₦airaland Forum

Nigeria’s anti graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched a large scale investigation into alleged official corruption, diversion and theft of football sponsorship monies by the League Management Company (LMC), led by the 2nd Vice President, Nigeria Football Federation, Shehu Dikko.

EFCC, in a missive written to state football associations across the country, a copy of which was made available to Judicial Sketch, requested the state FAs to disclose if their states parade an NPFL side, and to further furnish it with detailed information on sponsorship monies they have received from LMC in the past 10 years.

The letter which emanated from EFCC headquarters in Abuja with reference no CR.300/EFCC/ABJ/CTGIPS.HQ 3/Vol.01/344 signed by head of AMCON desk, Ibrahim Musa, said the commission was investigating a case of diversion of funds, official co-option, and stealing, “in which the need for clarification from you has become imperative.”

The commission requested the state football governing bodies to hand over to it the certified true copies of responses containing the names of their NPFL club sides, and also confirm if they have received sponsorship monies paid to the club in the last 10 years and urging the clubs to disclose the amount and account number into which the monies were paid by the LMC.

The anti graft agency appealed .....

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/03/25/efcc-launches-fresh-investigations-on-lmc-npfl-clubs-for-alleged-stealing-of-sponsorship-monies/

*Commission says it is investigative, not judicial or quasi-judicial body

Former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, on Monday told the Federal High Court in Kano that the state Public Complaint and Anti-corruption Commission (PCACC) has a history of bias towards him, and that the commission is constituted in such a way that its impartiality could not be trusted.

Maliki Kuliya Umar, who led Sanusi’s team of lawyers, said PCACC’s refusal of the to give him a copy of the petition that led to his investigation was a breach of his fundamental human right to fair hearing.

He also asserted before the court that the commission’s refusal to give him the names of the companies allegedly

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/03/23/former-kano-emir-sanusi-accuses-pcacc-of-bias-breach-of-right/

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Referees Committee has opened investigations into the officiating conducted by some referees in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) suspected of indulging in misconduct.

According to the national publicity secretary of the NRA, Kelechi Mejuobi said the referees been probed have been stepped down from officiating NPFL league matches pending the outcome of the investigations been conducted by the committee.

He said the affected referees are, Gwautsa Jacob(FCT) Segun Omowaye(Lagos), Imam Malik(Kano) Yusuf Nta(Niger) and Abubakar Abba (Bauchi)

Mejuobi said the suspected referees would be summoned to....

Read more:
https://judicialsketch.com/2020/03/20/npfl-referees-under-investigations-risk-sanctions/

Former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, was reported by the BBC to have left Awe in Nassarawa State on his way to Lagos State en-route Abuja.

Sanusi was said to have led Friday prayers in Awe where he preached about accepting destiny and believing in Allah’s choice before leaving for Abuja from where he was expected to fly to Lagos.

Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai was with him at the Friday Mosque as well as on his way to Abuja. At the time this story was being published, it was not certain if.....

Read more:
https://judicialsketch.com/2020/03/13/former-emir-sanusi-exercises-freedom-on-way-to-lagos/

In the aftermath of the petition forwarded by Kano Concerned for Prudent Leadership to Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-corruption Commission (PCACC) on Wednesday, the commission said it has activated all machineries to commence its probe of the matter.

Chairman of the commission, Muhyi Magaji Rimin Gado however said the he needs the group that sent the petition to come forward with more information that would assist PCACC to do justice in its investigation.

He said the source of the video clips showing the governor receiving money needs to be ascertained, and lamented that the group’s letter carried no contact address nor phone number.

“This is a huge hindrance. We must trace the origin of the clips. We must.....
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https://judicialsketch.com/2020/03/13/pcacc-begins-probe-of-gov-gandujes-alleged-bribery-videos-want-petitioners-contact/

A body by name Kano Concerned for Prudent Leadership has petitioned the state Public Complaint and Anti-corruption Commission (PCACC) to investigate the state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, over allegations of collecting kickbacks as seen in some video clips that have gone viral.

