This is it:
The Trump campaign lawsuits attack a unique aspect of the 2020 election: that states and tens of millions of voters turned to mail-in ballots because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus forced states to promote mailed ballots and change rules on how and when mailed ballots would be collected, verified and tabulated.

That included extending the periods for receiving ballots, due to an overburdened US Postal Service, adding time to count the votes, and other steps to make the process easier.
Read full details below
https://nigeriansketch.com/what-donald-trump-wants-supreme-court-to-decide-in-us-presidential-election/

Kano State boasts of the most vibrant anti-graft agency, and has provided the most complimentary role to the federal government’s efforts to end corruption in Nigeria.

State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who said this on Thursday at the International Ombudsman Day celebration held at the Kano Anti-Corruption Institute (KANCI) in Kano, added that the establishment of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) and Kano Anti-Corruption Institute are geared at making the fight against corruption more institutionalized in the state.

State attorney-general and commissioner for justice, Lawan Musa Abdullahi, who.....

Read more:
https://nigeriansketch.com/ganduje-claims-kano-leads-in-institutionalising-anti-corruption-efforts/

Lionel Messi has continued to send signals that he was not comfortable with the way things were being managed at the Camp Nou.

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner attempted to leave the Camp Nou earlier this summer after becoming disillusioned with their direction the club was heading, but told Barcelona fans he only had the club’s best interests at heart during his bitter back and forth struggle to quit the club.

He told Spanish publication SPORT recently that “After so many disagreements, I would like to put an end to it.

Nigerian Sketch reports that Messi’s latest attack came last week after the departure of close friend Luis Suarez was confirmed.

A tearful Suarez broke down at his farewell press conference and Messi took to Instagram to criticise the club.

He said the situation left him “hurt” and he could not let it pass without saying his peace.

He was asked why he had to come so hard on the club regarding Suarez’s departure.

“Instagram post about Suarez? I understand that there will be those who think I should have let it pass, as I’ve done with so many other subjects, but many things .......

Read more:
https://nigeriansketch.com/messi-makes-scathing-comments-on-barcelona/

The Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED) has joined millions of Nigerians to accuse the labour unions in the country of selling out on the struggle to make the federal government reverse what they see as anti-people economic policies.

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Monday withdrew at the last minute from the planned nationwide strike action to compel the government to reverse hikes in the price of petrol and electricity tariff, saying they have agreed with government officials on a two-week period within which government will make some adjustments.

CHRICED said on Monday in a press release signed by its director and sent to Nigerian Sketch it has carefully studied the excuses given by the two labour unions to shelve the general strike and protests.

Its executive director, Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, said “While we are not advocating for a strike action for the fun of it, we make no mistake about the fact that the Nigerian people need to send a strong message to the government that its strangulating policies are unacceptable.

“It is apparent from the details of the agreement signed with the federal government that Labour has once again sold out cheaply. It is shameful that the leaders of the two labour centres have now reduced important and historic struggles of the Nigerian people for social and economic justice to opportunities to grab appointments in various government committees.

“It is yet another grand betrayal by labour to have allowed itself to be bought over by government’s empty promises to take steps to ostensibly cushion the effects of the harsh policies it has unleashed on citizens. It is equally sad that rather than press the government to address the fundamental issues, which necessitated the strike, labour continued its trend of betraying workers by essentially rolling over to allow
Read more:

https://nigeriansketch.com/nlc-tuc-leaders-betray-nigerians-for-perks-committee-appointments-group-reveals/

Details have emerged of how governors of the All Progressive Congress (APC) sabotaged their party in the Edo State governorship election which they lost to the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

PDP’s Godwin Obaseki won convincingly over APC’s Osagie Ize-Iyamu in the election which build-up was so tension-soaked that the Benin paramount monarch had to intervene and warn both parties not to endanger the peace of the state.

An aide to Kano State governor who was in Edo during the election revealed to Nigerian Sketch that almost all governors of the APC-led states deliberately refused to give financial assistance to the Edo electioneering process because they were unhappy with erstwhile national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole who they alleged had been arrogantly difficult when they were trying to resolve the disagreement between him and Godwin Obaseki.

The governors were said to have concluded that Obaseki would not have left APC if not for Oshiomhole’s “irrational and arrogant stubbornness.”

“There was a time that the governors tried to reconcile Obaseki and Oshiomhole, and the former was asked to apologise to the later. As a governor and before other governors, Obaseki had to go down on his kneels to beg Oshiomole, and soon after the meeting, Oshiomhole went ahead scheming against the governor, thereby pushing him out of the party”, the chieftain said.

“So when it was time to contribute to the election process, no one responded positively. Almost all governors of APC states blocked Oshiomhole’s phone calls. Even candidate Ize-Iyamu who Oshiomhole anointed had a difficult time getting in touch with the governors.

“My governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje had no option because he was the chairman of the Edo governorship election campaign for the APC. So, he was on ground out of compulsion.

