₦airaland Forum

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus in the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, were asked to support Speakership aspirant, Femi Gbajabiamila of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This was contained in a statement on Tuesday by Leo Ogor (PDP) Reps Minority leader.

Reiterating unflinching commitment to the principles and ethos of democracy, it said “the PDP House Caucus has endorsed its members’ decision to work with Speakership aspirants from the ruling party, thereby allowing all who feel thus inclined, the freedom to attend all meetings, participate in campaigns, strategy sessions and other activities of any Speakership aspirant of their choice.

“While the PDP House Caucus has taken the decision with clear focus on the national interest as well as the future strategic goals of our party, we are not unaware that a few may unfortunately feel inclined to go overboard, nibbling dangerously at carrots dangled before them without adequately heeding appropriate guidelines.

“Nonetheless, such risks have to be taken occasionally as part of sacrifice for the national interest – an overriding consideration for us in our great party.

“The PDP House Caucus wishes all Muslims across Nigeria and the entire world, the infinite grace and enduring mercies of Almighty Allah on this joyous occasion of Eid El Fitr”.


https://dailypost.ng/2019/06/04/breaking-pdp-reps-caucus-tells-members-support-apcs-gbajabiamila-speaker/

Whoever is packaging Femi like this is really doing a good job. The strategy is working wella

kahal29:
Before Now

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/305545-south-south-governors-ask-cjn-onnoghen-to-shun-cct.html

Mmmmmh

Onnoghen you see your life

rockcitie:
The Nation again? Fake news

Without sounding immodest, if you think this is fake news why is it that NJC the body that took the decision has not come out to openly refute them and maybe set the records straight. Why keep silent in the face conjectures and conspiracy theories?

I predicted this

***President weighs options on Onnoghen

WITH the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC), the coast seems clear for Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad to mount the saddle as CJN.

President Muhammadu Buhari is likely to accept the NJC’s recommendation that Justice Muhammad should be CJN, The Nation learnt yesterday.

But Buhari is said to be weighing whether or not to accept the NJC’s recommendations on the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria ( CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Buhari, who had a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the issue before flying out to Jordan yesterday, is also said to be seeking legal opinions on the NJC’s decisions.

The NJC absolved Justice Muhammad of any blame in deferring to the President to be sworn in as the Acting CJN.

He accepted the appointment, having been presented with an ex parte order of the CCT, which led to Justice Onnoghen’s suspension.

The Nation learnt that after receiving the NJC’s recommendations, the President elected to seek legal advice on them.

A top government official, who pleaded not to be named because he was not permitted to talk on the matter, said the President was considering:

1. whether or not NJC’s conclusions on findings on Onnoghen did not amount to indictment;

2. if he should accept NJC’s soft-landing decision to retire Justice Onnoghen with full benefits;

3. Onnoghen’s retirement without benefits; and

4. whether the law should run its full course, including the conclusion of Onnoghen’s trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal and a fresh trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Buhari is also believed to be thinking of asking NJC to recommend deterrence for Onnoghen or seeking further consultations with the council.

The President is also said to be planning to seek advice on whether the input of the Senate necessary in retiring Onnoghen?

The source said: “Since he received the NJC’s recommendations, the President has been thinking of how to manage the situation without rubbishing the anti-corruption agenda of his administration. He has the right to accept or reject the council’s recommendations on Onnoghen.

“The President is already seeking legal opinion on legal issues surrounding the NJC’s decisions. He does not want to set a bad precedent in tackling this Onnoghengate”.

The source confirmed that the President met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. He believed Onnoghen’s case and other matters were discussed.

Responding to a question, the source said: “What NJC decided was a kind of soft-landing for Onnoghen with moral and legal implications.

“Apart from stepping down, there are concerns about what Onnoghen is really offering as deterrent. Some are saying why can’t the law run its full course?

“Others are pressurising the government to take advantage of the window created by the NJC to rebuild the ties between the Executive and the Judiciary as a result of Onnoghen’s travails.”

It was unclear whether or not the President would need the consent of the Senate to retire Onnoghen.

“This is part of the legal opinion being sought by the President,” a presidency source said, pleading not to be named.

Section 231 of the 1999 Constitution says: “(1)The appointment of a person to the office of Chef Justice of Nigeria shall be made by the President on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council subject to confirmation of such appointment by the Senate.

“(2) The appointment of a person to the office of a Justice of the Supreme Court shall be made by the President on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council subject to confirmation of such appointment by the Senate.