A letter signed by one Mukhtar Sani Mandawari purportedly on behalf of the chairman of the group, a copy of which Judicial Sketch obtained, said it implores PCACC’S chairman to invoke his “powers under the relevant provisions of your law and cause thorough investigation into the matter.”

The body said it is aware that the governor may not be amenable for prosecution because he enjoys constitutional immunity but insisted that
Read more:
https://judicialsketch.com/2020/03/11/group-petitions-pcacc-to-investigate-gov-ganduje/

Kano State attorney-general and commissioner of justice, Ibrahim Mukhtar has denied that the state government ordered the banishment of the former Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhmadu Sanusi.

Responding to queries on Channel TV Wednesday morning, the Kano chief law officer said when the emir was deposed, the statement confirming his deposition which was read by the secretary to the state government, Usman Alhaji did not utter the word “banished”.

The banishment of the deposed emir was a decision taken in the interest of safety, peace and avoidance of friction Mukthar argued.

Mukthar vehemently disassociated the state government from banishment of the emir, saying it was not neither initiated nor executed by the administration of Governor Ganduje

He hinted during a chat that the security operatives who whisked Sanusi away from the Kano palace to his current location in Nassarawa State were acting in tune with the prevailing security circumstances.

He dismissed that allegations by counsel to the former emir A. B. Mahmoud, SAN who had alleged that....

Read more:

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/03/11/kano-govt-did-not-banish-former-emir-sanusi-says-attorney-general/

Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-corruption Commission (PCACC) has hinted that the dethronement of former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II would not affect its probe into allegations of financial misappropriation against him.

Chairman of the commission, Muhyi Magaji Rimin Gado told Judicial Sketch Tuesday that PCACC only temporarily halted its investigation out of obedience to a Federal High Court order given on Friday which granted an interim injunction pending when the originating motion filed by the former emir’s lawyers would be heard and determined.

Muhyi said his commission has an obligation by law to investigate petitions and that it is immaterial that the person concerned is an emir or a private individual or group.

Read more:
https://judicialsketch.com/2020/03/11/dethronement-of-former-kano-emir-wont-stop-our-investigation-pcacc-chairman-says/

Lawyers representing former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II have clarified that their client only asked them to work towards attaining his constitutional rights to freedom of movement and personal liberty, not to challenge his dethronement.

A.B. Mahmoud, SAN who spoke on behalf of the former emir’s legal team told journalists on Tuesday that the their client was opposed to his banishment to an undesirable destination in Nassarawa, saying such an action was not backed by the laws of the land, as the basis of the denial of personal liberty set out clearly in Section 35 of the constitution did not apply to the case of the Emir.

Read more:
https://judicialsketch.com/2020/03/11/we-havent-received-instruction-to-challenge-former-emirs-dethronement-lawyers-say/

The news published on the site AB-TC City News on Thursday 6 February 2020 that China was seeking “for court’s approval to kill the over 20,000 coronavirus patients to avoid further spread of the virus,” appears to be false and unverified.

The site said “The highest level of court in China, Supreme People’s Court, is expected to give an approval on Friday for the mass killing of coronavirus patients in China as sure means of controlling the spread of the deadly virus.”

The claim has been reposted on Facebook in Malawi and Zimbabwe, and republished on some Nigerian blogs.

A fact check by judicialsketch revealed that AB-TC City News has all the trappings of a junk site that could not be a trustworthy news source.

It was revealed that in 2020 alone, the site published reports claiming the UK’s Prince Andrew committed suicide, South African celebrity couple Connie and Shona Ferguson drowned on a fishing trip and students at an African university developed a coronavirus vaccine, all of which turned out to be untrue.