“Oshiomhole really overplayed his hands. He refused to listen to anyone, and was annoyingly unyielding. As I speak with you, there are records of

Read more:
https://nigeriansketch.com/gandujes-aide-reveals-how-apc-governors-sabotage-party-to-slight-oshiomhole-in-edo-gubernatorial-election/

Zaria City is presently under tension as information broke that the Zazzau Emirate kingmakers have reconsidered their earlier recommendation to the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai on the appointment of a new emir.

Reliable sources in the emirate and within the state government revealed to Nigerian Sketch that the governor returned the earlier recommendation to the kingmakers, asking them to find a way of including his favoured choice, Ahmad Bamalli.

The kingmakers have acceded to the governor’s demand, and preparations are being made for the announcement of a new Emir of Zazzau as of the time we publish this story.

The earlier recommendation, submitted on Thursday had Iyan Zazzau, Bashir Aminu, as their top choice to succeed the late emir, Shehu Idris, who died last Sunday.

The two others included the Yariman Zazzau, Munir Ja’afaru and the Turakin Zazzau, Aminu Idris.

It is not immediately clear who among the first three was replaced with Ahmad Bamalli, but Nigerian Sketch had predicted predicted that Iyan Zazzau, even though first among others, would not be approved by the governor.

The appointment of the Emir of Zazzau was supposed to have been made three days after the demise of the late emir, but scheming within the government quarters have delayed the process.

Governor El-rufai was reported to have initially pretended that he wanted the kingmakers to make the best selection for the job, using established selection process.

Even though he indicated that he had a preferred candidate, he did not press for his choice.

The kingmakers took the hint and got down to .......

Read more:
https://nigeriansketch.com/breaking-zazzau-emirate-kingmakers-reverse-earlier-recommendation/

Beneficiaries of the federal government Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme have lamented the way some traditional and community leaders in their locality have been extorting them.

The victims spoke at a meeting organized by The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education, CHRICED titled Conditional Cash Transfer Redress Mechanism held at Chilla Luxury suites in Kano on Thursday.

They alleged that they were compelled to pay between N500 and N1000 each from their monthly CCT allowance of N5000 to some corrupt ward and village heads in some parts of the state.

A woman leader who spoke with Nigerian Sketch said “to be honest, initially I was afraid to speak out at this meeting, but with what is happening here today, I feel I should speak out.

“As a woman leader, I normally collect monies from the beneficiaries and proceed to hand over the monies to traditional heads in my area in Gwarzo local government.”
Also a CCT payment monitoring exercise conducted by CHRICED led by Huraira Isiyaku revealed that ....
Read more:
https://nigeriansketch.com/fgs-cash-transfer-beneficiaries-cry-out-over-extortion-by-community-leaders/

Jose Mourinho may have changed his mind on who the three best footballers of all time are.

The 57-year-old legendary Portuguese manager had once picked legendary Brazilian Ronaldo Da Lima and Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo when he named his best three footballers of all time.

There were also times in the past when Mourinho spoke with high admiration for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo branding him the “best in the world.”

The former Inter Milan and Madrid manager said in 2013 that: “He [Ronaldo] is the best. The best in the world, yes. Probably the best ever.

“I saw Maradona a couple of times. I never saw Pele. But Cristiano is amazing. This man is the best.”

But, when asked recently to pick out the three best players of all time, Mourinho said: “For me, the top three players in history are .....
Read more:
https://nigeriansketch.com/mourinho-changes-mind-on-greatest-footballers-of-all-time/

Former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday advised Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state to be magnanimous after his miraculous victory over Osagie Ize-Iyamu on Saturday.

Obasanjo said in a statement he issued on Monday, that it would be charitable and cool passion in the wider interest of the state and country for Obaseki to tow the path of magnanimity.

He said the success recorded by the governor at last governorship election in the state was a proof that the people of the state valued his leadership and appreciated the efforts made thus far on their behalf.

The former president noted that the outcome of the elections that have taken place so far broadly reflects the choice of the Nigerians who have, by their conduct, visibly demonstrated that they value our present democracy and will do their utmost to make it work.

“I urge you, therefore, to reciprocate their trust by doing everything you can to strengthen their faith in democracy and in its ability to bring about improved material conditions and better service delivery.

“I also count on your support of well-meaning Nigerians like me in our quest for national peace, stability and economic development and trust that you will play an active and visible role in our pursuit of

Read more:
https://nigeriansketch.com/obasanjo-counsels-edo-governor-after-surprise-election-victory/

Former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday advised Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state to be magnanimous after his miraculous victory over Osagie Ize-Iyamu on Saturday.

Obasanjo said in a statement he issued on Monday, that it would be charitable and cool passion in the wider interest of the state and country for Obaseki to tow the path of magnanimity.

He said the success recorded by the governor at last governorship election in the state was a proof that the people of the state valued his leadership and appreciated the efforts made thus far on their behalf.

The former president noted that the outcome of the elections that have taken place so far broadly reflects the choice of the Nigerians who have, by their conduct, visibly demonstrated that they value our present democracy and will do their utmost to make it work.