“(3) A person shall not be qualified to hold the office of Chief Justice of Nigeria or of a Justice of the Supreme Court, unless he is qualified to practise as a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for a period of not less than fifteen years.

“(4) If the office of Chief Justice of Nigeria is vacant or if the person holding the office is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office,’ then until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of that office, or until the person holding the office has resumed those functions, the President shall point the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court to perform those functions.

“(5) Except on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, appointment, pursuant to the provisions of subsection (4) of section shall cease to have effect after the expiration of three months from the date of such appointment, and the President shall not reappoint a person whose appointment has lapsed.”

Part 1 of the Third Schedule to 1999 Constitution says: “The National Judicial Council shall have power to:

(b) recommend to the President the removal from office of the judicial officers specified in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, and to exercise disciplinary control over such office’s;

(c) recommend to the Governors from among the list of persons submitted to it by the State Judicial Service Commissions persons for appointments to the offices of the Chief Judges of the States and Judges of the High courts of the states, the Grand Kadis and Kadis of the sharia Courts of Appeal of the States and Presidents and Judges of the Customary Courts of Appeal of the States;

(d) recommend to the governors the removal from office of the judicial officers specified in sub-paragraph (c) of this paragraph, and to exercise disciplinary control over such officers;

(e) collect, control and disburse all moneys, capital and recurrent, for the judiciary;

(f) advise the President and governors or any matter pertaining to the judiciary as may be referred to the Council by the President or the covernors;

(g) appoint, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over member and staff of the Council;

(h) control and disburse all monies, capital and recurrent. for the services of the Council; and

(i) deal with all other matters relating to broad issues of policy and administration.

Meanwhile, the NJC has recommended the confirmation of Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Another source said: “The council actually did not find him culpable of infractions. He actually did not even want to be inaugurated as the Acting CJN until there was evidence of an ex-parte order from the CCT on Justice Onnoghen’s suspension.

“As the next in-command, the NJC said he should take over from the CJN.”

When contacted, a source in NJC said: “In line with Section 26 of the Judicial Discipline Regulations of 2017, the council has reached out to all those affected by its decisions.

Section 26 says: “The decision taken in regulation 25 of these Regulations shall be notified to the following persons: (a)The subject of the decision; (b)The Complainant and (c) The relevant Head of Court

“Upon a request made to the Council, the decision may be notified to any other person. The grant or refusal of such request is in the absolute discretion of the Council.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/njc-advises-buhari-to-okay-tanko-muhammad-for-cjn/

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed a renewed confidence in the Nigerian economy.

Its Executive Directors also hailed the economy’s recovery signs, such as reduced inflation and strengthened reserve buffers.

According to its Media Chief for Africa, Lucie Mboto Fouda, in a statement yesterday, IMF noted that Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 1.9 per cent in 2018, up from 0.8 per cent in 2017.

”This is on the back of improvements in manufacturing and services, supported by spillovers from higher oil prices, ongoing convergence in exchange rates and strides to improve the business environment,” the IMF said.



It said the headline inflation fell to 11.4 per cent at end of 2018, reflecting declining food price inflation and weak consumer demand.

The Fund also reflects a relatively stable exchange rate and tight monetary policy during most of 2018, but remains outside of the central bank’s target range of 6-9 per cent.

IMF also noted that record holdings of mostly short-term local debt and equity and a current account surplus lifted gross international reserves to a peak in April 2018.

The Fund pointed out that persisting structural and policy challenges continue to constrain growth to levels below those needed to reduce vulnerabilities, lessen poverty and improve weak human development outcomes, such as in health and education.

It said: “A large infrastructure gap, low revenue mobilisation, governance and institutional weaknesses, continued foreign exchange restrictions, and banking sector vulnerabilities are dampening long-term foreign and domestic investment and keeping the economy reliant on volatile oil prices and production.

“Under the current policies, the outlook remains therefore muted. Over the medium term, absent strong reforms, growth would hover around 2½ per cent, implying no per capita growth as the economy faces limited increases in oil production and insufficient adjustment four years after the oil price shock.

“Monetary policy focussed on exchange rate stability would help contain inflation, but worsen competitiveness if greater flexibility is not accommodated when needed.

“High financing costs, on the back of little fiscal adjustment, would continue to constrain private sector credit, and the interest-to-revenue ratio would remain high.



“Risks are moderately tilted downwards. On the upside, oil prices could rise, prompted by global political disruptions or supply bottlenecks.

