₦airaland Forum

See more photos at http://www.metronaija.com/2016/07/photos-crowd-welcome-abia-state.html

Possible Abia State Governor Uche Ogah who was issued a certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) traveled to Umuahia to be sworn in yesterday.



He was met by a large crowd of supporters at the government office.



Current governor, Ikpeazu, has already said that he has appealed the decision of the court remove him and that he’d fight this particular decision.



You can see images of the crowd below.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/07/photos-crowd-welcome-abia-state.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

The Presidential fact finding Committee paid a visit to the Internally Displaced Persons Bama camp in Maiduguri,the Borno state capital. President Buhari directed the committee to visit the camp and investigate on the issue of rebranding food items for IDPs for sales by some IDP camp workers.


See photos below

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/07/photos-presidential-committee-visit.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El Rufai broke yesterday's Ramadan fast with the Interim Management Committee Chairmen of Local Governments in Kaduna state.


See photos below

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/07/photos-gov-el-rufai-breaks-fast-with.html

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice has adjourned sine die (indefinitely) judgment in the case of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) against the Federal Government in which he challenged his unlawful detention by government since December 2015 in the custody of the Department of the State Security Service (DSS).

Sambo Dasuki, Dasuki Sambo

The court, presided over by Justice Friday Nwoke had on May 16 reserved judgment till today after taking final argument from Dasuki’s lawyer Mr. Robert Emukperuo and government lawyer Mr. Tijani Gazali.

However, journalists, lawyers and other observers who stormed the regional court in Abuja today were taken aback when they were told that the much awaited verdict of the court was not ready and that the new date for the judgment would be communicated to lawyers when ready.

At the court entrance, journalists, lawyers and observers were turned back by about twelve security men who told them that the court management had mandated them to tell everybody that judgment was not ready, prompting the people to leave one after the other when the reality dawned on them that the court will not sit after all.

Dasuki had dragged the Federal Government before the ECOWAS Court praying the regional court to intervene in his detention without trial since December last year.

The ex-NSA asked the court to void the detention, the seizure of his properties and to bar government from further detaining him without a lawful court order.

In the court action instituted by his counsel Mr. Robert Emukpoeruo, Dasuki asked the court to award in his favor a sum of N500 million as compensatory damages for his alleged unlawful invasion of his house, detention, seizure of properties and infringement on his rights.

He claimed that government had put him on trial in three different high courts on corruption charges where he was granted bail and that after his bail, he was re-arrested on December 29, 2015 and has since been held incommunicado without lawful court order.

Dasuki told the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice that the federal government has no legal or moral justification for his continued incarceration since December last year.

The ex-NSA who argued through his counsel, while making his final address predicated his stance on Sections 293-296 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act ACJA 2015 which outlines the procedure for keeping a suspect in detention for not more than two weeks.

“To accentuate the illegality of the arrest and detention of the applicant, the ACJA 2015, S.293 to 296 thereof, set out the procedure for the detention of any person pending trial or investigation. And in summary, that procedure requires judicial intervention by a magistrate for it to be carried out and the maximum detention time-frame is two weeks”, he submitted.
Emukperuo had earlier filed an application to amend the originating application by including additional reliefs, a request the court granted, ordering the defendant to respond, if any, within 15 days to the issues raised in the amendment.

He prayed the court to order the release of his client and as well order the government to pay N500 million as compensation to Dasuki.

He recalled how several courts had granted Dasuki bail and how President Muhammadu Buhari had stated in a media chat that the ex-NSA cannot just be released.

He said his client’s arrest and detention by the defendant is without any legal justification because it was not backed with any court order.

“The critical issue that needs to be resolved is whether there is any legal justification for the detention of the applicant by the defendant”, he said, adding that the only justification in the amended statement of defence adduced by the defendant for detaining the applicant is the recourse to national security.

“They have not adduced before this court any judicial procedure that they have relied on in incarcerating the applicant.

“They have equally not relayed to the court any domestic legislation whatsoever to justify the detention of the applicant.

“My lord I submit that this is a classic case of arbitrary and illegal arrest”, he added.
The counsel further submitted that the government has defied all known legal instruments or legislation by not following its own laws.

He said apart from its complete disdain for the laws of the land, government has also not followed judicial orders given by courts of competent jurisdiction.

Emukperuo said on the issue of being in possession of arms, Dasuki was granted bail on self-recognition and the Ministry of Justice did not oppose the application for bail, wondering why they had to still keep him in detention having not opposed the bail application if they knew he was a security risk.

“It is a spurious defence conceived in bad faith, and I urge the court to dismiss it”, he pleaded.

