₦airaland Forum

Officialgarri:
This bridge was commissioned by the then Prime Minister late Alhaji Tafawa Balewa and opened for traffic in December 1965... barely 15 days after, The same Balewa was assassinated by the people he commissioned the bridge for.

Two years later, the same people destroyed what was built for them.

Jeezos! They dont know how to build....only to destroy things!

NICENEDU29:
ATIKU'S PETITION: APC's OBJECTION TO AKITU'S QUALIFICATION TO CONTEST BASED ON QUESTION OF HIS NIGERIAN CITIZENSHIP.
What are the chances of APC succeeding in its objections based on the ground of Atiku's Nigerian Citizenship?
Before we delve into answering this critical question, let us consider the relevant section of the Constitution of Nigeria that has to do with the Court that has the jurisdiction to determine the question of a person's citizenship in Nigeria. This is so because it is trite law that jurisdiction is the life wire to any proceedings in any court or tribunal. Any proceedings or judgment, no matter how good or how well conducted by any court or tribunal without jurisdiction is a nullity, as one cannot build something on nothing and expect it to stand. Having said that, the question now is: Which court has the exclusive jurisdiction or power to determine the question of citizenship of any person in Nigeria? In response to this question, let us consider the provision of section 251 (1) (i) of the the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.
Section 251 (1) (i) of the Constitution provides and I quote:
251 (1): Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Constitution and in addition to such other jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by an Act of the National Assembly, THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT (F.H.C) shall have and exercise jurisdiction to the exclusion of any other court in civil causes and matters relating to:
(i) Citizenship, naturalisation and aliens, deportation of persons who are not citizens of Nigeria, extradition, immigration into and emigration from Nigeria, passports and visas.
Now in view of the above provision of the Constitution, the questions that beg for answers are:
(1) Which court has the exclusive jurisdiction to determine or decide a person's citizenship in Nigeria?
ANS: The Federal High Court (F.H.C).

(2) Has the F.H.C ever been called upon by APC or anybody at all to decide or determine any question bothering on or relating to Atiku's citizenship in Nigeria?
ANS: No.

There are two 1999 Constitutions, the original and the AMENDED. You have taken reference from the Amended version. This Constituion contains three Amendments, and is why it is called Amended.

Federal High Court will have exclusive jurisdiction in citizenship rights arising out of civil matter. The question of citizenship is not the issue here. APC agrees Atiku is a Citizen of Nigeria. No question about his citizenship.

Assuming the merit of his citizenship will be questioned, 2nd Amendment disagrees with you. The question of Atiku's merit to stand for Presidential election is strictly confined to ELECTORAL QUALIFICATION and as such the power of jurisdiction to test specifics of electability belonged to INEC but if the validity of a Candidate's qualification is questioned then it will be addressed as part of electoral process by Election Tribunal. The tribunal will weigh the merit and pass judgement. Appeal of that judgement will got to Appeal Court and further appeal from there will end in Supreme Court.

(3) Going by the provision of the above section of the Constitution, does the APC, the Election Petition Tribunal or any other person or institution has the power to declare or pronounce Atiku or any other person a non-citizen of Nigeria?
ANS: No, because doing so will amount to usurpation of the power or jurisdiction of the F.H.C.

Modify this error. Questions arising from civil inquiry on qualification of citizenship will be ddressed by Federal High Court. Questions arising from political inquiry into qualification to hold elective offices, whether on citizenship or academic or age, is given to Election Petition Tribunal to review.

(4) Can the Election Petition Tribunal now exercise the power to declare or pronounce Atiku a non-citizen of Nigeria?
ANS: No, it cannot.

This is true. Even the Federal High Court cannot. The highest court in the land, the Supreme Court cannot even pronounce Atiku a non-citizen. No court can. His citizenship is not in question. He is a Nigerian!

[s]In view of the above questions and answers, it is my humble submission that it is very wrong for APC to, at this stage, declare that Atiku is not a citizen of Nigeria, especially in the absence of any F.H.C judgment to that effect, and then uses it as a ground to question or challenge his qualification to contest the Presidential election. It is also very wrong for APC or any person at all to bring up the issue of Atiku's citizenship for the first time at the Election Petition Tribunal. This is because doing so is akin to asking the Election Petition Tribunal to determine or decide on Atiku's citizenship in Nigeria based on the evidence before the Tribunal. But unfortunately, the Election Petition Tribunal has no jurisdiction or power to determine that question in view of section 251 (1) (i) of the Constitution.
Based on the above, I further submit that APC or any other interested person should have, first of all, proceeded to the F.H.C to challenge Atiku's qualification to contest the Presidential election based on the question of his citizenship in Nigeria. They should have even done that before the election took place, because an issue of that nature is a pre-election matter which the Election Petition Tribunal has no jurisdiction to determine. But this they failed to do. Therefore, APC's objections to Atiku's qualification on question of his citizenship is most likely going to fail, reason being that:
(1) They lack the power to declare Atiku a non-citizen of Nigeria without a supporting F.H.C judgment to that effect.
(2) The Election Petition Tribunal lacks the jurisdictional competence to decide or determine the question of Atiku's citizenship in Nigeria. It is only the F.H.C that has the exclusive jurisdiction to do so going by the provision of section 251 (1) (i) of the Constitution of Nigeria[/s].

