members of the House of Representatives from the state and two senators. Based on the apex court’s decision reversing the sack of the Plateau State governor by the appeal court and the consenting opinions of the justices, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said that the party had resolved to petition the relevant institutions in the federal judiciary to review the Court of Appeal’s decisions regarding the alleged injustice against the 16 lawmakers from Plateau State. Abdullahi said, “Certainly, yes, we have already commenced efforts in that regard. This is because what the Supreme Court justices did was an indictment on the Justices of the Court of Appeal. “We have always maintained that line of argument. We are going to seek redress on the members of parliament concerned. Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly. The redress will focus on their respective offices.” | PDP COURT OF APPEAL PLATEAU LAWMAKERS | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/01/15/pdp-heads-to-njc-over-appeal-court-verdict-ousting-plateau-lawmakers | ||
| Guardian | 15 January 2024 | Startup Act: Anambra to domesticate legislation, engages stakeholders | Anambra State has begun moves towards the domestication of the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA), marking a significant milestone in the journey towards technological advancement in the state. According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Business Incubation, Chinwe Okoli, the state has convened a two-day ecosystem stakeholders’ engagement and validation session, which brought together key stakeholders, government officials and industry players to discuss the adoption of this groundbreaking legislation and validate pertinent issues that should be considered. Okoli noted that the event witnessed the presence of dignitaries and other stakeholders from the academia, hub founders, startups, tech community, and others. Speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, stressed the need for the state to embrace technology urgently and become champions of positive disruption and leaders of global technology revolution. | START UP ACT LEGISLATION STAKEHOLDERS | https://guardian.ng/news/startup-act-anambra-to-domesticate-legislation-engages-stakeholders/ | ||
| Guardian | 15 January 2024 | Wike orders clampdown on street lights vandals in FCT | The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has directed security agencies to clampdown on criminals vandalising street lights in the federal capital, Abuja. Wike, on assumption of duty as FCT Minister, identified the restoration of street lights as one of his cardinal agenda to light up the city, as part of efforts to make Abuja a befitting capital city. However, while efforts were ongoing to restore and make all streetlights functional across the city, some miscreants resorted to vandalising the facilities, particularly the solar-powered ones in some parts of the city. While noting that street lighting of the FCT had improved drastically in line with the directive of the FCT Minister, Dr Peter Olumuji, Secretary, Command and Control Centre, Department of Security, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), acknowledged that there is an ongoing sabotage by unidentified criminals. He said that the FCTA Department of Security Service had received reports on the vandalisation of the streetlights, taking place mostly in the middle of the night. The reports indicated that the miscreants target the solar-powered streetlights, their batteries, solar panels, and the lightning mechanisms, including the poles. He thereafter disclosed that the FCT Minister had directed the Police Commissioner, FCT Command, in charge of internal security to clampdown on the criminals sabotaging ongoing efforts to light up the city. He added that the officer in charge of critical infrastructure and national assets at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps was equally asked to work with the police to track and arrest the culprits. | WIKE FCT SECURITY | https://guardian.ng/news/wike-orders-clampdown-on-street-lights-vandals-in-fct-official/ | ||
| Premium Times | 15 January 2024 | Nigeria’s inflation hits 28.92% amid high food prices | Nigeria’s annual inflation rate rose to 28.92 per cent in December 2023 from 28.20 per cent in November, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Monday. The statistics office said the December 2023 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.72 per cent points when compared to the November 2023 headline inflation rate. The NBS said on a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 7.58 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in December 2022, which was 21.34 per cent. Furthermore, the bureau said on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in December 2023 was 2.29 per cent, which was 0.20 per cent higher than the rate recorded in November 2023 (2.09 per cent). This, it said, means that in December 2023, the rate of increase in the average price level is more than the rate of increase in the average price level in November 2023. According to the report, the food inflation rate in December 2023 quickened to 33.93 per cent on a year-on-year basis, which was 10.18 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in December 2022 (23.75 per cent). He also directed that “all matters pertaining to food & water availability and affordability, as essential livelihood items, be included within the purview of the National Security Council.” | Inflation Nigeria Food | https://www.premiumtimesng.com/business/business-news/659093-breaking-nigerias-inflation-hits-28-92-amid-high-food-prices.html | ||
| Vanguard | 15 January 2024 | FG’s N35,000 wage award to continue till minimum wage – NLC | Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President, has said that the Federal government will continue its N35,000 wage award until a new minimum wage is determined. Recall that President Bola Tinubu, on October 1, had approved N35,000 as the provisional wage increment for all Treasury-paid workers for six months. This was part of an agreement reached with organised labour to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy. However, the federal government has only paid two months of the wage award that commenced in September 2023. Ajaero, while speaking against the backdrop of the payment of the wage award, said the payment would run for only six months before the commencement of the national minimum wage. Ajaero noted that other issues that were yet to be implemented by the federal government include the Port Harcourt refineries, CNG buses, and wage awards, among others. He, however, assured workers that the issues were being looked into holistically. According to him, “We are not starting the year with even the minimum wage; we have to look at the sanity and compliance of the agreement already entered into with the government…We did not sign a six-month wage agreement with the Federal Government; we signed a wage agreement that will be in existence until the new minimum wage is determined.” | NLC JOE AJAERO MINIMUM WAGE | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/fgs-n35000-wage-award-to-continue-till-minimum-wage-nlc/ | ||
| Vanguard | 16 JANUARY 2024 | EFCC arrests ex-minister, Charles Ugwuh and 1 other over alleged N3.6bn fraud | The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested a former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Charles Chukwuemeka Ugwuh, for an alleged conspiracy and fraud to the tune of N3.6bn. The EFCC’s Spokesman, Mr. Dele Oyewale, on Monday, said Ugwuh was arrested alongside Chief Geoffrey Ekenma at No.2, Musa Yar Adua way, New Owerri, Imo State, following a petition to the Commission from a new generation bank on the alleged fraud perpetrated through a company, Ebony Agro Industries Ltd., linked to the ex-Minister. Investigations revealed that Ugwuh and Ekenma, Managing Director, Ebony Agro Industries Ltd., allegedly obtained a loan facility from the bank for the purchase and production of polished rice. However, the suspect, according to the petitioner, failed to meet up his obligations to the bank and all efforts to get him to repay the loan facility proved abortive. “The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” EFCC said on Monday. | EFCC FRAUD LAGOS | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/efcc-arrests-ex-minister-charles-ugwuh-1-other-over-alleged-n3-6bn-fraud/ | ||
| Premium Times | 16 JANUARY 2024 | Rivers Assembly to rescreen commissioners who resigned from Fubara’s cabinet | The Clerk of the House, Emeka Amadi on Monday in Port Harcourt, has announced that the Rivers House of Assembly, on Wednesday, will re-screen and re-confirm nine former commissioners who resigned from Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s cabinet. The commissioners’ resignation was done to spite Mr Fubara in the heat of the political battle between the governor and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is the minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Their planned reinstatement is part of the peace deal mediated by President Bola Tinubu. The governor said some days ago that he was committed to implementing the peace deal. It is, however, unclear for now if Governor Fubara forwarded the list of the commissioners to the Assembly in line with the requirement of the law. The commissioners include the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Zacchaeus Adangor; Commissioner for Works, Des George-Kelly; Commissioner for Special Duties, Emeka Woke; Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Inime Aguma; and Commissioner for Finance, Isaac Kamalu. Others are: the Commissioner for Education, Chinedu Mmom; Commissioner for Housing, Gift Worlu; Commissioner for Transport, Jacobson Nbina; and Commissioner for Environment, Austin Ben-Chioma. | RIVERS HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY COMMISSIONERS | https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/659289-rivers-assembly-to-reconfirm-commissioners-who-resigned-from-fubaras-cabinet.html | ||
| ChannelsTV | 16 JANUARY 2024 | Nasarawa Gov: Supreme Court Reserves Judgement In Appeal Challenging Sule’s Victory | The Supreme Court has reserved judgement in the appeal filed by David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the election of Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule. Ombugadu and Sule have been in a running legal tussle over the outcome of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Nasarawa State. On Tuesday, the court presided over by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun reserved the judgments to a date to be communicated to the parties after counsels to the appellants and respondents adopted their briefs of argument. The apex court also reserved judgement in the appeal filed by Major General Aminu Bande, the PDP governorship candidate in Kebbi State, challenging the election of Nasir Idris of the APC as the governor of the state. Last year, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Sule the winner of the March 18 governorship election. Sule polled 347, 209 votes to defeat his closest opponent, PDP’s Ombugadu who got 283, 016 votes. Dissatisfied with the election outcome, the PDP candidate approached the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, challenging INEC’s declaration of Sule as the winner of the poll. He complained to the tribunal that his actual votes were unjustifiably reduced. At the same time, Abdullahi Sule of the APC was increased to aid Sule to victory, particularly in the forms EC8Bs of Gayam and Chiroma Wards of Lafia Local Government Area. About seven months later, Ombugadu got judgement in his favour on October 2 as the tribunal nullified Sule’s election and declared him as the winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state. Delivering the judgment virtually, the Chairman of the tribunal Justice Ezekiel Ajayi declared Ombugadu of the PDP as the lawfully elected governor of Nasarawa State. Sule, who was displeased with the tribunal ruling, appealed the verdict at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. Ruling on the appeal on November 23, the appellate court reversed the sack of Gov Sule by the State Election Petitions Tribunal. The three-member panel led by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam held that the Tribunal was legally bound to act on witness statements filed along with the petition or front-loaded within 21 days stipulated by law. The appellate court held that the tribunal led by Ezekiel Ajayi acted in grave error in using witness statements on oath not front-loaded as required by law to arrive at the unjust conclusion of nullifying the election of the governor. | NASARAWA SUPREME COURT COURT OF APPEAL GOVERNOR SULE | https://www.channelstv.com/2024/01/16/nasarawa-gov-supreme-court-reserves-judgement-in-appeal-challenging-sules-victory/ | ||
| ChannelsTV | 16 JANUARY 2024 | Court Strikes Out Mompha’s Suit to Vacate EFCC’s Arrest Warrant | The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday struck out a suit filed by internet celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha (popularly known as Mompha), seeking to vacate an order made for his arrest for lack of diligent prosecution. Mompha, who currently resides in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, in the suit filed by his lawyers, had asked the court for an order mandating the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to withdraw the request for his arrest made to the ICPO-INTERPOL in March 2023, given that the anti-graft agency failed and/or refused to furnish the ICPO-INTERPOL with specific details of the allegations against him. At the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, Mompha was absent in court neither was he represented by any lawyer. But lawyer to the EFCC, Sulaiman Sulaiman, asked the court to strike out the suit for lack of diligent prosecution. In urging the court to strike out the suit, Sulaiman informed Justice Faji that neither the applicant nor his legal representative has been in court to prosecute the suit since it was filed in 2023. After hearing Sulaiman’s submission, the court went through its records and subsequently acceded to the EFCC lawyer’s request to strike out the suit. | EFCC ARREST WARRANT | https://www.channelstv.com/2024/01/15/court-strikes-out-momphas-suit-to-vacate-efccs-arrest-warrant/ | ||
| ChannelsTV | 16 JANUARY 2024 | Alleged N4.8bn Fraud: EFCC Asks Court To Dismiss Ibeto’s Appeal Against Arrest | The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos to dismiss an appeal filed by the Chairman of Ibeto Energy Development Company, Cletus Ibeto, seeking to nullify the bench warrant issued against him by a Lagos State High Court. The EFCC told the three-man panel of appeal led by Justice Muhammed Mustapha that the lower court has the power to order the arrest of the businessman, notwithstanding that he filed a preliminary objection challenging its jurisdiction to trial him. On November 3, 2023, Justice Ismail Ijelu of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja had ordered Ibeto’s arrest after he failed to appear before the court on four different occasions to take his plea over an alleged N4.8 billion fraud despite repeated hearing notices served on him. The anti-graft agency had charged the defendant alongside his companies, Ibeto Energy Development Company and Odoh Holdings Ltd, on a 10-count charge of conspiracy, fraud, forgery and fraudulent use of documents. Through his lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Wole Olanipekun, the defendant filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear him. He argued that his preliminary objection raised the issue of constitutional territorial and that it is of such a threshold nature that it demands to be heard and determined before arraignment. He also contended that his presence in court and his arraignment are not mandatory or preconditions for the hearing of a preliminary objection touching on the court’s jurisdiction, which was already ripe for adjudication. The appellant, therefore, asked the Court Appeal to set aside or vacate the warrant of arrest and also strike out the suit before the lower court. But the counsel for the EFCC, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Jacobs, argued that it is only when the appellant appears before the court and takes his plea to the charge that issues are joined in a criminal trial and that until this happens, he is technically outside the court’s jurisdiction. Jacobs also submitted that the appearance of the appellant’s counsel is insufficient because the law empowers the court when satisfied that the defendant is absent without a valid excuse, to issue a bench warrant against him to secure his presence in court. The EFCC prosecutor further stated that the intention of the lawmaker in enacting section 396 (2) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, (ACJA) is that any objection regarding the validity of a charge should only be raised after the plea of the defendant has been taken. During Monday’s proceedings, Jacobs also told the court that Chief Ibeto had approached the anti-graft agency seeking to enter a plea bargain arrangement and pay back the money he allegedly obtained from the nominal complainant, Chief Daniel Chukwudozie. Chief Wole Olanipekun however denied knowledge of the discussion; he told the appellate court that his client told him to continue with the appeal. Following the development, the court fixed May 7 for the adoption of the appeal by the lawyers. | EFCC IBETO FRAUD | https://www.channelstv.com/2024/01/15/alleged-n4-8bn-fraud-efcc-asks-court-to-dismiss-ibetos-appeal-against-arrest/ | ||
| ChannelsTV | 16 JANUARY 2024 | Insecurity: Declare State of Emergency In Abuja, FCT PCC Tells FG | Due to the rising insecurity, kidnapping, and incessant attacks on residents in Abuja by bandits, The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner for Public Complaint Dalhatu Ezekiel has asked the Federal Government to prioritize the the area’s security situation and immediately declare a state of emergency. Dalhatu was speaking on Monday at a press briefing organized to address the insecurity in the FCT. He also called on the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to suspend all projects currently ongoing if need be to address this pertinent issue that involves the lives of FCT residents. He said this as he called for the setting up of a civilian joint task force as an alternative means of combating insecurity in rural areas | FCT INSECURITY PCC FG | https://www.channelstv.com/2024/01/15/insecurity-declare-state-emergency-in-abuja-fct-pcc-tells-fg/ | ||
| ChannelsTV | 16 JANUARY 2024 | Police Inspector Detained Over Alleged Misconduct in Ogun | The Ogun State Police Command has detained an inspector over alleged misconduct in the Ijebu Ode Local Government Area of the state. On Tuesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, said the inspector is being tried for an “alleged assault and extortion of a 24-year-old lady at a checkpoint in Ijagun junction, near Tai Solarin University of Education.” Odutola said the police authorities swung into action following a viral video that captured the inspector assaulting the victim. “The complaint reported by one Soyemi Abidemi Funmilola, 24 years old, on the 13th of January 2024, led to a thorough investigation conducted by the State Criminal Investigation Department,” she said. “The investigation was able to confirm the officers’ misconduct by tracing the account number into which money extorted was deposited. The money has been recovered and marked as exhibits,” he said. She reiterated the commitment of the State Police Command to its zero tolerance for misconduct by police personnel. She maintained that the police commissioner has also stressed the importance of respecting the fundamental human rights of citizens at different lectures conducted for officers and men of the Command. She further warned that the Command “will sanction any officer that infringes on the rights of the members of the public.” | OGUN POLICE MISCONDUCT | https://www.channelstv.com/2024/01/16/police-inspector-detained-over-alleged-misconduct-in-ogun/ | ||