The site was also said to have been repeatedly publishing a certain fake article about a club being “shut down for killing patrons and selling as meat”, while changing the name of the club and its location from Australia to Belize, Canada, Guyana, Pennsylvania, Thailand, the UK, Trinidad and Tobago.

It also reported on 30 January that five Singaporeans, who hadn’t....

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/02/08/fact-check-china-never-sought-courts-approval-to-kill-20-000-coronavirus-patients/

President Muhammadu Buhari was quoted on Friday to have distanced himself from all controversies surrounding the creation of new emirates in Kano state, saying the constitution does not give him the power to interfare.

A statement issued by the chief press secretary to Kano state governor, Abba Anway late Friday claimed that the president has stated “categorically clear that he has no constitutional right to interfere in the Kano Emirates discussions.”

The statement said Buhari made the “revelation when Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje took to the Presidential Villa the newly elected legislators, 3 members of the House of Representatives and 4 members of the State Assembly under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).”

Anwar quoted the president to have said, “I know my role as the President of Nigeria. By the constitution.....

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/02/08/buhari-distances-self-from-kanos-new-emirates-controversies/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commenced legal moves to challenge the victory of the ruling All progressive Congress (APC) and its candidate, Alhasan Ado Doguwa, in the January 25th Doguwa/Tudun Wada federal constituency rerun.

Judicialsketch.com can reveal that PDP’s candidate in the rerun, Air Commodore Salisu Yushau (rtd) has assembled a team of lawyers to file a petition challenging the election of Alhassan Doguwa as member representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada federal constituency.

The leader of the PDP legal team, Ibrahim Isah Wangida, who confirmed that a legal team has been mandated to commenced processes challenging the outcome of the rerun, disclosed that his team had already complied with requirements to trigger of the legal tussle to contest the return.

According to him, the PDP and its candidate have collated enough evidence to prove their case before Kano state election petition tribunal.

Wangida said the PDP candidate is contesting the outcome of the elections on the grounds of disenfranchisement of voters and collation of wards and local government results in the absence of PDP accredited ...
https://judicialsketch.com/2020/01/30/kano-re-run-pdp-in-court-to-challenge-doguwas-victory/

The case before a Kano high court in which the emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II was seeking an order for a review of a report by the state public complaint and anti-corruption commission (PCACC) recommending his temporary suspension pending the completion of investigations into the finances of the Kano Emirate Council has been adjourned to March 19, 2020 for ruling.

The emir had sought for the court’s leave to by ex-parte application through his lawyers to quash the report which he said was made without giving him fair hearing.

The rules of the court is that such an application to review an administrative report of that nature must be done first by getting the court’s leave by means of an ex-parte motion.

Recall that the plaintiff had filed a motion ex-parte before the state’ Chief Justice who, in an unusual manner, asked him to put the defendants on notice, and when the case was transferred to the Court 10, the irregularity in the way of initiating the matter became an issue of contention.

Today, counsel to the plaintiff contended that since the case has been transferred to Court 10, they have decided to .....

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/01/30/kano-high-court-adjourns-to-rule-if-emir-sanusi-can-challenge-anti-graft-commissions-report/

*FG Begins Recruitment for Community Policing

The establishment of zonal security outfit, Amotekun, by the South-Western states of Nigeria on Saturday gained the endorsement of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), which in turn said it would also float a security arrangement to be known as ‘Shege Ka Fasa’ to further cater for the peace and safety of the North.

Spokesperson to the group, Abdul-azeez Suleiman, said in a statement issued on Saturday that, “While we do not dispute the right of the south-west to initiate the Amotekun as a necessary alternative to secure their safety in the face of government’s control lapses, we nevertheless understand the need for such measures to abide by due processes that conform with relevant laws of the land.

“The acceptable position remains that only legally constituted outfits and lawfully sanctioned organisations under the direct control of the federal government, as recognised by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, can be so organised, armed and fitted.