“I urge you, therefore, to reciprocate their trust by doing everything you can to strengthen their faith in democracy and in its ability to bring about improved material conditions and better service delivery.

“I also count on your support of well-meaning Nigerians like me in our quest for national peace, stability and economic development and trust that you will play an active and visible role in our pursuit of

Read more:
https://nigeriansketch.com/obasanjo-counsels-edo-governor-after-surprise-election-victory/

Nigerians have continued to react to the just concluded governorship election in Edo State, as the cyberspace was filled with varying analysis on why the result of the election came the way it did.

Nigeria’s election umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday declared Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki re-elected.

INEC said Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 307, 955 votes to defeat Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled 223, 619 votes.

Reacting to the result, US-based Nigerian academic, Farooq Kperogi, said in a comment on Facebook that Obaseki’s victory may be deserved but was not intended to be realized by the federal government.

Farooq Kperogi, Nigerians React, Obaseki’s Re-Election, Edo Governor, Audu Bulama Bukarti, Usman Umar Fari
Kperogi
He wrote: “Godwin Obaseki’s humiliating trouncing of Adams Oshiomhole (who infamously said for democracy to thrive people must learn to accept the “pain of rigging”) isn’t just a victory over Ize-Iyamu, Oshiomhole’s wide-eyed flunkey; it is also a repudiation of Bola Tinubu who recorded an impudent, cringy, error-ridden broadcast days ago urging the people of Edo State to vote for another slavish stooge he was propping up in cahoots with Oshiomhole.”

Kperogi also insinuated that the US and UK’s threat of further visa ban on election manipulators may have put Nigerian officials on hold, forcing them to respect the popular decision of the people in Edo State.

He wrote that “it’s a victory for the power of international pressures on Nigeria’s election riggers. The single most important reason the election wasn’t manipulated was that the US State Department announced a visa ban on APC riggers in previous elections and threatened to impose another ban on future election riggers. The UK and the EU also threatened visa bans on election riggers.

“I observed in previous ......

Read more:
https://nigeriansketch.com/nigerians-react-to-obasekis-re-election-as-edo-governor/

Only technical colleges in Kano state have been given permission to reopen and commence studies to prepare for leaving examinations.

The state commissioner for education, Muhammad Sanusi Sa’id Kiru explained that the coming 2020/2021 NABTEB examimations was responsible for government’s decision to open the colleges.

Rumfa College, Technical Colleges, Resume, Kano, Ganduje
All colleges in Kano state remain closed
He said in a statement obtained by Nigerian Sketch that the directive to reopen the colleges was contained in a memo forwarded to the state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

The commissioner also said the state government would be spending up to N16 million to procore PPEs for the students as well as feed and provide their daily upkeep while in school.

Kano market, Technical Colleges, Resume, Kano, Ganduje
All major markets in Kano have been opened
Issues have been raised regarding why the state government has not reopened all educational institutions, but the administration has insisted that the COVID-19 pandemic has not been eradicated.

Footbal viewing centre, Technical Colleges, Resume, Kano, Ganduje
Typically overcrowded footbal viewing centres have ben allowed to operate
Citizens have querried why only technical colleges will resume in Kano when the government had opened up all markets, football viewing centres and motor garages even when the pandemic was still raging.

Government in the state however felt that even the federal government was yet to allow schools to open.

Read more:

https://nigeriansketch.com/only-technical-colleges-will-resume-in-kano-ganduje-orders/

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kano branch has caused men of the Nigeria Police to arrest a man they suspected to a fake lawyer.

Chairman of the branch, Aminu Sani Gadanya, told the branch’s monthly meeting on Monday that the executive council was alerted by a member that one Isa Muhammad was appearing before an Upper Shariah Court in Goron Dutse within Kano metropolis.

He said the council responded swiftly by reporting the matter to police area commander in Dala who reacted by mobilizing his officers to the court where the suspect was arrested and subjected to interrogation as part of the police investigation.

The suspect, he said, was later arraigned before the Upper Shariah Court, Goron Dutse before the presiding Alkali tranfered the matter to the Upper Shariah Court, Kofar Kudu on the ground that since the suspect was already appearing before his court, it is only wide that another court prosecutes him.

Nigerian Sketch gathered that the suspect agreed before the police that he has not been called to the bar to practice law in Nigeria, but that he is a graduate of law.

But when arraigned and the content of the first information report was read to him, he denied the content and the case was adjourned to the 8th day of October for hearing to commence.

incidences of people parading as lawyers and appearing to represent litigants in courts are on the rise, and the NBA said it is taking steps within the law to put an end to it.

The branch chairman said the branch will follow the matter to its logical conclusion.

Read more
https://nigeriansketch.com/fake-lawyer-nabbed-arraigned-in-kano/

Security agencies in the Nigeria have been warned not to disrupt protesters planning mass rallies against government’s fuel price hike.

The Nigerian government recently raised the price of petrol from N86 to N150 per litre, and further to N162, a decision many have termed as unsympathetic at a time when citizens have not recovered from the devastating effects of COVID-19 pandemic.