Irrelevant.

DemolaUnbias:
Atiku as a Nigerian based on "Plebiscite" So what to discuss now is whether he has constitutional right to contest or not. Why We haven't hear from Uche secondus, Saraki, Kola Ologbondiyan, Fayose, Buba Galadima and others.

Uche is the only person still attached to him. Kola still speak for him once in a while.

Saraki
Fayose
Galadima
They have all moved on.


Atiku has record entries in his civil service records that are the official account of his birth and his parental descent. For his instance his records say he is Fulani, and even though people know he is not, his claim is never contested publicly by officials. He himself cannot now come out and give an account different from official records, he will stand in perjury. So he must maintain consistency. It happens that records on his ancestry places him proudly as a scion of Adamawa Fulanis of Jada in Ganye. That geographical placement and family descent disqualifies him "Constitutionally" from becoming President of Nigeria.

oyatz:
Noooo,

Atiku is a cross bred Fulani.

Father= Fulani whose father migrated from Wurno, present day Sokoto State.
Mother= Local Jada tribe

Atiku has a different account of his background. This is why Obasanjo said his background is shady.

Contact me if you are in this video.
Discreet rewarding deal waiting for you.


https:/ - /youtu.be/7UfTqY5W374

[s]

Ratello:
Jada was Never Northern Cameroon.

NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED LEGAL STUDIES NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THERE IS FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN WITH THE INCESSANT LACK OF BASIC KNOWLEDGE & PROFESSIONAL INEPTITUDE BEING DISPLAYED BY SOME SO-CALLED SENIOR COUNSELS IN NIGERIA!

ONE, REPRESENTING THE APC IN RIVERS STATE, APPEALED TO THE SUPREME COURT AND SOUGHT RELIEFS FROM "THE COURT OF APPEAL". THE APPEALS WERE STRUCK OUT BY THE SUPREME COURT, BUT THE MAN SHOWED NO REMORSE! I SAW HIM TALKING ON TV INSTEAD OF HIDING HIS FACE IN SHAME!

ANOTHER ONE, ALSO ACTING FOR THE APC, CONTENDS THAT ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR [GCON], FORMER VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, WAS NOT A NIGERIAN AT BIRTH!

MEANWHILE........

A simple historical research reveals that Atiku was born in Jada Town of Adamawa. Adamawa was old Gongola State, which was created on 3rd February 1976 from Adamawa and Sardauna Provinces, together with the Wukari Division of the then Benue-Plateau State. Gongola was on 27th August 1991, divided into two states - Adamawa & Taraba.

Northern Cameroons became the Sardauna Province of Northern Nigeria on 31 May 1961, while Southern Cameroons became West Cameroon, a constituent state of the Federal Republic of Cameroon, on 1st October 1961.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar GCON, was born 25th November 1946 in Jada Village (part of Adamawa), NOT part of the Sardauna Provinces which could have made him a non-Nigerian at birth!

To recap; the present Adamawa State used to be Gongola State. Gongola State was created out of: (1) Adamawa; (2) Sardauna Provinces from the old Northern Cameroon; and (3) Wukari Division of the then Benue-Plateau State. Jada, where Atiku was born in 1946 was NEVER part of Northern Cameroon, as it was located in Adamawa province and not any part of Sardauna Province. If Atiku had been born in any part of the Sardauna Provinces, then he would not have been born a Nigerian at birth BUT that is clearly not the case!

In fact, the people of the old Sardauna Provinces, are now under Sardauna Local Government, South East of Taraba State. These are the people from the old Northern Cameroon, who became Nigerians in 1961.

You may also want to note that the Old Northern Nigeria had 19 Provinces as follows:

1. Bauchi
2. Benue
3. Borno
4. Kano
5. Katsina
6. Plateau
7. Taraba
8. Niger
9. Adamawa
10. Kaduna
11. Sokoto
12. Gombe
13. Jigawa
14. Kebbi
15. Kabba
16. Nassarawa
17. Yobe
18. Zamfara
19. Ilorin.

You will not find Sardauna amongst the old Northern provinces, as Sardauna was part of the Northern Cameroon until 1961. People who historically came from Northern Cameroon, are found in Southeast Taraba State today. Jada was part of the old Adamawa province, listed no. 9 above, and was never part of old Northern Cameroon!

