IGP COMMISSIONS NIGERIA POLICE RADIO – 99.1FM, ABUJA
•Says the Police Radio will bring the Police closer to the people
The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni today, 31st March, 2021 commissioned the new Nigeria Police Radio, 99.1FM, Abuja.
The Nigeria Police Radio, which is one of the legacy projects of the Force within the past 2 years will help bring the police closer to the people and bolster partnership and good working relationship between the police and the people.
The IGP, in his key note address, noted that the radio station will provide community-based radio broadcast services. It will serve as a veritable avenue for the Nigeria Police to engage, enlighten and inform the public on policing activities and other security-related matters.
The IGP further noted that the radio station will air programs targeted at involving the citizens in the security of their localities especially on ways to spot and report crimes and other necessary steps to take in the event of a crime or security emergency.
The IGP thanked the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari for the unrelenting commitment of the Federal Government to the security and safety of Nigerians and the support for the Police in the enhancement of its operational capacity. He observed that the Nigeria Police Radio 99.1FM, Abuja is a product of the laudable gesture of the Federal Government and within the vision of the Community Policing initiative of the Force which emphasizes smooth information flow towards strengthening the bond between the citizens and the Police.
The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed commended the Nigeria Police for the innovative and security-enabling initiative and assured the IGP that his Ministry will continue to partner with the Nigeria Police to make useful and security-related information readily available to Nigerians. There was also a strong parliamentary presence at the commissioning as the Deputy Senate President, represented by Dr Otive Igbuzor and the Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Ajibola Basiru were in attendance. The lawmakers pledged the support of the National Assembly to the continuous reform of the Nigeria Police.
Also in attendance at the commissioning were members of the Force Management Team, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity - Mallam Garba Shehu, Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission represented by – Dr Iganmu Onoja, Director-General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), represented by the Director Programmes, Mrs Msurshima Kighiv, members of the diplomatic community, top brass of the military, law enforcement and the security community amongst other dignitaries.
A married woman has revealed that she spends $80 an hour to visit a professional cuddler.
Saskia Larsen, from New York, says her husband doesn't mind that she meets up with another man just to spoon, and is '99 per cent sure' he doesn't get jealous.
The actress uses a service called Cuddlist and hires people while she is away from home to pursue her acting career.
Speaking to Instagram page, Love Don't Judge, Saskia explained: 'Many people would think that it's odd that I access cuddling services because I'm married.
'But screw it, I don't really care what anybody else thinks. I love affection and I love how it makes my body feel.'
Speaking about her husband she added: 'I'm 99 per cent sure he does not get jealous of cuddling because I check in with him, and talk to him about it.
'He's more protective of me than jealous so as long as I'm safe it's good.'
Senator Godswill Akpabio, minister of Niger Delta Affairs, said jailed Professor Peter Ogban, who was found guilty of manipulating election results colluded with the Akwa Ibom INEC resident electoral commissioner and the PDP.
He debunked, as spurious, unfounded and malicious, the claim by the PDP that the jailed returning officer was punished for rigging for him and the APC.
Akpabio’s response was rolled out in a press statement by his spokesman, Aniete Ekong.
“In their desperation in a continuing campaign of calumny against Senator Akpabio, the INEC in Akwa Ibom State twisted the context of the judgment and maliciously claimed that the election was rigged in favour of Senator Akpabio.
“Nothing could be further from the truth. The facts of the case put a lie to this assertion.
“Contrarily, Senator Akpabio was a victim of the fraudulent manipulation of the election of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District held on 23rd February 2019.
“He is vindicated that the perpetrators of the electoral fraud are being brought to justice. At last the chickens are coming home to roost.
“It could be recalled that Sen. Godswill Akpabio had approached the National Assembly Election Tribunal to challenge the outcome of the February 23, 2019 Senatorial District elections which held in Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District.
Amongst those who were sued was the Returning Officer of Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, Professor Ogban who alongside the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Mike Igini, hijacked the Election Results from the Senatorial District Collation Headquarters, Ikot Ekpene to another Senatorial District at the INEC office in Uyo, where the collated votes of Senator Godswill Akpabio were maliciously and arbitrarily cancelled by the Resident Electoral Commissioner- Mike Igini and Prof Ogban.
“In that election, Sen. Godswill Akpabio’s votes totaling about 61,329 scored in his home Local Government Area – Essien Udim Local Government, having been collated, were not announced by Prof. Peter Ogban in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
“Rather, Prof Ogban who served as the Senatorial District Returning Officer joined the Resident Electoral Commissioner to Uyo where the votes/ scores of Sen. Akpabio were cancelled in various polling units and collation centers of various Local Government Areas constituting Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District including 61,329 votes of his home local Government.
“An appeal from the National Assembly Election Tribunal to the Court of Appeal invalidated the elections and a rerun election was ordered in Essien Udim Local Government Area because of the fraudulent act of Prof Ogban and Mike Igini.
“The only surprise is that it is only the Returning Officer that was charged while the REC is still parading himself in freedom.
“In a considered judgment of the Court of Appeal, the justices allowed the appeal by Senator Godswill Akpabio and ordered a Rerun election, while the Certificate of Return of the PDP candidate was withdrawn and nullified.
“The court condemned the action of the Independent National Electoral Commission and that of Prof. Ogban for which Prof. Ogban was charged, found guilty and sentenced to three years imprisonment and a fine of N100,000. The sentence has vindicated Senator Akpabio and the APC that the election was massively rigged.
“Professor Ogban was the Returning Officer who in a bizarre twist to manipulate the election and rig Senator Akpabio out, hijacked the electoral results of Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District from Ikot Ekpene, the Senatorial District headquarters to Uyo where it was announced after cancellations of lawfully collated votes and against the dictates of the Electoral Act.
“Similarly, collated votes from Abak, Etim Ekpo and Ini Local Government Areas were cancelled by Professor Ogban the Retuning Officer when it got to Ikot Ekpene, the Senatorial District headquarters.
“It can also be recalled in Obot Akara, the Local Government Area of Senator Akpabio’s opponent where a clear case of over voting was recorded and the votes annulled by the Local Government Returning Officer, Professor Ogban strangely validated the votes in INEC office in Uyo to give an advantage to Senator Akpabio’s opponent.
“The question is: who was the beneficiary of the electoral fraud and manipulation in Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District?
“Certainly, not Senator Akpabio, which was why he challenged the outcome of the election up to the Court of Appeal which upheld his appeal and ordered a rerun election with very strong condemnation of the activities of the Returning Officer and INEC. How then could the same man whose actions Senator Akpabio was dissatisfied with and challenged in Court be said to have rigged the election for Senator Akpabio?
“For the avoidance of doubt Prof Ogban never announced Senator Akpabio as the winner of any election. Instead he cancelled his lawful votes and announced Senator Akpabio’s opponent as the winner of the manipulated election. It is the height of mischief for anyone to say that a man who arbitrarily cancelled lawfully collated votes of the APC and announced PDP winner of the election was working for Sen. Akpabio.
“It is obvious that some persons are being haunted by the ghost of the last election which they massively manipulated to reach a predetermined conclusion, a position which was confirmed by the Court of Appeal in Calabar.
“In due time, we believe all the conspirators will be brought to justice as Prof. Ogban, either through the judiciary or divine.
“However, Senator Akpabio had since moved on to face his present national assignment.
“He should not be distracted by baseless and unfounded reports by the PDP hatchet men and mischief makers.”
Liberian President George Weah, a Professor of international political economy at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, Dani Rodrik, and Mohamed Yahya of the United Nations Development Programme are some of the confirmed speakers at the 12th Annual Bola Tinubu Colloquium.
A statement on Friday by the organising committee said that the event taking place virtually on Monday, 29 March 2021 was to celebrate the birthday of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was a former Lagos State Governor and a national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the statement, this year, the Bola Tinubu Colloquium will focus on peace-building and national cohesion as a tool for growth and prosperity in Nigeria.
“The theme interrogates these issues in the light of contemporary incidents and commentaries in the public space with ethnic and religious dimensions.
“Our objective is to explore the implications of violent conflicts and innovative strategies for sustaining peace in a heterogeneous society with multi-ethnic groups, such as Nigeria,” the organisers said.
Dani Rodrik is the Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He is currently President-Elect of the International Economic Association and Co-Director of Economics for Inclusive Prosperity.
The professor will deliver the keynote address titled: “Where Can Growth Go? The Social Conflict Push.”
