₦airaland Forum

THE Supreme Court on Tuesday declared that Seriake Dickson was validly elected as Bayelsa Governor.








The seven-member panel of judges gave the ruling following an appeal by Timipre Sylva, candidate of the Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the elections.


Mr. Dickson’s election as governor had earlier been ratified by the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal.

Atonye was made to rope in APC leaders on camera, which they covered with their private Video Cameras before sending same to AIT and other media houses.

WITH about 24 hours left for the Supreme Court prepares to deliver judgement on the Bayelsa State governorship election tomorrow (Tuesday), a civil society organisation, Movement for the Independence of the Judiciary in the Niger Delta, said it had uncovered plots by the Apex Court Justices to cancel the election of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson and order a re-run within 90 days.








The National President of MIJN, Patrice Egribido, in a statement said top officials in the Presidency were mounting pressure on the Supreme Court to deliver judgment that would order for a rerun which would provide enough time for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to properly arrange the logistics to rig the re-run election and impose its candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva as Governor.


Part of the deal by the Presidency was to force the Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed to select the panelists from the new Supreme Court Justices to be sworn in today (Monday) with a clear directive to do a dirty job for the APC. The Presidency has also threatened to use the DSS to sting any Justices that refuses to do its bidding.


This development according to the MIJN has suddenly breathed life into the APC in Bayelsa State as Sylva’s supporters erupted in jubilation over the weekend; organizing parties across Bayelsa State.


Egribido emphasised that even though the threats by the Presidency have sent fears down the spines of the Justices but there are strong indications that some Justices are refusing to play ball, insisting on the rule of law.


At press time, the group however said the CJN was also keeping the names of the justices to hear the Bayelsa Governorship appeal closely to his chest. Justice Mohammed who is billed to retire on November 10 is said to have vowed never to compromise his office especially at this time that he is at the ‘‘departure lounge’’ of his flourishing career!


The statement reads in part: ‘‘This is not the first time, the Presidency would be making incursion into the judiciary on the Bayelsa governorship case to sway judgement in favour of the APC. It is unfortunate that a government which claims to be fighting corruption would be bent on putting justices under pressure to do its bidding.


“What the Buhari Presidency has forgotten is that manipulating court judgements is worse than naira and kobo corruption. The Presidency should urgently desist from shopping for favourable judgements as well as stop threatening incorruptible justices before the Buhari administration gives credence to critics who believe that the recent raid on the homes of some justices by the DSS was meant to gag the judiciary from being impartial!’.”


While stressing that his group was apolitical, Comrade Egribido averred that his organization would continue to defend the independence of the Judiciary in the country and in the Niger Delta in particular.


Egribido said both the Bayelsa State Elections Petitions Tribunal and the Appeal Court had in separate unanimous judgements upheld the last governorship elections in Bayelsa which Governor Dickson won and wondered whether the Federal Government was oblivious of the security implication of thwarting the will of the people at the apex court?


The chilling revelations by Patrice Egribido have raised tempers in Bayelsa State especially in the camp of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).


The Bayelsa State PDP Chairman, Cleopas Moses has urged PDP faithful to be calm, lamenting that the desperation of the Federal Government to win Bayelsa State, under the watch of President Muhammadu are drifting the country to a totalitarian, fascist state.


He called on men of goodwill to rise to the occasion before Nigeria is turned into an APC- one- party- state. While expressing confidence in the Judiciary, the PDP chieftain urged the Supreme Court Justices never to capitulate to the manipulation of the presidency.


Moses however noted if elections hold 100 times, Governor Dickson and the PDP will continue to trounce the APC because according to him, the Governor  has delivered on his campaign promise by placing Bayelsa State on the path of security, rapid development, peace and prosperity for which ‘‘our people are eternally grateful.’’


Honourable Cleopas Moses said:   ‘‘Governor Seriake Dickson of the PDP overwhelmingly won the December 5 and January 9 governorship elections in Bayelsa State in 7 out of 8 local government areas of the state. Timipre Sylva and the APC were roundly rejected by Bayelsans in the elections. Both the trial court and the Appeal Court justifiably upheld the election of my Governor and it will be preposterous for the Supreme Court to cancel the election just because the Presidency wanted it cancelled…’’


‘‘For me, cancelling the election will stab justice on the head and make mockery of democracy and it is against this backdrop that I urge the judiciary to always stand up to be counted in dispensing justice and in the defence of democracy in our fatherland.”

ONE of those involved in the printing of fake result sheets of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Rivers State, Naneh Godday, has revealed how the company he works for, Help-Mate Consult, got the job to do the printing.