Lawyers acting for the APC could have spent time researching on Wikipedia before rushing to embarrassingly showcase their poor knowledge of history.

And if anyone of them, or their supporters think Wikipedia is not a reliable legal research engine, I refer them to the case of EDWARD NKWEGU OKEREKE v. NWEZE DAVID UMAHI & ORS, SC.1004/2015, decided 5th February, 2016, where the Supreme Court of Nigeria held as follows:

"According to Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopaedia, the INEC card reader is a portable electronic voter authentication device. Designed, specifically, for the accreditation process for the authentication of eligible voters before voting, the machine was configured to read only the PVCS of a particular polling unit and can only work on Election Day, Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopaedia, (last accessed on January 30, 2016)". Per NWEZE, J.S.C., at P. 36, Paras. A-B.

They should also see the case of PML (NIG) LTD v. FRN (2017) LPELR-43480(SC), Per AUGIE, J.S.C., at Pp. 52-56, paras. A-F, where the Supreme Court referenced Wikipedia thus:

“Now, double jeopardy is a procedural defence that prevents an accused person from being tried again on the same or similar charges and on the same facts, following a valid acquittal or conviction - see Wikipedia…”

~ Abdul Jimoh
Copied from @Obafemi Oke wall

[/s]


Jada was in Ganye. Ganye was the seat of Chamba tribal council. Atiku is Chamba, not Fulani. Ganye was part of Cameroon before June 1961 after which it became part of Nigeria.

SARS is a cult...worse than badoo!

Why are people turning a simple resolution into an academic exercise for God's sake?

The Constitution that is in operation now supersedes other versions. The current Constitution says who is Nigerian or not and out of those known as Nigerians who is qualified to run for presidency. It is simple!

Lol...
They said Akiolu rebuffed the Ajanaku group because the party warned him to steer clear. This is where I knew this story is nothing but bullshyyte. Some of the recognizable media houses have been caught minting controversies to attract readership and credits. Thisday scr3w3d this one up.

Kikikikikikikikiki.....see Ohanaeze pandering to their Yoruba masters.

After voting massively for Atiku and Agbaje and loosing woefully, now Igbos want to sneak in and be counted on the victory side.

If the Constitution would be amended it should be done in 2023. The subject can be included as a constitutional amendment proposal on the ballot duribg general elections of 2023. If passed the 9th Assembly can draft it effective date forward.

I agree with you partly.

You are aware Atiku said when elected he would privatize NNPC and also that he would benefit his friends through the privatization exercise, but Im not sure you are aware he also said he would pardon those charged with looting federal treasury.

Atiku should be viewed as enemy of the state. He is yet to do these things but we know things he did in past that cannibalized economy and which if probed would no doubt get him convicted and imprisoned. Right now there are too many things for Buhari to do so Atiku does not need to be a subject on his agenda....however, there are technical grounds on which to permanently stop him from trying out his desperation to rule. He is not coming to rule, he is coming to steal. The issue of birth clearly disqualifies him based on his official family records regarding background. The constitution must prevail.

Obasanjo served as Atiku's boss and should know his upbringing and parental root well, but Obasanjo wrote in a book that Atiku's background is shady.

I know what Baba is talking about but you see, online, one needs to have restraint about lots of things and not speak what ought not to be spoken.

Jibrila Bindow
Born: June 16, 1963 (age 55 years), Adamawa, Nigeria


Umaru Fintiri
Born on October 27th, 1967 in Gulak Madagali Local government area of Adamawa State,

They both qualify to run as governor and as president, Atiku cannot.

[s]The requirement for qualification in Presidency is more stringent than for Governor. Atiku can seek Adamawa Governorship and qualify but he will not qualify for Presidency. [/s]

Modified.

To throw more light and give better clarity to those still arguing ...

First issue is who can be President of Nigeria. The Constitution answers this below.

Chapter VI

The Executive
Part I

Federal Executive

A - The President of the Federation

130. (1) There shall be for the Federation a President.

(2) The President shall be the Head of State, the Chief Executive of the Federation and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation.

131. A person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President if -

(a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth;

(b) he has attained the age of forty years;

(c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and

(d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.

So in above context we understand that a candidate for President of Nigeria must first be a citizen by birth, no other category of citizenship is recognized. Below we are told the different categories of citizenship and what each type is.

Nigerian nationality law is the law of Nigeria which concerns citizenship and other categories of Nigerian nationality.

Requirements
(1) The following are ways to gain citizenship in Nigeria

By Birth
By Registration
By Naturalisation

By birth-namely- (a) Every person born in Nigeria after the date of independence (October 1, 1960), either of whose parents or any of whose grandparents belongs or belonged to a community indigenous to Nigeria;

Provided that a person shall not become a citizen of Nigeria by virtue of this section if neither of his parents nor any of his grandparents was born in Nigeria.