He will speak along the line of his thoughts as promoted in his work, “Where did all the Growth Go? External Shocks, Social Conflict, and Growth Collapses.”
Also, President George Weah, will also be speaking on the tenuous nature of rebuilding a country after brutal civil wars, emphasising the importance of national reconciliation, trust-building for the forging of national cohesion and unity well as bringing a country back from the brink.
The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez and dividing Africa and Asia.
Egypt's Suez Canal handles about 10 percent of international maritime trade and is one of the world's busiest waterways, providing a crucial link for oil, natural gas and cargo shipping between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
A huge container ship blocking the Suez Canal like a "beached whale" may take weeks to free, the salvage company said, as officials stopped all ships entering the channel on Thursday in a new setback for global trade.
The 400 metre EverGreen, almost as long as the Empire State Building is high, blocking transit in both directions through one of the world's busiest shipping channels for oil and refined fuels, grain and other trade linking Asia and Europe.
Late on Thursday, dredgers were still working to remove thousands of tonnes of sand from around the ship's bow.
The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said earlier that nine tugs were working to move the vessel, which got stuck diagonally across the single-lane southern stretch of the canal on Tuesday morning amid high winds and a dust storm.
"We can't exclude it might take weeks, depending on the situation," Peter Berdowski, CEO of Dutch company Boskalis, one of two rescue teams trying to free the ship, told the Dutch television programme "Nieuwsuur".
A total of 206 large container ships, tankers carrying oil and gas, and bulk vessels hauling grain have backed up at either end of the canal, according to tracking data, creating one of the worst shipping jams seen for years.
The blockage comes on top of the disruption to world trade already caused in the past year by COVID-19, with trade volumes hit by high rates of ship cancellations, shortages of containers and slower handling speeds at ports.
The world's number one line A.P. Moller Maersk said it was considering diverting vessels around Africa's Cape of Good Hope, adding five to six days to the journey between Asia and Europe. It said time-sensitive cargo could be sent on trains and airplanes, although no decisions had yet been made.
"ENORMOUS WEIGHT"
The SCA, which had allowed some vessels to enter the canal in the hope the blockage could be cleared, said it had temporarily suspended all traffic on Thursday. Maersk said in a customer advisory it had seven vessels affected.
Berdowski said the ship's bow and stern had been lifted up against either side of the canal.
"It is like an enormous beached whale. It's an enormous weight on the sand. We might have to work with a combination of reducing the weight by removing containers, oil and water from the ship, tug boats and dredging of sand."
Dredging work to remove 15,000-20,000 cubic metres of sand surrounding the bow continued after dark on Thursday, in coordination with the team from Boskalis subsidiary Smit Salvage, the SCA said.
The dredging work, which began on Wednesday evening and has involved two dredgers, aims to return the ship to a draft of 12-16 metres at which it could be refloated, the authority said.
Japanese shipowner Shoei Kisen apologised for the incident and said work on freeing the ship, which was heading to Europe from China, "has been extremely difficult" and it was not clear when the vessel would float again.
Another official with knowledge of the operation said that was likely to take days. "If you end up in the scenario that you have to remove cargo then you are looking at a time consuming exercise," he said, declining to be named.
A higher tide due on Sunday may help the rescue efforts.
However, the Egyptian meteorological authority is also warning of a "disruption of marine navigation" due to an expected sea storm on Saturday and Sunday, with winds forecast to reach up to 80 kph (50 mph) and waves up to 6 metres high along the Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez.
Roughly 30% of the world's shipping container volume transits through the 193 km (120 mile) Suez Canal daily, and about 12% of total global trade of all goods.
"Every port in Western Europe is going to feel this," Leon Willems, a spokesman for Rotterdam Port, Europe's largest, said. "We hope for both companies and consumers that it will be resolved soon."
CONTAINER CRUNCH
Consultancy Wood Mackenzie said the biggest impact was on container shipping, but there were also a total of 16 laden crude and product oil tankers due to sail through the canal and now delayed.
The tankers were carrying 870,000 tonnes of crude and 670,000 tonnes of clean oil products such as gasoline, naphtha and diesel, it said.
Russia and Saudi Arabia are the top two exporters of oil through the canal, while India and China are the main importers, oil analytics firm Vortexa said. Consultancy Kpler said the canal accounted for only 4.4% of total oil flows but a prolonged disruption would complicate flows of Russian and Caspian oil to Asia and oil from the Middle East into Europe.
The impact on oil prices has been limited so far as the destination of most oil tankers is Europe, where demand is currently weaker due to a new round of lockdowns.
Top exporters of crude and products via Suez Canal
The deputy managing director of Germany's BDI industry association, Holger Loesch, expressed concern, saying earlier shipping holdups were already affecting output, especially in industries depending on raw materials or construction supplies.
About 16% of Germany’s chemicals imports arrive by ship via the Suez canal and the chief economist for the association of German chemicals and pharmaceuticals producers VCI, Henrik Meincke, said they would be affected with every day of blockage.
The owner and insurers face claims totalling millions of dollars even if the ship is refloated quickly, industry sources said on Wednesday. Shoei Kisen said the hull insurer of the group is MS&AD Insurance Group while the liability insurer is UK P&I Club.
Former FIFA President, Sepp Blatter has been handed a new ban of six years and eight months from football, said world football's governing body.
Ex-FIFA General Secretary, Jerome Valcke has received a similar punishment, with both also being fined £780,000.
FIFA said the bans were for "various violations" of its code of ethics.
The new bans start when the current suspensions of Blatter and Valcke end in October 2021 and October 2025 respectively.
The former FIFA President, alongside then UEFA President (a 3-time Balon d'or winner) Michel Platini and then FIFA Secretary General, Jerome Valcke, were provisionally suspended for 90 days in October 2015 for ethics violations.
Platini is already serving an 8-year ban from "all football-related activities" since 2015.
Adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee sanctions Mr Joseph S. Blatter and Mr Jérôme Valcke 24 Mar 2021
The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has found Mr Joseph S. Blatter, former FIFA President, and Mr Jérôme Valcke, former FIFA Secretary General, guilty of various violations of the FIFA Code of Ethics (FCE).
The investigations into Messrs Blatter and Valcke covered various charges, in particular concerning bonus payments in relation to FIFA competitions that were paid to top FIFA management officials, various amendments and extensions of employment contracts, as well as reimbursement by FIFA of private legal costs in the case of Mr Valcke.
In its decisions, the adjudicatory chamber ruled that Mr Blatter had breached art. 15 (Duty of loyalty), art. 19 (Conflicts of interest) and art. 20 (Offering and accepting gifts or other benefits) of the FCE, while Mr Valcke was found to have violated art. 15 (Duty of loyalty), art. 19 (Conflicts of interest), art. 20 (Offering and accepting gifts or other benefits) and art. 25 (Abuse of position) of the FCE. In the calculation of the sanctions to be imposed, the adjudicatory chamber applied the principle of lex mitior and art. 11 of the 2018 edition of the FCE, which stipulates a maximum limit on the applicable sanction. Consequently, Messrs Blatter and Valcke have both been sanctioned with bans from all football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level for a period of six years and eight months. In addition, fines to the amount of CHF 1,000,000 have been imposed on both Messrs Blatter and Valcke.
The motivated decisions were notified to Messrs Blatter and Valcke today, and have also been published on legal.fifa.com. As the previous bans from taking part in all football-related activity imposed on Messrs Blatter and Valcke by the independent Ethics Committee in 2015 and 2016 have not yet been purged, the bans notified today will only come into force upon the expiry of the previous bans (i.e. on 8 October 2021 and 8 October 2025, respectively).
DABIRI-EREWA HAILS ABIA FOR BEING THE FIRST STATE TO HAVE A DIASPORA COMMISSION
ABUJA, MARCH 23, 2021:
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has congratulated Abia State for being the first state in Nigeria to have its own Diaspora Commission.
In a statement in Abuja by the Head of Media and Public Relations of NIDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the NIDCOM boss said Abians have made history with the passage of the bill by the Abia state House of Assembly, Dabiri-Erewa expressed her appreciation to the Abia Parliamentarians as well as the Diaspora friendly Governor of the state, Governor Ekezie Ikpeazu.
She equally thanked Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Ogbonna-Erondu, Special Adviser to the Governor on Diaspora Matters and Special Duties for her diligence and consistency in ensuring the passage of the bill.