| Vanguard | 17 JANUARY 2024 | Building destroyed as explosion rocks Ibadan | RESIDENTS in various parts of Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State, were terrified yesterday as a deafening sound, which appeared to be a massive explosion shook most parts of the city. There were, however, unformed reports that many people were feared dead following the explosion in Ibadan. It was not immediately clear what caused the Ibadan explosion or where it originated. Windows were reportedly blown out at several locations, including at a pharmacy and a restaurant. The number of casualties could not be confirmed as of press time. Major places in Ibadan metropolis and the outskirts of the city felt the ground shaking some minutes before 8 pm. According to information gathered by Vanguard, the heavy sound shook the School of Nursing hostel of the University College Hospital and shattered all the windows. Some residents of Ologuneru, Owalla, Isokan, Ekerin, Eleyele and parts of Apete also said they felt the shaking. At Ologuneru, the gates and fence of a building shook but did not collapse. Other places affected are Olodo, Apata, Iyana church, Sango, Agbowo, Bodija Housing and others. There were contradictory reports regarding the terrifying sound. Besides homes, the popular mall at Bodija Housing Estate, Ibadan was also affected. All the roofs of the mall collapsed. Some hoodlums capitalized on the incident and started looting the mall. The famous University College Hospital was also affected as nurses report that some windows were shattered. The cause of the explosion remains unknown as police investigation is ongoing to identify the cause. | IBADAN EXPLOSION | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/buildings-destroyed-as-explosion-rocks-ibadan/ | ||
| Vanguard | 17 JANUARY 2024 | Governor Hope Uzodimma dissolves cabinet | Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State Tuesday evening, dissolved the State Executive Council. Those affected included Secretary to the State Government, Commissioners, Special Advisers and Senior Special Advisers, Chief of Staff, and the Chief Press Secretary. While dissolving the cabinet, Uzodimma thanked his former appointees for their contributions towards the success of his administration during his first term in office. He said the dissolution has become necessary to rejig the new administration for optimum performance and new direction. | HOPE UZODIMMA IMO CABINET | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/gov-uzodimma-dissolves-cabinet/ | ||
| Vanguard | 17 JANUARY 2024 | Fubara swears in 16 permanent secs, gives them SUVs | The Rivers State Governor, Siminilayi Fubara, has sworn in new permanent secretaries, charging them to remain apolitical in the discharge of their duties as true professionals. Governor Fubara gave the charge shortly after the swearing in at Chamber of the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. The governor said they were chosen not because they were lucky, but were found competent in their various ministries and can be trusted to offer greater service to the State. Sir Fubara noted that most ministries were without proper administrative heads, with some of them playing supervisory roles. He said with their appointment, it is expected that they chart a proper course while committing to do the right things always. Fubara promised to provide provide permanent secretaries a conducive environment that will enhance their productivity. He said his administration had promised Rivers people better welfare with thriving security, and they were required to key into his policies to ensure better service delivery. The governor later directed the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, to hand over official cars to the 16 newly sworn in permanent secretaries. They were sworn in amidst tension. This was after the demand by the state House of Assembly for Governor Fubara to re-present the 2024 budget before it. | FUBARA SUVs PERMANENT SECRETARY | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/fubara-swears-in-16-permanent-secs-gives-them-suvs/ | ||
| BBC | 17 JANUARY 2024 | A court in New Jersey has ruled stolen assets worth £6.9m ($8.9m) can be returned to Nigeria. | After Jersey’s Attorney General served a forfeiture notice to the Royal Court in Jersey in November, the court ruled the money, deposited in a Jersey bank account, was likely stolen by officials in the Nigerian Government in 2014. The return of the assets will now be negotiated with the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The transfer of money was disguised as government-sanctioned contracts for arms purchases during incursions by Boko Haram in Nigeria between 2009 and 2015. The Government of Jersey said it was probable that most of the funds meant for legitimate arms deals were diverted through foreign bank accounts to and from shell companies. The Attorney General's office said it was believed the money went to family members of the former ruling party and was shared amongst its members during the 2015 general elections in Nigeria and that the tainted property in this case was to be used for the purposes of such an "illicit transaction". Mark Temple KC, His Majesty's Attorney General, said the Government of Jersey had worked in "close partnership" with the Federal Republic of Nigeria to recover the property on behalf of the people of Nigeria. He said: "This case again demonstrates the effectiveness of the 2018 Forfeiture Law in recovering the proceeds of corruption and restoring that money to victims of crime. | NEW JERSEY STOLEN ASSETS | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-jersey-67983818 | ||
| Vanguard | 17 JANUARY 2024 | FCTA workers reject new permanent secretary | Workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA, have rejected the posting of a new Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, calling for the full implementation of the FCT Civil Service Commission Law, 2018, which provided for the appointment of a chief accounting officer from within the Administration. The workers under the aegis of Joint Unions Action Committee JUAC, protested the deployment on Monday. The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation had announced President Bola Tinubu’s approval for posting of 24 permanent secretaries in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Ajani was consequently redeployed from the Transportation Ministry to the FCTA to replace the current Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, who would retire on Jan. 29. JUAC President, Mr Matilukuro Korede, who spoke on behalf of the workers challenged the deployment, which he described as an aberration to the FCT CSC Law. According to Korede, the Federal Executive Council had in October 2023, approved the implementation of the law establishing a CSC for FCT. “Last Thursday, we heard that the head of service has announced that she has gotten approval from President Tinubu to deploy another Permanent Secretary to FCT. We felt aggrieved because it is an aberration. As we speak now, the FCT CSC Law has been gazetted since 2018,” he said. He said since 2004, the staff of FCTA had been deprived of becoming permanent secretaries, adding that the law to make it possible was signed in 2018 but implementation became a problem. He said that Wike took the issue and within a month, secured President Tinubu’s approval for the implementation of the law. “But to our surprise, the Head of Service decided to include a name for appointment as permanent secretary for the FCT. As far as FCT is concerned, the permanent secretary should be appointed among the qualified directors in the FCTA and not from outside. This will provide an opportunity for the staff of FCTA to get to the peak of their career by becoming a permanent secretary. Our demand, therefore, is that the appointment of a permanent secretary outside the FCTA is an aberration and an anomaly that should be corrected. We are waiting for the implementation of the FCT Civil Service Commission. But between now and then, the law must be obeyed and what we know is that FCT CSC has come to stay,” he added. | FCTA | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/fcta-workers-reject-new-permanent-secretary/ | ||
| Daily Trust | 17 JANUARY 2024 | Insecurity: Bandits abduct 17 in Niger | Gunmen, in two separate attacks Tuesday, abducted 17 residents from Garam town and Zhibi community both in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State. Garam, where 14 people were abducted is located along the Sabon-Wuse-Bwari road, while Zhibi, where three others were also kidnapped is a community sharing boundaries Dei-Dei town, which is under Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. A commander of the vigilante group in Garam, Dantani Daniel, said the bandits struck Sabon-Unguwa area of the community around 1am. “They took their victims from different houses and left the community within less than an hour,” Daniel added. A resident said the assailants attacked the residence of a serving policeman residing in the community and shot at him. “He was rushed to the Kubwa General Hospital where he is responding to the treatment,” he added. Following this, President Bola Tinubu yesterday summoned service chiefs to an emergency meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, over the deteriorating security across the states of the federation, including the FCT. Although the outcome of the meeting was not disclosed to journalists, it was learnt that it was convened to review the current security situation in parts of Nigeria. Meanwhile, President Tinubu, while receiving a delegation of Jam’iyyatu Ansaridden at the State House yesterday described the spate of kidnappings and bandit attacks as disturbing, ungodly and sinister. He noted that education is the antidote to the troubles agitating the nation. In the same vein, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, yesterday, met with the chairmen of the six area councils in the Territory, and security agencies over the frequent attacks on residents. He asked the residents not to panic, assuring that measures would be taken to resolve the security challenge. The minister frowned at constant travels by the area council chairmen in the wake of the security challenges in the FCT communities. Further on the state of the nation, the Federal Government Tuesday sought the support of the French government on security. The Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, at a closed-door meeting with members of French Parliament and Defence Commission, led by Gassilloud Thomas, appealed to France for help in the area of “defence cooperation”. According to a statement by the spokesman of the ministry, Henshaw Ogubike, the minister said the relationship between Nigeria and France needed to be strengthened in the area of military equipment and training of Nigeria’s military personnel. The senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, Tuesday decried the Territory’s current security situation, saying “It’s as if our security agencies have gone to sleep. It surely beggars belief that this should be happening in the Federal Capital and is clearly unacceptable to me and Nigerians in general”. She was reacting to the recent killing of Nabiha Al-Kadriya, a 400-level Biological Sciences student of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and the continued stay of her five sisters in captivity. She said that the murder of Nabeeha and those of many others killed in similar and other situations were a blight on the national conscience and a slap on the face of government, whose primary responsibility is to secure lives and properties. On the other hand, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, Tuesday said Vice President Kashim Shettima should take charge of security, while President Tinubu should handle the economy as promised during their campaign. Obi said this in a post on his X handle, saying terror attacks, banditry, kidnappings and violence had continued to rage in the country. He said the recent killings of abducted young girls in Abuja made the situation more depressing. | BANDITS NIGER ABDUCTION GUNMEN | https://dailytrust.com/insecurity-bandits-abduct-17-in-niger/ | ||
| Premium Times | 18 JANUARY 2024 | INEC releases list of candidates for February bye-elections | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the list of candidates participating in the bye-elections next month. INEC will on 3 February conduct two Senatorial elections, four House of Representatives and three State constituencies bye-elections in nine states. In total, there are 74 candidates taking part in the elections. The commission would also on the same day conduct 35 rerun elections as ordered by the election tribunals. The bye-elections resulted from the resignation or death of elected lawmakers and subsequent vacancies declared by the presiding officers of the National Assembly and the state houses of assemblies. A statement by the commission’s spokesperson, Sam Olumekun, listed them to include “Two Senatorial Districts (Ebonyi South and Yobe East); four Federal Constituencies (Shanga/Ngaski/Yauri Federal Constituency of Kebbi State, Surulere I Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Akoko North East/Akoko North-West Federal Constituency of Ondo State and Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency of Taraba State); and three State Constituencies (Guma I State Constituency of Benue State, Chibok State Constituency of Borno State and Chikun State Constituency of Kaduna State). Mr Olumekun said the commission has also published the list of candidates in its state offices and affected constituencies. He added that the list has also been published on the commission’s website and social media pages. He said Nigerians can scrutinise the personal particulars (Form EC9 and academic credentials) of the candidates, and flag and challenge any false information provided by the candidates. Mr Olumekun noted, however, that the publication does not include that of the 35 re-runs as those are not fresh elections. “For the re-run elections to be held on the same day, the list and personal particulars of candidates have been published before the 2023 General Election,” he said. | INEC BYE ELECTION | https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/659847-inec-releases-list-of-candidates-for-february-bye-elections.html | ||
| Premium Times | 18 JANUARY 2024 | FEC approves N9bn life assurance for workers, says students loan for January | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun verification of the status of political parties in the country, says Hawa Habibu, the Director, INEC Election and Party Monitoring while leading her team on a visit to the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje. She said the visit was part of the commission’s annual verification of political parties. “It is a constitutional mandate of the commission. Basically, we are supposed to find out and issue notices where political parties are not in compliance with the constitutional provisions, as to the number, structures of the party in terms of office in Abuja, auditing of their finances and other issues. “The team will go round to verify the offices with our forms to give us the structure of the party as to whether the Electoral Act provision of minimum of 24 members of different states of the federation and the FCT has been compiled with,” she said. She added that the team would also verify the party’s audited account. “The last time we had this verification was in 2019 and there was COVID-19 in 2020. We had so much activities in 2021 and 2022. And it has become pertinent that we have to do so now to verify political parties to ensure that the compliance status are in order. These are basically our assignments,” she said. Responding, Mr Ganduje commended INEC for effectively handling the country’s electoral process in spite of challenges. Mr Ganduje, while speaking on violence before, during and after elections, said the electoral umpire could not be blamed for election violence, adding that politicians must be held responsible. “I know one of the biggest problems of INEC in conducting elections is insecurity. Everyone will say INEC, but it is the politicians,” the APC national chairman said. He described the visit as historic and a day of reckoning and accomplishment in terms of the relationship between INEC and political parties, particularly the APC. He added that this was critical for planning and record keeping which were part of the commission’s duties as provided by law. He assured that the APC was a strong party, adding that it was ready to provide all the information the commission may require. “We want to make our party a very strong institution as required for the development of democracy. Therefore, we have decided to make our party active throughout the year not only during elections.,” he said. Mr Ganduje added that all the party’s offices from wards, local government areas, zones and states had been directed to remain functional. He said arrangements were being made to make the party ICT compliant. “We have directed for e-registration of our members and we believe that will help us to partner with INEC. This will help us in planning and identify member’s sex and age bracket. It will also help us to know the qualification and professions of our members as well as identify their rights from ward level to the national level. We are developing what we call the National Institute for Progressive Studies in order to teach our members the basics of democracy so that the issue of hate speech will be eliminated,” he said. | FEC INEC | https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/659983-inec-begins-verification-of-political-parties-status.html | ||
| Daily Trust | 18 JANUARY 2024 | Edo Election: LP Announces Date To Begin Sale Of Nomination Forms | The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party has approved the commencement of the sale, submission of expression of interest and nomination forms for the Edo election from Jan. 25 to Feb. 11, 2024. This is contained in a communiqué sent by Mr Obiora Ifoh, LP National Publicity Secretary, on Wednesday in Abuja, after the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting. Ifoh said that LP has also exempted female aspirants from paying for expression of interest form only. He said: “Arising from the meeting of the NWC of the Labour Party under the chairmanship of Julius Abure, the leadership of the party took a far-reaching decision on the Edo election. “This is with regards to the guidelines for the conduct of congress and primaries to elect candidates for the Edo gubernatorial election. They include the NWC’s approval of the sale of forms to all interested aspirants from the state who are Nigerians or resident in the state. NWC approved that the fees for expression of interest shall be five million naira only (N5,000.000.00) while the nomination form shall be twenty-five million naira only (N25,000.000.00).” Ifoh added that the NWC approved indirect primary elections, wherein ward and local government congresses shall hold to elect the party’s flag bearers. He said that the NWC also approved Feb. 14 for the screening of aspirants; Feb. 22 for the primary election and Feb. 23 for resolution of dispute or appeal arising from the primaries, if any. | EDO LP NOMINATION | https://dailytrust.com/edo-election-lp-announces-date-to-begin-sale-of-nomination-forms/ | ||
| Daily Trust | 18 JANUARY 2024 | Lawyer Asks Court to Stop Gov Fubara’s Budget Re-Presentation | A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kayode Ajulo, has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to stop Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State from re-presenting the 2024 budget to the House of Assembly. In a suit with number No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1718/2023, the lawyer also requested the court to restrain the House Assembly and the speaker from screening and confirming the commissioners appointed by Governor Fubara. Ajulo particularly urged the court to take cognizance of motion on notice attached with the suit and stop the holding of plenary sessions by the 27 members of the House of Assembly out of the 32 members. But while the case is awaiting a hearing date, the Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday asked the nine commissioner-nominees who re-appeared before it for screening and confirmation to take a bow and go. Amaewhule read the letter written to the house by Governor Fubara, requesting the screening and confirmation of the nominees as commissioners. After the speaker had read the letter, the Majority Leader of the house, Major Jack, moved a motion appealing to the house to allow the nominees to take bow and go. | FUBARA BUDGET | https://dailytrust.com/lawyer-asks-court-to-stop-gov-fubaras-budget-re-presentation/ | ||