Godday spoke with newsmen after his arrest alongside two others by the police.

He said the printing job was brought by his boss, Atonye Peterside.

He said when he questioned Peterside as to the source of the material, his boss told him that the printing job was brought by Emma Chinda, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and known ally of the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi.

Godday said as an employee, he had no choice than to work on the material since that was where he earned his living from.

The Police on Saturday raided the printing press located at 12, Isiokpo Street, D-Line, Port Harcourt based in a tip-off.

When the police operatives arrived, the press was printing fake result sheets for seven local government areas of Rivers South-East.

Peterside, a prominent member of the APC from Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, claimed that the printing contract was given to him by Chinda, who was a former Commissioner for Agriculture under Amaechi as governor of Rivers State.

According to Peterside, the printing press has already completed two sets for two local government areas before the police got wind of the illegal act.

He was arrested alongside three of his staff – Richard Koko from Okrika, Nanee Godday from Khana and Tammy Garrick.

Items recovered by the police at the printing press included State-of-the-art printing machine and computers.

The police also recovered Result Sheets of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Serial Number Booklets, which the printer used to authenticate the result sheets.

WATCH VIDEO BELOW

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has expressed optimism that Nigeria is destined to achieve greatness in spite of the current challenges.








Mr. Buhari spoke in Sokoto on Saturday when he inaugurated the Kalambaina 500 housing estate built by the state government at the cost N4.8 billion.


According to him, in spite of the challenges, we are determined to overcome them and fight corruption.


“The administration will continue to bring development to Nigerians, improve security and welfare of Nigerians,” he said.


The president noted that Nigeria had in the early 1960s witnessed reputable peace, culture of discipline and commitment to national development.


“Unfortunately, the situation had changed now, but we are committed to taking Nigeria to greatness.


“The relevance of the caliphate in the scheme of things in Nigeria cannot be over emphasised,” President Buhari added.


The president further stressed the need to give all Nigerians equal opportunities for self actualisation.



The president also urged Nigerians to continue to work for sustainable peace, unity and socioeconomic progress of the country.


He commended the Sultan of Sokoto for being a fearless and tireless peacemaker and bridge builder within and outside Nigeria.


He also hailed the sustained support and cooperation of the traditional rulers and the state governments to the Federal Government.


Mr. Buhari also commended Gov. Aminu Tambuwal for executing the project, and urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the facilities.


Mr. Tambuwal said that the houses were built as part of efforts to fulfil his campaign promises to the people.


The governor hailed the president for his support to the states, noting that the modest achievements were attributable to this gesture.


The Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Bello Gwiwa, said that the estate was provided with road networks, water facilities and school networks, among others.


The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, among others attended the event.


[NAN]

REUBEN Abati, former spokesperson to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan has been released bt the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

THE Administrative Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Ekiti State, Dr. Muslim Omoleke, who was kidnapped by some gunmen at around Iwaraja in Osun State on Thursday, has been released.

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Ejembi Eko and Amina Augie as justices of the Supreme Court.


This was disclosed on Friday in a statement by the spokesman of the National Judicial Council, Soji Oye.

The NJC had earlier recommended the two candidates to Buhari.


Ac‎cording to Oye, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the NJC, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, will inaugurate the two justices on Monday.


Oye said in the statement: “The two honourable justices will be sworn-in by the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, GCON, on Monday 7th November, 2016 at 2.00 pm in the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

A majority of Nigerian men like to feel comfortable while embarking on a trip and that is quite understandable. However, there are some clothing items that should certainly be a no-no no matter what. 

While we at Jumia Travel are not trying to dictate what Nigerian men should  or shouldn’t wear. Here is a list of 5 things they should definitely not consider putting on.


Toe shoes

Really? Why would anyone even want to wear this to anywhere? Why would anyone think it is so critical that they show off their toes to the world? Toe shoes, minimalist running shoes with separated toes, are intended to support barefoot-style running, they are not fashion shoes and should not be worn while travelling or doing anything else really.

Boot-cut/flared jeans

No matter how old-fashioned a man you are, you should endeavour to at least stay a little stylish and go with the trends. No doubt boot-cut or flared jeans could be great for freeing up your legs and letting air in while travelling, but really, they should be left in 2003 where they belong.



Team Jersey

You love your team and you would possibly even give your life defending it. That is great, but you do not have to wear your team jersey while travelling. Nigerian men do this a lot and it is not very attractive. Actually, wearing a team jersey could even get you into trouble if you are heading to a location where your team is abhorred.