“Bold reform efforts, following the election cycle, could boost confidence and investments, especially given relatively conservative baseline projections.”

Also, in the statement, the Executive Directors of the Fund welcomed Nigeria’s ongoing economic recovery, accompanied by reduced inflation and strengthened reserve buffers.

They, however, noted that the medium-term outlook remains muted, with risks tilted to the downside.

“In addition, long standing structural and policy challenges need to be tackled more decisively to reduce vulnerabilities, raise per capita growth, and bring down poverty,’’ the directors said.

They urged the Federal Government to redouble its reform efforts and supported the country’s intention to accelerate implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

The executive directors stressed the need for revenue-based consolidation to lower the ratio of interest payments to revenue and make room for priority expenditure.

They welcomed the authorities’ tax reform plan to increase non-oil revenue, including through tax policy and administration measures.

In statement, they stressed the importance of strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation, including through additional excises, a comprehensive VAT reform, and elimination of tax incentives.

They said that securing oil revenues through reforms of state owned enterprises and measures to improve the governance of the oil sector would also be crucial.

The directors highlighted the importance of shifting the expenditure mix toward priority areas.

In this context, they welcomed the significant increase in public investment, but underlined the need for greater investment efficiency.


http://thenationonlineng.net/imf-economy-on-right-track/

At last I was proved right as NJC absolves Justice Tanko Muhammed.... Say he committed no crime.

https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-njc-recommends-onnoghen-for-retirement

So after everything, PMB will take the final decision.

The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, has said that saboteurs and politicians in cassock had attempted to prevent the association’s leadership from paying congratulatory visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ayokunle, who spoke with State House correspondents after the leadership of CAN visited President Buhari at the State House, Abuja, on Friday, dismissed the allegation that pressure was mounted on the CAN leaders to congratulate the president on his re-election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a national daily and some online platforms had on Tuesday reported that “some influential people working closely with the Federal Government are mounting serious pressure on CAN leadership to pay a congratulatory visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.”

The report quoted a source closed to CAN leadership as saying: “If you know the pressure mounted on CAN leadership that we, as a body, have to go and congratulate the president.

“However, the church is saying this election is controversial and we see what is happening. But, they are still mounting pressure seriously.

“They are telling us if we don’t congratulate him, it means we are against him and that we are partisan.

“However, we are saying let them resolve the issues (in court) before we go and congratulate whoever wins. That’s the situation we find ourselves as the Church of God.”

The CAN leader, however, dismissed the report, saying it was the handiwork of saboteurs and enemies of progress, who did not wish the association well.

He said: “Saboteurs who didn’t want us to come here (Aso Rock). We are old enough to know what to do and what not to do.

“If somebody like me after 60 years of age will be under pressure it means that my life would never have meaning again.

“But by the grace of God we have a meaningful life, I know what to do. By God’s grace He has prepared me well for this assignment.

“So, those distractors and those politicians in cassock should go and find better job to do,’’ he said.

Ayokunle noted that the CAN leadership was in the villa not only to congratulate the president on his re-election, but to remind him of the yearnings of Nigerians.

The cleric said that Nigerians wanted him to perform 100 per cent better than that of the first term.

He, therefore, advised the president that only the best Nigerians should be considered while constituting his new cabinet, stressing that he should do more in addressing socio-economic challenges facing the citizens.

“Now, he has mastered the job; he has mustered enough strengthen to be able to go full swing into action.

“We want him to do more on security- kidnappings almost everywhere and the issue of insurgency in the northeast, the insurgents should be silenced once and for all.

“These ethnic militias that have now moved to the northwest, which used to be peaceful, and they are now causing violence there – before they will grow wings their wings should be clipped completely,’’ he added.

http://thenationonlineng.net/saboteurs-politicians-in-cassock-didnt-want-us-to-meet-buhari-says-can/

Many months after being severed from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to function more independently, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, is set to begin operations in earnest come April 1, 2019 with a tough stance against money laundering and terrorism financing.

Similarly, the NFIU has indicated that all known routes through which politically exposed persons and public officers use in perpetrating corruption will be effectively checked through the creation of a beneficial ownership database to track their financial transactions.

The NFIU gave the indication in a first public statement released by its Acting Chief Media Analyst, Ahmed Dikko, and made available to Vanguard in Abuja on Monday.