| This Day Live | 18 JANUARY 2024 | Federal Court Quashes Regulation Empowering NBC to Fine Broadcast Media | A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday declared as null and void the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code authorising the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to impose fines on broadcast stations which allegedly breach the code. Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia quashed the said regulation on the grounds that the NBC as an administrative and regulatory body could not exercise judicial powers. She made the declaration while delivering judgment in the suit filed by the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) against the NBC. The suit was sequel to the commission’s imposition of fines of N5 million each on a television station and three pay TV platforms in 2022 for allegedly undermining Nigeria’s national security through their broadcasting of documentaries on banditry in Nigeria. The plaintiff’s in the suit filed on their behalf by their lawyer, Mr. Uche Amulu, asked the court to hold, among others, that the NBC’s action of imposing a fine on each of the media platforms and the station for broadcasting a documentary about the state of banditry and security in Zamfara State was unlawful and unconstitutional and has a negative effect on the freedom of media to impart information and ideas. The plaintiff further submitted that the action of the NBC would deter the platforms and station from reporting the true state of affairs regarding the security situation in the country. He stated that it thereby violated the rights of MRA, its members, and other citizens of Nigeria to freedom of expression, particularly their rights to receive ideas and information without interference, as guaranteed by the constitution and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. Subsequently, the plaintiff urged the court to declare that the procedure adopted by the NBC in imposing the fines was a flagrant violation of the rules of natural justice and the right to fair hearing under Section 36 of the Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter. The MRA stated that the commission was the drafter of the code, which provides for the alleged offences for which the media platforms and the stations were punished, and which empowers the NBC to receive complaints, investigate and adjudicate on the complaints, impose fines and collect fines. It contended that the NBC, not being a court of law and not having been constituted in a manner as to secure its independence and impartiality, has no power or competence to impose fines on broadcast stations as punishment or penalties for the commission of an offence as the competence to establish that an offence has been committed and to impose criminal sanctions or penalties belongs to the courts. Besides, it claimed that the NBC, not being the Nigerian Police or a law enforcement agency, has no power to conduct a criminal investigation or an investigation that could lead to criminal charges against the affected media platforms and stations or the imposition of criminal penalties. Accordingly, the court said that the investigation purportedly conducted by the commission, leading to the fines imposed on the media platforms and station for alleged offences under the Nigeria Broadcasting Code is ultra vires, null and void. MRA also urged the court to declare that the Nigeria Broadcasting Code issued by the NBC, being a subsidiary legislation that empowers it as a regulatory and administrative body to enforce the provisions of the code, cannot confer judicial powers or jurisdiction in criminal matters on the commission to impose criminal sanctions or penalties such as fines, particularly as the code was made by the NBC itself. It urged the court to declare the fines unconstitutional, ultra vires, null and void, set them aside and issue an order of perpetual injunction restraining the NBC, its servants, agents, privies, representatives or anyone acting for or on its behalf, from further imposing any fine on any of the media platforms or station, or any other broadcast station in Nigeria for any alleged offence committed under the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. Delivering judgment in the suit, Ofili-Ajumogobia agreed with the plaintiff that the NBC not being a court of law, acted above its powers by imposing such fines against the alleged offenders. She subsequently made an order of perpetual injunction restraining the commission or anyone acting on its behalf from further imposing any fine on any media platform or broadcast station in Nigeria for any alleged offence committed under the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. The court then went ahead to set aside the fines imposed by the NBC on August 3, 2022 on Multichoice Nigeria Limited, owners of DSTV; TelCom Satellite Limited (TSTV); Trust-TV Network Limited; and NTA Star times Limited for broadcasting a documentary about the state of banditry and security in Zamfara State. It said the regulator’s action was wrong and unjustifiable in a democratic society. The judge however, refused to grant the plaintiff’s claim for N700,000 being costs of the suit. Ofili-Ajumogobia in addition declined another claim for N2 million as general damages for NBC’s infringement on its rights as well as a request for N1 million as punitive damages for the commission’s “outrageous conduct in abusing its powers and arbitrarily imposing fines on broadcasting stations”. | NBC MEDIA FEDERAL COURT | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/01/18/federal-court-quashes-regulation-empowering-nbc-to-fine-broadcast-media | ||
| This Day Live | 18 JANUARY 2024 | Ibadan Explosion: FEC Sets up Committee to Review Laws on Explosives | The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has constituted a committee to review the laws guiding the control of explosives in the country. This move is with the aim of determining whether the extant laws might have been violated by illegal miners in the Tuesday night’s deadly explosion in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The council in its first meeting in 2024 presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja on Wednesday, expressed worries about the incident and expressed the need to avert future occurrence. Minister of Defence, Abubakar Bagudu, who made this known to newsmen at the end of the FEC meeting, noted that despite preliminary investigations suggesting that explosives stored by illegal miners may be the cause, there was also suspicion in some quarters that gas may have also been the immediate cause of the explosion. According to him, federal agents were now on ground at the scene of the incident to ascertain the cause and ways to prevent future occurrence. Answering reporters’ questions on the issue, Bagudu said: “The first question has to do with Ibadan explosion where the governor said that preliminary investigation suggested that there are some explosives around the area where it happened that are owned by some illegal miners. Well, we have seen that report. There is another report suggesting that it was a gas explosion. So, our team are there trying to find out what is the cause. But for the council to be proactive, it has already set up the committee that I told you to look into how the control of explosives law was broken if indeed there are explosives around the area where this incident happened. That was why the committee was set up to look at the rules to see where the chain is broken and see how it can be fixed and gather more information if this is happening rampantly around the country. You all know that there is strict rule in the storage, movement and ownership of these explosives and the rule is being monitored. If there is any case of breakdown, we will find out and deal with it.” | IBADAN FEC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/01/17/ibadan-explosion-fec-sets-up-committee-to-review-laws-on-explosives | ||
| This Day Live | 18 JANUARY 2024 | Benue Releases Special Phone Contact Numbers to Curb Insecurity | Following the upsurge in kidnapping and herdsmen attack in the country, the Benue State Government has released phone numbers to the public to give information to the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, if such cases occurred. The phone numbers were released by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security and Strategic Liaison, Col Alexander Igbaya Ashungu (rtd) in Makurdi. He said the state has zero tolerance for crime, and called on the public to report any incident for investigation and further actions. “Any member of the public who suspects any false movement, gathering and none authorised persons bearing arms, particularly in our rural forest, should report through any of the following numbers for investigation and further actions.” He added that the state government has been working round the clock to ensure the state is safe for inhabitants and businesses. “As we speak, a number of kidnapped victims have been rescued, and we are going after those perpetrating such crimes in the state,” Ashungu said. He commended the state Governor, Hyacinth Alia, for placing security and lives as very important area in his government. The numbers released by the adviser are 08115780499, 09021991445 and 08132111854. Governor Alia recently appealed for the release of the caretaker chairperson of Ukum Local Government Area of the state, Gideon Haanongon, and three other persons kidnapped with him. Haanongon was kidnapped with his orderly, driver and personal assistant last Saturday morning while travelling for a burial. Speaking hours after the incident, the governor called for the immediate release of the council chief and his aides, while decrying the killings and kidnappings in the area. | BENUE INSECURITY | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/01/18/benue-releases-special-phone-contact-numbers-to-curb-insecurity | ||
| This Day Live | 18 JANUARY 2024 | Amotekun Arrests 19 Suspected Kidnappers in Ondo | Operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) codenamed Amotekun have arrested 19 suspected kidnappers terrorising Ondo State. The state Commander of the agency, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, while parading the suspects alongside 17 others at the corps headquarters in Akure yesterday, said in the last one month, there were three kidnap attempts in the state but Amotekun was able to foil them successfully. Specifically, Adeleye said out of the 19 suspected kidnappers, 17 were arrested from a particular area that is prone to attack in the northern senatorial district of the state, while the remaining suspects were arrested for various alleged offences ranging from armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms to theft and others. According to him, “Today, we are parading 36 suspects. In the last one month, there were three kidnap attempts that we were able to foil successfully, which means, in the last one month, there has been no successful kidnapping in Ondo State. Today, a cross section of these criminals are different from what we use to have. It is the deviation from the past where we parade 20 people and 15 are kidnap suspects. Today, what we have is more of house breaking and petty stealing. Across board, we were able to foil a collection of people suspected to be kidnappers and robbers that we were able to find through intelligence report we worked on. We picked about 17 of them in a particular area that is prone to attack. It is one of the black spots in the state where we monitor on 24/7 bases.” The corps commander added: “We equally have a suspected murderer; we have eight cases of house/shop breaking but I must say that with the co-operation of other security agencies in Ondo State, we’ve been substantially able to reduce criminal activities in the state. A cross-section of these 36 suspects shows that the level of daredevil robbers and kidnappers have gone down drastically in the state.” Commenting on the rising insecurity, mostly kidnapping and incessant attacks on residents in Abuja by bandits, Adeleye assured the state that the corps remains resolute in its determination to rid the state of criminals and ensure that people do their businesses normally without disturbance. “In line with the state government resoluteness, guaranteeing lives and property, we are also determined to make sure that the state is not inhabitable for criminals. We want to appeal to our traditional rulers that once they see a collection of people in the forest, they should alert us immediately. A stitch in time saves nine,” he stated. | AMOTEKUN ARREST ONDO | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/01/18/amotekun-arrests-19-suspected-kidnappers-in-ondo | ||
| Vanguard | 19 JANUARY 2024 | Breaking: Supreme Court affirms Oborevwori as Delta Governor | The Supreme Court, today, Friday, 19 January 2024, affirmed the election victory of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State. In a unanimous decision, a five-member panel of the apex court dismissed an appeal the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, filed to challenge the outcome of the governorship election held in the state on March 18, 2023. The court, in its lead judgement that was delivered by Justice Inyang Okoro, held that the appeal lacked merit. It held that the APC and its candidate did not prove that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2023. The court dismissed Omo-Agege’s contention that some of the result sheets that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, relied upon to declare Oborevwori as the winner of the election, did not have serial numbers. According to the court, even if the total number of INEC forms that the Appellants complained about are removed, it would still not affect the margin of lead that was in Oborevwori’s favour. It held that the Appellants failed to discharge the burden of proof placed on them by the law to warrant the setting aside of both the Court of Appeal judgement and the verdict of the Delta State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal. Consequently, it dismissed the petition without cost. It will be recalled that INEC declared that Oborevwori of the PDP pollod 360, 234 votes to win the governorship election ahead of Omo-Agege of the APC who secured 240, 229 votes. However, dissatisfied with the result, Omo-Agege, who is the immediate past Deputy President of the Senate, approached the court to nullify the outcome of the election. | DELTA SUPREME COURT | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/breaking-supreme-court-affirms-oborevwori-as-delta-governor/ | ||
| Premium Times | 19 JANUARY 2024 | Nigeria govt relocates FAAN headquarters to Lagos, gives reasons | The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has confirmed that the federal government has decided to relocate its headquarters from Abuja to Lagos. According to an internal memo signed by FAAN’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, directed that the agency’s headquarters be relocated from Abuja to Lagos. “The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development has directed that the Headquarters of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) should be relocated from Abuja to Lagos,” the memo read. Consequent upon the above, you are requested to provide the implication of the relocation to the management.” Subsequently, amidst widespread speculation, a statement issued Thursday by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, confirmed the development. According to the statement, FAAN noted that relocation of its headquarters from Lagos to Abuja in the first instance was “ill-advised” when there was no single FAAN building in Abuja to accommodate its staff members at once. The agency explained that the decision will help to curb the waste of public resources and also prevent the rot of FAAN’s abandoned Lagos building among others. | FAAN LAGOS | https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/660270-nigeria-govt-relocates-faan-headquarters-to-lagos-gives-reasons.html | ||
| Guardian | 19 JANUARY 2024 | Court grants Emefiele travel permission as FG files fresh charges | The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama, yesterday, granted Godwin Emefiele’s request to travel out of Abuja. Through his lawyer, Mathew Bukka (SAN), the former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had requested for a variation of his bail conditions. Justice Hamza Muazu had, last November 22, granted bail to the embattled banker at N300 million with two sureties in like sum. The judge added that the sureties must have landed property in the Maitama District of the FCT. He also ordered the CBN ex-governor not to leave the court’s jurisdiction and equally directed him to deposit his travel documents with the court. At yesterday’s proceedings, Bukka urged the court to grant his client’s prayers. He assured the court that Emefiele would not jump bail if the restrictions were lifted. Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), did not object. He, however, asked the court to ensure that Emefiele wrote an undertaken that he would remain in the country if his plea was granted. The court, thereafter, ruled that the defendant must remain in the country pending conclusion of his trial. The judge held: “The defendant’s application is hereby granted. He must remain in the country for the pendency of his trial.” Meanwhile, the Federal Government has amended its charges against Emefiele from six to 20, all bordering on forgery, conferring of corrupt advantage and criminal breach of trust. The plaintiff had initially filed 19 charges against the defendant, revolving around alleged N6.9 billion procurement fraud, but pruned it to six to the tune of N1.2 billion, which he is currently standing trial for. In the amended charge, Emefiele is being accused of obtaining the sum of $6.2 million by pretence, by falsely representing Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The government said the offence was contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act. He was also accused of conniving with one Eric Ocheme, currently at large, to commit forgery. The plantiff said the offence was contrary to Section 96 (1) and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Law, Cap 89 Laws of the Federation, 1990. Emefiele is also accused of conferring corrupt advantage on his wife, Omoile Margret, and brother In-law, Omoile Macombo, by awarding a contract for the renovation of a portion of the CBN Governor’s residence in Lagos to the tune of N99.8 million. Government said the offence contravened Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. Emefiele’s counsel, Bukka, pleaded with the court for time, adding that the amended charge was served on them on Wednesday. The trial judge, Justice Muazu, adjourned the matter till today for a fresh plea to be taken. | EMEFIELE FG | https://guardian.ng/news/court-grants-emefiele-travel-permission-as-fg-files-fresh-charges/#:~:text=out%20of%20Abuja.-,The%20Federal%20Capital%20Territory%20(FCT)%20High%20Court%20sitting%20in%20Maitama,variation%20of%20his%20bail%20conditions. | ||
| This Day Live | 19 JANUARY 2024 | S’Court Dismisses PDP’s Appeal Against Nasarawa Gov Sule | The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the March 18, 2023 governorship election, Hon. David Ombugadu, against the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State. The apex court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, held that the appeal was incompetent and lacking in merit. The five-member panel subsequently upheld the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had in November voided and set aside the judgment of the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in favour of Governor Sule. The appellants had approached the apex court to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had nullified the judgment of the tribunal which declared Ombugadu the authentic winner of the governorship poll in the state. But the apex court, in a unanimous judgment, held that the decision of the lower court was in order in affirming the election of Governor Sule. | SUPREME COURT SULE NASARAWA | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/01/19/scourt-dismisses-pdps-appeal-against-nasarawa-gov-sule | ||
| This Day Live | 19 JANUARY 2024 | S’Court Dismisses PDP, Adebutu’s Appeal Against Ogun Gov Abiodun | A five-member panel of the apex court has dismissed the appeal filed by Oladipupo Adeniyi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the election of Dapo Abiodun as Governor of Ogun State. The judgment, read by Justice Tijjani Abubakar, held that the appeal was incompetent and liable for dismissal. The apex court subsequently affirmed the majority judgment of the Court of Appeal and the Ogun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which declared Abiodun as winner of the March 18 governorship election in Ogun State. Adebutu had told the apex court that the case of the appellants was misconceived at the lower courts, adding that evidence were presented before the tribunal to prove that results from 99 polling units with votes of over 40,000 were cancelled. He argued that the said 40,000 votes is far more than the margin of 13,000 votes between Abiodun and Adebutu. He submitted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was wrong to have gone ahead to declare results of the March 18 governorship election in the state, when the issue of cancelled votes in 99 polling units had not been resolved. However, all the respondents citing Section 179 of the Constitution, argued that the election of a governor cannot be challenged on grounds of margin of lead. The apex court however agreed with the respondents and dismissed the appeal for being incompetent and lacking in merit. | SUPREME COURT OGUN ABIODUN | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/01/19/scourt-dismisses-pdp-adebutus-appeal-against-ogun-gov-abiodun | ||