Mesh Basketball Shorts

Basketball is not as huge as football in Nigeria, yet the men in the country seem to have an obsession for the mesh basketball shorts. And the thing is, they love to wear them when they are not playing basketball. Travelling while wearing a mesh short may seem like a good idea especially if the weather is hot and you are travelling by road maybe, but it is far from appealing and gives off a lousy vibe.

Big Studded belt

Basically, big studded belts are an eyesore that should not be tolerated under any circumstances…even if you are a celebrity. Again, it could add unnecessary bling to your entire outfit and attract petty thieves to you.

THE House of Representatives on Thursday raised a committee to probe the Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement in the Nigerian Armed Forces inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari.


The House, in a motion by Chris Azubogu, said the arms panel, which had only three months to conclude its assignment, has failed to complete its work more than a year later.


Lawmakers said the committee members requested a two-week extension, but still did not conclude its task, leaving the government to continue to pay for their feeding and accommodation.


This situation, the House said, had led to the failure of the federal government to pay arms contractors for their work.


Mr. Buhari had on August 24, 2015, raised the panel to keep with his “determination to stamp out corruption and irregularities in Nigeria’s public service”.


The committee has so far released three interim reports, with the last published in July.


The report indicted a former Chief of Army Staff, Azubuike Ihejirika, of using companies linked to his family to perpetrate arms procurement fraud.


Mr. Ihejirika denied the allegations.


The House forwarded the concerns to its committee on national security and intelligence for further investigation and to report back within a month.


[NAN]

AKWA Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, has insisted on the termination of the appointment of 5,000 secondary school teachers who were yet to receive placement letter from the state government.



Mr. Emmanuel said the teachers’ recruitment, hurriedly done in the last days of the previous administration of Godswill Akpabio, was faulty.

“Even the bible says if the foundation is not right, what can the righteous man do?” a Government House press release quoted Governor Emmanuel as telling journalists on Wednesday, when he landed at the Akwa Ibom International Airport.



“We have tried to see how we could get something out of that recruitment process, but believe me, the foundation was very faulty.”

Mr. Emmanuel repeated what he had often said about the recruitment – that there was a syndicate which had given out fake appointment letters to thousands of unqualified applicants. He said that prompted the cancelation of the recruitment.

The release said Mr. Emmanuel warned that the administration wasn’t ready to bow to sentiments, and that he would ensure that the right decisions were made in the interest of the Akwa Ibom people.

“If we are putting people to teach our children, please let us leave sentiments apart and go for the right people,” the governor said.

“We need to make sure they went through the right process and have the right qualifications.

“We are assuring the 5000 people that they need not worry, when we are calling for aptitude test, you need not re-apply, just walk into the venue of the exercise with that appointment letter and justify that you are qualified to teach our children.”

The cancellation was first announced few days ago by the Head of Civil Service in the state, Ekereobong Akpan, before the latest remark by the governor.

It is obviously an unexpected blow to the “unemployed” teachers who for about two years now have been putting pressure on the governmentto assign them to public secondary schools across the state.

A Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has said he would destroy his green card if Donald Trump becomes president of the United States.









Soyinka said this on Wednesday while giving a speech to students of Oxford University, England.


“If in the unlikely event he does win, the first thing he’ll do is to say [that] all green-card holders must reapply to come back into the US. Well, I’m not waiting for that," UK Guardian quoted him to have said.


“The moment they announce his victory, I will cut my green card myself and start packing up,” said Soyinka, who is scholar-in-residence at New York University’s Institute of African American Affairs.


The internationally-acclaimed playwright and poet described Britain’s decision to exit the European Union as a “ridiculous decision”.


He said: “What is happening in Europe shouldn’t surprise any of us … It has happened before. We were here when Enoch Powell was leading his thugs out to drive blacks from here.


“It’s a constant fight to try to get a nation to recognise its own noble persuasions, its own persuasions of the loftiness of human possibility. It’s for young people like you to say no to them whenever that happens.”


Soyinka also informed the students that the torch of African literature is being carried by the younger generation.


“I think we of the older are getting a little bit tired, and I think our production gets thinner and thinner. But fortunately, it doesn’t worry any of us, as far as I know, because the body of literature that is coming out [is] varied and liberated.


“African literature suffered from some kind of ideological spasm in which the younger generation was bombarded by a sense of ideological duty, in other words it was bombarded with a very simplistic notion by leftist radical writers, very reformative revolutionary thinkers, that all literature is ideological and therefore writers must ensure that their writing illustrates progressive ideologies.”