Beyond its takeoff announcement, the NFIU indicated that Nigeria’s recent listing by the European Union as a High Risk Third Country with deficiencies in money laundering and terrorism financing controls had been withdrawn.

The NFIU said: “Significant measures to be implemented by the NFIU in the near future will include full implementation of the National Sanctions regime to all detected areas of vulnerabilities within our systems. Other areas include issuing guidelines; advisories etc. that will affect cash transactions processes of local, state, federal governments and bureau de change etc.

“The Unit will also release new reporting requirements on suspicious transactions for terrorism prone areas and on suspects taken into custody in violent and flashpoint communities to check vices of terrorism, proliferation of small arms, kidnapping, ethnic violence, cattle rustlings etc. with the view to providing credible intelligence for law enforcement and national security.

“Efforts of the Federal Government to set up the beneficial ownership data base for politically exposed persons and public servants will be completed and expanded to capture additional necessary areas. The new process which includes new approach to analysing compliance in public account expenditures will almost shut down corruption from the way we used to know and new transparency methods will come to governance.

“The main focus of the NFIU will be to fight all crimes through money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation of weapons real time analyses in the entire country.

Reacting to the listing of Nigeria among high risk nations in money laundering and terrorism financing, NFIU said, “We are also using this medium to respond to enquiries about the current position of the EU’s recent listing of Nigeria as High Risk Third Country with deficiencies in money laundering and terrorism financing controls.

“The listing was officially withdrawn by the Council of Europe on 5th March 2019 while giving room for the European Commission and the European Parliament to align their positions. The Nigeria government engaged the E.U authorities through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the NFIU to reach an understanding,” the agency said.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/03/eu-withdraws-nigerias-listing-as-high-risk-country-in-money-laundering-terrorism-financing/

What did the Governor do wrong? Pls somebody who knows should tell us

I think he has a point

Abdulaziz Yari, governor of Zamfara, says the court of appeal did not tamper with primary polls of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

On Monday, the court set aside a judgment by a Zamfara high court which allowed Yari’s faction to field candidates in the general election.

Kabir Marafa, serving senator and governorship aspirant, had appealed the judgement.

In a statement, Yari said the appeal court set aside the judgment based on “examination of proofs of evidence.”

“His excellency the executive governor of Zamfara state Hon (Dr) Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar appeals to all the law abiding members of the APC and indeed all the citizenry of Zamfara state including members of all political parties to remain calm and law-abiding, pending the release of the judgement which is currently being prepared for presentation to the public,” he said in a statement issued on his behalf by Ibrahim Dosara, his media aide.

“However, unlike the rumours now awash all social media platforms that the court of appeal Sokoto division has nullified our elections, is not true. The statement is incorrect. Those circulating the rumours are doing so to cause mayhem in our state to satisfy the ego of their masters. You may recall that they have been doing so to mislead the public.

“What the court of appeal Sokoto division division did this morning was setting aside the judgement by the Zamfara state high court on the ground of “EXAMINATION OF PROOFS OF EVIDENCE.” This has nothing to do with our elections.

“The court has not in anyway tempered with our elections, as only tribunal has the right to listen to issues arising from election matters. Again, the court of appeal Sokoto division has not in anyway tempered with the processes of the primary elections. It only faulted the examination of the proofs of evidence.

“Furthermore, the processes of filing the appeal were done after the expiration of period within which to do so.

“For these reasons, his excellency the executive governor of Zamfara state and chairman Nigeria Governors Forum and senator-elect, Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar is appealing to all members of the APC and it’s supporters to remain calm and law-abiding.”

Dosara said Yari appreciated the concern of all party members and supporters.

https://www.thecable.ng/yari-appeal-court-didnt-tamper-with-apc-primaries-in-zamfara/amp

The chairman of the Osun State Elections Petitions Tribunal in Abuja has delivered a dissenting judgement in the Osun State governorship election petition.

Justice Muhammed Ibrahim Sirajo on Friday dismissed the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Ademola Adeleke, which alleged that there was election non-compliance with the Electoral Act in the election.

Justice Sirajo ruled that the petitioners failed to prove the claims at the tribunal.

He further ruled that where it is established that there is non compliance, the tribunal does not have “the powers to subtract the votes of the non compliance and declare a candidate winner.”

He added that under Section 140(3) of the Electoral Act, where substantial non compliance is proved, the tribunal can only order a supplementary or fresh election.

The chairman however adviced INEC to only comply with the majority decisions concurrently delivered by Justices Peter Chudi Obiorah and Adegboye Ayinla Gbolagunte.