| Vanguard | 19 JANUARY 2024 | Breaking: Supreme Court affirms election of Gov Idris of Kebbi state | The Supreme Court, on Friday, upheld the election of Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State. The court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel, dismissed as lacking in merit, an appeal that was brought before it by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Aminu Bande. In the lead judgement that was delivered by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, the Supreme Court held that it found no reason to set aside the concurrent verdicts of the Court of Appeal and the Kebbi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which declared Nasir of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the valid winner of the gubernatorial poll that was held in the state on March 18, 2023. It will be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared the Kebbi State governorship election inconclusive owing to massive vote cancellations and over-voting in 20 of the 21 LGAs in the state. The Commission subsequently conducted a supplementary election on April 15, at the end of which it declared that Governor Idris of the APC polled 409,225 votes to beat Bande of the PDP who got 360,940 votes. However, dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, the PDP and its candidate approached the tribunal to challenge the result. In its judgement, the Justice Ofem Ofem-led tribunal dismissed the petition as lacking in merit. The decision of the tribunal was affirmed by the Court of Appeal, which held that the appellants failed to establish all the allegations they raised in their petition. The court stressed that the allegation of forgery levelled against the Deputy Governor of the State, Abubakar Tafida, was not proved as required by the law. It further held that the issues of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act in the conduct of the election could not stand since the appellants failed to show how it substantially affected the outcome of the poll. | KEBBI SUPREME COURT | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/breaking-supreme-court-affirms-election-of-gov-idris-of-kebbi-state/ | ||
| Vanguard | 19 JANUARY 2024 | Breaking: Supreme Court affirms Sani as Kaduna Governor | The Supreme Court has affirmed Uba Sani as Governot of Kaduna State. A five-member panel of the apex court, in a unanimous decision, held that there was no merit in an appeal that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Mohammed Ashiru, filed to challenge the outcome of the governorship election that was held in the state on March 18, 2023. In the lead judgement that was delivered by Justice Tijjani Abubakar, the apex court held that the petition the PDP and its candidate filed to challenge Governor Sani’s election was incompetent. It held that since the originating petition was incompetent, no relief could be granted to the appellants in the matter. Consequently, the apex court upheld the earlier judgement of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed the case for being devoid of merit. “The appeal is frivolous, vexatious, and irritating. It therefore deserves to be dismissed, and it is hereby dismissed,” Justice Abubakar held. | KADUNA SUPREME COURT PDP | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/breaking-supreme-court-affirms-sani-as-kaduna-gov/ | ||
| Vanguard | 19 JANUARY 2024 | Supreme Court affirms Inuwa Yahaya’s victory as Gombe governor | The Supreme Court has affirmed Inuwa Yahaya’s re-election as the governor of Gombe State. Justice Kudirate Kekere-Ekun in lead judgment dismissed the appeal by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Yahaya as the winner of the election after scoring 342,821 votes to defeat his closest rival, Jibrin Barde, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 233,131 votes in the last poll. Displeased, the PDP and its candidate filed a petition claiming that Yahaya, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was not re-elected by a majority of lawful votes. The opposition party alleged cases of ballot box stuffings and thumbprintings done by Yahaya’s supporters in nine of the state’s 11 LGAs. However, the Gombe state governorship election petition tribunal dismissed the suit filed by the party and Barde. S.B. Belgore, who led a three-member panel of the tribunal, struck out the petition. Not satisfied with the tribunal’s verdict, Barde and PDP approached the appeal court. T. N Orji-Abadua of the court of appeal upheld the governor’s victory and dismissed the appeal. “This appeal lacks merit,” she said. “All the issues are resolved in favour of the respondent and against the appellant. No order as to cost. The judgment of the lower tribunal is hereby affirmed.” However, the Supreme Court on Friday in unanimous judgement upheld the judgement of the lower courts and affirmed Inuwa Yahaya’s re-election. | SUPREME COURT GOMBE YAHAYA | https://guardian.ng/breakingnews/supreme-court-affirms-inuwa-yahayas-victory-as-gombe-governor/ | ||
| Leadership | 22 JANUARY 2024 | FCTA Demolishes Illegal Settlement, Recovers NAF Land | Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has demolished over 200 structures at the Nuwalege community, along the Airport Road in Abuja, to allow for the recovery of the land belonging to the Nigerian Air Force. The FCT Department of Development Control which carried out the demolition exercise over the weekend, said the structures had to go to make way for the expansion of the presidential fleet area. The director of the Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, told journalists after the exercise, that the chief of air staff had approached the FCT administration in October 2023, of their intentions to remove some squatters from the said land. Galadima said the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, impressed it on them that it was the responsibility of the Federal Capital Territory Administration to remove squatters. “We informed the residents residing on the Nigeria Air Force land about the impending action and granted them a two-month window to pack their belongings. “When the Air Force approached us, we told them about the FCTA policy on relocation and resettlement of indigenous communities. However, other non-indigene are to be moved out of the location so that the Air Force can take over their land. “There was serious sensitisation and campaign as regards to the exercise. We went there, we marked the structures to be removed and we informed them and gave them ample time until after the yuletide so they can remove their valuables,” he said. He said the structures belonging to indigenes where however left out because statutorily, “they have to be relocated and compensated, that’s why we are not touching their properties. “During the demolition process, approximately 150 buildings were razed, with an estimated 70 more buildings slated for removal before completion”. | FCTA WIKE | https://leadership.ng/fcta-demolishes-illegal-settlement-recovers-naf-land/ | ||
| Leadership | 22 JANUARY 2024 | Northern Elders Endorse Proposed Security Summit | Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has welcomed the forthcoming roundtable discussion on the security situation in the north by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG). NEF director of publicity and advocacy/spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, expressed support for the initiative and emphasised the need for all stakeholders to come together and find practical solutions to the prevailing insecurity in the region. In a statement he issued yesterday, Suleiman commended the efforts of the CNG in addressing the security concerns, acknowledging the imperative to change the current approach due to its inadequacies. He said the NEF convener Professor Ango Abdullahi recognises the significance of the CNG’s efforts in fostering dialogue, developing effective strategies, and ultimately improving the security situation in the region. He said, “The CNG’s roundtable discussion on security in the North is a timely and commendable initiative. “It is essential to recognise the significance of their efforts in addressing these security concerns. “The need for a change in approach is a clear acknowledgment of the inadequacies of the current security measures. By organizing these discussions, the CNG aims to foster dialogue, develop effective strategies, and ultimately improve the security situation in the region.” The roundtable discussion, scheduled to take place in Abuja on January 24 and 25, 2024, will bring together various stakeholders including government representatives, security agencies, community leaders, and experts in the field. The objective is to have an inclusive and productive conversation that will lead to actionable solutions to the prevailing security challenges in the North. Suleiman stressed the importance of supporting such initiatives in order to create a safer and more secure environment for all residents of the region. He called on individuals, organisations, and government agencies to rally behind the CNG and contribute their expertise and resources to the success of the roundtable discussion. “We must all support the CNG’s roundtable discussion and contribute to finding lasting solutions to the security challenges faced in the North,” Suleiman urged. It is only through joint efforts and collaborative strategies that we can effectively address the persistent insecurity in the region. I call on individuals, organisations, and government agencies to actively participate and contribute their expertise to this crucial dialogue,” he added. The NEF spokesperson concluded his statement by expressing optimism that the roundtable discussion would yield positive outcomes and lead to practical actions that will promote peace, security, and development in the North. | SECURITY NORTHERN ELDERS FORUM | https://leadership.ng/northern-elders-endorse-proposed-security-summit/ | ||
| Leadership | 22 JANUARY 2024 | Court Dismisses Suit Against Army, Police Checkpoints | Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a suit filed by the former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) Monday Ubani, seeking to stop the army, police and other security agencies from proliferating the Lagos-Southeast roads with roadblocks. Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, who dismissed the suit, held that the constitutional powers given to the president and the security agencies to map out security measures to secure the country cannot on its own be termed a violation of the rights to free movement of the applicant. Ubani had dragged the attorney-general of the federation, inspector-general of police (IGP), comptroller- general of customs, chief of defence staff and corp marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) before the court, seeking a declaration that the proliferation of intra-state and highways with roadblocks by their officers particularly en route Lagos to South-eastern part of Nigeria which result in obstruction of free movement on the road and loss of travel time was a violation of his right to free and undisrupted movement as guaranteed by section 41 of the 1999 Constitution and other enabling laws. Also joined in the suit as co-respondents were the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Customs Service Board, Nigerian Army and FRSC. The lawyer asked the court for a declaration that the proliferation of intra-state and highway roadblocks, particularly route Lagos to the eastern part of Nigeria, obstructs the free flow of traffic, constitutes a nuisance, causes untold hardship and causes unwarranted suffering to him and other road users and therefore unlawful and without legal justification. He also prayed the court for an order directing the respondents to dismantle all roadblocks on all intra-state roads and highways throughout the country, particularly along the South-East roads. Ubani also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their privies, agents and representatives from mounting intra-state and highway roadblocks on Lagos en route South Eastern roads. | POLICE ARMY SECURITY | https://leadership.ng/court-dismisses-suit-against-army-police-checkpoints/#google_vignette | ||
| Daily Trust | 22 JANUARY 2024 | YPP Collapses Structure with APC In Akwa Ibom | The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) has collapsed its structure with that of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. The party made this known at the weekend when its governorship candidate, Senator Bassey Akpan, deputy governorship candidate, AIG Asuquo Amba (rtd), State Executive Committee led by its Chairman, Pastor Nyeneime Andy, its Elders’ Council, chapter and ward officers paid a solidarity visit to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area of the state. Speaking during the visit, Akpan explained that his decision to collapse his party structure into the APC has nothing to do with any intention to contest election in 2027. On his part, the State Chairman of YPP, Pastor Nyeneime Andy said candidates of the party in the two legislative houses will officially defect to the APC after the rerun election in Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency and Ibiono Ibom State Constituency. Responding, the Senate President said the move by the YPP leaders has shown that the president’s efforts to salvage the nation is being recognised by opposition parties. | YPP AKWA IBOM | https://dailytrust.com/ypp-collapses-structure-with-apc-in-akwa-ibom/ | ||
| Daily Trust | 22 JANUARY 2024 | Borno Gets First Elected Female LG Chair As APC Sweeps 27 Councils | Hajiya Inna Galadima of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged as the chairman-elect of Jere Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno becoming the first elected council chairperson in the state. The first female LG chairperson was Fanta Baba Shehu, but she was elected as a vice chairman under the defunct United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) and later succeeded her chairman after he died. Galadima was declared the winner of the election by the Returning Officer of Jere LGA, Prof. Mohammed Konto, having scored 110,459 votes to defeat her closest rival in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that polled 2,478 votes. She was a commissioner and special adviser at different times in the state. Similarly, the APC has won all the chairmanship seats across the 27 local government areas in the council elections held on Saturday. The party won all the councillorship seats in the 312 wards of the state. Announcing the results in Maiduguri on Sunday, the Executive Chairman of Borno State Independent Electoral Commission (BOSIEC), Lawan Maina, said the election was free, fair and conducted peacefully. “The certificate presentation would be made at a later date, which would be announced very soon”. Earlier, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum said he would give the electorate freedom to vote for honest and qualitative leaders to improve their lives. The election, which the ruling APC swept was contested by six political parties, comprising the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Labour Party (LP) and Allied People’s Movement (APM). However, the opposition PDP had before the election berated the electoral body saying they lack the capacity to conduct free, fair and credible elections. In a related development, the Deputy National Chairman of APC, Ali Bukar Dalori, has called on politicians holding elective positions to invest in people or risk sinking into political oblivion. Dolari, who spoke to newsmen before casting his vote at the local government election in Maiduguri on Saturday, advised that, if elected, the officeholders must operate an open-door policy to guarantee the APC’s victory at the 2027 polls. “Therefore, elective office holders, especially from the grassroots must serve with dedication to ensure that whatever population of the electorate they control does not abandon them,” he said. | Borno LGA APC | https://dailytrust.com/borno-gets-first-elected-female-lg-chair-as-apc-sweeps-27-councils/ | ||
| Channels TV | 22 JANUARY 2024 | Court Nullifies N800bn Rivers Budget Passed by Pro-Fubara Lawmakers | Justice James of the Federal High Court Abuja has nullified the N800 billion budget passed by the Edison Ehie-led group of the Rivers State House of Assembly and signed into law by the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. The court also upheld the suit filed by the Assembly and Speaker Martin Amaewhule, against Fubara, which sought an order of injunction restraining the governor from frustrating the Assembly under his leadership as speaker, among others. On December 13, 2023, in the heat of the protracted political crisis rocking the oil-rich state and the demolition of the Assembly Complex, Fubara presented the 2024 budget proposal of N800bn to five members of the State Assembly led by Edison Ehie. The presentation was done at the Government House in Port Harcourt, following the demolition of the Assembly Complex by the state government and after a court restrained Ehie’s contender, Martins Amaewhule, from using the Assembly Complex. Ehie and the other pro-Fubara lawmakers passed the budget estimates and the governor signed the bill into law, saying it is aimed at promoting economic development through inclusive growth and addressing socio-economic inequality in the state. Ehie would later resign from the House and Amaewhule was restored as the Assembly’s Speaker after both sides met with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja. Amaewhule and 25 other lawmakers loyal to ex-Governor Nyesom Wike subsequently demanded that Fubara presented the 2024 budget estimates to the Assembly afresh and the matter was taken to court. On Monday, Ken Njemanze who is counsel for Amaewhule, accused the governor of interfering with the performance and functions of the state lawmakers contrary to the doctrine of the separation of powers. He, therefore, sought an “order of injunction restraining the 1st to 10th defendants (NASS) from entertaining any request from the 11th defendant (Fubara) to take over the performance of the functions of Rivers Assembly, including its role to make laws for the peace, order and good government of Rivers in respect of matters that are within its constitutional and legislative competence”. “An order of mandatory injunction compelling the Inspector General of Police (whether by himself or by officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force under his command) to provide and continue to provide adequate Security and protection for the 1st Plaintiff under the leadership of the 2nd Plaintiff as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly for the purpose of transacting the business of the 1st Plaintiff. “An order restraining Fubara including the 12th, 13th and 14th defendants from withholding any amount standing to the credit of Rivers Assembly in the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund, including salaries and emoluments due and payable to the speaker, deputy speaker and other members of the house as well as to the clerk, deputy clerk and other members of staff of the assembly,” the plaintiff’s prayed among other reliefs. In the alternative, the plaintiff sought an order of injunction restraining the respondents from denying the Assembly the due funds for running its affairs including the payment of salaries, allowances, emoluments and meeting its financial obligations no matter how described. First, Justice James Omotosho observed that the 17th defendant, Ehie, said through his lawyer, Oluwole Aladedoye, that he has resigned from the River State Assembly. Omotosho said Ehie lacked the capacity to sue or be sued in the case as he is no longer the Speaker or a member of the Assembly. On the preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of his court, Omotosho held the suit was properly constituted before him. Omotosho disagreed with the plaintiffs on the powers of the governor, noting that the power to make laws in a state are shared between the executive, the state Assembly and local government areas. With respect to the National Assembly taking over the functions of the State Assembly, the judge said that can only happen when the state lawmakers are no longer sitting and transacting business as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and other relevant laws. “There is nothing before this court showing that the River State House of Assembly is unable to carry out its functions,” Justice Omotosho said, and ruled that the issue was resolved in favour of the plaintiffs. On the removal of the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Emeka Amadi, who was redeployed by the Rivers State Head of Service, Justice Omotosho declared it null and void and invalid in the face of the law. Omotosho said the constitution is clear that the appointment of a Clerk and Deputy Clerk is done by the Rivers State Speaker and is subject to confirmation by the lawmakers, and that their appointment, remuneration is governed by the Rivers State House Of Assembly Law, even though they are civil servants. The judge said the first plaintiff is entitled to funds or amount standing to the credit of Rivers Assembly in the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund, including salaries and emoluments and that same cannot be stopped by anyone including the governor. Omotosho said the court is against any plan to jeopardise democracy, warning that a governor should not “exceed his power”. The judge thereby declared that the governor of Rivers State, by himself or by members of the staff of the Rivers State Public Service are not entitled to take steps aimed at interfering the affairs of the River State House of Assembly, and the Speaker, in the performance of their duties. The judge said the governor cannot withhold the due funds of the lawmakers in the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund. The judge subsequently restrained the National Assembly from accepting any requests from the governor. The judge also observed that the governor’s legal team had withdrawn all his processes in the matter, adding that it means that he admitted all the facts stated by the plaintiffs. The judge held that based on facts before his court, Amaewhule remained the valid Speaker of the Rivers State Assembly. The judge said the purported sitting of Ehie and four other lawmakers who sat to pass the budget of the state is null and void. Omotosho said the court found it strange that the governor would destroy the Rivers State Assembly building as well as present appropriation bill to five lawmakers. He declared the presentation of the bill to the five lawmakers void. The judge granted the order setting aside the purported Appropriation Bill signed, despite the interim order of his court, restraining him. The judge also granted the order restraining the governor from continuing the demolition or construction of the Rivers State building. The court said all the acts of the governor with four lawmakers is a nullity and he should go through the lawmakers presided by Amaewhule. | RIVERS LAWMAKERS BUDGET | https://www.channelstv.com/2024/01/22/breaking-court-nullifies-n800bn-rivers-budget-passed-by-pro-fubara-lawmakers/ | ||