THE Indigenous People of Biafra on Wednesday said it welcomed the statement attributed to President Muhammadu Buhari declaring that any Nigerian is free to leave the country if they have another one.



The group, however, said it was against the conditions given by Buhari for the exit.

IPOB said this on Wednesday in a statement.

The statement was entitled: “IPOB welcomes Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration on the impending disintegration of Nigeria, but says no to conditions.”

It was signed by its spokespersons Emma Nmezu, a lawyer; and Dr. Clifford Iroanya.

IPOB said it was delighted with the comment of Buhari who seems to have bowed to international pressure to consider the inevitable disintegration of Nigeria.

The statement reads: “We the IPOB are delighted with the comments attributed to retired Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, who seems to have bowed to international pressure to consider the inevitable disintegration of Nigeria, though with conditions we find inconsistent with common sense and logic.

“According to Buhari, ‘any Nigerian is free to leave the country if they have another one’.Buhari also stated that ‘If anybody has a country to go to, let him go, we will stay here and salvage our country’.

“It is crystal clear that Buhari has seen the futility of fighting against a determined people who are bent on restoring their God-given nation which was unjustly robbed them by slave merchants later turned colonialists.

“From all indications, Buhari must have consulted with his colonial backers and religious hardliners in Saudi Arabia who perhaps have taken the time to school him on the sanctity of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, UNDRIP, the inviolability and irreducibility of the rights of Indigenous People to self-determination.

“However, we observed that hidden in the statements of Buhari are two evil agendas, first evil agenda is that Buhari made this statement in a meeting he had with Biafrans from the riverine or southern part of Biafra which the Hausa-Fulani oligarchy nicknamed South-South or Niger-Delta.

“The underlying objective in Buhari’s statement is to create the impression that the South-South is not part of Biafraland, hence the upland areas of Biafra, Igbo can leave Nigeria while the riverine areas Ibibio, Efik, Izon, Itshekiri, Urhobo, Isoko will remain part of Nigeria.

“The plan is to trap the riverine areas of Biafraland in Nigeria to enable Buhari and his Hausa-Fulani oligarchy continue the shameless exploitation and stealing of Biafra’s natural resources which they have always used and will continue to use to develop the Arewa region of Nigeria.

“The only surprise is that Buhari and his handlers did not include the rich Orient oil fields of Anambra River Basin, the high yield Shell operated Egbema oil fields in Imo State, the abundant gas reserves at Ohaji also in Imo State and the Shell operated Ukwa deep oil well in Abia State in their so-called South-South/Niger Delta.

“Successive governments of Nigeria have continued to deceive the gullible public that the reason we IPOB are agitating for Biafra is because of oil in the Niger Delta region, without making obvious the fact that oil was first found in commercial quantity in Imo State before Oloibiri in Bayelsa State.

“Sadly many people are still ignorant of the fact that active oil and gas extraction is happening today in Anambra, Imo, Abia and Igbo parts of Rivers State. It is pertinent we make clear to all and sundry that while oil may motivate the Arewa North to seek One Nigeria because they cannot live without it, due to obvious reasons and nature, in Biafraland and in the new Biafra we shall place 100% emphasis on human capital development not on natural occurring minerals.

“For a country to pin the hopes of its entire economic policy and well being on a finite natural resource is indicative of the level of intellectual backwardness of the self arrogating ‘elites’ that run the economy of the colonial creation known as Nigeria. We the Indigenous People of Biafra believe that the greatest natural resource a people can be endowed with is their brain not what is under the ground.

“We must stress for purposes of sound knowledge that there is no known geographical cardinal point in any geography text book or academic literature or any part of this world called ‘South-South’ except in Nigeria.

“This unique un-academic introduction of a new cardinal point called ‘South-South’ was created by the Hausa-Fulani oligarchy to serve their divide and rule interests. With this dichotomy they intend to continue to own virtually all the oil blocks in Biafraland including those at Anambra, Imo, Abia and Igbo parts of Rivers State.

“But the same Hausa-Fulani natural born rulers of Nigeria refused to create corresponding cardinal points of ‘North-North’ and ‘West-West.’ Sensible people must ask themselves why this is the case.

“The Hausa-Fulani ruling class carefully created this unique cardinal point of ‘South-South’ to drive an everlasting wedge between the upland and riverine areas of Biafraland. Furthermore, the ‘South-South’ is not contained in any part of the Constitution of Nigeria nor is it any of the Acts of Parliament or Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The second evil agenda is that by making such statements before these respected leaders from the riverine area of Biafraland, he is creating the false impression that he has obtained the consent of the people of Southern Biafra to build the Nigeria of his dreams, and in so doing is giving a misleading signal that Biafrans from the riverine areas have bought into his deceptive and foundationally disastrous ‘One Nigeria’ project.