She urged other states in the country to emulate Abia state as the commission will provide a veritable platform to tap into the enormous human resources of Abians in diaspora , who , working with Abians at home , would contribute to rapid development of the state.
The bill, H.A.B. 21 tagged: "The Abians in Diaspora Commission Bill, 2020, was sponsored by Hon. Onyekwere Mike Ukoha representing Arochukwu state constituency.
According to the Speaker, " Honourable Colleagues, this law might be cited as " The Abians in Diaspora Commission Law and shall come into force this day 22nd of March, 2021", he said.
E-signed. Abdur-Rahman Balogun Head of Media and Public Relations NIDCOM, Abuja.
A retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, on Monday, maintained that many previous decisions of the apex court should be laid to rest and never followed.
Justice Rhodes-Vivour, who clocked the 70 years mandatory retirement age on Monday, spoke at a valedictory session the Supreme Court held in his honour.
He took his last opportunity on the bench to address key issues affecting both the judiciary and the nation.
The retired jurist noted that the Supreme Court had on several occasions, held that it is absolutely bound by the doctrine of Precedent or stare decisis.
He said the doctrine, in effect, means “stand by your decisions and the decisions of your predecessors, however wrong they are and whatever injustices they inflict”.
Justice Rhodes-Vivour argued that abiding by such principle would ensure that the apex court continued to follow some of its previous judgements that no longer make sense.
According to him, “There are some Precedents that are clearly out of date, and should no longer be followed.
“I am of the view that Precedents that no longer make sense anymore or are outdated should be laid to rest and never followed”.
On the issue of corruption, Justice Rhodes-Vivour stressed that it exists in all the countries of the earth, adding that Nigeria is no exception.
He said what should be done was to reduce it drastically, “thereby making our dear country an exception by building credible and transparent systems”.
The retired jurist further observed that elections in the country are always protracted due to the fact that the stakes are usually high.
He noted that most elections are often resolved by the courts, simply because most politicians are never satisfied with the results announced by the regulatory body charged with the conduct of elections (INEC)”.
Justice Rhodes-Vivour recalled that he had in a judgement he delivered in 2016, in an election dispute that involved the Governor of Cross River State, Emmanuel Udom, pointed out that a careful reading and understanding of decided authorities, would show that a Petitioner has an uphill task proving his petition in accordance with the Electoral Act.
He, therefore, recommended that the Electoral Act should be amended to shift the burden of proof to INEC to prove that it conducted a fair and reasonable election.
More so, the retired jurist noted that though he had in 2006, while serving as a Justice of the Court of Appeal, held in the case of Dokubo-Asari Vs FRN that where National Security is threatened or there is the real likelihood of it being threatened, human rights or the individual rights, must be suspended until the National Security can be protected or well taken care of.
He however made a U-turn on Monday, stressing that national security must be visibly threatened before anyone is denied his rights.
He said: “No one should be denied his rights on the whims and fancy of anyone in authority”.
On the issue of inheritance, Justice Rhodes-Vivour said his judgement that abolished customary practices excluding female children from inheriting their father’s estate, was informed by his vigorous study of the Bible.
The retired jurist said he had in his verdict in Ukeje V Ukeje (2014) 11NWLR (Pt. 1418) P. 384, held that “a customary law which disentitles a female child from partaking in her deceased father’s estate, is in breach of section 42(1) and (2) of the Constitution, a fundamental rights provision guaranteed to every Nigerian.
“The said Customary law is void as it conflicts with session 42(1) and (2) of the Constitution.
“Female children are entitled to an inheritance”, he added.
On the issue of convicts, Justice Rhodes-Vivour said he was of the view that they should be allowed to serve their prison terms only after their appeals are exhausted.
“The reason being that some convicts serve several years in prison before their appeals are heard and decided.
“Their appeal may be found to be meritorious. They are then released. No compensation paid for the time spent in prison”.
Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, in his address at the event, described Justice Rhodes-Vivour as “a rare gem”.
He said the retired jurist diligently and meticulously offered unquantifiable services to Nigeria and humanity.
“We are all here today to felicitate with an accomplished jurisprudential iconoclast that has offered the best of his intellect to the advancement of the legal profession through his several years of inimitable adjudications.
“His Lordship is a rare gem and unblemished symbol of humility and piety.
“His proficiency in the dispensation of justice, which is anchored on his mastery of law, presents him as a man of honour and scholarship.
“His judgments are not only incisive but also analytical and opulent by all standards.
“His robust contributions to the development of our jurisprudence are inviolable and fascinating.
“His impeccable attention to details in every matter before him is alluring and salutary as well”, the CJN added.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has reiterated his determination to probe the administration of Mr Adams Oshiomhole, his predecessor.
Obaseki, who said this on Sunday in Benin City, the state capital, at the party organised to celebrate the victory of Chief Dan Orbih as the National Vice Chairman, South-South of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Benin home of former PDP BoT Chairman, Chief Anthony Anenih, said that the probe of Oshiomohole, who was the governor of the state from 2008 to 2016, would not be jettisoned.
Obaseki, it would be recalled, had on February 22, this year, while inspecting a project at Textile Mill Road axis of Benin City, alleged that the N30 billion Benin Water Storm project was conceived to defraud Edo people, adding that his administration would probe the project and recover all the money allegedly stolen through it.
Governor Obaseki fell out with his erstwhile benefactor and godfather, Oshiomohole, when crisis of supremacy ensued between him and the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), culminating in the disqualification of Obaseki and his joining the PDP to win the September 19, 2020, governorship election on one hand and the suspension and eventual removal of Oshiomhole as the National Chairman of the ruling APC.
On the planned probe, the governor said: “I don’t want to look back but to always look forward and you have raised some issues which we can’t ignore. Yes I was part of that administration, because I believe Edo must develop, so I sacrificed my time for eight years to help organise the state, I went to the market, to the world bank to raise money for the state to develop.
“But with what I have seen in the books, I look like a fool. While I was arranging finances and other things, I didn’t’ know that money I was raising for the state was being filtered away. I don’t like probing, I like to go forward but it has become very difficult because when I look at the contracts that I have awarded in 2020, look at the cost of those contracts, when I compared them to the ones awarded 10 years earlier, people have questions to answer,” he added.
According to him, “We are not a government that like to prosecute people or victimise anybody, but the truth must be told, Edo people must know how we awarded $200 million contract 10 years ago and we have paid every amount of that contract, it has not been completed.
“Edo people must be told how a project that is supposed to remove flood from Benin City created more flood. I am not an engineer but we will call them to tell us what happened. They must explain to Edo people how we have been able to award contracts about a tent of the cost and achieve more with that money than they did 10 years ago.”
“This type of behaviour must stop and you can’t do something wrong and be shouting that someone is wrong because you don’t want people to know what you did wrong,” Obaseki said.
Obaseki, still in the euphoria of his victory at the Appeal Court on Friday, attributed the judgement of the appellate court which rejected the appeal of the APC on the certificate forgery case against him, to the prayers and support of Edo people
“They have dragged us to every court in the land but with your prayers and support, God has continued to give us victory. When we took over last November, I told you to give us time to look at governance because I have been in government and I known so many things that are not right and God has given us the opportunity to come again and with what we are doing now, our party will not regret it,” the Governor said.
While applauding Orbih’s victory at the PDP zonal congress, Obaseki noted that the PDP National Vice Chairman had a lot of work to do as chairman of the zone.
“We expect you will deliver the presidency to the zone and God has given our zone all it takes to have it, because all the governors in the zone belong to one party. This is the region that has not completed it presidency, we have one term and they must give us in 2023 and he is the man that will make it happen,” he said.
A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode also confirmed the development via facebook.
I just spoke to Sunday Igboho and he told me that three foreign Fulani terrorists were apprehended in his mother's home in Igboho, Oyo state this evening.
Their mission was to harm Mama. Two of them escaped whilst the other is with the police (see below). Those that sent them are playing with fire!
First of all they burnt down Sunday's house in Ibadan. Secondly a soldier and a fake soldier were caught spying on his Ibadan home. Thirdly two terrorists are caught sneaking into his mothers home with a clear intention to harm her.
This is a man whose input brought peace to our nation just two weeks ago and helped to bring to an end the Northern embargo of food to the South after he guaranteed the peace and security of innocent Nigerian Fulanis in the South West.
I am appealing to those that are behind these dangerous provocations against his person and reckless attacks to desist from this nonsense.