But the Federal Government through its counsel, Mr. Tijani Gazali, had argued a preliminary objection against Dasuki on the ground that he ought to have filed a contempt charge against the government for alleged disobedience to court order on the bail granted him but the ECOWAS Court ruled that the case of the plaintiff was on his fundamental rights and has nothing to do with the domestic court.

ECOWAS may be financially broke

While no reason was giving for the indefinite adjournment of the ruling on Dasuki’s case, the ECOWAS Court and its iParent body the ECOWAS Secretariat may be financially broke.

Recently the Vice President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Justice Micah Wright had disclosed that one of the impediment that the court was facing was insufficient fund for its operation due to non-payment of levy by member states.

“The court and by extension the entire community is facing financial difficulties where member states are not paying up the community levy and that is the means of finance for all ECOWAS activities,” he said.

“The court is always at disadvantage when the funds are being distributed. But we have to take more initiatives to impress it upon the commission the mandate of the court is of such that the court is alone.
“The court cannot source external funding like the commission or like other institutions. We don’t want to compromise our independence and neutrality by going out to seek donor funding.”

At another occasion, the President of ECOWAS, Mr Marcel De Souza had expressed frustration over the paucity of fund being experienced by the commission.

De Souza, spoke when he led a delegation from the commission to a courtesy visit on the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Khadijat Abba-Ibrahim.

He appealed to Nigeria and other member states to rescue the commission by paying up their outstanding levies.
“The community levy which represents 90 percent of our funding is no longer regularly paid by most member states; Nigeria is not alone in this regard, also Cote D’Ivoire…

“We see that the greatest challenge lies with Nigeria. The arrears that Nigeria is owning is 694,000 dollars because there was no payment made between 2015 and 2016.
“Because of the debt burden it carries, ECO
WAS is now losing its credibility,” the president said.
Meanwhile President Muhammadu Buhari had assured of Nigeria’s continued commitment to meet all her obligations to the ECOWAS Commission.
President Buhari made the pledged last month (May 27, 2016) while receiving the new president of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Marcel Alain de Souza in State House, Abuja.

The Presidential was reported to have told the ECOWAS delegation that “the federal government of Nigeria would strive to show good example by meeting all its financial obligations to the sub-regional organisation.”

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/ecowas-court-adjourns-dasukis-unlawful.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

A police officer in mufti was pictured today in Ibadan when he was deflating a taxi driver's car for wrong parking in Ibadan.


See photos below

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/photos-police-officer-deflates-taxis.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Kano state governor,Umar Ganduje arrived Nnamdi Azikwe international airport today after he performed Umrah in Saudi Arabia.


See photos below

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/photo-gov-ganduje-arrives-abuja-from.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has described the reports which alleged that he was restrained from travelling abroad as calumnous, stating that he never intended to travel, neither was he stopped by anybody.

The many version story which was scripted by one Mr. Amuda Dan Suleiman was widely shared on Tuesday on the social media, alleging that Bello was restrained from travelling for pilgrimage on the account that he has not paid workers.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kingsley Fanwo in a statement on Wednesday, debunked the report, while describing it as sponsored renegades of the opposition.

"The architects came up with so many versions of the story. To some dreamers, Buhari stopped the Governor. To some mischief-brewers, security agencies barred the Governor from travelling. And to the last set of abridged thinkers, Sen. Dino Melaye physically went to the airport to stop the Governor.

"To set the record straight, nobody stopped the Governor from travelling abroad. Nobody would have anyway, because he reserves such right to travel even as salary payments have been ongoing. Only a few MDAs who have not complied with the wagebill integrity are yet to be paid and they are few," he said.

Fanwo added that the mission of the purportedly sponsored report was to smear the personality of the Governor and cause a distraction in a time where civil servants have refused to embark on strike.

"Governor Yahaya Bello understands that both delivery and distraction are competing for his attention. Yielding to distraction will surely stifle delivery," he said.

On the delay in payment of salaries, he stated that all hands are on deck to ensure that genuine workers are paid promptly, urging workers to shun reports that there would be retrenchment.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/nobody-stopped-me-from-travelling.html

Senate President Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu , Maikasuwa, former clerk of the national assembly; and Benedict Efeturi, deputy clerk of the national assembly have been granted bail Salisu.

They were granted bail today by a Federal High court in Abuja after pleading 'not guilty' to the alleged forgery of senate rules.

The bail conditions are: all four accused must have landed property in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse 2 to be used as surety or be remanded in Kuje.


http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/sarakiekweremadu-and-others-granted-bail.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Kwara state Governor,Abdulfatah Ahmed is currently holding meeting with Kwara state workers over a planned strike in the state. The meeting began with the recitation of the national anthem.