The main judgment of the panel had invalidated the rerun election of September 27, 2018 which returned Governor Gboyega Oyetola as winner and withdrew the certificate of return issued to him by INEC.


https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/tribunal-chairman-disagrees-to-judgement-declaring-adeleke-winner-of-osun-guber-poll.html

The supplementary governorship election scheduled for March 23 in states where the March 9 governorship election was declared inclusive may not hold in Adamawa.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) gave this indication in Yola Wednesday when it said it would abide by a ruling of the Adamawa State high court expected on Thursday, March 21.

The Court had last week granted an injunction stopping the supplementary election but fixed March 21 for hearing of motion for the interlocutory injunction.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa State, Kassim Gaidam, said at a press briefing Thursday afternoon that although INEC had made preparation for the supplementary governorship election, the conduct of it would depend on the outcome of the court process on Thursday.

“As a law abiding institution, we will respect the ruling of the court on the supplementary election,” he said, adding however that the commission had assembled a body of lawyers headed by a senior advocate of Nigeria to push the position of the commission on the subject of the case.

INEC had earlier said it would not be subjected to a court process over the scheduled supplementary governorship election, which made Gaidam’s articulation of INEC’s new position surprising to many.

A Yola High Court on March 14 restrained INEC from conducting the March 23 supplementary governorship election in Adamawa.

The ruling by Justice Abdul-Aziz Waziri followed a request to that effect filed by counsel to the Adamawa Chapter of the Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD), Mustafa Shaba, over absence of the party logo on the ballot paper of the inconclusive election.

Delivering the rulinG, Justice Waziri, held that the request had merit. “The defendant herein, INEC, is restrained … from proceeding with the supplementary election in respect of Adamawa State Governorship pending the hearing and determination, which now comes up Thursday, March 21.

http://thenationonlineng.net/well-abide-by-court-ruling-on-adamawa-guber-rerun-inec/

Activist-lawyer Ebun-Olu Adgboruwa has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no power to withhold the certificate of return of an election winner.

He said there was no basis in law for INEC to review an already declared result of an election “no matter the circumstances”.

He faulted the commission for withholding the certificate of return of Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha.

INEC said Okorocha was declared winner of a senatorial seat “under duress”.

Adegboruwa said the commission of his name from the list of those presented with certificates of return “is illegal and ultra vires the electoral body”.

He argued that based Section 68 (1) (c) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), only a tribunal could overule an election.

The Section reads: “The decision of the Returning Officer on any question arising from or relating to declaration of scores of candidates and the return of a candidate, shall be final, subject to review by a Tribunal or Court in an election petition proceedings under this Act.”

Adegboruwa said: “In the case of Governor Okorocha, there was a declaration of his scores in the election and he was announced and returned as elected, by INEC.

“However, the Returning Officer claimed that he did the declaration and return under duress to save his life. This is an allegation, coming from INEC.

They are facts that will aid the Election Petitions Tribunal to take a decision on whether or not to nullify the election, in view of the alleged violence or duress.

“But INEC cannot in law raise an allegation of duress or violence and then proceed to investigate it and then take a decision on it. You cannot be a judge in your own cause!

“Whereas I do not support that any electoral officer should be threatened or compelled to make a declaration, but once when a declaration has been made, it becomes final.

“It cannot be reviewed, retracted, reversed or investigated by INEC. Section 68 gives that power of review to a Tribunal or Court in election petition proceedings. This is clear beyond any controversy, from the letters of section 68 above.

“INEC has no power under the law, to withhold or refuse to issue a certificate of return, to a person whose scores or votes have already been declared, even if done under duress or through violence.

“Section 75 of the Electoral Act provides as follows:

‘A sealed Certificate of Return at an election in a prescribed form shall be issued within seven days to every candidate who has won an election under this Act: Provided that where the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court, being the final appellate court in any election petition as the case may be, nullifies the Certificate of Return of any candidate, the Commission shall, within forty-eight hours after the receipt of the order of such Court, issue the successful candidate with a valid Certificate of Return.’

“From the foregoing, INEC must issue a certificate of return to every candidate who has been declared to have won an election, it has no discretion in the matter.

“Whether he won under duress or with violence, is immaterial. Okorocha has been duly declared and INEC has no choice than to issue him a certificate of return. The facts of how he got himself declared are for the Election Petitions Tribunal.”