Sunday is a heroic figure in the South West and by far the most powerful, vocal and popular figure in Yorubaland today.
Harming him or his family members will not augur well for the peace and stability of our nation.
The Nigeria Governors forum has reacted to the attempt to cut short the life of the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, by gunmen suspected to be bandits.
Chairman of the forum and Governor of Ekiti State Kayode Fayemi in a statement issued on Sunday said the news was shocking and a rude awakening.
Governor Fayemi vehemently condemned the act in its entirety saying the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) empathizes with Governor Ortom and the people of Benue State on the sad, cowardly, and wicked plan.
Fayemi said all hands must be on deck to uncover the identities of those involved in this heinous crime.
He added that the attempt to make Benue State ungovernable is unacceptable to the NGF and will fail woefully.
“Only recently the brother of one of the former governors of the state was mowed down in cold blood. This dishonourable and shameful act of resorting to violence, for whatever reason, to eliminate citizens of Benue State by brutal means must not continue” he said.
Governor Fayemi added “The NGF as a platform for all the 36 Governors will continue to encourage its members to stand firm in the service of their people regardless of the evil machinations of those who do not wish Nigeria well.
“Evil will not be allowed to triumph over good, not in Benue and not anywhere in this country”.
While all governors will continue to pray for Governor Ortom, the NGF wishes to draw the attention of all evil doers that not only will they continue to fail in their wicked acts, but they will also definitely be traced and punished for their crimes, no matter how long it takes.
Once again, the NGF prays for Governor Ortom and wishes him long life as his safety and that of all the people of Benue State continue to be paramount to the NGF.
PRESS RELEASE: NJC RECOMMENDS APPOINTMENT OF TWENTY-SIX (26) JUDICIAL OFFICERS, EIGHTEEN (18) JUSTICES OF THE COURT OF APPEAL AND EIGHT ( HEADS OF COURT; EMPANELS COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE ONE JUDGE; ISSUES TWO STRONG WARNING LETTERS TO JUDGES.
The National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Dr. Justice I. T. Muhammad CFR, at its 94th Meeting held on 17 to 18 March, 2021, considered the list of candidates presented by its Interview Committee and resolved to recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and the Governors of Rivers, Nasarawa, Kogi, Jigawa, Ebonyi and Delta States twenty-six (26) successful candidates for appointment as Justices of Court of Appeal and Heads of Court in Nigeria. They are as follows:
1. EIGHTEEN (18) JUSTICES, COURT OF APPEAL i) Hon. Justice Bature Isah Gafai ii) Hon. Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo iii) Hon. Justice Waziri Abdul-Azeez iv) Hon. Justice Yusuf Alhaji Bashir v) Hon. Justice Usman A. Musale vi) Hon. Justice Jauro Ibrahim Wakili vii) Hon. Justice Abba Bello Mohammed viii) Hon. Grand Kadi Mohammed Danjuma ix) Hon. Justice Danlami Zama Senchi x) Hon. Justice Mohammed Lawal Abubakar xi) Hon. Justice Hassan Muslim Sule xii) Hon. Justice Amadi Kenneth Ikechukwu xiii) Hon. Justice Peter Oyinkenimiemi Affen xiv) Hon. Justice Sybil Onyeji Nwaka Gbagi xv) Hon. Justice Olasumbo Olanrewaju Goodluck xvi) Hon. Justice Banjoko Adebukunola Adeoti Ibironke xvii) Hon. Justice Olabode Abimbola Adegbehingbe xviii) Hon. Justice Bola Samuel Ademola
3. CHIEF JUDGE, RIVERS STATE i) Hon. Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi 4. CHIEF JUDGE, NASARAWA STATE i) Hon. Justice Aisha Bashir Aliyu 5. CHIEF JUDGE, KOGI STATE i) Hon. Justice Sunday Omeiza Otu 6. CHIEF JUDGE, JIGAWA STATE i) Hon. Justice Umar Maigari Sadiq 7. CHIEF JUDGE, EBONYI STATE i) Hon. Justice Ngene Anagu Elvis 8. CHIEF JUDGE, DELTA STATE i) Hon. Justice Theresa T. Obiajulu Ogochukwu Diai 9. PRESIDENT, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, DELTA STATE i) Hon. Justice Patience Onuwa Elumeze
All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after approval by the President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR and their respective State Governors and confirmation by the National Assembly and the respective States Houses of Assembly. Council at the Meeting deliberated on the Reports on 24 petitions written against 29 Judges presented by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee and decided to empanel an investigation Committee against one Judge and issued two strong warning letters against 2 Judges of the Federal and State High Courts. It also resolved to set up a Medical Board to ascertain the health status of one Judge.
Council decided to issue strong warning letters to Hon. Justices Mufutau Olokoba and M. A. Savage of the Lagos State High Court.
Hon. Justice Olokoba was reprimanded and also put on the watch list of the Council for his failure to deliver judgement within the Constitutional period of 90 days and Hon. Justice Savage was reprimanded for not being in charge of his Court. The remaining petitions were summarily dismissed for obvious and manifest lack of merit, being subjudice, overtaken by events or that such petitions were matters for appeal.
The dismissed petitions were against Hon. Justices Rita Nosakhare Pemu, Ita G. Mbaba and Theresa Ngolika Orji-Abadua all of Owerri Division of the Court of Appeal; Hon. Justices O. O. Oguntoyinbo and A. Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice Anslem A. Nwaigwe, Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, Hon. Justices M. A. Abubakar, Binta Bawa Rijau of Niger State High Court, Hon. Justice Maurice Odey Eneji of Cross River State and Hon. Justice Kulu Aliyu, Chief Judge, Zamfara State. Other petitions dismissed were those written against Hon. Justice S. O. Falola of Osun State Judiciary; Hon. Justices C. C. Okaa, S. N. Odili and P. C. Obiorah, all of Anambra State High Court; Hon. Justice Chukwuemeka – Chikeka, Hon. Justice Ijeoma O. Agugua, Acting Chief Judge of Imo State; Hon. Justice Y. A. Adesanya of the Lagos State Judiciary and Hon. Justices Godwin O. Ollor and S. H. Aprioku of Rivers State High Court. Similarly, Council dismissed petitions written against Hon. Justices Hadiza H. Ali-Jos, E. B. Omotoso, I. Ityonyiman, W. O. Animasahun, A. A. Aderibigbe and Hon Kadi M. Y. Usman who served in two Election Petition Tribunals. Council also received notifications of retirement of seventeen (17) Judicial Officers and notifications of death of three Judges from the Federal and State Judiciaries.
Sheffield United confirms that Chris Wilder has left the Club by mutual consent.
The Board and Chris Wilder, who has managed the Blades to more than 100 wins in his almost five years at Bramall Lane, made the decision following discussions.
Chris Wilder commented: "Being manager of Sheffield United has been a special journey and one I'll never forget. I was delighted to be given the opportunity back in 2016 and have been delighted with the success which we have achieved, including two promotions and a highest ever Premier League finish. I'd like to thank everyone who has contributed to the Club's accomplishments along the way, including the players, staff and, in particular, the supporters."
Earlier this season, Chris Wilder surpassed 200 league games in charge of the Blades, becoming the sixth United manager to reach this milestone.
We are confident that all Blades fans around the world will join us in thanking Chris for his hard work, commitment and expertise in driving the Club. Now the Club will turn its attention to completing the season as strongly as possible and if we are relegated, to preparing for the Championship. We confirm our intention to keep the core of the player group together and will continue to invest further in the Academy and the First Team, to place us in the best possible position for the future.
U23s manager, Paul Heckingbottom, will take charge of Sunday's Premier League fixture at Leicester City, following the announcement of Chris Wilder's departure as Blades manager,
The former Barnsley, Leeds United and Hibernian manager will remain in charge for the remainder of the 2020-21 campaign.
Heckingbottom will be supported by former AFC Bournemouth manager Jason Tindall, Alan Knill and United's current backroom staff.
After overseeing Friday's 5-0 victory over Birmingham City in the Professional Development U23s League, taking the young Blades to top of Group A, Heckingbottom was asked to take over first team duties ahead of the visit to the King Power Stadium.
He told sufc.co.uk: "It is a great honour to be considered to lead this Club until the end of the season and I thank the Board for putting their trust in me. We have a lot of work to do, but have a great support network, all of whom will bring valuable knowledge and experience, as we look to finish the season strongly."