He however warned that “Any extra judicial arrangement by which regions set up state-sponsored armed militia groups may therefore not be tolerated as it only confirms suspicions of a wider agenda similar to that of IPOB, to cajole other parts of the country to submit to their ambition for political ascendancy.

“If indeed the aim of the south–west leaders is to use Amotekun as weapon to coarse the nation into ceding the presidency to them in future, CNG finds it pedestrian and tactless as brigandage will only jeopardise their chances the way IPOB did to south-east politics.

“On the contrary, any section of the country that is able to present a credible alternative shall certainly gain the support of Nigerians without the need for resorting to bluffing.”

The group said the proposed Northern security outfit became necessary in the face of security threats that have defied solution in the country, adding that extra ....

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/01/26/northern-group-endorses-amotekun-proposes-operation-shege-ka-fasa/

*South-West to Enact Enabling Laws

*Others Zones Waiting to Join

*Tinubu in Limbo

President Muhammadu Buhari gave his consent and accord to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to meet with South-West governors on Thursday to resolve the controversies surrounding the security outfit called Amotekun.

Mr Osibanjo’s senior special assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande said in a press release he issued after the meeting that the governors had sort to meet with the president over the issue but due to the president’s foreign engagement, he had asked the vice president to host the meeting.

Thursday’s meeting had the governors of Ondo, Rotimi Akeredolu; Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi and Osun, Gboyega Oyetola. The governors of Oyo and Lagos were represented by their deputies.

The attorney-general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, who was initially quoted to have declared the initiative ‘illegal’, was also at the Thursday meeting.

Mr Malami had earlier on Thursday denied that he dismissed the Amotekun Initiative ‘illegal’, explaining that he only requested that the initiative be backed by proper legal framework. The attorney-general insisted that he was misquoted and misunderstood in the first place.

It would appear, surprisingly, that the South-West governors kick-started the operation without enabling laws by the states involved, making it susceptible to questions of legality and operational misplacement.

The Thursday meeting at the presidential villa came up with unanimous resolutions, including the agreement that ...

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/01/25/pmb-backs-amotekun-resolution/

Following the death of three persons from Lassa fever, Kano state government has line-listed 292 persons that may likely be quarantined.

The state commissioner for health, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, Tuesday morning confirmed to journalists that three persons had lost their lives to Lassa fever in Kano.

He cautioned that the line-listed persons are those who had frontline contact with those who died from the ailment.

Tsayanwa disclosed that those line-listed are under close monitoring, adding that state health officials are keeping vigil over them.

Tsanyawa revealed that a medical facility located at Yar Gaya has been fully equipped to quarantine any of the line-listed persons who is discovered to have developed further symptoms.

He said the state ministry of health has intensified surveillance, noting that anyone found to have contracted the ailment would be denied freedom of movement to curtail further spread of the disease.

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/01/22/lassa-fever-292-persons-risk-losing-freedom-of-movement-in-kano/

Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai has been ordered to desist from demolishing or taking over Durbar Hotel Plc along the Muhammadu Buhari Way in Kaduna.

A High Court in the state on Tuesday gave a restraining order to the governor and all Kaduna state agencies not to do anything henceforth on the hotel, which was said to belong to the Abachas.

The restraining order was based on an ex-parte motion brought before the court by the hotel’s management and filed by counsel to the Abachas, Mr Reuben Atabor, who asked the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the Kaduna governor and agencies of the state government from demolishing, taking over, or tampering with the property.

Officials of Kaduna State Urban and Property Development Agency recently commenced the demolition of the hotel which has been under litigation between the Abachas and the federal government of Nigeria since 2001.

Justice Hanatu Balogun granted the order barring ....

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/01/22/dont-demolish-trespass-on-abachas-hotel-court-orders-el-rufai/

Retired Supreme Court of Nigeria Justice, A. B. WALI JSC died in Kano yesterday after a protracted illness, and has been buried the Islamic way.