The Joint Action Front (JAF), alongside other organisations, has stated that mass actions are imminent against the recent fuel price hike and increase in electricity tariff, saying Wednesday the 16th of September, 2020 will signal the beginning of the protests to demand the “immediate and unconditional reversal of the hike in petrol price from the N160 to the N86.50.”

Chairperson of JAF, Dr. Dipo Fashina said at a press briefing national consultations with civil society organisations trade unions have been held to strategize for the mass action.

He said “We … condemn and reject the latest wicked.......

Read more:
https://nigeriansketch.com/security-agencies-warned-against-disruption-as-groups-brace-to-protest-fuel-price-hike/

Phone snatchers stabbed to death a healthcare worker while trying to dispossess him of his mobile phone late Thursday in Kano metropolis.

The deceased, a physiotherapist with the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Atiku Tijjani Shuaibu Rabo Ringim, died as a result of bleeding.

The late physiotherapist lost his life to unidentified hoodlums while they were trying to rob him of is mobile phone. The slightest protest from him provoked his assailants, who stabbed him and carted away his phone.

He bled profusely and lost a lot of blood before he was taken to the hospital.

A relation of the deceased, Zainab Rabo Ringim, said in a statement she made available to reporters in Kano on Friday that her nephew was killed by phone snatchers.

She said further in the statement that “… My nephew, Atiku Tijjani Shuaibu Rabo Ringim was killed by unknown persons in Kano yesterday night. They killed him trying to snatch his smart phone by force. My peace loving nephew is no more. Rest in peace Yaya Atiku.”

Despite repeated calls to the state police command for confirmation, the security apparatus has so far refused to react.

There have been series of reports about youths in the state constituting themselves into a nuisance and ruining the peaceful atmosphere in Kano metropolis.

Investigations by Nigerian Sketch have revealed that some areas in the state are fast becoming notorious for
Read more:
https://nigeriansketch.com/phone-snatchers-stab-healthcare-worker-to-death/

“Those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger end up inside” —John F. Kennedy.

I am not a prophet of doom. On the basis of which I am not ready to be among those predicting Doom’s day for Edo state.

However, the ominous signs we are seeing, the unfriendly cloud aggressively hovering over Edo’s political community, the songs of war characterizing political sloganeering and, the sporadic manifestation of actual violence are enough to disturb the most optimistic segment of the community.

In fact, the shackles are capable of darkening and brutally overwhelming our optimisms of a peaceful election.

The news of the 19th September election fills the nation’s airwaves just as it also covers most pages in Nigerian newspapers. The news of the election is being beamed to the rest of the world as though it’s the general election.

A great deal of analyses has been done by scholars and communication professionals about its negative potentiality in threatening the existing peace and tranquility with which the state is known. The activities of the leading political actors in the state leave much to be desired as they have been shown to be antithetical to the peaceful environment people inherited.

Their willingness and readiness to sacrifice the peace and the people on the altar of political desire has been in the known. Their daily unfriendly utterances, tacit recruitment and mobilizations of thugs in preparation for the election is gradually turning the state into a political battle field.

While the suspended chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), his political godson, Comrade Adams Oshiomole and the APC’s governorship candidate, Pastor Eze Iyamu, respectively vow to take power, relying on federal might, the incumbent governor of the state, Mr Godwin Obaseki with his perception of people’s support promised to frustrate this effort.

Viewing the entire political scenario beyond the surface therefore reveals why the political gladiators are so desperate. The thought of political calamity likely to befall them at failure to grab or retain power in the state ignited the do-or-die spirit gradually changing the status of the state from peaceful to violent state.

In the eyes of political pundits, Oshiomole is fighting his last battle of political survival. Since he has lost his influence in the existing government in the state as a result of split with his ex political godson, grabbing the state through his new political godson remains his only source of political relevance in the state, within his party, the APC, and in the country as a whole.

In a similar vein, APC’s gubernatorial candidate, Pastor Eze Iyamu, is strongly of the opinion that taking into consideration the support of some folks in the party and the federal might which apparently remains a huge source of hope for winning the election, the present exercise is the last golden opportunity he has to occupy Odadebe House; hence the desperation.

Obaseki on the other hands has tested power for ......

Read more:
https://nigeriansketch.com/september-19th-election-the-edo-we-are-seeing/

US president, Donald Trump may be heading for a Nobel prize as reports have it that he has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize due to his role in brokering a peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

Fox News reported that Christian Tybring-Gjedde, a member of the Norwegian Parliament and chairman of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly submitted the nomination.

“For his merit, I think he has done more trying to create peace between nations than most other Peace Prize nominees,” Tybring-Gjedde told Fox News.

In his letter to the Nobel Committee, Tybring-Gjedde wrote that the Trump administration has played a key role in the establishment of relations between the two nations.

“As it is expected other Middle Eastern countries will follow in the footsteps of the UAE, this agreement could be a game-changer that will turn the Middle East into a region of cooperation and prosperity,” he wrote, Fox News reported.