United's chief executive officer, Stephen Bettis, commented: "The appointment of Paul and the integration from development to senior level is testimony to the great work that is currently being done at the Academy. The Club sees the following months as an opportunity to further develop some of our talents at the Academy and to give them valuable time to train with the first team.
"Additionally, Jason has a fantastic pedigree and his fresh input will hopefully add a different dimension when he joins the Club on Monday. He will have a watching brief at Sunday's game at Leicester."
Tindall, who was pivotal in Bournemouth's rise from League Two to the Premier League, including three promotions, added: "It is a privilege to be asked to be involved and I'm looking forward to getting started. I've previously worked with a couple of the players before and have experience at this level, which I hope will be of benefit to Paul and the team."
Operatives of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arrested Hassan Bishi Taiwo with three parcels of cocaine concealed in a false bottom created in his suitcase.
NDLEA operatives also intercepted narcotics billed for US, China, UAE; recovers cocaine, heroin in monarch’s palace.
This was contained in statement by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, on Monday.
The statement, preliminary investigations revealed that Hassan who was intercepted at the E-Arrival hall of the MMIA at the weekend upon arrival on board Ethiopian airlines at 1:30pm Friday, has been plying the illicit trade through the middle east routes for sometime.
According to the Commander, MMIA Command of the Agency, Ahmadu Garba, “the suspect came in to Nigeria through Addis-Ababa but he actually travelled to Addis-Ababa from Abuja. Upon a thorough search, we discovered another ticket on him while our findings also show that he has been plying his criminal trade through some Middle East countries.”
Advertisement In a related development, operatives of the Anambra state Command of the Agency have recovered 58.5 grammes of cocaine and 13.9 grammes of heroine concealed in the palace of a prominent traditional ruler in the state.
“Investigations are on-going to unravel how the illicit drugs were hidden in the palace and the palace security guards are helping in tracing the dealer behind the consignment”, Muhammadu Misbahu Idris, the Anambra state Commander of the NDLEA stated.
In the same vein, narcotic officers attached to a courier company in Lagos have intercepted 500grammes of unaccompanied cocaine going to the United Arab Emirates and concealed inside the walls of packed cartons containing clothes. The operatives also intercepted in another courier firm one kilogramme of cannabis concealed in cream bottles going to UAE while 500grammes of ketamine hidden in artefacts and going to the US was also recovered from the same company in Lagos. Equally, another 480grammes of unaccompanied methamphetamine going to China was recovered from the same courier company.
NIGERIAN AIR FORCE APPOINTS NEW BRANCH CHIEFS, AIR OFFICERS COMMANDING, SPOKESPERSON, OTHERS
As part of routine exercise aimed at re-invigorating operational effectiveness and enhancing service delivery, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has appointed new Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), Commandants of Tri-Service Institutions and other functionaries, including a new Spokesperson. The newly appointed Branch Chiefs are Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Dahiru Sanda, who is now the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans (CDPP), Defence Headquarters (DHQ), AVM Remigus Ekeh, erstwhile Chief of Standards and Evaluation Headquarters NAF (HQ NAF), who is now appointed Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP), HQ NAF, former AOC Mobility Command (MC), Yenagoa, AVM Ibukun Ojeyemi, is now appointed as the Chief of Air Intelligence (CAI), HQ NAF, while AVM Mahmud Madi has been appointed as the Air Secretary, HQ NAF.
Also affected by the new appointments are AVM Mahmoud Ahmed, who is now the Chief of Defence Transformation and Innovation (CDTI), DHQ, AVM Cletus Udeagulu is now the Chief of Communication Information Systems (CCIS), HQ NAF while AVM Isah Muhammad is appointed Chief of Administration, (COA), HQ NAF. AVM Pam Chollom has been appointed as the Chief of Logistics (CLOG), HQ NAF, while the former AOC, Air Training Command (ATC), Kaduna, AVM Musa Mukhtar has been moved to HQ NAF as the Chief of Aircraft Engineering (CAcE). The immediate past AOC, Tactical Air Command (TAC), Makurdi, AVM Olusegun Philip is now Chief of Standards and Evaluation (COSE), HQ NAF.
In the same vein, the erstwhile COPP, HQ NAF, AVM Mohammed Idris has been appointed Commandant, Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi, the former Director of Plans, HQ NAF, AVM Ebenezer Alade, has been appointed Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, AVM Musibau Olatunji, erstwhile CAcE, now appointed as the Commandant Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna, while AVM Ibrahim Ali now takes over as the Commandant Air Force War College (AFWC), Makurdi. AVM Idi Lubo, former Director of Policy, has been appointed AOC TAC, Makurdi. AVM Jackson Yusuf is now the AOC ATC, Kaduna, AVM Aliyu Bello is now the AOC MC, Yenagoa while AVM Sunday Makinde, former College Secretary, National Defence College (NDC), is now the AOC, Logistics Command (LC), Ikeja. AVM Frank Oparah is appointed as the AOC Ground Training Command, Enugu while AVM Peter Uzezi is now the Director General, Defence Research and Development Bureau, DHQ.
Former Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), AVM Ibikunle Dramola has been appointed as the Director of Plans, HQ NAF. AVM Garba Abubakar is appointed as the new Group Managing Director, NAF Holding Company, AVM Emmanuel Wonah as the Coordinator Project Implementation Monitoring Team, HQ NAF while former Commandant, AFCSC, AVM Abubakar Liman, is now the Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). AVM Mfon Ekpoh has been redeployed to the Nigerian Defence Academy as Deputy Commandant while AVM Emmanuel Chukwu has been appointed as the College Secretary, NDC. Furthermore, AVM Abraham Adole is appointed as the Deputy Theatre Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE (OPLD) while Air Commodore (Air Cdre) Nnamdi Ananaba, takes over as the Air Component Commander OPLD. Also, Air Cdre Dauda Prayero has been appointed as the new Chairman Air Expo and International Liaison Secretariat while Air Cdre Olabode Babalola takes over as the Chief of Medical Services (CMS), HQ NAF. Air Cdre Edward Gabkwet has been appointed as the new NAF Spokesperson. The newly appointed and redeployed senior officers are expected to take over their new offices not later than Thursday, 11 March 2021.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA Air Vice Marshal Director of Public Relations & Information 5 March 2021
Davidson Iriekpen writes that there have been enduring calls for withdrawal of the list of judges sent from the National Judicial Council to President Muhammadu Buhari for breaching the Federal Character principle
Never in the history of Nigeria has the appointment of judges and justices for the country’s federal courts attracted so much condemnations and rejection as it has done since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed power and since Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad became the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
While the country is still trying to cope with hullabaloo that followed the release of the list of 33 judges for appointment into the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court last December, another hue and cry is trailing the list of justices for the Court of Appeal sent to President Buhari for his approval by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) and National Judicial Council.
Those against have contended that it offends the Federal Character Principle enshrined in Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution. They stated that some states did not either get any nomination or that some geopolitical zones were not adequately represented.
Information available to THISDAY revealed that the original list, which was compiled by the President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, reflected Federal Character Principle but that it was later overturned.
The judges shortlisted for the appointment include: Justice Kadi Mohammed Danjuma (Niger State Sharia Court of Appeal); Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo (Plateau State High Court); Justice Abdul-Azeez Waziri (Federal High Court, from Adamawa State); Justice Yisuf Alhaji Bashir.
Others are: Justice Usman A. Musale (FCT High Court, from Yobe State); Justice Ibrahim Wakili Jauro (Yobe State High Court); Justice Abba Bello Mohammed (FCT High Court, from Kano State); Kadi Mohammed Lawal Omar (Katsina State Sharia Court of Appeal); Justice Bature Isah Gafai (Katsina State); Justice Danlami Zama Senchi (FCT High Court, from Kebbi State).
Equally on the list are: Justice Kadi Bello Ladan Raha (Kebbi State Sharia Court of Appeal); Justice Mohammed Lawal Abubakar (Sokoto State High Court); Justice Muslim Sule Hassan (Federal High Court, from Zamfara State); Junneth Ikechukwu Amadi (National Industrial Court, from Imo State); Justice Peter Oyinkenimiemi Affen (FCT High Court, from Bayelsa State); Justice Sybil Nwaka-Gbagi (Lagos High Court, from Delta State); Justice Olasumbo Goodluck (FCT High Court, from Lagos State); Justice Adebukunola Banjoko (FCT High Court, from Ogun State); Justice Olabode Adegbehingbe (Ondo State High Court); and Justice Bola Samuel Ademola (Ondo State High Court).