See photos below

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/photos-gov-ahmed-meets-with-workers.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Pro Saraki protesters were seen this morning outside the courtroom demonstrating and condemning President Buhari's approach to fight corruption.

https://16745-presscdn-0-7.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Pro-Sarki-at-the-court-premises-by-Femi-Ipaye-3-300x200.jpg

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/more-photos-saraki-ekweremadu-forgery.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Nigeria senators were pictured in the court room this morning immediately the forgery case began.



It's a tough day for senators some of them are standing too while others are seated in courtroom. It's filled up



See photos below

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/photos-senators-accompany-saraki-and.html

The President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, have arrived in court ahead of the commencement of their trial over alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Order.


Some senators and lawyers were pictured outside the courtroom due to lack of space. According to www.metronaija.com reporter at the court room said ,Court 32 is tight and already filled up hence overflowing as many people hang outside it. Journalists are outside



See photos below

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/photos-senators-and-lawyers-outside.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

[img]http://www.olisa.tv/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/yv3-638x400-1.jpg[/img]
Yvonne Jegede has just exposed a Delta State-based beauty pageant that handpicks its beauty queens and cheating other contestants in the process. According to the actress, she was chosen as this year’s chief judge and was flown to Delta State for the grand finale of the pageant. But to her surprise and to the horror of the other judges, the pageant organiser walked up to the judges’ desk at the event and dropped the name of a contestant he wanted to emerge winner.

“The entire judges went angry including myself, wondering why you called us to waste our time if you already knew who the winner was,” Jegede writes today on Instagram, noting that they ignored the organiser’s request and went ahead to announce the judges’ pick. Upset, the organiser, identified only as IK, refused to pay for her ticket back to Lagos and her hotel bill.

“Just an experience I thought I share. It is well with this country,” the actress adds. Read her full note:
[img]http://www.olisa.tv/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/jegede.jpg[/img]
The organisation is yet to react to this scandalous report.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/yvonne-jegede-exposes-delta-state.html

One of the sons of the Emir of Kano - Muhammadu Sanusi II, Ashraf, graduated today from St. Lawrence College, a traditional co-educational independent school, in Ramsgate, England. Congrats to him! See more photos after the cut.


http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/photos-emir-of-kanosanusis-son-ashraf.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Governor Fayose hosted Ondo state Governor Segun Mimiko and Bayelsa state Governor,
Dickson Seriake At 21st Convocation Of Ekiti State University in the state capital,Ado Ekiti.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/photos-governor-fayosemimikodickson-at.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

https://i1.wp.com/abusidiqu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/IMG-20160623-WA0002-e1466696531504.jpg?resize=560%2C315
Yenogoa in Bayelsa state indicates that some members of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) sympathetic to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state were attacked by other members sympathetic to the Peoples Democratic party (PDP).

According to an eye witness, president of the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) Udeng Eradiri, who is a PDP member stormed Rhythm 95.7 FM radio station with over 50 thugs and attacked the spokesman and mobilisation Officer, of the group, Mike Edounkumor and Wisdom Ikuli respectively, who were both participating in a radio programme anchored by Lishman Onisodemunya.

Edounkumor and Ikuli are said to be loyal members of the APC in the group who have severally opposed the leadership of the president.

The witness said shortly after the thugs stormed the radio station with the backing of some policemen, they fired sporadically into the air before storming the studio to beat up Edounkumor and Ikuli on a live radio programme.

“The thugs severely manhandled the two men in the studio, before the police providing them cover picked them up in handcuffs and drove them to the police station.” the witness said.


https://i2.wp.com/abusidiqu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/IMG-20160623-WA0001-e1466696580809.jpg?resize=560%2C315

An eye witness video shows the two APC members being moved into the premises of the police in Yenogoa while still exchanging words with their attackers.

As at press time, Edounkumor is said to be currently in coma and has been rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Yenogoa.

The IYC spokesman who was also attacked said the Commissioner of Police has been briefed of the incident.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/efcc-closes-fraud-case-against-ex-gov.html

The trial of a former governor of Nasarawa State, Aliyu Akwe Doma, and two others, continued on June 23, 2016, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presenting its ninth witness, as it closed its case against the accused persons.

Akwe Doma, alongside Timothy Anthony Anjide, a former Secretary to the State Government, and Dauda Egwa, a former Accountant-General, are being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering and financial crimes.