Adegboruwa said based on Section 75 (1), where a certificate of return has become a subject of litigation and is nullified by the court, then INEC will issue a new certificate of return to the other candidate who has succeeded in the court case, as the old certificate of return stands nullified by the court.

“Thus, it is not the candidate who has been declared in any election that will go to court to compel INEC to issue him with a certificate of return, but rather for the aggrieved candidate to approach the Elections Petition Tribunal to have the certificate of return nullified.

“Section 75 (2) of the Electoral Act: ‘ Where the Commission refuses or neglects to issue a certificate of return, a certified true copy of the order of a court of competent jurisdiction shall, ipso facto, be sufficient for the purpose of swearing-in a candidate declared as the winner by the court.’

“Section 75 (2) is simply meant to enforce the proviso to section 75 (1). It is about what happens post-litigation. It does not confer INEC with power to withhold certificate of return for a candidate that was originally declared winner of an election.

“Reading sections 75 (1) and (2) together, here is what the law says:1. Once a candidate’s score or election results have been declared, INEC must issue him with a certificate of return.

“Where that certificate of return has been challenged and is nullified by the court, INEC must issue a new certificate of return to the person newly declared by the court as winner of the election.

“If the candidate newly declared by the court is unable to get INEC to issue him with a new certificate of return within 48 hours of the judgment of the court, then he can rely upon a certified true copy of the court judgment for his swearing-in, in place of the certificate of return.

“It is clear that INEC has no power in law, to review the outcome of election results or declarations and it has no power to withhold certificate of return.

“We must be careful not to create monsters and terrors from our institutions, where the law has not conferred such powers on them.”


http://thenationonlineng.net/adegboruwa-inec-cant-withhold-certificate-of-return/

The acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, has claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari does not need the permission of the National Judicial Council to appoint him as the acting CJN.

Muhammad made the claim in response to a query given to him by the NJC, the body constitutionally empowered to recommend the appointment of chief justices and heads of courts.

A group, Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative, had written a petition to the NJC, asking the council to remove Muhammad as a justice of the Supreme Court for allowing himself to be sworn in by the President without recourse to the NJC.

In his response, however, Justice Muhammad said the NJC ought to be consulted only when a substantive CJN is being appointed or re-appointed.

He said, “In my respectful view, the National Judicial Council has no role to play in the appointment of an acting Chief Justice of Nigeria in the first instance, that is to say on first appointment. The council comes in where the appointment as the acting CJN is to be renewed or extended. I humbly refer to Section 231(4) of the 1999 Constitution.”

Muhammad noted that Justice Walter Onnoghen remained the substantive CJN, adding that the latter was only suspended.

The acting CJN said if the Appeal Court or the Code of Conduct Tribunal reversed Onnoghen’s suspension, he would immediately step aside and return to his former position as a justice of the Supreme Court.

He added, “It was for the larger interest of the judiciary and the constitutionality that I accepted to be sworn in as acting CJN with the conviction that if the order of January 23, 2019 is eventually set aside, the status quo would be restored.

“But before it is set aside, there should be no vacuum in the office of the CJN and the chairman of the NJC.”

Recalling how he was sworn in by the President, Muhammad said he was summoned to the Presidential Villa by Buhari and shown the certified true copy of a motion ex parte granted by the CCT and signed by its Chairman, Danladi Umar.

He said, “On January 25, 2019, I was summoned to the Aso Villa at the instance of the President. Prior to the summons, I was not aware of the fact that the Code of Conduct Tribunal made any order on January 23, 2019.

“Furthermore, beyond what I read in the newspapers and watched on the television just like any other Nigerian, I was not privileged to see any of the processes filed by the parties before the tribunal. Hence, I could not really appreciate the merit or demerit of divergent positions.

“On the 25th day of January, the President swore me in as the acing CJN and not as the substantive CJN. Justice Walter Onnoghen remains the CJN until he is removed from office in accordance with the provision of the constitution. He is only suspended.”

He, however, said he had nothing to do with the speech delivered by the President wherein the latter accused Onnoghen of frustrating his anti-corruption war.

Muhammad admitted that he was a member of the NJC panel that removed Justice Obisike Orji of the Abia State High Court for accepting to be sworn in as chief judge by the Abia State Government without a recommendation of the NJC.

He, however, said his own case was different because he was only appointed as an acting CJN.

Muhammad further stated that the substantive head of the judiciary had been suspended by a valid court order which made it right for him to take over in acting capacity.