Since the list of judges became public, it has generated a lot of controversy with a cross section of groups calling on President Buhari, the FJSC and NJC led by the CJN, Justice Muhammad to seek for its rejection and cancellation.
First to raise its voice against the nominations is Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) which asked the NJC to withdraw the list. The SMBLF in a statement jointly signed by Mr. Yinka Odumakin (South-west), Chief Guy Ikoku (South-east), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-south), and Dr. Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt), expressed shock over nominated candidates, saying that all the candidates picked from the North excluded Christians.
The statement further advised the council return and retain the merit list submitted to it by Justice Dongban-Mensem. It noted that of the 20 candidates on the preferred list, all the candidates picked from the North excluded Christians, alleging that three Khadis were on board for a court that needs experts in various areas of law, including customary law. According to the leaders, the list of the PCA was said to have reflected all such needs but was whimsically overturned at the FJSC under the guise of Federal Character.
“It is part of the constitutional responsibilities of the PCA to scrutinise candidates and present a list of competent and qualified candidates to FJSC for consideration and onward transmission to the NJC for appointment. But for the nepotism that is celebrated in Nigeria today, what is the basis of not having a Christian on such list from entire northern Nigeria? We cannot accept that a multi-ethnic and religious country is being treated this way. We want them to call for the original list prepared by the President of the Court of Appeal to avoid lawsuit on the matter,” it said.
Also, a civil society group last month sent a petition to the CJN, Justice Muhammad, seeking the cancellation of the appointment. The group, Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), in a protest letter dated January 25, 2021, and addressed to Justice Muhammad, claimed that the process of the appointment lacked transparency and due process. In the petition signed by its Compliance Officer, Esther Iorhuna, stated that at all times material to its existence, the FJSC must be seen to be playing the role of appointment, promotion and discipline of judicial staff in an effective and trustworthy manner to ensure fair and proper administration of justice to the Nigerian populace.
They, therefore, called on the Chairman of FJSC, NJC, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Director-General of Department of State Services (DSS) as well as other relevant stakeholders in the justice sector to rise to the occasion by cancelling the entire process leading to the recent emergence of some certain persons as Justices of the Court of Appeal.
The petition read in part: “Our Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN) is aggrieved to note that the Federal Judicial Service Commission (simply called the FJSC or Commission) under your leadership has decided to recklessly desecrate the judiciary, which should be the last hope of the common man. Suffice it to state that Nigerians, particularly those who followed events at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court last year, are yet to recover from the shocks as a result of shabby appointment of judges. We recall that it took the timely intervention of the president before the anomaly created by the said appointment could be remedied.
“Today, we are again faced with a worse situation where the FJSC has decided to conduct another appointment exercise for Justices of the Court of Appeal, which many observers describe as fraudulent, obscure, biased and apparent violation of due process.”
According to the letter, “The enormity of the irregularities have attracted attention and controversy by the public going by report in many national dailies and many reliable online media. As a law-centric organisation, we strongly believe that the judiciary should lead the efforts of redeeming Nigeria from the manacles of corruption, poverty, insecurity and hopelessness that have become insignia by which our country was identified in the international community before fate catapulted President Buhari into the cockpit of power on May 29, 2015.
“Unfortunately, what we see in the past few months in our judiciary can best be described as a complete deviation from the issues that unite Nigerians to those that are meant to split the country into pieces for selfish political interests. We are convinced that the recent appointment of Justices of the Court of Appeal, if not reversed as a matter of urgency, will continue to offend the Federal Character Principle enshrined in Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Let it be on record that we shall resist any attempt by narcissist elements within and outside the judiciary to assail and defile our sacrosanct constitution.”
Equally not pleased with list of judges are lawyers from the Ogun State Bar Forum who in their petition to Justice Muhammad advised that the nominations be dropped. In a letter signed by four Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Chairmen of the forum, J. T. Ogunniyi, Ayodele, A. Omoniyi , Olabisi Abdul-Azeez and Mr. Felix Adetoro of NBA Ota Branch, NBA Ilaro Branch, NBA Ijebu Ode Branch and NBA Sagamu Branch respectively, they all noted that while some other states have two names – one on the Preferred List and another on the Reserve List, the reverse is the case with Ogun State.
The lawyers maintained that the last time a judge from Ogun State Judiciary benefited from the exercise of elevation to the Court of Appeal was in 2008 and urged the CJN to take a second look and remedy the situation in the interest of justice and fair play.
Their full complaint titled: ‘Re: Appointment of Appeal Court Justices – Protest Against Grave Injustice to Ogun State Judiciary in The Current Exercise’ read: “We members of the Ogun State Bar Forum register our sincere appreciation to your lordship for doing so much in ensuring that we have adequate personnel in terms of appointment of Justices into our appellate courts for effective disposal of the backlog of cases.
“However, our attention has been drawn to the recent publication of the list of selected candidates for interview in respect of appointment as Honourable Justices of the Court of Appeal and we deem it necessary to make this representation to your esteemed office.
“We have carefully scrutinised the names on the list as well as the judiciary formation from which they were selected and we discovered that of the 20 candidates on the preferred list and 20 candidates on the reserved list none comes from the Ogun State Judiciary. We as critical stakeholders, write to express our displeasure to your Lordship, against what we consider an act of injustice done to the Ogun State Judiciary in the on-going exercise of elevation of Judges to the Court of Appeal.
“The very last time that a Judge from Ogun State Judiciary benefited from the exercise of elevation to the Court of Appeal was in 2008, when Honourable Justice Lokulo-Sodipe was elevated and appointed as a Justice of the Court of Appeal. It is imperative to stress further that as at today, the only other indigene of Ogun State on the Court of Appeal Bench right now, was appointed from outside the Ogun State Bench.
“It follows that since 2009, no judge from the Ogun State Judiciary has been elevated to the Court of Appeal. Yet, we make bold to say, most respectfully, that we have some of the most hardworking and upright Judges in this country on the Ogun State Bench.
In the current/on-going exercise, again, no judge from the Ogun State Judiciary has been included in the list sent to the NJC for consideration. Yet, we are aware that there is a nominee from the Ogun State Judiciary with impeccable credentials and very high recommendations.
“To our shock, we found, from the list that is in the public domain that the Judge whose name appears on the list sent to the NJC, as representing Ogun State, is again from outside the Ogun State Judiciary.
“While it is conceded that any indigene of the state serving in another jurisdiction and qualified, is entitled to be considered, we submit, very respectfully, that it is most unfair and very demoralising, for judges in the Ogun State Judiciary to be consistently overlooked in preference for those from other jurisdictions when it is not the case that those in Ogun State have been found wanting in character, learning or experience but are in fact, able and deserving in every sense.”
An unspecified number of soldiers were feared killed as gunmen laid ambush and launched an attack Thursday afternoon on a military outpost in Marina, Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The attack was carried out around 1pm on Thursday, according to eyewitness’ account.
It was not clear the casualties suffered on either side, but some soldiers were feared killed.
The soldiers were said to be returning from a military operation from nearby forests when they were ambushed.
A resident of the area, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said: “Unknown to the soldiers, the bandits had laid ambush in their outpost. The bandits opened fire immediately the soldiers returned to the posts”.
“It is unfortunate because the soldiers were just returning from another operations, where they have made tremendous success, combing the forests for the bandits, only to be waylaid in their base,” he said.
Another resident, however, said two of the bandits were also killed by the army during the gun duel.
Attempts to confirm the incident from the Military or the Police authorities proved abortive.
Kwara State Governor @RealAARahman has imposed a curfew on Offa and Erinle towns.
The curfew will be in force between 6p.m. and 8 a.m. until further notice.
This follows the renewed hostilities between some groups of persons from the two communities on Thursday.
“The curfew takes immediate effect from 6p.m. today Thursday March 4, 2021. Security agencies have been deployed to enforce the curfew.
While security forces on ground are to maintain the peace, military reinforcements from Sobi Barracks and the Mobile Police force from Ilorin have been deployed immediately.
All residents are hereby directed to withdraw from the streets of Offa and Erinle and all contested areas immediately. Residents are to stay indoors until the curfew is reviewed,” the Governor said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Rafiu Ajakaye.
“The Governor urges residents of both communities and travellers crisscrossing the areas to comply with this directive to save lives and property. He appeals to leaders on both sides to restrain and caution their people against provocative action, and to maintain peace.