Tybring-Gjedde also cited Trump’s “key role in facilitating contact between conflicting parties and … creating new dynamics in other protracted conflicts, such as the Kashmir border dispute between India and Pakistan, and the conflict between North and South Korea, as well as dealing with the nuclear capabilities of North Korea.”

He commended Trump for withdrawing a large number of forces from the Middle East.

“Indeed, Trump has broken a 39-year-old streak of American Presidents either starting a war or bringing the United States into an international armed conflict. The last president to avoid doing so was Peace Prize laureate Jimmy Carter,” he wrote.

The president last month made the announcement of the historic peace agreement that would pave the way for full normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE.

With the agreement, the UAE becomes the third Arab country, after Egypt and Jordan, to have full diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.

Since the deal was made public, Israel signaled that it is willing to explore business opportunities with the UAE, specifically in the areas of commercial space and high tech.

Trump was reported to have complained about the prize, noting that his predecessor, Barack Obama, had won it.

“They gave it to Obama. He didn’t even know what he got it for. He was there for about 15 seconds and he got the Nobel Prize. He said, ‘Oh, what did I get it for?’” Trump said in February 2019.

“With me, I probably will....
Read more:
https://judicialsketch.com/2020/09/10/trump-nominated-for-nobel-peace-prize/

CAF confederation cup campaigners for the 2020/2021 season, Kano Pillars would play their continental home matches in Bauchi, Judicial Sketch has gathered.
A statement issued by the media officer of the club, Lurwan Idris Malikawa Garu said Bauchi state commissioner of youths and sports, Adamu Manu on Saturday at the club secretariat along UDB road presented a letter of approval to the management of the club.
Manu said Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed has approved the request made by Kano Pillars to host its CAF continental matches in the state.
He assured Kano Pillars fans that Tafawa Balewa Stadium would conveniently serve as the new home of the club, adding that the government and people of Bauchi state would render all the supports to ginger Pillars to success during their continental title chase.
Pillars chairman, Suraju Shaibu Jambul thanked the government and people of Bauchi for accepting to offer Kano Pillars an alternate home, saying that the letter of approval would be forwarded to the state government.
Read more:
https://judicialsketch.com/2020/09/06/caf-pillars-fc-adopt-bauchi-as-new-home-ground/

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Saturday threatened to take decisive action if the federal government failed to reverse the price of Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol to N121 .
NLC President, Ayuba Wabba said “We demand that the Federal Government reverts to the old price of N121 given during the lockdown associated with COVID-19 pandemic which Nigerians who were mainly confined in their houses hardly enjoyed.”
He said, “As we have always maintained, the Nigeria Labour Congress will never accept the transfer of government incompetence on Nigerians through hike in the pump price of petrol. The incompetence of government in this regard is particularly manifest by the rundown of our public refineries and resort to the unscrupulous economics of fuel importation.
“At the risk of shouting ourselves hoarse, we reiterate that the increase in the pump price of petrol is simply the cost of profits made by countries that have enough sense to maintain refineries that refine our crude oil, the cost of sea freight of refined petrol, the cost of demurrage at our seaports when the refined products arrive, the cost of frequent devaluation of our national currency, and the cost of official corruption by gatekeepers managing the downstream petroleum sub-sector. Nigerians have groaned to pay these unjust costs for years.”
He stated, “This is indeed a whole new level of government insincerity and insensitivity. This latest increase in the price of petrol is indeed a crass display of complete apathy to the sufferings Nigerians are going through at this time. “While other countries also going through the blues of the COVID-19 pandemic are reducing taxes, increasing welfare benefits and providing palliatives to their citizens, our own government is reducing interest rates on savings by the poor, increasing taxes and hiking tariffs on essential goods and services. Nigerians have never had it so bad.”
According to him, “Hobbesian state of living appears to be the perfect metaphor for the state of affair

Read more:
https://judicialsketch.com/2020/09/06/nlc-demands-reversal-of-fuel-price-hike-says-fg-insincere-insensitive/

Kano Pillars fans would not enjoy the opportunity to watch their darling team when they file out to campaign in the 2020/2021 edition of the CAF Confederations Cup, owing to the challenge posed by the still ravaging COVID-19 disease.

Judicial Sketch checks revealed that Pillars’ home turf at Sani Abacha Stadium has been converted to a COVID-19 isolation centre by the state government.

Our correspondent who visited the stadium on Tuesday further reported that a giant isolation tent is standing erect on the artificial turf, while other structures to aide medical services were also situated on the playground.

The state deputy governor, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, who also serves as the chairman of the state task force committee on COVID-19 had, in May 2020, announced that Sani Abacha stadium was converted into an isolation centre to support other designated facilities in the fight against the disease in the state.

The request by CAF to all clubs that would be competing in its inter club competitions to send forward the names of venues for their home matches has sent panic down the spines of football administrators in the state.

“We have been informed that the draws for CAF competitions would be held in Moroco on September 25th. A letter has been sent to Kano Pillars that the inspection team would be coming to Kano to inspect the stadium where Kano Pillars is expected to play its home matches”, a sports official in the state told Judicial Sketch.