The accused persons between January 2007 and December 2009 allegedly conspired and fraudulently laundered state funds to the tune of N8bn, an offence contrary to Section 14(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004 and punishable under section 14(1) of the same Act. At today’s hearing, PW 9, Abdulrazaq Salawu, an operative with the EFCC, told the court how he met the defendants, following different petitions and intelligence report received by the Commission. Led in evidence by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Salawu told the court that the investigation was carried out to establish the veracity of the allegations against the defendants.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/efcc-closes-fraud-case-against-ex-gov.html

cc: lalasticlala

President Buhari has approved the appointment of Boss Gida Mustapha as the new Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA). Mustapha's appointment was contained in a statement released and signed today by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Babachir David Lawal.


"President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mr. Boss Gida Mustapha, as the new Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA). Mr. Mustapha is a lawyer with extensive experience in both private and public sectors in management positions. The appointment is for a term of four years in the first instance.”he said

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/buhari-appoints-boss-gida-mustapha-as.html

https://insidemainland.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Alade-market-shut2.jpg
Traders at the popular Alade market located at Allen avenue Ikeja arrived early this morning only to meet the market under lock and key.

Some of the traders said it has become a regular occurrence since the planned relocation of the market by the Lagos state Government. According to the traders, government officials come up with all kinds of reasons to lock up the market and then re-open it when they please.

https://insidemainland.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Alade-market-shut1.jpg
https://insidemainland.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Alade-market-shut.jpg

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/photos-lagos-state-shuts-alade-market.html

No fewer than 19 persons lost their lives in an auto crash that occurred on Sunday along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The accident occurred at about 1 p.m. around Fidiwo/Ajebo axis of the road and involved a tanker, laden with fuel with plate number, RAN 571 XA, an 18-seater passenger bus ‎with registration number LAGOS AGL 373 XR and an articulated vehicle marked AJG 40 XA.

Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, the Public Relations Officer of Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement
Agency (TRACE)‎, confirmed the accident.

According to him, the fuel truck travelling towards Ibadan rammed into the articulated vehicle conveying cement, while trying to overtake it at a diversion, and collided with commercial bus heading towards Lagos. He said all the 19 occupants of the bus lost their lives on the spot, adding that evacuation was ongoing at the time of filing this report.

The evacuation, according to Akinbiyi, was done ‎with the combined teams of TRACE, men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Police.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/19-dead-as-petrol-tanker-collides-with.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

President Buhari arrived at the Nnmadi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja today after 13 days of medical vacation in London. He arrived at exactly 5:31pm.

Buhari left the country on June 6, for a 10-day vacation, during which he was expected to see his doctors for an ear infection.


He was due to be back on Thursday but Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo said the president decided to extend his trip by four days.


http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/buhari-arrives-nigeria-after-15-days-in.html

cc: lalasticlala

Worried by the long hours of traffic Lagosians spend on the ever busy Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode within the first month of his administration visited the Iyana Oworo Bus Stop to access the situation.



The Governor, accompanied by key members of his government discussed the possible solution to the persistent traffic and decided that a segregated Bus Park would go a long way to alleviate the problem.



Work commenced immediately on the Park and has reached advanced stage.



Motorists plying the route are already testifying to the free flow of traffic since the construction of the Park.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/photos-ambode-constructs-beautiful-bus.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

President Buhari ends a 15 day vacation to London today as he is expected to arrive at the Abuja airport at about 6:00pm today.


Buhari left for London to see an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist for a persistent ear infection.


The president had been examined and treated by his personal physician and an ENT specialist in Abuja, but both doctors recommended further evaluation purely as a precaution.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/buhari-to-arrive-nigeria-today-by-5pm.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Confirmed reports from Ondo state have it that a policeman killed two students of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic on Owo,Ondo. According to confirmed reports,the students had a clash with policemen this morning.


https://africanspotlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Violence-rocks-Rufus-Giwa-Polytechnic-Owo-as-police-kills-2-students3-768x576.jpg
https://africanspotlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Violence-rocks-Rufus-Giwa-Polytechnic-Owo-as-police-kills-2-students-768x576.jpg
https://africanspotlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Violence-rocks-Rufus-Giwa-Polytechnic-Owo-as-police-kills-2-students1-768x576.jpg

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/photos-police-kill-2-students-of-rufus.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Honorable members of the House of Representatives paid a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Navy yesterday. The delegation was led by Abdussamad Dasuki,Member, House of Representatives (Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency, Sokoto State) and Chairman, House Committee on Navy.


See photos below

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/photos-reps-members-visit-navy.html

cc: lalasticlala

The Nigeria Football Federation president,Pinnick Amaju was at Super Eagles player,Ogenyi Onazi's traditional wedding in Lagos yesterday. Pinnick was also seen with Jude Ighalo.


See photo below

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/photos-nff-presidentpinnick-amaju-and.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44