The security forces are urged to be very firm in dealing with the situation and in enforcing the curfew.”
Rafiu Ajakaye Chief Press Secretary to the Governor March 4, 2021
Donald Trump is telling allies he’s strongly considering another run for president in 2024 -- and close advisers want him to choose someone other than former Vice President Mike Pence for his ticket, according to people familiar with the discussions, Bloomberg News reports.
Trump publicly teased at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Sunday that he’s mulling another bid for president. Privately, he’s discussed alternatives to Pence as he takes stock of who he believes stood with him at the end of his term and who didn’t, according to two of the people.
Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, and former Minister for Environment, Amina Mohammed has reacted to the renaming of the Idu railway complex after her, by the Buhari-led FG.
Deeply humbled by honour done to me by @NigeriaGov in naming the Idu Railway complex & stations #Abuja. This honors all women of #Nigeria, inspiring young girls who travel through these doors, look up to the sign & see what a woman can achieve.
On February 15, 2021, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the daughter of a Nigerian royal and academic, became the first African and first woman to lead the universe’s flagship trade institution — the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Okonjo-Iweala, who is used to shattering glass ceilings, becoming the first female finance minister in Nigeria, and the only human dead or alive to have held the position twice, outdid seven other contenders to emerge as the “Queen of Trade”.
Nicknamed Okonjo-Wahala, the trouble woman, for her tenacious execution of reforms in Nigeria, the development economist has gone on to clinch numerous international roles after her time in the country’s ministry of finance.
She has been appointed to the board of Twitter; saddled with the responsibility of leading the world’s leading vaccine organisation, Gavi; called to serve on the board of Standard Chartered Bank; and taken up numerous responsibilities at the AU, UN, IMF.
In 2012, she had put up a challenge to become the president of the World Bank, but lost the race to Jim Yong Kim who was backed by the US and South Korea. By 2020, her last contender for the WTO DG, Yoo Mhung-Hee, was also backed by the US and South Korea, but this time, she won.
TheCable has extensively reported her journey to become the first female DG of the WTO. Here is a timeline of how the vision became a reality.
Brazilian Career Diplomat, Roberto Azevedo resigns as WTO-DG (May 14, 2020)
This is a decision that I do not take lightly. Between the lockdown and my recent knee surgery, I have had more time than usual for reflection. And I reached this decision only after long discussions with my family — my wife here in Geneva, and my daughters and my mother in Brasilia. It is a personal decision — a family decision — and I am convinced that this decision serves the best interests of this Organization.
President Buhari withdraws the nomination of Frederick Agah, nominates Okonjo-Iweala (June 4, 2020)
“The embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and permanent mission to the African Union (AU) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) presents compliments to all embassies and permanent missions in Addis Ababa and has the honour to inform that the Federal Government of Nigeria has withdrawn the candidacy of Ambassador Yonov Frederick Agah for election to the position of director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
“Nigeria is therefore pleased to request the support of esteemed AU member states as well as permanent missions and embassies in Addis Ababa in favour of the candidacy of Okonjo-Iweala.”
Agah is Nigeria’s permanent representative to the WTO and WTO’s deputy Director-General.
“During the ambassadorial level ministerial committee on candidatures meeting which was held on June 4, 2020, the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) gave its legal opinion regarding Nigeria’s nomination of a new candidate to the post of WTO-DG, in which the OLC clearly highlighted that – from a legal point of view- such a nomination is not in conformity with the executive council decision EX.CL/Dec. I 090(XXXVI), since the council’s decision, had specifically endorsed the three names of candidates as submitted by the ministerial committee’s report after thoroughly examining the qualifications and professional experience of each of the three above mentioned candidates,”
The AU legal counsel says the nomination of Okonjo-Iweala violates Rule (11), 1, 2 and 3, Rule 12 and Rule 15(3) of the rules of procedure of the committee on candidatures within the International System of the AU as well as Council's Decisions Ex CI 1072 (XXXV), Ec CI Dec 1090 (XXXVI) and Assembly Dec 795 (XXXIII).
Nigeria insists on Okonjo-Iweala's nomination (June 18, 2020)
‘It is obvious that the OLC is stubbornly trapped to the unfounded notion that the candidature of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a fresh submission and cleverly refraining from recognising it as replacement for Ambassador Yonov Frederick Agah, an earlier submission, duly made in line with all known rules.
“By the same token of illogic, does it then mean that a country whose candidate steps down as a result of natural causes or act of force majeure becomes ineligible to replacing such candidate according to OLC?
“Such conclusion is not just patently wrong, but worrisome and grossly uninformed.”
WTO wade in, insists Okonjo-Iweala is eligible to run (June 20, 2020)
“Members shall have one month after the start of the appointment process to nominate candidates. Nominations shall be submitted by Members only, and in respect of their own nationals,” a spokesperson of the WTO told TheCable via email.
“The candidates nominated shall then have three months to make themselves known to members and to engage in discussions on the pertinent issues facing the organisation.
“The remaining two months prior to the conclusion of this process shall be devoted to selecting and appointing one of the candidates.”
Nominations for the Office of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has officially closed. As at close of nomination on July 8 2020, eight nominees from different countries had indicated interests.
The outgoing DG, Azevedo, will be stepping down on August 31, 2020.
WTO-DG selection process commences (July 15, 2020)
The procedures for appointing the WTO Director-General are described in document WT/L/509. The nomination period for the 2020 DG selection process ended on 8 July. The second phase of the process in which the candidates “make themselves known to members” will end on 7 September. On that date, the third phase will begin. The Chair of the General Council, together with the chairs of the Dispute Settlement Body and the Trade Policy Review Body, will start to consult with all WTO members to assess their preferences and seek to determine which candidate is best placed to attract consensus support. The third phase will last no more than two months.
AU denies endorsing the Egyptian candidate, Mamdouh (July 21, 2020)
“The meeting of the Committee at Ministerial level was planned for three separate dates in order to deliberate on it, namely 2nd July, 10th July and 15th July 2020.
“However, due to circumstance beyond the control of the Committee, the meeting has not materialized to date.
“As of present, therefore, there is no African Union-endorsed candidate for this post.”
Ex-British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown backs Okonjo-Iweala's bid for DG-WTO (July 28, 2020)
Gordon Brown has endorsed Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to lead the World Trade Organisation, arguing that she has a record of delivering results in “the toughest of jobs”.
Julia Gillard backs Okonjo-Iweala (August 3, 2020)
Gillard is the first female Prime Minister of Australia and alongside, Okonjo-Iweala authored the best seller: "Women & Leadership, Real Lives, Real Lessons."
Dangote, Polman, Clark endorse Okonjo-Iweala for DG-WTO (September 01, 2020)
A vote for her by all is a step in the right direction. I fully endorse the candidature of @NOIweala to lead @WTO. (Aliko Dangote)
World needs a functioning multilateral trade organisation. @WTO needs new DG w/ leadership skills to bring diverse nations together 2 resolve obstacles 2 completing a trade round & reform the organisation. @NOIweala leadership skills are badly needed there (Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand)
The new director general of the World Trade Organisation @wto must have the political gravitas to reform, renew and tackle truly 21st Century frictions. I believe Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) is that leader: (Paul Polman, Co-founder and Chair, IMAGINE)
Okonjo-Iweala makes shortlist of five (September 18, 2020)
In consultations with Amb. Walker, Amb. Dacio Castillo of Honduras and Amb. Harald Aspelund of Iceland, WTO members indicated that the five candidates who should advance are Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria, Yoo Myung-hee of the Republic of Korea, Amina C. Mohamed of Kenya, Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Liam Fox of the United Kingdom.
Okonjo-Iweala, Myung-Hee in final shortlist (October 8, 2020)
The World Trade Organisation has today formally announced Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and South Korea's Yoo Myung-Hee as candidates for the final shortlist to become Director-General by November.
AU, Carribean and Pacific Countries endorse Okonjo-Iweala for DG-WTO (October 16, 2020)
Okonjo-Iweala said she was thrilled to learn that “all African countries are getting behind me.”....
According to her, a group of Caribbean and Pacific states had also said they would back her, bringing the number of countries officially endorsing her candidacy to 79 out of the 164 states that comprise the WTO....
EU endorse Okonjo-Iweala for DG-WTO (October 27, 2020)
The 27 European Union member states have backed Nigeria’s former finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in her bid to become the first African and first female director-general of the World Trade Organisation.