The acting CJN therefore appealed to the NJC to dismiss the petition written against him.


https://punchng.com/buhari-didnt-need-njc-to-appoint-me-acting-cjn/

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) sitting at the Court of Appeal, Abuja to grant access to inspect electoral materials used for the February 23 presidential elections.

The request by President Buhari was brought on Thursday through an exparte application by his lawyers led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN).

The application, which is hinged on the provisions of Section 151 (1) and (2) of the Electoral Act, is asking the Court of Appeal to compel INEC to allow access to inspect and make copies of the documents and to be certified as true copies by the electoral umpire.

The application followed the similar request by the candidate of the PDP in the election, Atiku Abubakar, to compel INEC to produce the Voters Register, the Smart Card Reader Machines, Ballot Papers, site back ends, and other sensitive materials for inspection and scanning.

The application was granted on March 6 by the appellate court.


Details later …


https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/presidential-poll-buhari-asks-tribunal-to-grant-access-to-inspect-materials.html

…..I deserve fair hearing, suspended CJN insists

…..As tribunal orders day-to-day hearing

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—-The Federal Government, on Monday, gave reasons why it would pursue the six-count charge it initiated against the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, to its logical conclusion.

FG, through its lawyer, Mr. Aliyu Umar, SAN, insisted that Justice Onnoghen who was suspended from office by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 25, acted in breach of the oath he took as a public officer.

It maintained that contrary to Onnnoghen’s contention, he was not charged for misconducting himself as a judicial officer, but for violating the code of conduct for public officers enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

FG said it was therefore unnecessary for it to firstly channel the allegation against the suspended CJN to the National Judicial Council, NJC, for consideration, since the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, was statutorily empowered to investigate and prosecute such infraction.

Consequently, it urged the Mr. Danladi Umar-led three-man panel tribunal to okay full-blown hearing of the charge against Onnoghen.

FG took the position on a day the suspended CJN who mounted the dock for the second time, challenged the powers of the tribunal to entertain the charge which he said was grossly bereft of any merit.

Onnoghen, through his lawyer Chief Adegboyega Awolowo, SAN, said he was afraid that he would not be accorded fair hearing by the tribunal he described as an appendage of the Presidency.

He insisted that he was entitled to fair hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, under section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Specifically, the defendant argued that the CCB which recommended his trial, the Attorney General of the Federation who is prosecuting him, and the tribunal itself, are all answerable to the Executive Arm of the government.

“The tenet of fair hearing is that no one should be a judge in his own case. It is our position that the principle of natural justice, equity and good conscience requires that the defendant’s right to fair hearing deserve a thorough examination by this tribunal”, Awomolo submitted.

He noted that Chairman of the tribunal, Mr. Umar, had in a recent letter to the NJC, made it clear that he was only answerable to the Presidency.

“We agree with that position. In the interest of justice, we urge my lords to hold that from circumstances demonstrated in the affidavit, wihout freedom and impartiality of the tribunal, right of fair hearing of the defendant would be jeopardised”, Awomolo added.

Besides, Onnoghen queried the validity of the charge on the basis that FG failed to respect established judicial precedents by not allowing the NJC to firstly investigate the allegation against him, before it rushed the matter to the CCT.

He argued that failure to channel the petition against him, as well as the outcome of the investigation that was purportedly conducted on assets declaration forms he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, to the NJC, rendered the charge invalid.

He urged the CCT to abide by a subsisting Court of Appeal decision in Nganjiwa v Federal Republic of Nigeria (2017) LPELR-43391, to the effect that any misconduct attached to the office and functions of a judicial officer, must first be reported to and handled by the NJC, pursuant to the provisions of the laws.

The embattled CJN argued that only after the NJC has pronounced against such judicial officer could prosecuting agencies of the Federal Government proceed to initiate a criminal proceeding.

More so, Justice Onnoghen drew attention of the tribunal to a judgement it delivered on May 15, 2018, wherein it quashed a similar charge the FG brought against a Justice of the Supreme Court, Sylvester Ngwuta, on the premise that the NJC ought to have been allowed to look into the matter before the case was filed.

He stressed that the two judgements were yet to be set aside by the Supreme Court.

However, in its three-paragraphed counter affidavit, FG, urged the tribunal to dismiss Onnoghen’s objections to his trial.

It described as porous, the suspended CJN’s argument that he would be denied fair hearing owing to the fact that the tribunal was appointed by the President.