| Premium Times | 23 JANUARY 2024 | Court approves registration of new lawyers’ association | The Federal High Court in Abuja has cleared the coast for the registration of a new association of lawyers in Nigeria. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has repeatedly faced rival groups clamouring to be registered as associations of lawyers. But the court’s approval in a judgement delivered on 15 December 2023, for the registration of “The Nigerian Law Society,” “Nigerian Bar Society,” “Nigerian Lawyers’ Society” and “The Association of Legal Practitioners of Nigeria,” is the first of its kind. Gladys Olotu, the judge, ordered the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) “to approve for registration and thereafter register any of the proposed names submitted to it on behalf of the plaintiffs, being: The Nigerian Law Society,” “Nigerian Bar Society,” “Nigerian Lawyers’ Society” and “The Association of Legal Practitioners of Nigeria” and issue a certificate of registration to that effect.” Five plaintiffs – Bolaji Ayorinde, Mela Audu Nunge, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs); Garba Gajam, Emeka Ichoku, Chioma Ferguson and Tejumola Adigun had sued the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), urging the court compel the defendant to register their association as legal practitioners in Nigeria. “A declaration that it is unlawful and illegal for the defendant to refuse to register or impede the registration of the plaintiffs and/or lawyers, legal practitioners or barristers and/or solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, admitted to practice law in Nigeria as an incorporated trustee of lawyers.” In the judgement delivered last December but seen by PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, the judge said “The six declaratory reliefs sought by the plaintiffs are ordered as prayed. In the suit, the plaintiffs had contended that the names being considered for registration as a body of lawyers are not similar to that of the Nigerian Bar Association such that it could mislead the public. Referencing the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), the plaintiffs argued that the names submitted for approval and registration do not fall within the limits of restrictions and Prohibition contemplated under Section 852 of the law. The NBA had battled to ward off rival groups in a bid to maintain its grip on Nigerian lawyers. In 2022, the Enugu State High Court declared membership NBA compulsory for lawyers called to the bar and practising in Nigeria. In October 2022, this newspaper reported the formation of the Law Society of Nigeria (LSN) reportedly led by Kunle Ogunba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). | FEDERAL HIGH COURT LAWYER'S ASSOCIATION | https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/661409-court-approves-registration-of-new-lawyers-association-to-rival-nba.html | ||
| Guardian | 23 JANUARY 2024 | FG to fund student loan scheme from education tax | The Federal Government, yesterday, revealed that the Student Loan Scheme it recently initiated would be funded from education tax in collaboration with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). FIRS Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, spoke while briefing newsmen along with Executive Secretary of the Student Loan Board, Dr Akintunde Sawyerr, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said the introduction of the education tax fund into the scheme is one way the government could be accountable to taxpayers. Sawyerr assured that the process for applying for the loan would be devoid of human intervention, as every action would be taken on an app specifically designed for the purpose. According to him, the government is keen at ensuring that young Nigerians do not fail to acquire tertiary education on account of lack of funds to pursue their studies. He explained that the implementation of the loan scheme would enable Nigerians to pick a career trajectory of their choice rather than being forced to do something else because they are unable to acquire requisite education due to lack of funds. Sawyerr affirmed that the facility would also stem the dangerous journey undertaken by Nigerian youth across the Sahel to Europe in search of better life. The executive secretary disclosed that the school fees for successful applicants would be transferred directly to their institutions, noting that while every Nigerian is eligible to apply for the loan, only the neediest would be supported. He explained that there are many difficult choices people make, with many sometimes having to go and do things they really do not want to do, including crossing the dangerous Sahel to get themselves to Europe because they have not been able to get the education they wanted. “So, you know we are setting this up to help us and help our society bridge that gap,” Sawyerr added. | STUDENT LOAN TAX FG | https://guardian.ng/news/fg-to-fund-student-loan-scheme-from-education-tax/ | ||
| Premium Times | 23 JANUARY 2024 | Nnamdi Kanu requests UK’s intervention in his continued detention, trial | Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has requested the UK authorities to intervene in his trial and continued detention at the facility of the Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS). Since his re-arrest in July 2021, Mr Kanu, a British-Nigerian citizen, has been detained at the SSS facility. He is facing terrorism trial at a Federal High Court, Abuja. In a letter dated 18 January and addressed to the House of Commons, the lower chamber of the UK parliament, the IPOB leader appealed to the lawmakers to prevail on the UK Government to intervene in his matter in Nigeria. Aloy Ejimakor, Mr Kanu’s special counsel, who signed the letter, said he had the instruction of the IPOB leader to do so. Mr Kanu, in the letter to the parliament, detailed how he was first arrested, his initial trial, and how he fled Nigeria after Nigerian security forces invaded his home town in Abia State, Nigeria’s South-east. The IPOB leader, in the letter, presented some prayers which he pleaded with the parliament to consider for possible implementation. “Urgently intervene in His Majesty’s (UK) Government, strongly urging it to promptly make demands on the Government of Nigeria to unconditional release of Mr Kanu from detention and repatriate him to the United Kingdom and to levy sanctions against the Government of Nigeria if it fails to comply within a reasonable time,” the letter read in part. Mr Kanu argued in the letter that his extraordinary rendition to Nigeria from Kenya “inherently destroys every prospect for a fair trial in a jurisdiction that levied the rendition.” He cited previous court rulings in the UK to support his position. The IPOB leader said, in the alternative, the parliament should “promptly intervene with His Majesty’s Government, strongly urging it to make binding proposals to the Government of Nigeria to agree to conduct” his trial in the UK instead of Nigeria. He argued that since charges preferred against him by the Nigerian government were alleged to have been committed by him in the UK, there are legal reasons for which he should be tried in the UK, rather than in Nigeria. Mr Kanu mentioned his British-Nigerian citizenship, human rights concerns, existing Nigerian-British diplomatic considerations, security and safety, fair trial and prospect of political interference as some of the reasons for which he should be tried in the UK. Mr Kanu said, if conducting his trial in UK will be impossible, the parliament may alternatively intervene with His Majesty’s Government, urging it to make binding proposal to the Nigerian government to agree to conduct his trial in a “mutually agreed neutral third country, other than Nigeria and the UK, as was done in the Lockerbie trial of Libyan nationals.” The letter said the decision to make the request to the parliament was propelled by “undue levity” with which the UK government has so far handled Mr Kanu’s matter. It said the IPOB leader believes that he “has not been accorded the full legal and diplomatic protections he is entitled to as a bonafide British subject.” The letter indicated that Mr Ejimakor, Mr Kanu’s legal team in the UK, and the IPOB leader’s US-based international counsel, Bruce Fein, are all available to “personally appear” before the parliament whenever it deems necessary in the course of considering the petition. | UK CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU NNAMDI KANU IPOB | https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-east/661361-nnamdi-kanu-requests-uks-intervention-in-his-continued-detention-trial.html | ||
| Premium Times | 23 JANUARY 2024 | CCB begins verification of public officers’ assets | The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has begun verification of political office holders’ and top government officials’ assets in line with the agency’s statutory mandate. The acting Chairman of the Bureau, Murtala Aliyu-Kankia, stated this while monitoring the ongoing verification exercise on Monday in Katsina, the Katsina State capital. He said the exercise would cover senior public officers and civil servants including permanent secretaries, directors-general, directors and other top officials of government’s establishments. “I briefed the governor on why we are in Katsina. He is also keen in fighting corruption,” he said. According to him, the exercise is aimed at finding out the genuineness of assets declared by political office holders and other senior civil servants on assumption of office. This, he said, would add value to the fight against corruption by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, adding that after the exercise its personnel would go to the field to authenticate the assets declared by the officers. “You know, some people have a tendency of under-declaration, anticipatory declaration and even non-declaration of their assets. To detect these three aspects, we go to the field to find out where someone under-declared, or in anticipation of getting something declared he has a property. All these are offences. The person found wanting would be referred to the CCB tribunal for prosecution accordingly. The punishment is either for him to forfeit the property, banned from holding public office for 10 years or be asked to vacate the office he is occupying. We are on course, we are doing it for the good of the country and the people,” he said. According to Mr Aliyu-Kankia, the bureau is working with sister agencies like EFCC, ICPC to continue fighting against corruption in the country. He urged stakeholders to support the exercise to enhance the fight against corruption for sustainable social and economic development of the country. | CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU | https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/661383-ccb-begins-verification-of-public-officers-assets.html | ||
| Premium Times | 23 JANUARY 2024 | Nigerian govt extends student loan to skill programmes enrollees | President Bola Tinubu has directed the management of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to extend the interest-free loan initiative to Nigerian students interested in skill-development programmes. The President issued this directive at the State House on Monday after a briefing from the Executive Secretary of the intervention programme, Akintunde Sawyerr, a statement by the president’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, said. The statement added that the implementation of the loan begins “later this month.” The statement reads in part: “The President said it is important for the scheme to accommodate those who may not want to pursue university education, noting that skill acquisition is as important as obtaining undergraduate and graduate academic qualifications. “This is not an exclusive programme. It is catering to all of our young people. Young Nigerians are gifted in different areas. This is not only for those who want to be doctors, lawyers, and accountants. It is also for those who aspire to use their skilled and trained hands to build our nation. In accordance with this, I have instructed NELFUND to explore all opportunities to inculcate skill-development programmes because not everybody wants to go through a full university education.” It quoted Mr Tinubu as emphasising the need for equity and inclusivity in the management of the programme, adding that there is no compromise in his government’s commitment to the disadvantaged citizens of Nigeria. Mr Sawyerr promised a loan application process with limited human interface. | STUDENT LOAN NELFUND FG | https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/661364-nigerian-govt-extends-student-loan-to-skill-programmes-enrollees.html | ||
| Channels TV | 23 JANUARY 2024 | Kunle Oluomo Impeached as Ogun Assembly Speaker | Oluomo was impeached for alleged embezzlement of funds, highhandedness and related offences. Kunle Oluomo has been impeached as the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly. Eighteen of the 36 members of State Assembly voted for Oluomo’s impeachment at plenary session on Tuesday. Oluomo was impeached for alleged embezzlement of funds, highhandedness and related offences. The Assembly immediately elected a member, Oludaisi Elemide, as the new Speaker. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on September 6, 2022, arraigned Oluomo before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over an alleged N2.475bn money laundering. Oluomo was arraigned alongside three others: Oladapo Samuel, Adeyemo Taiwo, and Adeyanju Nimota Amoke (now at large) on 11 counts of conspiracy, forgery, stealing, and money laundering preferred against them by the EFCC. The EFCC’s prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) had told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offences between 2019 and 2022. He said that the incident took place in Ogun State. Oyedepo told the court that they stole the sum of N2.475bn from the treasury of the Ogun State House of Assembly. Oluomo was, however, granted bail while the trial continues. | OGUN IMPEACHMENT HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY | https://www.channelstv.com/2024/01/23/kunle-oluomo-impeached-as-ogun-assemblyspeaker | ||
| Vanguard | 24 JANUARY 2024 | Governor Radda addresses the need for all Katsina Govt officials to declare assets | Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has assured that all political and public office holders in Katsina State will be encouraged to declare their assets, emphasising that such transparency is essential. He gave the assurance when he received Barrister Murtala Aliyu Kankia, the Acting Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, at the Katsina State Government House. While hosting the CCB helmsman, Governor Radda reaffirmed his commitment to fostering a conducive work environment for personnel of the Bureau in Katsina. According to him, there is the need for public officers to first declare their assets to the CCB, if only they are interested in public service. In his remarks, Barr. Aliyu Kankia highlighted their Bureau’s role in not only overseeing asset declarations, but also ensuring compliance with the code of conduct for public officers. “This includes addressing issues like conflict of interest, bribery, corruption, prohibition of employment in foreign countries, membership in specific organizations, operating foreign bank accounts, and restriction of business activities to farming,” he said. Kankia warned that officers concealing assets without proper declaration would forfeit them to the Federal Government of Nigeria. He further outlined penalties for making anticipatory or false declarations, including a ten-year ban from holding political offices or vacating current positions. Acknowledging the initiation of verification exercises involving senior political office holders, permanent secretaries, and heads of government agencies, the CCB Acting Chairman solicited Governor Radda’s support in encouraging widespread asset declaration. He also sought support from other stakeholders to ensure the effective execution of their Bureau’s mandate. | KATSINA | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/governor-radda-directs-all-katsina-govt-officials-to-declare-assets/ | ||
| Vanguard | 24 JANUARY 2024 | Breaking: Obiano, ex-Anambra gov, pleads not guilty to 9-count charge | The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, docked the immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, on a nine-count money laundering charge. Obiano, who was arraigned before trial Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him. He was subsequently allowed to go home based on the terms of an administrative bail the anti-graft agency earlier granted to him. Terms of the conditions included the seizure of his international passport, even as he was warned not to travel outside the country without the permission of the court. Besides, the court directed the EFCC to forward to it, details of those that stood as his surety. The case has been adjourned till March 4 for the commencement of his trial. It will be recalled that the former governor was first arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on March 17, 2022, as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, the United States of America. The arrest took place a few hours after he left office as governor. | ANAMBRA EFCC | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/breaking-ex-anambra-gov-obiano-pleads-not-guilty-to-9-court-charge/ | ||