“By gathering a few Biafrans from the riverine areas and saying that ‘those who don’t want to be part of Nigeria should leave,’ Buhari hopes to convince the world that those Biafrans he was addressing at Aso Rock believe in the ‘oneness’ of the British colony Nigeria he is assiduously pursuing.

“We the IPOB at this point would wish to categorically inform Mr. President that since we already have our blessed nation Biafra created by the Most High God not man; we do not need the temporary country created by a white man Luggard for his amusement and economic exploitation.

“We wish to further inform Mr. President that IPOB do not desire to regress from the status of a nation state to that of a country artificially created by the British with divergent and irreconcilable value systems. Even today nations that make up Britain like Scotland and Wales are agitating as we Biafrans are, to establish their own nation state outside Britain, so why should Nigeria that is created by a white British man be immune to similar demands being made by Biafrans.”

A major NPDC oil pipeline was has been blown up by suspected militants.



Though no group has, as at press time, claimed responsibility for the explosion at the oil field operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, in Delta State, the sabotage is coming a day after President Muhammadu Buhari met with leaders of the Niger Delta to resolve the crisis in the region.

The Joint Military Task Force, JTF, deployed to the Niger Delta confirmed the Wednesday explosion.

Olaolu Daudu, spokesman of the JTF, code-named “Operation Delta Safe’’ said investigations had commenced.

He said troops deployed to the area heard an explosion at the Bantan Flow Station run by NPDC, a subsidiary of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

“Troops of Operation Delta Safe located at Sector 1, in Delta while on routine patrol heard an explosive sound caused by suspected economic saboteurs at Bantan Flow Station around Ekweregbene, Bantan general area.

“The incident is however, being investigated and details will be made available as events unfold.


“Also, troops of Forward Operation Base, deployed at Bonny in Rivers, while on anti – crude oil theft/ illegal bunkering patrol, discovered two illegal refinery sites along Ogbunku Creek,” he said.

He further said the troops recovered three 40 horse power outboard engines and three pumping machines.

Wednesday’s explosion may further affect Nigeria’s dwindling foreign earnings which have been blamed for the country’s current recession. Sabotage of oil and gas facilities led to an almost 50 per cent reduction of Nigeria’s crude exports and also worsened the electricity situation as gas powered plants could not receive gas.

At the meeting, the Niger Delta leaders presented a 16-point demand to Mr. Buhari.

The demands include rapid development of the region and inclusion of people from the region in ownership of oil blocs.

THE Senate was on Tuesday divided over the screening of the country’s non-career ambassadors.



This was despite the fact that the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, had forwarded the list to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.

President Muhammadu Buhari had last week sent a list of 46 non-career ambassadors to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

Among those who made the list were Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora and Pauline Tallen.

Tallen however turned down her own nomination.

When the issue was raised during plenary on Tuesday, majority of the senators kicked against the screening and confirmation of the ambassadorial nominees.

It will be recalled that Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress had shortly after the submission of the list last week met with Buhari to complain about the lopsidedness of the President’s appointees.

The Governors only on Monday submitted a written letter to the President on the issue as he requested.

THE Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has said “the failure on the part of the Executive Arm of Government to act upon recommendations by the National Judicial Council cannot be blamed upon the NJC”.








Justice Mohammed made the statement in a letter dated October 26, 2016, sent to the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.


The letter, with reference No. CJN/Gen/MISC/A37/Vol.XXI/8 and signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the CJN, H. S. Sa’eed, was in response to SERAP’s request to Justice Mohammed that as the Chairman of the NJC he should “take over from the Department of State Service the cases of all the seven judges released by the DSS and refer the cases of those judges to anticorruption agencies for conclusion of investigation and prompt prosecution”.


But Mohammed, in reaction, told SERAP: “Certainly, you will agree with me that where there are clear constitutional provisions relating to the power of any individual, institution or Arm of Government, then it cannot deviate nor exceed such powers as this will be unlawful.”


The letter by the CJN reads in part: “While restating the willingness of the NJC to act upon any petition as well as commitment of the Nigerian judiciary to the fight against corruption, his Lordship opines that any significant involvement in the fight against corruption will be upon a similar commitment of the Prosecutorial Agencies to actively prosecute their cases expeditiously when information about same is received.