The US express strong support for Yoo Myung-Hee for the candidacy of DG-WTO, despite over a hundred Countries preferring Okonjo-Iweala (October 28, 2020)
The United States said, however, it could not support the candidacy of Okonjo-Iweala and said it would continue to back the South Korean candidate Yoo Myung-hee.
Okonjo-Iweala reacts to the US strong support for Yoo Myung-Hee, despite over 100 countries backing her (October 29, 2020)
Happy for the success & continued progress of our @wto DG bid. Very humbled to be declared the candidate with the largest, broadest support among members & most likely to attract consensus. We move on to the next step on Nov 9, despite hiccups. We're keeping the positivity going!
Former U.S. Officials urge Biden to Back WTO's selection of Okonjo-Iweala (January 22, 2021)
A cross-section of former senior U.S. government officials, including a Nobel Laureate, along with academicians and civil society leaders, have written to President Biden in support of the election of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General of the World Trade Organization. Opposition from the Trump administration has stalled her selection which requires consensus according to WTO procedures. Here is the text of the letter that was delivered after Biden took office on January 20.
#DG-WTO: Okonjo-Iweala Is Sole Candidate As Myung-Hee Announces Withdrawal (February 5, 2021)
Korea's Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee announced on February 5 (local time) that she would withdraw her candidacy for the next World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General. Korea will continue to work with responsibility for the restoration of the multilateral trading system.
DG-WTO: US Officially Backs Okonjo-Iweala To Lead The WTO (February 5, 2021)
The United States takes note of today’s decision by the Republic of Korea’s Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee to withdraw her candidacy for Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Appointed WTO Director-General, Term Starts 1st March 2021 (February 15, 2021)
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) today formally ratified the candidacy of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as its first female and African Director-General (DG).
PRESIDENT BUHARI CONGRATULATES DR NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA ON ELECTION AS DG OF WTO
On behalf of the Federal Government and all Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari warmly felicitates with former Minister of Finance and Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her election as Director General of the World Trade Organisation, bringing joy and more honour to the country.
As the Harvard-educated and renowned economist takes up another onerous task of service to the world and humanity, the President believes her track record of integrity, diligence and passion for development will continue to yield positive results and rewards to mankind.
President Buhari affirms that Dr Okonjo-Iweala, who over the years set major records of economic reforms in Nigeria as Minister of Finance, and later Minister of Foreign Affairs, will excel in her new position and validate the global mandate of repositioning and strengthening the multilateral institution for the greater good of all.
The President joins family, friends and colleagues in wishing Dr Okonjo-Iweala well in her new endeavour.
Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo Iweala is a woman I know very well, because we worked at close quarters between 2003 and 2007, when she served in our administration in various capacities, most notably as Finance Minister.
It is not hyperbole when I say that no one could be more qualified for the job of Director General of the World Trade Organisation than her, and I congratulate her for her success at being the first female and African DG of the WTO.
She is an apostle of free trade and an astute manager of people and resources, and the world will be a much more prosperous place by her elevation to this enviable height.
As the world prepares to emerge from the global pandemic of COVID19, the planet needs a steady hand at the wheel, to drive global trade, and rebuild from the devastation wrought by the virus. We would not need someone who thinks they can pull this off. We would need someone who has actually and serially pulled it off before. And that person has emerged.
Ngozi, Africa and Nigeria are proud of you and my family and I are full of joy at your victory. Go to Geneva and make us proud, as we know you will.
Congratulations once again and may God bless your tenure.
Congratulations to my friend Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on becoming the first female Director-General of the @wto. I’ve known Ngozi for many years. Her strong will and determination will drive her to tirelessly promote free trade to the benefit of people worldwide.
As she prepares to lead the World Trade Organization (WTO), I congratulate Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her emergence as the next Director General.
I wish @NOIweala all the best in this new assignment, and hope that her tenure at the helm of the WTO helps to address some of the barriers that limit trade in Africa and other developing countries.
I heartily rejoice with Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her emergence as the first African and first female Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
I also congratulate Nigeria on the latest feat of its great daughter on the international stage and applaud President Muhammadu Buhari, whose unwavering commitment contributed to the acknowledgement of the sterling credentials of her and her ultimate triumph for the position.
With her latest feat, the former Nigerian Minister of Finance and Managing Director of the World Bank has again brought honour to Nigeria, Africa and women everywhere.
I pray for Almighty God to imbue her with good health and wisdom to succeed in the task just as I urge her to deploy her famed intellect, experience, energy and integrity in leading the WTO to promote global prosperity through fair trade.
On behalf of all Deltans, I join all Nigerians in congratulating one of our most renowned citizens, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, on her emergence as the next Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.
Over the years, we have all followed your growth and celebrated your noteworthy achievements. This is why, as you begin your new role at the helm of the WTO, I want you to know that you have the unwavering support of both your home state and your country!
Dr. (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala @NOIweala has always been a shinning star, not just in our country Nigeria, but across the world where her leadership impact has been felt.
Her appointment for this lofty position as DG @WTO has not come as a surprise to those of us who know her well. I am definitely sure she will perform creditably in her new assignment. -PO
The @OfficialPDPNig is gladdened by the confirmation of former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okojo-Iweala, as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). @wto
The party describes her emergence as victory for competence, global due process and consensus needed to pilot the activities of the world trade body, especially at this critical period in the history of the world’s economy.
The @OfficialPDPNig notes that the development has again brought honour to our nation adding that it is proud of Okonjo-Iweala as a product of the PDP administration, whose excellence as Nigeria’s minister of finance, under whom Nigeria achieved our debt relief and revamped to become one of the fastest growing economies of the world.
The party also recalled Dr. Okonjo-Iweala's success as the Managing Director of the World Bank, where she also displayed her capacity to effectively handle global economy’s issues.
The @OfficialPDPNig commends international stakeholders, including President @JoeBiden-led United States Government for the strong support given to Okonjo-Iweala, which points to the commitment of all stakeholders towards global consensus and economic recovery.
The @OfficialPDPNig restates its charge to the new @wto Director General to redouble her effort in bringing to bear her wealth of experience and competence to the world body.
WTO: Reps Minority Caucus hails Okonjo-Iweala on appointment
Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has congratulated former Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, over her final confirmation as the Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The caucus in a statement by the Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, on Monday, observed that the emergence of Okonjo-Iweala as DG of the world trade body in spite of all the opposing huddles, “has reinforced global confidence in her competence and proficiency to head the world body”.
He said, “Indeed, the election of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala to head the WTO is well-deserving, given her huge experience, competence, commitment and track record of performance in global finance and economy as evinced in her successes as Nigeria’s minister of finance, Managing Director of the World Bank and various other international development bodies.
“We commend the global community for having confidence in Dr. Okonjo Iweala and particularly, the United States President, His Excellency Joe Biden, for the unwavering support given to her by his administration, which is clearly in recognition of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s competence.
“In the same vein our caucus commends the understanding and spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by the South Korean trade minister, Yoo Myung-hee in withdrawing from the race; another loud testament to Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s suitability for the task ahead.”
The lawmakers charged Dr. Okonjo Iweala to, as usual, hit the ground running and bring to bear her skills, connections and wealth of experience in the onerous task of leading the WTO at this trying period in the history of global economy.
The caucus however urged the new WTO DG to have a special focus on Africa and the developing world, particularly at this time of economic recession, which has been worsened by the adverse effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our government will protect all religious and ethnic groups in Nigeria, whether majority or minority, in line with our responsibility under the constitution. We will not allow any ethnic or religious groups to stoke up hatred and violence against other groups.
I appeal to religious and traditional leaders, as well as Governors and other elected leaders across the country, to join hands with the Federal Government to ensure that communities in their domain are not splintered along ethnic and other primordial lines.
senatordave1: It is obvious he sold out.ayade is negotiating yo join apc and part of the plan may be that aoc will field a weak candidate so that odey will win and defect with ayade to apc and still step down in 2023.
There was no way Ayade will stand against Agi presently.....war-chest, etc.
The truth is that...he had no chance. You already said it that Agi is weak, just that he has federal connects.
Politics › IGP Adamu Commissions Nigeria Police Radio 99.1FM, Abuja by HonNL(op): 7:40pm On Mar 31, 2021
HEADS OF COURT; EMPANELS COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE ONE JUDGE; ISSUES TWO STRONG WARNING LETTERS TO JUDGES. 