He said he was not sure of the steps to be taken, considering the time limit. “Frankly, I don’t know the miracle that could be performed. Kano Pillars’ fans may not be entirely part of the fun.

“The revenue that would have accrued to the club and the business communities would now be loss to the state, and I think the only likely option is Kaduna because of the rivalry between Kano Pillars and Katsina United fans is unhealthy. Jigawa does not have the facility, so Kaduna ........

Read more:
https://judicialsketch.com/2020/08/11/exposed-kano-pillars-fans-to-miss-out-of-caf-confederation-cup-action/

By Bala Ibrahim

I read with disbelief, the defence put forward by the Attorney General of the Federation and Nigeria’s Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, where he informed President Muhammadu Buhari that he was rich and owned lucrative businesses before becoming a minister of the federation.

In the letter of defence against the accusation of self enrichment, Malami listed 27 properties in his asset declaration form submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau, amongst which are, Rayhaan Hotels and Rayhaan Food & Drinks, all of them in Kano.

The defence was triggered by the combined publication of Sahara Reporters and the petition of a group, Kebbi Concerned Citizens, KCC, to President Muhammadu Buhari, calling on him to suspend the AGF from office with immediate effect.

While Sahara Reporters is alleging that since his appointment into the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, minister Malami had embarked on a relentless purchase and construction of property through the use of public funds, the KCC is imploring the President to swiftly act the same way he did when Malami brought up issues against the suspended EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.

Amongst the allegations are the issues of Malami building a multi-billion naira private school in Kebbi, a luxury hotel in Kano, and a luxury home in Abuja. He is said to have built three houses in Abuja, including one he bought this year for N90m in the Gwarimpa area of the city, which he pulled down and remodelled into a mansion worth around N300m. Another mansion valued above N500m, located on Ahmadu Bello way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, is allegedly bought by Malami while in office as minister.

However, in his defence, Malami said he had long been a rich man, maintaining that he had been in business before his coming to power, and the businesses are successfully flourishing all these years.

The implication of Malami’s statement is that, going by the wealth he had, which pre-dates the victory of President Buhari in 2015, and the trajectory of the returns he is getting from these flourishing businesses, it would be astonishing if by 2020, he is not the billionaire he is.

If Malami had really been this rich all these years, he must have been living a deceitful life with the people of Kano, because his lifestyle in the years before he became minister, was at complete variance with what obtains after he was made a minister. The business successes and affluence only came to be seen these few years.

Although Malami had mentioned food and drinks amongst his business interests, he seems to have highlighted more, or laid more emphasis on the Rayhaan Hotels, which also featured prominently in the many allegations against him. What baffles the rational mind, particularly those that live in Kano or know the location of the hotel, is how such a hotel, in a poor neighborhood, that is virtually unknown, could be such a money spinner at a time of economic doom.

Like many parts of the north, Kano has been suffering from serious economic hardship since the beginning of the insurgency, and the hospitality industry is the most affected due to poor patronage, occasioned by the fall in travels and tourism. How Rayhan Hotels is making profit, when the top ten hotels in Kano are operating at a loss, is not only questionable, but clearly in conflict with economic logic.

Rayhaan Hotel, located at Sallari, near Y’an Tsaki Chicks, can at best be described as a hotel in a location for those engaged in short time, who cannot afford the high price of hotels in good areas. For such an off-licence to be churning out the kind of profits that could transform the owner into an overnight billionaire, at a time of insurgency and economic doom, really makes mockery of all economic and business laws.

I don’t know the market share occupied by Rayhaan Food & Drinks, because I have never seen their products in the market, but I know they are not as popular as Coca-Cola, whose parent company in Nigeria said its business in Africa’s largest economy witnessed decline for the full year 2018. Operating via its wholly-owned subsidiary, Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC, with brands such Coke, Fanta and Sprite, the company said Nigerian volumes declined for the year 2018 as a result of competitive pressures. So, how Malami’s Rayhan Drinks are making profit remains the guess of every economist.

Another defence put by Malami, which happens to be the common defence of public officers accused of corruption is the word estacode.

Every time public officers are accused of amassing sudden wealth, the answer is estacode. If truly the government is dishing out money in the magnitude that turns officials into billionaires overnight, in the name of travelling allowance, then the time has arrived for a total travel ban, or a drastic review of estacode.

I am sure Malami himself knows that he is not the most travelled minister or the most successful businessman before joining the government of PMB. Also, apart from his own businesses, no business has recorded any serious success in the north in the last five years, including the businesses of Dangote and BUA, the most successful businessmen of the region.

So how he is recording boom at a time of doom is the issue the economic team of the President needs to look at, before the matter goes for the attention of Mr. President, if the war against corruption is meant to be taken seriously.


Read more:
https://judicialsketch.com/2020/08/12/malami-and-his-business-boom-under-economic-doom/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the directive by Nigeria’s attorney-general (AGF), Abubakar Malami, to the inspector-general of police to provide security for some Edo State House of Assembly members-elect, saying it was “thoughtless, unconstitutional, null and void.”