“It is necessary to restate that the NJC is a creation of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) being established under Section 153 with its mandate clearly set out in Para 21, Part One of the Third Schedule to the Constitution. This provision clearly stipulates at Para 21(b) and (d) that the Council may only ‘recommend’ to the President and the Governors, the removal from office of Judicial Officers and to exercise disciplinary control over such Judicial Officers, which in effect is the extent of its power to discipline. Hence, the Council cannot, suo moto dismiss any Judicial Officer.


“The NJC can also neither ‘hand over corrupt judges to law enforcement agencies for prosecution nor recover proceeds of corruption, as you have suggested. It can merely recommend to act upon its findings, as it has always done.


“However, in exercise of its constitutional mandate, the NJC has enacted the Judicial Discipline Regulations, 2014 in order to ensure that petitions are received, investigated and addressed as appropriate. As SERAP’s own Report attests, 64 Judicial Officers have been disciplined within 5 years even preceding the institution of the new guidelines. Any failure on the part of the Executive Arm of Government to act upon such recommendations cannot therefore be blamed upon the NJC.


“With due consideration to the contents of your letter, I am directed to acknowledge and address the concerns which SERAP have raised, which may reflect the wider opinion held by some Nigerians. While his Lordship doubtless appreciate SERAP’s concern for the incidence of corruption in the judiciary, it is indeed erroneous to conclude that the NJC has ‘felt satisfied with applying only civil sanctions and have not deemed it fit to hand over corrupt judges to law enforcement agencies for prosecution nor recover proceeds of corruption’, as insinuated in your letter under reference.


“To be sure, every citizen of Nigeria inclusive of Judicial Officers, are entitled to the protection of the law and a key provision of the Constitution is the presumption of innocence, as enshrined in Section 36(5) of the Constitution (as amended). I must also remind us that the Seven Judges like all other persons are entitled to a fair hearing as stipulated in Section 36 of the Constitution. As such, it would be presumptive and indeed preemptive to sanction the said judges without exhausting the proper procedure for their removal.


“As a valuable member of the society, the Hon. CJN is certainly delighted with SERAP’s dedication to justice, fairness and justness. His Lordship also wishes to emphasize that it is indeed our collective responsibility to tackle any perceived challenges facing the Nigerian judiciary.


“Indeed, with the support of well-meaning and eminent Nigerians such as members of SERAP, giant strides will be made towards reaching the goal of a transparent, fair and equitable system of justice. The Hon. CJN wishes you the best in your future endeavor as SERAP strives to support and entrench good governance in Nigeria.”


It would be recalled that SERAP had in a letter dated October 11, 2016 and signed by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, expressed serious concern that “the NJC has for many years failed to appropriately deal with several cases of corrupt judges by failing to refer those cases to the EFCC and ICPC for prosecution. Many of these suspected corrupt judges are still alive and their cases should be promptly referred to the anticorruption agencies. The NJC under your leadership should seize the opportunity of the just released 7 judges to comprehensively address corruption in the judiciary”.


SERAP said it believed that “the NJC is in the best position to tackle corruption within the judiciary, and to ensure the application of appropriate disciplinary and legal measures in the cases of the released 7 judges and other judges suspected of engaging in corruption”.


SERAP’s letter reads in part: “SERAP believes that corrupt judges should not merely be retired where there are clear allegations of corruption against them. Corrupt judges must not also be allowed to keep their ill-gotten wealth, or receive their pension and retirement benefits, as if they have done no wrong while the victims of their corrupt acts are left without an effective remedy.


“SERAP believes that corrupt judges are more dangerous to the society than corrupt politicians because a corrupt judiciary denies both victims of corruption and those accused of corruption access to an independent, impartial and fair adjudication process. No country can succeed with corrupt judges as there can’t be no rule of law, development, justice and enjoyment of human rights when judges are corrupt.


“Judicial corruption is antithetical not only to human rights and good governance but it also directly undermines the ability of government to satisfactorily combat corruption. Judges should not be allowed to avoid accountability for corruption if judicial impartiality and independence is to be held sacrosanct and access to justice is to be effectively achieved.”

THE firepower of the Multinational Joint Task Force ground troops and joint air operation during the Operation GAMA AIKI forced a massive defection of remnants of the Boko Haram Terrorists.








This according to a statement signed by Colonel Muhammad Dole, the Chief Military Public Information Officer.


Sustained offensive operations and blockage of logistics supply routes made the terrorists’ locations untenable; as a result, BHT and their families abandoned their locations and surrendered with their arms to the nearest locations of the ground forces in the operation areas.