Hon. Justice Abubakar Bashir Wali, CON was born in Kano city on 21st July, 1932. He attended Emir’s Palace School, Kano from 1942 to 1945; Kano Middle school, Kano from 1945 to 1950; School for Arabic Studies, Kano from 1950 to 1955; Khartoum Technical Institute of Education, Sudan from 1955 to 1956; Institute of Administration, Zaria from 1959 to 1960; School for Oriental and African Studies, University London, England from 1961 to 1962.

His Lordship was admitted to the Lincoln’s Inn, London, and was called to the English Bar on 4th February, 1964. He later attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos from October 1964 to Nov 1964, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1965.

Hon. Justice Wali served as a Scribe with the then Kano Native Authority from 1954 to 1955. Thereafter, he was employed by the Northern Regional Literacy Agency, Zaria, as an Arabist and Calligraphist. He also served as an interpreter and translator with the High Court of then Northern Nigeria in Kaduna.

In 1965, after being called to the Bar, he started his judicial career as a Magistrate in the Civil Service of Northern Nigeria in 1965. He remained in that position until 1968 when he was promoted to the post of Senior Magistrate in 1968. He later became Chief Magistrate in 1969, and acted as Chief Registrar, Kano State High Court in 1970. He was later appointed as Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal of Kano State.

In 1975, he became the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of Kano State. In the same year, he was appointed a judge of the High Court of Kano State but was allowed to retain the post of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice until 1977 when he returned to the High Court. In 1979, he became a Justice of the then Federal Court of Appeal.

In 1987, he was appointed to the Supreme Court Bench. In 1999, he was appointed as the Justice of the Supreme Court of Republic of Gambia, a post which he combined with that of the Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Justice Wali was also appointed a member of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, which between 1977 and 1978, drafted the 1979 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He has been a member of the Body of Benchers since 1987, and was made a life member. He was elected as Vice Chairman and later its chairman from 1998 to 1999, 1999 to 2000.

Hon Justice Wali was a quite essential jurist per excellent. His deep knowledge of the Islamic law and jurisprudence had been an asset to the Nigerian copus jurist. He also contributed immensely in other areas of law and politics cum fundamental rights.

Few instances of his cases is the classical 12 2/3 provision and the interpretation in 1979 Constitution in the case of Awolowo v. Shagari (1979)6-9 S.C. 51 where ....

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/01/22/tribute-to-hon-justice-a-b-wali-jsc-rtd/

*Abba Kabir, Ganduje Hopeful

*Supporters Offer Special Prayers

*Buba Galadima Aggravates Suspense

*Kano Calm

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has fixed today (Monday) for the final determination of the election petition filed by the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abba Kabir Yusuf challenging the declaration of All Progressive Congress’ candidate, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as the elected governor of Kano State in the 2019 general elections.

The apex court’s inability to hear the adoption of parties’ written submissions last Monday due to an unusual infirmity on the part of one of the justices of the court really set all concerned personalities and their political supporters on the edge.

The court eventually sat on Tuesday and took all submissions, only for it to adjourn till today for its judgement. But the court, on the same day, gave judgement on the petition from Imo State, dislodging the serving governor, Emeka Ihedioha of PDP and declaring Hope Uzodinma of APC victorious.

The Imo upset has occasioned a deep discomfort in Kano’s political atmosphere, especially on the part of the governor’s group. The opposition, on the other hand, saw a glimmer of hope. Abba Kabir and PDP believe strongly that Kano’s scenario is akin to that of Imo, making it very likely to have similar judgement that would hand the mantle of power over to them.

The most outstanding voice to propagate this expectation of twist was that of controversial ....

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/01/20/kano-guber-supreme-court-decides-today/

US’ Chief Justice John Roberts and the nation’s senators were sworn in Thursday afternoon for the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, but there have been questions on the true import of the oaths they have all taken.