(b) Every person born outside Nigeria either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria.

(2) In this section, "the date of independence" means the 1st day of October 1960.


By registration: 26. (1) Subject to the provisions of section 28 of this Constitution, a person to whom the provisions of this section apply may be registered as a citizen of Nigeria, if the President is satisfied that -

(a) He is a person of good character; two people to testify to that which one should a Religious minister...
(b) He has shown a clear intention of his desire to be domiciled in Nigeria; and
(c) He has taken the Oath of Allegiance prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution.
(2) The provisions of this section shall apply to-

(a) Any woman who is or has been married to a citizen of Nigeria or every person of full age and capacity born outside Nigeria any of whose grandparents is a citizen of Nigeria.

By naturalization: 27. (1) Subject to the provisions of section 28 of this Constitution, any person who is qualified in accordance with the provisions of this section may apply to the President for the same of a certificate of naturalisation.

(2) No person shall be qualified to apply for the grant of a certificate or naturalisation, unless he satisfies the President that -
* (a) He is a person of full age and capacity;
* (b) He is a person of good character;
* (c) He has shown a clear intention of his desire to be domiciled in Nigeria;
* (d) He is, in the opinion of the Governor of the State where he is or he proposes to be resident, acceptable to the local community in which he is to live permanently, and has been assimilated into the way of life of Nigerians in that part of the Federation;
* (e) He is a person who has made or is capable of making useful contribution to the advancement; progress and well-being of Nigeria;
* (f) He has taken the Oath of Allegiance prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution; and
* (g) He has, immediately preceding the date of his application, either-
(i) Resided in Nigeria for a continuous period of fifteen years; or

(ii) Resided in Nigeria continuously for a period of twelve months, and during the period of twenty years immediately preceding that period of twelve months has resided in Nigeria for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than fifteen years.

28. (1) Subject to the other provisions of this section, a person shall forfeit forthwith his Nigerian citizenship if, not being a citizen of Nigeria by birth, he acquires or retains the citizenship or nationality of a country, other than Nigeria, of which he is not a citizen by birth.

29. (1) Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce his Nigerian citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner for the renunciation.

.....

31. For the purposes of this Chapter, a parent or grandparent of a person shall be deemed to be a citizen of Nigeria if at the time of the birth of that person such parent or grandparent would have possessed that status by birth if he had been alive on the date of independence; and in this section, "the date of independence" has the meaning assigned to it in section 25 (2) of this Constitution.

CITIZENSHIP: Citizenship is based upon the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, dated 1989. (UKC-Commonwealth Nation) Those born before or on the date of independence, October 1, 1960, whose parents or grandparents were born in Nigeria and who were legally residing in Nigeria at the time, are considered citizens of Nigeria. BY BIRTH: Birth within the territory of Nigeria does not automatically confer citizenship. BY DESCENT: Child, at least one of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria, regardless of the child's country of birth. REGISTRATION: The following persons are eligible to become citizens through registration: A foreign woman who marries a citizen of Nigeria. Person who is of adult age (17), born outside Nigeria, any of whose grandparents is or was a citizen of Nigeria. A foreign child adopted by Nigerian parents. BY NATURALIZATION: Nigerian citizenship may be acquired upon fulfillment of the following conditions: Person is of full age (17), has resided in Nigeria for at least 15 years, is of good character, plans to remain in Nigeria, is familiar with Nigerian language and customs, has a viable means of support, and has renounced previous citizenship.

I hope this clarifies it for everyone. Any question from Atikulators?

Okay, i hear they have been suspended. Thats not what the law says though.

The police should be involved, there should be prosecution in this case.

1. That nurse witch endangered two lives, mother and baby.

2. She flouted the law by denying medical service to a citizen in distress.

3. She used weapon on a defenseless person.

4. Battered a pregnant woman and put her and baby at risk.

She should face jail time.

Zombicmodz:
Donald trump worth 500 million ?

That's an insult

The report is based on asset tracked listed under the individuals name, or linked to them from reliable sources.
Trump is good at hiding his assets. He has a lot of foundations managed by trustees, so they will be excluded.

buhariguy:
thief atiku should just go back to Cameroon

He is a Nigerian citizen, but his citizenship is gained via territorial adoption and unfortunately not listed under definitions and identities spelt out in the Constitution.

Only those meeting citizenship guidelines in the Constitution qualify to Preside over Nigeria. He is outside of the endorsement.

Atiku said challenging his qualification to run as President is a trample on Nigerians.

Wetin we no go hear from Atiku.

Did i read him correctly, did he say his submission to the court was based on statistical evidence?