The recent wave of mass defection took place in Sector 2 Area of Responsibility Bagasola in Chad. A total of Two Hundred and Forty (240) BHT surrendered some of them with arms and ammunition. They are being profiled and camped in Bagasola. During his operational visit to Sector 2 AOR, the Commander MNJTF, Major General Lamidi Adeosun addressed the ex -BHT and their families.


The Commander commended the leaders of the ex- BHT for their courage and taking the right decision to abandoned terrorism and insurgency for normal life.


He assured them of safety and good care as long as they remain in the camps. He also urged them to encourage their colleagues in the bush to stop fighting and join them in the camps.


“This peaceful disarming and profiling of the ex-BHT by the MNJTF forces, clearly demonstrated extent of professionalism and adherence to International Humanitarian Laws and Laws of Armed Conflict in combat operations” he added.


The Commander MNJTF donated token cash for purchase of 2 cows and 10 bags of assorted food stuff for each of the 2 groups for the welfare and up keep of the ex-BHT and their families.


This brings to the total number of surrendered BHT to MNJTF troops in sector 2 to Four Hundred and Six Four.


While addressing a team of International Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating in the camps, the Commander praised their commitment and sacrifice in discharging their humanitarian duties. He implored them to mobilise more resources and manpower, as more BHT are expected to defect and join their colleagues in the camps.


The ex-BHT re expected to receive trainings in different skills and small businesses as scheduled by government agencies and NGOs.


In another development, the Commander MNJTF made presentation of cash to representatives of officers and soldiers who were killed in Action (KIA) and Wounded in Action (WIA) during Operation GAMA AIKI. As part of encouragement and alleviation of suffering to the victims’ families and wounded personnel, the Headquarters, MNJTF made provisions of One Million CFA (1,000,000.00 cfa) only for each family of KIA and Five Hundred Thousand CFA (500,000.00 cfa) only for each WIA in the battle field.


During the presentations in sectors 2 Bagasola (Chad) and sector 4 Diffa (Niger), General Adeosun prayed for the souls of the departed colleagues for the supreme sacrifice they made in the service to humanity and praised the courage and bravery displayed by the WIA. He equally consoled the families of the KIA and prayed for quick recuperation of the WIA. In sector 2 Bagasola, Commander was accompanied during the visit to ex-BHT camps by the Coordinator/Chief of Staff of the Chadian Ground Forces and Red Barrettes, Major General Ismael Hour, Deputy Commander, MNJTF, Brigadier General Musa Muhammad Djour and Senior Prefect of Bagasola.

NIGERIA'S Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has responded to calls by some Nigerians for the arrest of former President Goodluck Jonathan.



Mr. Osinbajo said the Buhari administration does not arrest “anybody, anyhow”.

Answering a question at a session in the United States on Friday, on when Mr. Jonathan would be arrested, Mr. Osinbajo said the Buhari administration was not in the business of arresting just anyone anyhow.

He said all that Buhari administration does is to empower the security agencies and the anti-corruption agencies to do their jobs, without the administration trying to teleguide them.

He also added that the fight against corruption in the country was not fought on ethnic, hasty or premediated grounds.

“Corruption is not an ethnic thing, there is an equal representation in the stealing as no one operates with his/her ethnic group alone, the culprits are in every case seen so far, united by greed to steal and not by ethnic or religious interest,” he said.

He frowned at a situation where for instance as much as $15 billion has disappeared from the national coffers into private pockets, saying no responsible government would wave that aside so as not to offend people.

Mr. Osinbajo also said that security agencies in Nigeria have arrested about 800 suspected violent herdsmen across the country.

Mr. Osinbajo said this in Houston, Texas in the United States at a Townhall event where he interacted with U.S.-based Nigerians who asked questions live at the event and also via the internet, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson, Laolu Akande.

The vice president fielded about 30 questions at a well attended townhall event moderated by Rudolf Okonkwo of Sahara Reporters and Nimi Wariboko of Boston University.

Asked about the issue of Fulani Herdsmen attacks in certain states across the country and what the Federal Government was doing to curb the problem, the Mr. Osinbajo said “the President has given firm instructions to the security agencies to arrest not only herdsmen who are attacking communities anywhere in the country but anyone of them or anyone at all in possession of firearms”.

He added that “there are about 800 of suspected violent herdsmen in the country that are currently in custody.”

The vice president however decried the slow pace of the criminal justice system that affects the prompt trial of such suspects.