After being sworn in himself as presiding judge for the trial a little after 2 p.m. ET, Roberts asked the senators to “solemnly swear” to “do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws.”

The senators said “I do” together, and the clerk called senators up to sign the impeachment oath in groups of four.

Every senator solemnly swore “that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald John Trump, president of the United States, now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, so help me God.”

But dozens of senators, on both sides of the aisle but particularly in the GOP, have already promised to break that oath, Chief among them is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, according to Business Insider.

“Everything I do during this, I’m coordinating with White House counsel,” McConnell recently told Fox News’ Sean Hannity of the impeachment trial. “The case is so darn weak coming over from the House. We all know how it’s going to end. There is no chance the president is going to be removed from office.”

Rather than insisting they’ll keep their minds open to the evidence they’re presented with as a regular juror is required to do in a criminal trial many senators are clear that.....

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/01/17/questions-arise-on-sincerity-of-oaths-as-us-chief-justice-swears-in-senators-for-trump-impeachment-trial/

For the third time in his N2bn fraud trial, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, has to contend with the testimony of another one of his brothers, Khalid Aliyu, who gave his testimony against him before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday.

Khalid, a former banker, who testified as the fifth prosecution witness on Thursday, told Justice Okon Abang that he was the one who assisted Maina to open an account in their sister’s name without her knowledge.

Nasfisat, a sister of Maina appeared as the fourth prosecution witness on Wednesday and had told the court how her name was used to open a bank account which she knew nothing about for four years.

Maina was seen passing notes to his lawyers as his brother gave his testimony against him during the trial on Thursday.

Khalid told Justice Abang that he joined Fidelity Bank in 2008 and worked as an executive assistant, managing high net worth customers, until he left the bank in January 2012 and joined the civil service. He said he and one of his colleagues at the bank, Oluwatoyin Meseke, were contacted by Maina to open an account in the name of their sister, Nafisat, without her knowledge.

“We proceeded to her house at Wuse 2, Abuja, at the time, to collect the utility bill as part of the requirements to open an account…Toyin collected her utility bill but she was not aware that it was for account opening. Later, Toyin Meseke collected the copy of her passport .....

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/01/17/n2b-fraud-mainas-brother-sister-testify-say-he-runs-fake-bank-accounts/

Operation Amotekun appears to be set for a new lease of life, as the federal government of Nigeria is considering taking a more lenient disposition towards the scheme, Judicialsketch has learnt.

Amotekun was declared illegal by the attorney-general of the federation on Wednesday, sparking reactions especially from the south-western zone where the security scheme was birthed.

Prominent Nigerians from the zone have faulted the stance of the attorney-general, saying he lacks both power and competence to make a declaration they argued is the preserve of the judiciary.

There was however a move by the federal government to fill the gap and “correct the lacuna that was gaping in the way south-west governors floated the operation”, a source at the presidency told Judicialsketch.com.

“The federal government is apparently displeased with the backlash that followed the AG’s declaration, especially with all the cries about discrimination and ...


https://judicialsketch.com/2020/01/16/fg-set-to-reconsider-amotekun-revisits-legal-framework/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of one Francis Igo.
He was convicted by Hon. Justice J. K Daggard of Federal High Court sitting in Kano on five count charges of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretense.
Trouble started for the convict following a petition received by the Kano zonal office of the commission from one Dr Aliero Shehu Usman claiming that the convict contacted him as a contractor and deceived him into paying the sum of three hundred thousand naira only (N300,000) as registration fee for the contract.
However, further investigations revealed that the convict had also obtained from two other unsuspecting individuals the total sum of five hundred and fifty thousand naira only (N550, 000) under the same guise.
Upon his arraignment on 18th February, 2016 the convict pleaded not guilty to the five counts charge against him which prompted full trial.
During the course of trial, the prosecution counsel, Salihu Sani presented four witnesses and tendered several exhibits to prove the case against the convict.
On conclusion of the matter, Justice Daggard found the defendant guilty as charged and convicted him on count one, two, three and four.