The party said the police chief has no obligation to heed such illegal directive, asking him to disregard it.

The party, at a press briefing, by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, noted that “nothing in Sections 90, 91, 101 and 104 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) cited by the Attorney General, empowers him to go to the streets of any part of the nation to assemble some clowns and declare them members-elect of any House of Assembly, without any electoral mandate.”

The PDP said these individuals have been absent for 180 days, abandoning their mandate and their seats declared vacant in line with the rules of the legislature and the laws of the federation.

“It is trite in law that with their seats having been declared vacant by the House, they have consequently lost their membership and respective mandates,” Ologbondiyan said.

The party further stated that the Attorney General ought to have availed himself of the facts that the state House of Assembly, as constitutionally constituted, had written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), asking it to conduct fresh elections into the vacant seats in line with the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act…”

“If the AGF had bothered to get his facts correctly before issuing the unconstitutional warrant for the Gestapo operation to the IGP, he would have known that the matter of the declaration of the seats of the errant individuals and the request for the conduct of fresh elections to fill the vacant seats are pending in competent court in Edo State at the instance of his ........
Read more:

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/08/09/pdp-claims-malamis-request-on-edo-house-members-elect-was-thoughtless/

Hahahahahahaha. Initial gra-gra ke?!

The president-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata has described the recent spate of arrest of protesters across Nigeria as unfortunate, pledging to tackle such unconstitutional official disposition when he assumes office.

Akpta said in a post on his Facebook page Friday evening that “I must use this opportunity to address the unfortunate arrest and harassment of protesters in different parts of the country by officers of the security agencies on Wednesday for exercising their fundamental rights.

“We have long veered off the mark in theareas of respect for fundamental rights of citizens, and the NBA under my administration will make this a frony burner issue”, he wrote.

In the same breath, Mr Akpata commended President Buhari for “the assent into law” the Companies and Allied Matter Bill 2020.

‘I welcome with great delight, the news of the assent into law, by President Buhari, of the Companies and Allied Matter Bill 2020. This is undoubtedly a big feat for the legal profession and the wider Nigerian economy.

“Hopefully, the proper implementation of the innovative provisions of the Act will go a long way towards settling the ongoing tension between lawyers and the CAC which is one of the first things I pledge to tackle upon assumption of office”, he wrote.

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/08/07/nba-president-elect-condemns-arrest-of-protesters-in-nigeria/

A non-governmental organization, the Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED), has expressed dismay at the recent hike in the price petrol in Nigeria, saying the federal government appears grossly insensitive and unsympathetic to the plight of the citizens.

The executive director of the body, Zikirullahi M. Ibrahim, in a statement he signed and issued on Thursday, said the move was ill-times and ill-motivated.

Read his full statement below:

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/08/07/chriced-condemns-hike-in-fuel-price-says-fg-wicked-to-citizens/

The Kano State commissioner for local government, Murtala Sule Garo, was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to explain the source of the alleged multiple properties traced to him by the commission.

A source at the EFCC in Kano told Judicial Sketch the commission received petitions from a group alleging that the commissioner owns properties worth billions of naira in Kano and Abuja, saying there was an obligation to on it to investigate the matter.

Spokesman of the commission, Dele Oyewale, had confirmed that the commissioner was......

Read more:
https://judicialsketch.com/2020/08/04/why-efcc-interrogates-kano-commissioner-for-local-government/

Seven women were confirmed dead in a hair-dressing salon in Rijau local government area of Niger State, police authorities in the state said.

The police however said a thorough investigation into the cause of the death of the women would be carried out.
Spokesman for the state police command, Abiodun Wasiu, confirmed on Sunday that their preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased persons were locked up in the salon over the night on Thursday to dress their hair with an electricity generating plant, and it was suspected that fumes from the plant may have been inhaled excessively by the diseased.

Judicial Sketch reporter said bodies of the deceased were first deposited at the General Hospital in Tunga Magajia for autopsy before they were buried according to Islamic rites.

More stories:

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/08/03/police-investigate-death-of-seven-women-in-niger-salon/

The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi, has lamented the state of insecurity in Nigeria, saying “nobody is safe”.

The Shehu said this on Saturday when he paid Sallah homage on Borno State governor, Babagana Umara Zulum at the Government House in Maiduguri.

Governor Zulum’s convoy was last Wednesday attacked by gunmen at Baga town in Kukawa local government area during a visit to the area.
While decrying the incessant attacks on citizens by the gunmen, the Shehu said “Your Excellency, we are not happy about what has happened in Baga the other time, it is very unfortunate and great pity. If the convoy of the whole Chief Security Officer of the state will be attacked, then wallahi nobody is safe, because he is the number one citizen of the state, he is the Chief Security Officer of the State.

“If a convoy of such highly placed person in the State will be attacked, I repeat, nobody is safe. The matter is getting worse, I urge everyone to raise up our hands to seek for Allah’s intervention.”