Mr. Osinbajo reminded the audience however that the issue of killings by such violent herdsmen has been a perennial issue especially as grazing lands continue to disappear over the years and the cattle feed on peoples crops on the farmlands.

He said that the matter just did not crop up when President Buhari assumed office.

Vice President Osinbajo urged against the tendency of interpreting the herdsmen issue as a religious issue, stressing that it is important for all Nigerians to refuse such divisive narratives and tendencies.

He reminded his audience that there has always been conflict between herdsmen and communities across the country and that people should disabuse the notion that the problem has just started because President Buhari, a Fulani, is currently at the helm of affairs in the country.

Answering a question on the need for community policing, the Vice President said that community policing via state police is indeed a cardinal program of the ruling APC. He said the party’s agenda cannot be introduced until there is an amendment to the nation’s constitution.

The current situation where police activities are controlled at the federal level sure has some limitations, he said, adding that “ the federal government is currently working to introduce community policing that would be in line with the constitution.”

Commenting on the recent arrest of judges in the country, Mr. Osinbajo told his audience that impunity could be very dangerous in any sector and that the federal government was only exercising its executive function in attempting to check excesses.

He said the important thing was that due process was followed as the judges were released about 24 hours after their arrest and once they had given their statements.

The Vice President also responded to a question on the state of the nation’s economy and attributed the current recession to the loss of about 60 percent of government revenue due to pipeline vandalisation and endemic corruption in the system.

He however said that getting back oil production is a sure way to get out of the recession and the federal government is working to sort it out.

(NAN)

A former presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, is still in custody because he is unable to satisfy his bail conditions.



Mr. Abati, a columnist, was arrested on Monday by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on allegations of financial impropriety to the tune of N50 million.

When operatives questioned him about how he spent the funds, Mr. Abati reportedly said he disbursed it to media practitioners in his capacity as the spokesman for the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

But he said he did not keep records of the disbursement when queried for evidence.

The journalist was subsequently granted an administrative bail that requires presenting a senior federal civil servant —preferably a director— with landed properties in Abuja.

Premium Times quoting an EFCC source said, “He will be released when he meets his bail conditions."

Also in EFCC custody is Bala Mohammed, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, who was taken into custody shortly after Mr. Abati’s arrest on Monday.

But Mr. Mohammed’s case is said to be more complicated and he may not be released anytime soon.

It was learnt that the EFCC has procured a remand order from a court to hold Mr. Mohammed for a while.

He faces allegations of land racketeering which EFCC said came in several petitions from citizens who dealt with Mr. Mohammed while he was a minister.

Mr. Mohammed was said to have sold government land to private individuals and received pay for the transaction in cash.

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari formally married off his daughter, Fatima, to Malam Yau Gimba Kumo on Friday in Daura, his home town in Katsina State.








The wedding took place at the President’s residence on Mai’adua Road, Daura at about 2.40pm.


The groom, who was a former Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, paid N100,000 as the bride price.


The marriage was contracted in accordance with Islamic injunctions and was attended by top Federal and States’ Government officials.


They included the Governors of Gombe and Bauchi, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo and Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar.


The Ministers of Interior and Defence, Abdurrahman Dambazau and Mansur Dan-Ali; the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; the Controller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede; and Director-General, Department of State Services, Lawal Musa Daura, also graced the occasion.


Others were Senators Mustapha Bukar (Katsina North), Ahmed Sani from Zamfara State and Danjuma Goje from Gombe State.


Guests had unhindered access to the President’s residence, venue of the marriage, in spite the heavy presence of security personnel.


However, only few prominent personnel had access to the main sitting room where the wedding took place.


Praise singers and drummers were not left out of the ceremony as they added glamour to the event.

THE Naira on Friday appreciated against the dollar at the official interbank market, the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports.








The Nigerian currency gained 50k to exchange at N304.50, from N305 posted on Thursday.


At the Bureau De Change, BDC, segment of the market, the naira closed at N385 Central Bank controlled rate, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro traded at N560 and N503, respectively.


The naira, however, weakened against the dollar at the parallel market, nullifying the N5 it gained on Thursday to exchange at N470 to a dollar:


The Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N565 and N505, respectively.


Aminu Gwadabe, President of Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria, ABCON, said that during the “ember’’ months, the demand for the dollar far outstripped its supply.


Mr. Gwadabe noted that currency speculators leveraged on the delay in the sale of forex to BDCs on Thursday to manipulate the market.


He, however, said that the naira was expected to bounce back fully by the coming days as the CBN, Travelex and some commercial banks were working hard to ease the liquidity challenges.