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/01/16/business-man-bags-7-years-in-prison-for-fraud/

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has nullified the election of Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party as the governor of Imo State, declaring in his stead Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the winner of the March 9 governorship election in the state.

The seven-member panel of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Tanko Muhammad gave the unanimous decision that made Uzodinma on Tuesday in Abuja.

Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka made had on Tuesday, December 31 during his passover night ministration, revealed that Ihedioha will lose his position as governor of Imo State, and that the APC will take over the leadership of the state from the PDP.

The governor had reacted to the Reverend Father’s prediction negatively, declaring the cleric as mentally unstable.

The new governor, Mr Uzodinma, came fourth in the initial election results declared by INEC.

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/01/14/mbaka-prediction-comes-true-as-ihedioha-loses-imo-governorship-to-uzodinma/

Lawyer to Mr Antony Okolie, Tope Akinyode has vowed that the ‘illegal’ detention of his client by the Department of State Security for ten weeks for owning a SIM number formerly owned by President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Hanan, would be challenged in court.

“We have concluded plans to file a lawsuit against Hanan Buhari, SSS, and MTN Nigeria and the lawsuit shall be filed shortly. We shall not allow lawlessness to thrive”, Akinyode told Sahara Repoters in an interview recently.

The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) however noted that contradictory reports have arisen in case of the man who was detained by DSS for owning Hanan Buhari‘s SIM card.

The centre observed that several reports have been released concerning the detention of one Anthony Okolie by Department of State Services (DSS), for possessing the formerly-owned SIM card of President Buhari’s daughter, Hanan, all of which raise questions about the true nature of events.

Okolie who hails from Asaba, Delta state, first spoke to the Punch in an interview, where he narrated his ordeal with the DSS.

According to him, he was picked up from his hometown in Asaba while he was attending a business meeting, after which he was whisked to Abuja and asked to explain how he came in possession of his SIM card, which they revealed formerly belonged to Hanan.

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/01/14/hanan-buhari-dss-mtn-face-lawsuit-over-detention-of-man-owning-hanans-former-sim-card/

Hon Justice John Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court of Nigeria fell sick on the bench Monday morning just when the court’s seven-man panel was about to commence hearing of the governorship election petition involving Kano State governor and his challenger, Abba Kabir Yusuf.

The court was forced to adjourn hearing in the matter and that of other states till tomorrow (Tuesday). It is not clear if the Justice Okoro would still be part of tomorrow’s hearing.

The Supreme Court could not hear the submissions of any of the counsel in the matter even though appearances have been announced. Earlier in the day, the court was forced to stand down its proceedings to give room for security operatives to control an unruly crowd that was threatening to disrupt the court. The presiding judge, who is Nigeria’s Chief Justice, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, had ordered for the control of the crowd.

A Kano based lawyer told Judicialsketch.com that “in the event that Justice Okoro could not be available tomorrow, any other justice could replace him, especially since it was the hearing that was aborted. The hearing would have to start afresh. So, it is very likely that everything would go on tomorrow as supposed.”

Kano State Attorney-General, Ibrahim Mukhtar said...

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/01/13/election-petition-supreme-court-adjourns-hearing-as-judge-falls-sick/

It is the day of final battle for three state governors and their challengers to the governorship seats of their states at the Supreme Court today (Monday).

The apex court is billed to hear the appeals challenging the elections of governors Umar Ganduje of Kano State, Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State.

Judicialsketch.com gathered that lawyers to Abba Kabir Yusuf (Abba Gida-Gida) and Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje arrived Abuja since Saturday for the appeal and cross appeal that would be heard by the Supreme Court in the case of Kano state.

The court reserves the discretion to deliver its judgement after hearing or adjourned shortly to another day for judgement.