| Vanguard | 24 JANUARY 2024 | DP 16 lawmakers won’t be permitted to resume plenary – Plateau Speaker | Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Gabriel Dewan Kudangbena has insisted that the 16 suspended members of the Assembly will not be permitted to resume plenary. Kudangbena, while addressing reporters after a brief sitting, said none of the 16 lawmakers would be permitted to resume until a clear interpretation of the court judgment is presented before the House of Assembly. He said, “The house is in receipt of judgments from two courts, one from a court of appeal and another one from the supreme court. And you know I am a lawmaker, I can’t interpret the law. Therefore, I have to see full interpretations of these judgments before I know what to do. “The only thing I know now is that there are 32 members of the House of Assembly claiming 16 constituency seats right now, that is the reason I see the interpretations. “So, for now, the Plateau State House of Assembly has only 8 members whose seats are not in contest, and only 8 members are recognized by my leadership. The other 16 members will join us when the law is made clear.” Speaking on the development, the leader of the 16 PDP lawmakers who came to resume plenary but were locked out, Hon Ishaku Maren from Bokkos Constituency spoke on behalf of 16 sacked members, after gaining access to the venue. He said, “We agree with the position of the Speaker of the State House of assembly, we know the Plateau State House of Assembly is law-abiding and has acted in accordance with the law. And as a group we are also law-abiding, we are calm, we are organized and we absolutely stand for our Speaker Rt. Hon Gabriel Dewan Kudangbena. “We are ready to wait until the judgments are interpreted to give legitimacy to the House of Assembly.” Meanwhile, the 16 APC lawmakers were not present at the plenary, but the state publicity secretary of APC Sylvanus Namang said the APC lawmakers were advised to stay away from the sitting to avoid a clash. At the time of this report, the situation at the old Government House is now calm, as workers have fully resumed work. | PDP PLATEAU HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY | https://punchng.com/n3bn-fraud-oyo-ita-others-awarded-contracts-to-own-firms-efcc-alleges/ | ||
| Vanguard | 24 JANUARY 2024 | Why we impeached Speaker — Ogun Assembly | 18 of 26 members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, yesterday, impeached the Speaker, Mr Olakunle Oluomo. The lawmakers said Oluomo was removed for alleged high-handedness, lack of focus and transparency, arrogance and poor leadership style, financial misappropriation and inciting members against themselves. The Assembly equally elected Mr Oludaisi Elemide, who represents Odeda State Constituency at the Assembly, as the new Speaker. The plenary was presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Mrs Bolanle Ajayi. Similarly, security personnel, including the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were in large numbers at the Assembly complex. Vanguard reliably gathered that the lawmaker representing Yewa North 1 Constituency, Adegoke Adeyanju, moved the motion for Oluomo’s impeachment, while it was seconded by the lawmaker representing Sagamu II Constituency, Mr Ademola Adeniran. It was also gathered that Adeyanju had entered the Assembly chamber with the Maze in the company of other lawmakers. Addressing newsmen after he was elected the new Speaker, Elemide explained that the people of the state should expect the best from him. He said: “We are law-abiding legislators. We want the world to know that there has been a change in leadership. 18 members signed for me to be the Speaker. People should remain calm. We are in the custody of all the authority of the House. We are saying that the new leadership will support the governor.” He, however, clarified that Governor Dapo Abiodun was not aware of the impeachment. Also speaking, Mr Damilola Soneye, who represents Obafemi Owode Constituency, noted that the office of the Speaker is to be first among equals. Soneye said: “The Speaker was impeached due to gross misconduct which bothers on high handedness, lack of focus and transparency, arrogance and poor leadership style, financial misappropriation and inciting members against themselves.” | OGUN HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/why-we-impeached-speaker-ogun-assembly/ | ||
| Punch | 24 JANUARY 2024 | INEC meets security agencies over Feb 3 by-elections | The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Tuesday, said “conducting isolated elections in Nigeria can be challenging.” This was as he urged security agencies to provide a secure environment for the conduct of the rerun/by-elections scheduled for February 3. Also, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said election-related violence, intimidation and other security threats must be managed to uphold the credibility of the electoral process. The by-elections became necessary after some members of the national and state Houses of Assembly died. About 74 candidates would take part in the by-elections. Yakubu, speaking at a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security on Tuesday in Abuja, said without a secure and peaceful environment, the conduct of credible elections would be imperiled. The INEC Chairman said, “As you are all aware, the election is a multi-stakeholder responsibility. INEC has a role to play, and so too are other stakeholders. As security agencies, it is your responsibility to secure the environment to enable us to deploy personnel and materials, the protection of observers, the media as well as the polling and collation agents representing the political parties and candidates. “From experience, conducting isolated elections, such as by-elections and re-runs, can be very challenging. We must pay attention to the potential for disruptive behaviour by some candidates and their supporters.” He said a rerun conducted in one polling unit or a handful of polling units could be severely disrupted by acts of thuggery knowing full well that these few locations would determine the outcome of the election. Yakubu said the Nigeria Police Force, as the lead agency for elections, had been provided with the full information of where the elections would be held and the number of Permanent Voter Cards collected, among others. The INEC Chairman added that four additional orders of the Court of Appeal were served to the commission bringing the total number of affected national and state constituencies to 39 where elections would be held. He said, “In my remarks at the commission’s extraordinary meeting with leaders of political parties last month, I reported that the elections affect 35 national and state constituencies. Since then, four additional orders of the Court of Appeal have been served on the commission in respect of Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency of Sokoto State, Madara/Chinade State Constituency of Bauchi State as well as Kudan and Kauru/Chawai State Constituencies of Kaduna State. “This brings the total number of affected constituencies to 39 which translates to 2.6 per cent of the 1,491 constituencies for which elections were conducted nationwide in the 2023 general elections. “The nine by-elections are fresh elections covering the entire constituencies. However, except for three Constituencies (Plateau North Senatorial District Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency in Plateau State and Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency in Kaduna State), the re-run elections are to be held in a few polling units. In some cases, only one Polling Unit is affected in an entire Federal or State Constituency.” The NSA, who was represented by his staff, Hassan Abdullahi, said “The Office of the NSA and security agencies under the platform of ICCES will sustain collaboration with INEC to ensure that elections are conducted in a secure and peaceful environment. “In this regard, the coordination of security operations, deployment of personnel and adoption of proactive security measures will be paramount.” | INEC ELECTIONS | https://punchng.com/inec-meets-security-agencies-over-feb-3-by-elections/ | ||
| Vanguard | 24 JANUARY 2024 | Rivers Crisis: Rivers elders kick as court shuns suit against Tinubu’s peace pact | Some elders of Rivers State and stakeholders, yesterday, kicked and vowed to go on appeal, as a state High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, struck out a suit challenging the legality of President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation on resolving the political crises in the state for lack of jurisdiction to entertain the matter. A coalition of civil society organisations also threatened to sue Governor Siminalayi Fubara, to stop him from recognising Mr. Martin Amaewhule as Speaker of the House of Assembly, as well as re-presentation of the N800 billion 2024 budget to the Assembly. The suit was filed by 10 sons and daughters of the state, led by His Highness Anabs Sara-Igbe, against President Bola Tinubu, Governor Fubara, Martin Amaewhule, Rivers State House of Assembly and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. Sara-Igbe and nine others, in the suit, sought constitutional interpretation on whether President Tinubu’s directives for the resolution of the political impasse in Rivers State were not inconsistent with sections of the 1999 Constitution as amended. They asked whether the president had the legal right to direct the governor to re-present the 2024 budget to 24 members of the House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule even after their seats were declared vacant. Furthermore, the applicants asked whether it was proper for names of commissioners, who willingly resigned their offices to be re-submitted for screening. The applicants also want the court to determine whether the 24 House of Assembly members led by Amaewhule after defecting from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC, still have rights to be Assembly members. When the matter came up, yesterday, trial judge, Justice Chinwendu Nworgu did not allow any argument and delivered a ruling declining jurisdiction to entertain the suit. Nworgu cited the judgment of James Omotosho of Abuja High Court, which nullified activities of the Edison Ehie-led faction of the Assembly. Outside the courtroom, Sara-Igbe said the suit was part of their efforts to fight for the liberation of the souls of Rivers people, adding that the elders would direct their counsel to appeal the decision of Justice Nworgu. He accused the judge of not following due process of the case, adding that he was shocked when the case was assigned to Justice Nworgu from the first judge that handled it before. “They want us to go to Abuja and file the case afresh. We won’t do that. We will appeal the judgment. We need justice and we will get justice,” he said. Counsel to one of the claimants, Emmanule Rukari, expressed disappointment over the position of the court, saying that the ruling was an indication that the “Judiciary is not the last hope for the common man.” Meanwhile, a coalition of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs in Rivers State said it would not hesitate to commence a legal process against Governor Fubara if he goes ahead to re-present the N800 billion 2024 passed budget to the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly. Comprising Geotel Foundation for Citizens and Leadership Development, GFCLD; International Human Rights and Protection Initiative, IHRPI; Foundation for people and Environmental Rights, FPER; Centre for Social Studies Development, CSSD; and Rainbow Watch and Development Centre, RWDC among others, the CSOs said Governor Fubara would be violating his oath of office by recognising the Amaewhule faction of the House of Assembly. In a statement by Enefaa Georgewill, chairman, and Solomon Lenu, PRO said, the CSOs said: “We have watched with keen interest desperate efforts made by very few people and anti- democratic elements to subvert democracy and undermine the sacred office of the governor of our dear state. This is unfortunate to say the least, if not criminal at worst.” Urging the governor not to succumb to pressure of being “part of a process clearly intended to further desecrate the constitution of Nigeria,” they said: “The Martin Amaehule-led House of Assembly does not exist in the eyes of the law by the provisions of Section 109(1)(g) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “To pretend to constitute itself to conduct the business of legislation on behalf of Rivers State is untoward, illegal and reprehensible and more to sustain a correspondence with the office of the Governor to the extent of making demands for the representation of the Rivers State 2024 budget before it is illegal, self-serving and is the height of travesty never before heard nor seen in our land.” On the budget, the coalition said: “The budget (The 2024 appropriation Bill) has been passed into law and should be implemented for the enjoyment of our people and to make Rivers State a better place. “We, as the foremost civil society organisations in Rivers State, not only stand by you (Fubara), insisting that you refuse to be distracted but carry on with your constitutional mandate of working for the best interest of Rivers people. | RIVERS PEACE PACT | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/rivers-crisis-rivers-elders-kick-as-court-shuns-suit-against-tinubus-peace-pact/ | ||
| Business Day | 24 JANUARY 2024 | Osun to establish security trust fund | As part of efforts to secure the lives and property of residents in Osun, Governor Ademola Adeleke, has hinted at the establishment of a security trust fund in the state. The governor has also directed a committee of five to work out modalities for the take-off of the fund as quickly as possible. In a statement by Olawale Rasheed, his spokesperson, Adeleke said the fund would partner with corporate organisations, the business community, industrialists and critical stakeholders. He said, “The fund will be deployed for the provision of material and logistic support for security operatives in the state. “To instill confidence and achieve set goals, the committee will include members of the security services with a view to proffering solutions to security challenges facing the state. “Members of the organised private sector will also be included to serve as a vehicle to institutionalise an enduring public-private partnership approach to the resource problems of security institutions.” The governor, who commended security operatives for their painstaking efforts in safeguarding lives and property in the state, said he recently discussed a close partnership with the Inspector General of Police in Abuja. “We must ramp up protection of lives and property. We cannot achieve this goal without properly equipping and strengthening our security services. Our administration is committed to achieving a fully secured state to complement the ongoing reconstruction and recovery process in the state. “But the operational and logistics needs of our security agencies are enormous. So, our best approach is a PPP arrangement through a State Security Trust Fund. We seek the buy-in of the private sector. The implementation committee will soon roll out modalities for the actualisation of this policy”, said Adeleke. | OSUN SECURITY TRUST FUND | businessday.ng/news/article/osun-to-establish-security-trust-fund | ||
| Vanguard | 24 JANUARY 2024 | Breaking: Aiyedatiwa dissolves Ondo Exco | Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, of Ondo State has dissolved the State Executive Council. This was contained in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan,in Akure, the state capital. The statement reads” All members of the Cabinet are to immediately hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most senior administrative officers in their respective offices.” “Also, all Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs) are relieved of their duties, with immediate effect. All the affected officials are directed to hand over all government properties in their possession. The Governor thanks the affected officials for their services and contributions to the development of the State.” | ONDO AIYEDATIWA | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/breaking-aiyedatiwa-dissolves-ondo-exco/ | ||
| Vanguard | 24 JANUARY 2024 | Kidnapping: FCTA begins profiling worst-hit communities | The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun profiling areas worst hit by kidnappers in the territory. The Director, Development Control, FCTA, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, who led the exercise in Abuja on Tuesday, said that the exercise was to ascertain the causes of the kidnappings and suggest solutions. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise began with Sagwari Layout Estate, Dutse, in Bwari Area Council, where kidnappers abducted some residents recently. Galadima explained that the officials, with the support of security personnel, would identify buildings without approval and other illegal activities in the area. Represented by the Deputy Director, Monitoring and Enforcement, Mr Hassan Ogbole, Galadima blamed the poor planning of the area on the community leaders and some of his personnel. He pointed out that the area was surrounded by structures that were built without the approval of the FCTA development control department. The director added that after profiling the area, the department would recommend necessary measures that would curb the activities of criminals. “The exercise is a fact-finding mission and part of the department’s periodic monitoring of developments. We observed the recent growing chain of illegal developments within the ecologically sensitive zone of the lower Usuma Dam, which is supposed to be a secured side. Activities by illegal developers are a threat to the FCT Administration and the dam. We have taken steps to carry out enforcement on several occasions, but they have remained unabated. The government will not condone this. In physical planning, there are places that we reserve; these are reserved areas. So, we will put up our report and recommendations to the appropriate quarters and see what could be done,” he said. The Secretary, Command and Control Centre, Department of Security Services, FCTA, Dr Peter Olumuji, said that illegal activities by the locals promoted the lapses. “What we have seen here shows the level of insensitivity of the village chief. Most of the people we interacted with said they got the lands from the village chief with no concern about the safety of lives and property within the area. This mountain site that we visited is where some people were kidnapped. We have accessed the mountain site, and based on the position of development control, it is against the planning template. People must also stop buying land from village chiefs. They don’t have the power in FCT to sell land. They are only interested in monetary gain and not the safety of the people,” he said. (NAN) | FCTA INSECURITY | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/kidnapping-fcta-begins-profiling-worst-hit-communities | ||
| Guardian | 25 JANUARY 2024 | Endless reviews, amendments cost National Assembly N1b yearly | The National Assembly is set for a fresh amendment to the constitution – an exercise that has routinely cost the country an average of N1 billion yearly. Findings show that the review has been consistent in the last 24 years, with at least 30 alterations made to the 1999 Constitution and at the cumulative cost of N24.85 billion. And in line with the tradition, both the Senate and House of Representatives will next week resume further amendments to the Constitution, with emphasis on State police, Value Added Tax (VAT), and electoral reforms. The urgency of another amendment is not unconnected with the issue of VAT collection that has been generating a legal battle between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and some state governments. Specifically, Rivers and Lagos state governments had enacted laws and called for decentralisation of collection, while some states pushed for centralised pool. The case is still pending at the Supreme Court. The two chambers would inaugurate separate committees to be led by deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau and the deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu, when they resume legislative activities from their three weeks Christmas and end of the year recess. Although efforts to commence amendment to the 1999 Constitution began in the 4th National Assembly (1999 to 2003), actual exercise began in the 5th National Assembly (2003 to 2007) led by the then deputy president of the Senate, late Ibrahim Mantu. It was marred by reports of a third term agenda by the then administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. To date, every tenure of the National Assembly has initiated a fresh constitution amendment project for which some N4 billion is approved, to be appropriated and released based on N1 billion per year. This is in addition to some extra funds released to the committee for unforeseen expenditure. | NASS CONSTIUTION AMENDMENT | https://guardian.ng/news/endless-reviews-amendments-cost-national-assembly-n1b-yearly/ | ||