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/08/02/nobody-is-safe-in-nigeria-says-shehu-of-borno/

Nigeria’s presidency has on Saturday said that the view credited to President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura, on the zoning of the nation’s presidency was misrepresented.

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, explained in a statement that the interview in which Daura made the statement was done in Hausa, and that the English translation failed to capture the context and substance of Daura’s thoughts.

“In an attempt to circulate the content of the interview to a wider audience, the English translation clearly did no justice to the interview, which was granted in Hausa, and as a result, the context was mixed up and new meanings were introduced and/or not properly articulated.
“The issues discussed during the interview, centred around themes on how the country could birth an appropriate process of political dialogue, leading to an evaluation, assessment and a democratic outcome that would serve the best interest of the average Nigerian irrespective of where they come from”, said Shehu.

In addition, the presidency said the views and ...

Read more:
https://judicialsketch.com/2020/08/02/zoning-presidency-says-mamman-dauras-views-misrepresented/

The opposition party in Kano State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken the state government to court to reverse its decision to allocate Daula Hotel and Shahuci car park to individuals.

PDP’s governorship candidate in the state’s 2019 governorship election, Abba Kabir Yusuf (Abba Gida-Gida) instituted the court action, querying the allocation of the two public properties to Mudatex and El-Samad, two privately-owned business entities.

PDP was seeking an order to perpetually restrain the government and all the other defendants from tampering, building or developing on the public properties except for public purposes, while praying he court to declare the said allocations to individuals as invalid, illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

Joined in the suit are Mudassir Idris, El-Samad Nigeria Ltd, Kano state bureau for land management, ministry of works and infrastructural development, ministry of housing and transport, as well as the attorney general of Kano state.
State commissioner of information Muhammad Garba had issued a press statement two weeks ago to say that the state executive council has given...
Read more:

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/07/28/pdp-moves-to-halt-gandujes-council-decision-on-daula-hotel-shahuci-car-park/

Voting into the executive offices of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) closed at 11:00pm on Thursday with Mr Olamide Akpata winning the presidential race convincingly as he garnered 9, 891 votes to defeat Dr Babatunde Ajubade (SAN) and Mr Dele Adisina who got 4, 328 and 3, 982 votes respectively.

This was according to the final results displayed on the association’s result monitoring site as of the time the voting officially ended.

NBA Election 2020, Akpata Wins, Adesina Protests

Mr John O. Aikpokpo-Martins and Mr Kazeem Debo Adeyemo were elected 1st and 2nd vice presidents repectively.

Mrs Joyce Oduah emerged the general secretary; Nwadialo Esther Uchenna, assistant secretary; Mercy Ijato Agada, treasurer; Olukunle Edun, welfare secretary; Raphael Nnamdi Anagor, financial secretary; Dr. Rapuluchukwu Earnest Nduka, publicity secretary; and Ferdinand Afam Ochenehi, assistant publicity secretary.

Meanwhile, Mr Adesina, who came third in the presidential contest, has raised issues with the conduct of the election, dismissing the process as a "sham".
“I call on you Mr. Chairman and Members of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association to cancel this sham Election. it is needless to say that if the process is bad, the product cannot be good”, he said in a letter of protest he submitted to the electoral body on Thursday.

Adesina in the letter pointed out areas of the process he believed were not.......

Read his full lettervbelow:
https://judicialsketch.com/2020/07/31/nba-election-2020-akpata-wins-as-adesina-protests/

By Bala Ibrahim

I don’t mean to be sarcastic, but if you believe Coronovirus is real, or have faith in the protocol put in place to fight the plague, please don’t go to Kano. Except in the banks, where customers are subjected to undue torture, occasioned by delays and long queues, everything everywhere in the state is business as usual. In fact in some places, it’s even business beyond the usual.

Markets, mosques, public places and even hospitals, are operating with brazen disrespect to the protocol of social distancing or the strict use of face masks and hand sanitizers.

Only banks, which seem to be taking advantage of the desperation and pathetic plight of customers, particularly those in dire need of cash to meet the obligations of Sallah, are arbitrarily forcing people to comply with the COVID protocol.

Rather than making additional provisions to meet the increase in customers’ demands and ease the stress on the system, the banks are simply operating like polling stations, leaving everyone at the mercy of their poor selective choice or random personal whim.

Depending on who you know or your ability to buy your way, access into any bank in Kano is not only herculean, but as scary as breaking through a military barrier. There are tales of people sleeping in front of the banks, or skipping the congregational early morning prayers, in order to get a frontal position outside the bank, to permit for fast entry, all in an effort to perform legitimate financial transactions.

Long before the coming of COVID-19, and contrary to the assurances given to the public that the cash-lite economy will bring about increased convenience, more service options, reduced risk of cash related crimes, cheaper access to banking services, and credit to customers, the policy only came to increase the blood pressure of the people of Kano, by subjecting customers to all manners of........

Read more:
https://judicialsketch.com/2020/07/30/in-kano-the-virus-is-only-in-the-bank/