Ganduje’s election is being challenged by Abba Kabiru Yusuf who is contending that he was winning the election in majority of the local governments in Kano before it was declared inconclusive and a rerun ordered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He also alleged widespread irregularities in the March 23 rerun election in the state.

For Sokoto, APC’s Ahmed Aliyu is challenging the election of...
judicialsketch.com/2020/01/13/ganduje-tambuwal-ihedioha-defend-mandates-s-court-at-today/

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has joined angry Nigerians in condemning what he called the “privatisation of the presidency of Nigeria.”

Falana in a statement he issued on Sunday condemned what President Buhari did in allowing his daughter to enjoy the exclusive usage of the private presidential jet for her private affairs was a new development that lacks precedence in policy and law.

Buhari’s last daughter, Hanan, had flown in a presidential jet to Bauchi state on Thursday, January 9, 2020, for a personal engagement at the palace of the emir of Bauchi, and presidential aide, Garba has sort to justify the action by saying it is a normal practice because the president’s family has rights to use the aircraft in the presidential fleet.

But Falana refuted that there was precedent, saying the “official policy” of the federal government “does not authorise the children of the President to use the presidential jets to attend to private social functions”.

A constitutional lawyer and scholar, Muhammad Bello, told judicialsketch.com that it could be an offence to have any person other than the president and those specifically allowed by law to use the presidential jet, especially because the aircraft carries the country’s coat of arm.

Yet another lawyer, Audu Bulama Bukarti, said it was “sad, disgusting and frustrating” to have President Buhari who “rode on the back of fighting corruption to become president” doing this.

Journalism scholar, Farooq Kperogi called it an “unprecedented abuse of presidential powers.”

Kperogi said it is untrue that there was no legal violation or subversion of convention for Buhari’s daughter to use a publicly funded presidential jet for private purposes, adding that “even if it were true, things don’t always have to be illegal for them to be condemnable. Something can be condemnable because it’s unethical or immoral, even if it’s legal.

“Making a tax-funded presidential jet available for the private use of Buhari’s daughter is straight-up unethical, even borderline illegal. Of course, it’s entirely defensible, even expected, for Buhari’s family members to get on a presidential jet WITH him. That’s one of the perks of the presidency. But Buhari’s daughter, not being a Vice President, a Senate President, or a Speaker, cannot, on her own, use a presidential jet—certainly not for private purposes”. He said.

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/01/12/falana-kperogi-bukarti-slam-buhari-over-personalisation-of-presidential-jet/

The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday served on parties in the election petition between Abba Kabir Yusuf and Abdullahi Umar Ganduje notice that Monday, 13th January, 2020 has been scheduled for the hearing of the arguments of both parties.

It is not clear whether the court would give judgement on Monday, as the notice received by all parties indicated that the matter was listed for hearing.

The Supreme Court reserves the right to give judgement in the appeal on the same day because all parties have already filed their processes with the court over a month ago.

Counsel for both sides told judicialsketch.com that they would be in Abuja on Monday in readiness for anything that may come their way from ...

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/01/11/abba-kabir-ganduje-to-trade-final-jabs-at-supreme-court-monday/

A presiding magistrate at Court 34, Rijiyar Zaki, Kano, Aminu Usman, popularly known among lawyers as ‘Dino’ has been committed to state high court library after been indicted in a number of petitions written against him.

Judicialsketch.com confirmed that the chief judge of Kano State, Justice Nura Sagir, made this decision as a temporary measure to relieve Dino of his magisterial powers pending the completion of investigations into allegations of corruption, high-handedness and disregard for law leveled against him.

The state public complaints and anti-corruption commission (PCACC) had launched an investigation into the activities of the magistrate after he sent a certain scholar to prison on a flimsy excuse in total disregard for the right of the person. The scholar wrote a petition to the commission.

Lawyers in Kano said Dino was notorious for..

https://judicialsketch.com/2020/01/11/kano-magistrate-reduced-to-librarian/