| Guardian | 25 JANUARY 2024 | 30 people killed in Plateau amid curfew imposed on Mangu council | Despite the 24-hour curfew imposed on Mangu Local Council on Tuesday by the Plateau State government, no fewer than 30 people have been massacred by suspected Fulani militia. The killings occurred at about midnight when residents had gone to bed. According to a source, Moses David, who is a resident in one of the attacked communities, 25 women and five children were instantly murdered. The killings took place at Kwahaslalek, behind the permanent site of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Mangu, Kinat, Mairana and other villages on the borders of Mangu and Barkin Ladi local councils. He said in the wee hours, sporadic gunshots forced women and their children to take refuge in a community leader’s house, where they were eventually slaughtered. His words: “Unfortunately, the blood-thirsty terrorists followed the victims there and killed all of them. Unfortunately also, the men were not at home, but keeping vigil outside the community.” He said what happened at Sabongar village and Mangu town that forced Governor Caleb Mutfwang to declare curfew on Tuesday was just a distraction. “While people in the two towns, Mangu and Sabongar, mourning their dead people, the attackers now went to the villages to unleash terror and mayhem without resistance. Not only killings, the attackers also burnt houses and property of the natives, including the popular Mangu market,” he added. Public affairs watchers are baffled by the unhindered attacks that resulted in the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.- Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja to mobilise officers to restore sanity. | INSECURITY PLATEAU MANGU | https://guardian.ng/news/30-people-killed-in-plateau-amid-curfew-imposed-on-mangu-council/ | ||
| This Day Live | 25 JANUARY 2024 | Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has removed Pa Ayo Adebanjo as its acting leader. | National leader of the group, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, stated this yesterday during the group’s monthly general meeting at his residence in Akure, the Ondo State capital. Specifically, Fasoranti said in the light of recent events and the pressing need to reposition and rejuvenate Afenifere, the positions of acting leader and deputy leader have now been abrogated. In their places, the group has set up Afenifere Elders Caucus, comprising 21 members, adding that the responsibilities and authority of advising the Afenifere leader and Asiwaju Yoruba had been vested in the caucus. A communique issued after the meeting and signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, explained that a motion on the need to abrogate the dual positions of Acting Leader and Deputy Leader was moved by Dr. S. J. Ibikunle from Ogun State and was seconded by members from Ekiti, Kwara, Oyo and Ondo States. The group also resolved that there was an urgent need to rework the Security Architecture of the country to ensure that Nigerians live and move about without the fear of being kidnapped or harassed in any way. “Such reworking should include giving states and local government councils that so desire to establish own police services with all the requisite powers to function as such. Doing so would check, if not totally stop, the incidences of kidnapping and sundry banditry now ravaging the land. The unfortunate blast in Ibadan clearly underscores the need to allow the federating units in the country to control mineral resources in their respective areas with particular reference to mining and exploration. The reasoning behind this was that had it been that states were in control of mining, for instance, Oyo State government was likely to know how explosives were being moved around. Such would have made last week’s horrendous blast that claimed many lives, traumatised hundreds of people and destroyed properties running into Billions of Naira preventable.” According to the Communique, the meeting took note of the report that Miyetti Allah Have set up a 1,144-strong Nomad Vigilante militia in Nasarawa ostensibly to provide security for Fulani herders. Afenifere was of the opinion that Miyetti Allah, being a non-state actor, should not have power to do a thing like that. It, therefore, considered the action of the Department of State Security (DSS) to checkmate Miyetti Allah on the issue as timely and in order. The meeting expressed the hope that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda would be giving the necessary push so that life can be easier for the people of Nigeria. “Among the means of achieving this are taking steps that would strengthen the value of our currency, the Naira, reduce costs of energy (fuel in particular) through local production of petroleum products as well as regular supply of electricity.” In view of the current high cost of living, Afenifere urged the federal government, through its various organs in charge of finance and fiscal policies, to accelerate actions that will strengthen the value of naira, enhance productivity, reduce costs of items. | AFENIFERE | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/01/25/afenifere-removes-adebanjo-as-acting-leader-constitutes-elders-caucus | ||
| Channels TV | 25 JANUARY 2024 | Governor Aiyedatiwa Appoints Tayo Oluwatuyi as SSG | The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved the appointment of Tayo Oluwatuyi as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). The appointment was made known by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, in a statement on Wednesday. Oluwatuyi was also Ondo SSG under Akeredolu’s administration. He said the governor also approved the appointment of Mr. Abayomi Olasanya as the Chief of Protocol. Both appointments take immediate effect, according to the statement. The governor had earlier on Wednesday announced the selection of Olayide Owolabi Adelami for the position of Deputy Governor. Adelami, who hails from Owo, the hometown of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, is a former Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly. Adelami, is expected to appear before the state House of Assembly on Thursday for screening. The date of his screening was confirmed in a statement by Olatuji Oshati, Chairman, House Committee on Information. He said the name of the Deputy Governor nominee was received from the governor on Wednesday by the Speaker Rt.Hon. Olamide Oladiji on behalf of the House. The statement added that on receiving the letter on behalf of other lawmakers in his office, Oladiji noted that the governor’s action is in line with Section 191(3)b&c of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. Earlier Wednesday also, the governor sacked all commissioners, senior special assistants (SSAs) and special assistants (SAs) appointed by Akeredolu and directed them to immediately hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most senior administrative officers in their respective offices. Aiyedatiwa, 59, formerly Ondo deputy governor, was sworn in as the substantive governor of the South-West state on December 27, 2023, following the death of Akeredolu. | OSUN SSG | https://www.channelstv.com/2024/01/24/governor-aiyedatiwa-appoints-tayo-oluwatuyi-as-ssg/ | ||
| Channels TV | 25 JANUARY 2024 | Ondo Assembly to Screen Deputy Governor Nominee Adelami Today | The Deputy Governor nominee for Ondo State, Olayide Owolabi Adelami, is expected to appear before the state House of Assembly on Thursday for screening. Adelami, who is a former Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, was nominated by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to be his deputy on Wednesday. The date of his screening was confirmed in a statement by Olatuji Oshati, Chairman, House Committee on Information. He said the name of the Deputy Governor nominee was received from the governor on Wednesday by the Speaker Rt.Hon. Olamide Oladiji on behalf of the House. The statement added that on receiving the letter on behalf of other lawmakers in his office, Oladiji noted that the governor’s action is in line with Section 191(3)b&c of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. Adelami, hails from Owo, the hometown of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. | ONDO DEPUTY GOVERNOR | https://www.channelstv.com/2024/01/24/ondo-assembly-to-screen-deputy-governor-nominee-adelami-thursday/ | ||
| Daily Trust | 25 JANUARY 2024 | Supreme Court Affirms Elections of Sokoto, Taraba, Rivers’ Governors | The Supreme Court has affirmed the elections of Governors Simi Fubara (Rivers), Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto) and Kefas Agbu of (Taraba). A unanimous verdict of the five-member panel of justices read by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa on Thursday dismissed the appeal by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tonye Cole for lack of merit. The judgement on the Taraba State appeal read by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba also dismissed the appeal by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and its governorship candidate, Yahaya Sani for filing incomplete record of appeal. The apex court also delivered judgement on the Sokoto State appeal. In the lead panel judgement read by Justice Tijani Abubakar dismissed the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Saidu Umar. The panel upheld the verdict of the Court of Appeal in Abuja that the PDP failed to establish their allegations of widespread irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022. | SOKOTO TARABA RIVERS SUPREME COURT | https://dailytrust.com/supreme-court-affirms-elections-of-sokoto-taraba-rivers-governors/ | ||
| Daily Trust | 26 JANUARY 2024 | Kwara Amends LG Law, To Conduct Council Poll After 6 Years | The Kwara State House of Assembly has amended the state’s local government electoral law. The amendment followed the consideration of a report presented by the chairman, House Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Judiciary, Hon. Salahu Folabi Ganiyu. The amendment, among others, seeks to change the number of days for notice of election. The opposition PDP in a statement by its publicity secretary, Olusegun Adewara, expressed disappointment over the amendment, saying it was a ‘technical way to extend the conduct of LG election in the state to 2025. Following the passage, the chairman of Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC), Mr Okanla Baba, said his agency would, next month, announce the timetable for the conduct of the local government election in the state. “We urge all stakeholders to support the process”, Baba added in a statement sent to our correspondent on Thursday. Daily Trust reports that the last local government election in the state was held six years ago. | KWARA LGA | https://dailytrust.com/kwara-amends-lg-law-to-conduct-council-poll-after-6-years/ | ||
| Vanguard | 26 JANUARY 2024 | NLC criticizes Tinubu’s economic reforms | Comrade Joe Ajaero, the National President of the National Labour Congress (NLC), has issued a scathing critique of the current administration’s economic policies, decrying the impact of recent reforms on the average Nigerian citizen. Speaking at the 21st Edition of the Daily Trust Dialogue organized by Media Trust Limited in Abuja on Thursday, Ajaero highlighted the hardships faced by the populace, notably pointing to challenges arising from the removal of fuel subsidies, privatization failings, and rampant inflation. The 21st Edition of the Daily Trust Dialogue provided a platform for diverse perspectives on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms. While some speakers expressed concerns about the impact on the common people, others presented a more optimistic view of economic projections. However, the call for accountability, responsible reporting, and continuous constructive engagement emerged as common threads in the discussions. Ajaero started his address by expressing discontent with the influence of international bodies on local economic decisions, citing the NLC’s recent confrontations with the World Bank. “The directives to further increase prices of petroleum products originated from the World Bank and IMF. Two months ago, we had a tough time engaging with the World Bank, which was urging an increase in petroleum product prices,” he said. Reflecting on the government’s attempts at privatization, Ajaero criticized the evident failure of such strategies, highlighting the sale of assets worth over $5 billion for only $1 billion. He used the power sector as a key example of this failure, noting the high cost of privatization followed by an alarming N1.8 trillion annual subsidies. If you read yesterday’s newspapers, you would have seen that five power companies, previously valued at over $5 billion, are now set to be sold for just $1 billion. Despite past projections of a N1.8 trillion-naira annual subsidy, these policies have not succeeded,” Ajaero added. He drew an analogy, stating, “It’s like selling your house for N2 million and then giving the new owner N10 million for repairs. Such a political economy is unheard of elsewhere.” Addressing an audience of key policymakers and stakeholders, Ajaero outlined the broader economic effects, such as the severe devaluation of the naira and the subsequent rise in the cost of imported goods. He vividly described the impact of subsidy removal, with fuel prices soaring from N187 to around N700—a burden disproportionately shouldered by ordinary citizens. The NLC President emphasized the predicament of everyday Nigerians, whose wages have languished behind the escalating costs. “We are witnessing public disasters that yield private gains: a few individuals profit while the public suffers. The real losers are those who have seen the price of imported goods jump from N200 to N700. They are the ones whose transportation costs have quadrupled without any corresponding increase in their wages. They suffer from unimplemented wage increases. Ultimately, the common people are the losers, and economic policies have done little to alleviate their distress,” he explained. In his impassioned speech, Ajaero also questioned the rationale behind non-justiciable policies that fail to serve the public good, as advocated by Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution. He argued that such policies only deepen the national debt, burdening future generations. The NLC President criticized the government’s approach to economic growth, questioning the effectiveness of subsidies and palliatives and pointing out the adverse effects of poor policies on the populace. | NLC TINUBU | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/common-people-left-toasted-by-tinubus-economic-reforms-nlc/ | ||
| Vanguard | 26 JANUARY 2024 | Breaking: S’Court affirms 5-year jail term for Lawan over $3m bribery saga | The Supreme Court, on Friday, upheld the judgement that convicted and sentenced the former Chairman of the then House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy probe, Mr. Farouk Lawan, to five years in prison for bribery. The apex court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel, dismissed as lacking in merit, an appeal the former lawmaker, who has been in prison custody since 2021, filed to challenge his conviction. Lawan had among other things, contended that he was not allowed to make a plea of allocutus (plea for leniency) by the trial court before it jailed him. However, in its lead judgement that was prepared by Justice Inyang Okoro but read on Friday by Justice Tijjani Abubakar, the Supreme Court said it was “crystal clear that failure of the trial court to call for allocution, did not vitiate the sentence passed on the Appellant.” It will be recalled that a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Apo had on June 22, 2021, sentenced the former lawmaker to seven years in prison. Trial Justice Angela Otaluka, found the four-term lawmaker for Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency of Kano State, guilty of demanding an aggregate sum of $ 3million from Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, Chief Femi Otedola, to give his company a clean bill of health in the fuel subsidy probe the House of Reps initiated on 2012. The trial court held that the Defendant acted in breach of section 17 (1) (a), section 8(1) (a) (b) (ii), and section 23 (i) of the Corrupt practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000, and committed an offence punishable under section 8 (1) 17 (1) and 23(3) of the same Act. The court said it was satisfied that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, successfully established a criminal case against the Defendant, even as it convicted him on all the three-count charges that was preferred against him. Whereas the Defendant was handed 7 years jail term on counts 1 and 2 of the charge, the court sentenced him to 5 years on count 3. Justice Otaluka held that the sentence would run concurrently. Dissatisfied with the verdict, Lawan, lodged six grounds of appeal to challenge his conviction. He maintained that the ICPC failed to by way of credible evidence, establish a prima facie criminal case against him. Therefore, he prayed the appellate court to discharge and acquit him of the bribery allegation. In its judgement on February 24, 2022, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal affirmed the high court’s verdict. However, the appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-man panel of Justices, reduced Lawan’s jail term from 7 to 5 years, after it discharged and acquitted him of two of the charges that led to his conviction. The panel, which was led by the Court of Appeal President, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, held that the totality of evidence the Prosecution adduced in the matter, was not sufficient to prove that the former lawmaker demanded and agreed to accept $3m from Otedola. The appellate court however upheld the case of the Prosecution that Lawan indeed received $500, 000 from the oil mogul. While it dismissed the first two counts in the charge, the appellate court sustained the last count in the charge which attracts a maximum of five years imprisonment upon conviction. | SUPREME COURT LAWAN BRIBERY | https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/breaking-scourt-affirms-5-year-jail-term-for-lawan-over-3m-bribery-saga | ||
| Daily Trust | 29 JANUARY 2024 | “You are still part of us,” says ECOWAS | The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission) says it is yet to receive a formal notification from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso about their intention to quit the regional bloc. It was reacting after the military juntas from the three Member-States withdrew from ECOWAS with immediate effect. The three countries, which mulled a counter force, Alliance of Sahel States, against the regional bloc after the overthrow of the democratically elected government in Niger, announced the development on Sunday. ECOWAS under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu had threatened military action if the Niger junta refused to transfer power. But the regime stood its ground as Mali and Burkina Faso vowed to fight in defence of Niger. On Sunday, the leaders of the three Sahel nations said they had taken a sovereign decision to pull out their countries from ECOWAS. However, in a communique issued by the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja on Sunday evening, the body said it had been working with the three countries for restoration of constitutional order. It insisted that Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso remained important members of the Community and the Authority of Heads of State and Government remained committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse. The communique reads: “The attention of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission) has been drawn to a statement broadcast on the National Televisions of Mali and Niger announcing the decision of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to withdraw from ECOWAS. “The ECOWAS Commission is yet to receive any direct formal notification from the three Member States about their intention to withdraw from the Community. “The ECOWAS Commission, as directed by the Authority of Heads of State and Government, has been working assiduously with these countries for the restoration of constitutional order. Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali remain important members of the Community and the Authority remains committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse. | ECOWAS NIGER MALI BURKINA FASO | https://dailytrust.com/you-are-still-part-of-us-ecowas-rejects-exit-of-niger-mali-burkina-faso/ | ||
| Daily Trust | 29 JANUARY 2024 | PDP House Of Reps Aspirant Shot Dead In Osun | A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Richard Idowu who is seeking the ticket of the party to contest a seat in the House of Representatives has been killed. Richard who was popularly known as Ade Ori Okin was shot dead at an abandoned apartment in the outskirt of his Ejigbo town where the deceased held a meeting with some politicians and indigenes of Ejigbo on Saturday evening. Meanwhile, another individual was also shot dead at a bush near the house where the politician was killed. The state governor, Ademola Adeleke directed the Commissioner of Police to investigate the matter and fish out the killers. The Commissioner for Information in the state, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi appealed to residents to remain calm and assured that the matter would be investigated and that the culprits would be punished. | HOUSE OF REPS INSECURITY | https://dailytrust.com/pdp-house-of-reps-aspirant-shot-dead-in-osun/ | ||
| Daily Trust | 29 JANUARY 2024 | Fubara Appoints Ex-Factional Speaker of Rivers Assembly as Chief of Staff | Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has appointed Edison Ehie, former factional speaker of the state house of assembly, as his Chief of Staff. Ehie, who was majority leader of the assembly, was impeached in the early stage of the crisis to oust the governor. The Martins Amaehwule-led assembly loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had moved to impeach the governor, but did not succeed. Ehie later emerged factional speaker of the five-man assembly that the governor presented the controversial budget to. After the meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Rivers’ stakeholders, which led to the agreement on 8-point resolution, Ehie resigned as factional speaker and member representing Ahaoda constituency 2 in the assembly. In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday, the Secretary to Rivers State government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, said that governor had approved the appointment of Edison Ehie as Chief of Staff government house. The statement added that Ehie and two other persons, Dr Darlington Orji and Abel Eke, appointed Special Advisers to the governor would be sworn in later on Monday. Ehie replaced Hon. Chidi Amadi, kinsman of Wike, who resigned his appointment during the face off between the minister and Fubara. The nine commissioners who dumped Fubara’s cabinet over the feud have since been reinstated. | FUBARA RIVERS CHIEF OF STAFF | https://dailytrust.com/fubara-appoints-ex-factional-speaker-of-rivers-assembly-as-chief-of-staff/ | ||
| This Day Live | 29 JANUARY 2024 | Bribery Allegations against Naval Chief Baseless, Says Navy, Matawalle Promises Investigation | The Nigerian Navy has described the allegations against the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, as false, untenable, and baseless. This is just as the Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Bello Matawalle, has pledged to investigate the allegations of corruption against the naval chief, stressing also that the allegations may be mischievous and frivolous. An online report had accused the Naval Chief of releasing several oil tankers impounded for transporting stolen crude oil off Nigerian shores after receiving kickbacks in millions of dollars. However, the Nigerian Navy, in a statement issued yesterday by the Director of Information, Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, denied the allegations against Ogalla, stressing that the CNS has no business with oil bunkering contract awards. He said the arrested vessels mentioned in the report were involved in crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering, clarifying that they have not been released as alleged. The statement read: “The allegations that the Chief of the Naval Staff accepted over $170 million in bribes as well as alleged involvement in multi-billion-naira contract splitting fraud in the last six months are untenable, baseless and untrue. “Firstly, there are clear procedural requirements in the arrest, detention, and release of any vessel or persons found culpable in the maritime environment. It is not until these processes are duly concluded that such vessels are released to appropriate prosecuting agencies for further action. Indeed, all arrested vessels mentioned in the publication that were involved in crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering are being investigated and none of such vessels has been released as alleged.” Ayo-Vaughan also said it was not within the power of the Chief of Naval Staff to award oil bunkering contracts, adding that only the NNPCL had such power. He accused some unarmed persons described as disgruntled elements who he said were feeling the heat of the several operations by the Navy of making efforts to blackmail Ogalla. Ayo-Vaughan added that the elements had believed no individual could confront them, but following the operations, they had been put on their toes, adding that this had resulted in blackmail. He also promised Nigerians that the blackmail wouldn’t distract the service in their resolve to deny oil thieves freedom in the country. “Pertinently, the NN will continue to ensure legitimate businesses in the maritime domain thrive seamlessly. Also, these distractions will in no way retract the NN’s resolve to confront these criminals who must be brought to justice for Nigeria’s economy to rebound. The security and economy of the Nation are greater than any group of persons that think they must continue to drain the country,” he explained. The statement urged the members of the public to discountenance completely the malicious publication completely because it is totally untrue, completely baseless and a figment of the shallow imagination of the writer, his publishers, and their unpatriotic sponsors. Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Defence, Matawalle, has pledged to investigate the allegations of corruption against the naval chief. A statement issued at the weekend by the Director of Information, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Mr. Henshaw Ogubike, stated that Matawalle while reacting to the allegations against Ogalla, said that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has zero tolerance for corruption in the public service. | BRIBERY NAVY | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/01/28/bribery-allegations-against-naval-chief-baseless-says-navy-matawalle-promises-investigation | ||
| Channels TV | 29 JANUARY 2024 | Supreme Court Reserves Judgment on Binani’s Suit Against Adamawa Governor | The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the appeal by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Aisha Dahiru, popularly called Binani, against the governor of Adamawa state, Ahmadu Fintiri. The tribunal and Court of Appeal had dismissed Binani’s petition challenging the victory of Finitiri in the governorship election held last year. The five-member panel led by John Okoro adjourned the matter for judgment after listening to the arguments of the parties involved in the matter. The main contention of Binani, through her counsel, Akin Olujimi, at the day’s proceeding, is that the controversial declaration by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Ari, was lawful. Monday’s decision came months after the Court of Appeal affirmed the victory of Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as Governor of Adamawa State and dismissed Binani’s challenge as lacking in merit. It also awarded the cost of N500,000 in favour of Fintiri and the PDP against Binani. That judgment aligned with the verdict of the tribunal on October 28 which dismissed Binani’s petition for failing to prove her allegations of over-voting by not tendering documents to prove her case faulting the outcome of the election. Before the legal tussle, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Fintiri as the winner of a dramatic governorship poll. Fintiri polled 9,337 votes besting Senator ‘Binani’ who scored 6,513 votes. But in a controversial move, Ari, while collation was going on, prematurely declared Binani as the winner of the election. This was contrary to the provisions of Section 25 of the Electoral Act, 2022 which gives only the returning officer the right to declare election results for governorship polls. Immediately after the announcement, INEC declared the pronouncement as of no effect. It thereafter suspended the collation of results of the supplementary election in Adamawa and invited the REC, Returning Officer, and all officials involved to report to the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja. Later on, police authorities arrested Ari, confirming that the INEC REC was in their custody. He is still in court facing charges. | SUPREME COURT ADAMAWA BINANI | https://www.channelstv.com/2024/01/29/supreme-court-reserves-judgment-on-binanis-suit-against-adamawa-governor/ | ||
| Daily Trust | 30 JANUARY 2024 | ECOWAS crisis: “Nigeria at receiving end” | Nigeria stands to lose more than the other 12-member countries in the areas of security and economy, following the pullout of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), experts and people living in border communities told the Daily Trust on Monday. Also, some experts have argued that the departure of the three countries from the regional bloc could hinder meaningful progress on the negotiations on protocols relating to trade and investments, and ultimately therefore negatively impact the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The AfCFTA is designed to ramp up trade within Africa and bolster the continent’s global trade standing. | ECOWAS NIGERIA | https://dailytrust.com/ecowas-crisis-nigeria-at-receiving-end/ | ||
| Daily Trust | 30 JANUARY 2024 | Court Dismisses Sacked Lawmakers’ Suit To Participate In Re-Run Election | A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an application filed by Senator Simon Mwadkwon and Musa Agah Avia, both sacked federal lawmakers on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking to participate in the February 3 rerun elections. Senator Mwadkon and Rep Agah represented Plateau North Senatorial District and Bassa/Jos North constituency, respectively, before they were sacked by the Appeal Court on the ground that their party lacked the structure to participate in the last general elections. The court had, after sacking the PDP members, ordered for re-run elections. But the Supreme Court judgement had affirmed the election of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, also of the PDP; a development that the PDP members argued should qualify the sacked lawmakers to participate in the rerun. The duo’s hopes were however, dashed on Monday when the court presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, declined jurisdiction in the matter, and dismissed their motion exparte earlier filed on January 11. The plaintiffs – Mwadkon and Agah – had sought an order of mandamus, compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to include them in the forthcoming rerun elections. The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, had penultimate week, via a signed presser, said the umpire will not include any new/disqualified candidate. | RERUN ELECTION | https://dailytrust.com/court-dismisses-sacked-lawmakers-suit-to-participate-in-re-run-election/ | ||
| This Day Live | 30 JANUARY 2024 | Insecurity: FCTA Raids Central Business District’s Tunnels for Bandits, Criminals | The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA),yesterday, raided subways under bridges at the Central Business District (CBD), Maitama and Wuse, Abuja for providing shelter for bandits, robbers, pick-pockets and other undesirable elements in the nation’s capital. The operation was carried out by the Joint Taskforce on City Sanitation, coordinated by Mukhtar Galadima, as part of measures to rid the city of criminals. It involved the security agencies, including the Nigerian Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the DSS, the National Drug Law Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). Three persons were arrested under the bridges for drug related issues, and were promptly handed over to NDLEA for further investigation and profiling. Galadima, who is also the Director, FCT Department of Development Control, said the operation was pursuant to the directive of the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, following complaints from residents in the city about the misuse and abuse of such facilities. He said drastic action was taken to mitigate further abuse of the facilities that had become appalling because of poor sanitation. | FCTA INSECURITY | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/01/30/insecurity-fcta-raids-central-business-districts-tunnels-for-bandits-criminals/ | ||
| This Day Live | 30 JANUARY 2024 | Security, Constitution Amendment, Electoral Reforms Top Agenda as Lawmakers Resume Today | Security will be at the top of the agenda as the House of Representatives resumes plenary today amid growing insecurity in many parts of the country. Other issues of national importance marked for consideration include constitution amendment, electoral reform, legislative oversight, public petitions, bill progression, state of the economy, constituency outreach, and foreign policy. A statement by the spokesperson of the House, Hon. Akin Rotimi, said the above subjects would shape legislative proceedings and deliberations, and define the second half of the first legislative year (June 2023 – June 2024), as the lawmakers resumed from their four-week recess. Rotimi said the country was currently experiencing rising security challenges in the form of kidnapping, banditry, and other criminal activities, hence, the need to rise to the occasion. | SECURITY CONSTITUTION | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/01/30/security-constitution-amendment-electoral-reforms-top-agenda-as-lawmakers-resume-today/ | ||
| Daily Trust | 31 JANUARY 2024 | Insecurity: Senate summons IGP, military chiefs. | The Senate on Tuesday summoned heads of security agencies over the rising spate of insecurity in different parts of the country. The security chiefs are to appear before the Senate next week for an interactive session with the lawmakers on how to address the menace. The resolution followed a motion titled, “Spate of insecurity in Nigeria”, sponsored by all the 109 senators during Tuesday’s plenary. This is coming as the country witnessed a spike in killings and kidnappings in Plateau, Abuja, Benue, Ekiti and other states in recent time. | INSECURITY SENATE | https://dailytrust.com/insecurity-senate-summons-igp-military-chiefs | ||
| Channels TV | 31 JANUARY 2024 | Edo Gov: PDP Screens 10 Aspirants for February Primaries | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has screened 10 aspirants ahead of the party’s primary election on February 22. Channels Television gathered that the party’s screening committee led by Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State also presented certificates to the aspirants to participate in the exercise that will produce the PDP candidate. The PDP National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature confirmed to Channels Television, that all aspirants who bought the expression of interest form and the nomination forms were screened and presented certificates to participate in the primaries. Some of the aspirants screened include the Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, Asuerinme Ighodalo, Omosede Ogbinedion, Anslem Ojezua and Felix Akhabue. Others are Arthur Esene, Omoregie Ihama, Prof. Martin Uhomoibh, Osaro Onaiwu and Umoru Hadizat. The screening exercise was done behind closed doors at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja. | PDP PRIMARIES GOVERNOR | https://www.channelstv.com/2024/01/31/edo-gov-pdp-screens-10-aspirants-for-february-primaries/ | ||
| This Day Live | 31 JANUARY 2024 | Osun Speaker Calls for Legislative Collaboration to Boost Rapid Development | The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, has called for enhanced legislative collaboration in the South-west region to foster rapid development in the region. In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olamide Tiamiyu, the speaker while playing host to the duo of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye and the Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, who were on a courtesy visit to Osogbo, said that the cooperation of the region’s legislative bodies is crucial for its development. According to him, South-west has a proud history of democracy, and it is the collective responsibility of its leaders to ensure that this tradition is upheld, adding that the challenges of insecurity, economic stagnation, and social inequality that are currently plaguing the country, can be tackled through legislative collaboration. He said: “By working together as legislative arms of government, we can make a real difference in the lives of our people,” the speaker reiterated. Egbedun further stressed the importance of a unified front in addressing these issues, saying that the synergy would yield a greater development for the region and make good impact in the lives of the people. | OSUN SPEAKER | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/01/31/osun-speaker-calls-for-legislative-collaboration-to-boost-rapid-devt | ||
| This Day Live | 31 JANUARY 2024 | Supreme Court Affirms Election of Fintiri as Adamawa Governor | The tussle for the governorship seat of Adamawa State has been laid to rest as the Supreme Court has ruled that Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is the validly elected governor if the state. A five-member panel of the apex court on Wednesday dismissed the appeal by Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) seeking to upturn the declaration of Ahmadu Fintiri as Governor of Adamawa. The five-member panel in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice John Okoro dismissed the appeal for being incompetent and lacking in merit. The apex court having dismissed the appeal affirmed the concurrent judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Adamawa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which affirmed the declaration of Fintiri as the winner of the March 18 governorship election and April 16 rerun election. The apex court pointed out that the appeal was grossly incompetent because the appellants/ petitioners did not prove that Fintiri and his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) did not win the governorship election. In faulting the appeal, one of the justices, Ibrahim Saulawa pointed out that the appellants did not only call very few witnesses (three witnesses from 27 local governments areas) but that the witnesses were irrelevant to their cause. Saulawa stated that it was wrong for appellants and their lawyers to use Section 137 of the Electoral Act, 2022 to “dump documents on the courts”. Besides, the apex court further held that the Resident Electoral Commission (REC) who had announced Binani and APC as winner of the Adamawa governorship election lacked necessary powers to do so. The apex court subsequently dismissed the appeal for being incompetent and lacking in merit. | SUPREME COURT ADAMAWA ELECTION | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/01/31/supreme-court-affirms-election-of-fintiri-as-adamawa-gov | ||
| This Day Live | 31 JANUARY 2024 | Kaduna to Partner Anti-graft Agencies to Fight Corruption in State Judiciary, Civil Service | Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has said his administration will partner and strengthen its cooperation with the anti-graft agencies to fight corruption in the state judiciary and civil service. Speaking yesterday at the Government House in Kaduna while swearing in Mohammed Aminu Danjuma as the newly appointed Grand Khadi of the state, he said complaints about untoward activities of Judges at the lower courts are unacceptable. The governor urged the new Grand Khadi to work assiduously to ensure discipline of the staff of the Sharia Court of Appeal, particularly those of the lower courts who are the closest Judges to the masses. Sani thanked the National Judicial Council (NJC) for recommending a highly experienced legal practitioner and distinguished scholar of Islamic law for appointment as the Grand Khadi. Sani promised to give the judiciary the needed support to perform optimally and ensure access to justice for citizens. He stressed that “to serve our people better and advance social justice, there must be synergy between the executive and the judiciary,” noting that the welfare and security of the people is the primary purpose of the government, as he stressed that “our action must compliment or reinforce one another. | KADUNA UBA SANI | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/01/31/kaduna-to-partner-anti-graft-agencies-to-fight-corruption-in-state-judiciary-civil-service-2 |