“We submit that the defendant failed to demonstrate any bias against either the chairman or any member of the tribunal. We urge the tribunal to dismiss this application as lacking in merit”, Umar submitted.

The prosecution urged the tribunal to overlook its previous decision in Justice Ngwuta’s case, saying it was made in error.

There is a difference between a judicial misconduct and a public officer not complying with provisions of the law.

“The powers of this tribunal is much more than that of a mere disciplinary body. It has powers under the constitution and therefore CCB&Tribunal Act.

“In the case of Ngwuta, the attention of the tribunal was not drawn to its powers under the constitution. Now that its attention has been drawn to it, the tribunal cannot with respect, proceed in the error”, FG argued.

Meantime, in a bench ruling, Chairman of the CCT, Mr. Umar, relied on section 396(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, and Paragraph 5(5) of the Practice Direction of the CCT, and held that ruling on Onnoghen’s objections would be delivered alongside the substantive judgement.

Mr. Umar equally held that the tribunal was empowered under section 396(3) of the ACJA to conduct day-to-day trial of the matter.

He said the decision to conduct the trial with utmost dispatch was owing to the sensitive nature of the case and the pivotal role the leadership of judiciary plays in ensuring stability and preventing the nation from descending into lawlessness and chaos.

FG had in the charge marked CCT/ABJ/01/19, alleged that Onnoghen failed to declare his assets as prescribed by the law, as well as operated five foreign bank accounts, contrary to section 15(2) of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

Already, FG has through the office of the AGF, directed the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, to freeze all the accounts, pending conclusion of the trial.

Onnoghen had in his statement of defence, insisted that he legitimately earned “huge funds” that were allegedly traced to the five bank accounts.

He justified series of deposits that were linked to the accounts, saying they were proceeds from his trade in foreign exchange (forex), AGRICODE, as well as proceeds of his investments

FG listed the accounts under investigation as Account No. 5001062686 (Euro) Standard Chartered Bank) (SCB), Account No. 5001062679 (Pound Sterling) (SCB), Account No. 0001062650 (Dollar) (SCB), Account No. 0001062667 (Naira) (SCB), and Account No. 5000162693 (Naira).

Onnoghen was suspended barely eight hours after he announced his decision to inaugurate judges that will take charge of the 2019 election petition tribunals.

President Buhari swore in the next most senior jurist on the apex court bench, Justice Tanko Muhammad, to take over as the Acting CJN.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/03/assets-declaration-chargeonnnoghens-trial-must-continue-fg-tells-cct/

Ejike Mbaka, spiritual director of Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN), says Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi, his running mate, might “end in shame” with the way they are going.

The Catholic priest said this after Obi failed to make donations at the ministry’s 2018 harvest and bazaar celebration.

Obi attended the programme which held during the weekend alongside other politicians from the south-east.

Standing by his side, Mbaka asked him to “stay in front of this children of God and tell God what you will do for Him … or what that means is, you don’t want to do anything for God. This is common deceit.”

Obi replied: “Father, what I said is straightforward. You will come and show me the project so that the two of us will talk. That is what I said.”

Mbaka then accused the former governor of Anambra of making “political statement” to which he responded: “Father knows I don’t make political statements. Anyone here from Anambra state knows Peter Obi has never promised anything and failed. I am a fundamental Catholic. I do whatever I say at the church.”

The priest said in response: “In your capacity and what God has done for you as governor … God hates stinginess. What I am saying is not to please you, but what will save your life. Otherwise you and Atiku will fail.

“If there is a place they will coat words for you, it is not at Mbaka’s altar. You can save your political destiny. Or in 2019, you people will not even know how they did the election. What will make my brother to come for bazaar and he won’t even break kola?”

Mbaka went on to tell Obi how governors of Ebonyi and Enugu made donations without announcing at the altar and urged him to do same.

“Your own is taking time,” he said, adding: “The way you and Atiku are moving will end in shame”.

“Let us continue our bazaar. You know since he is not supporting us, the ministry has been moving. If people start arguing like this, their downfall begins,” he said.

The priest also said he would make prediction regarding the 2019 presidential election come December 31.

Below is a video of the scene.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh6MhyMZfpQ

https://www.thecable.ng/you-and-atiku-might-end-in-shame-mbaka-hits-peter-obi-for-not-donating-to-his-church

Information Reaching PUO REPORTS from Abakiliki the Ebonyi State Capital has revealed that the Governor of the State Dave Umahi ordered that the original Results be re-written to favour Buhari.

Umahi had vowed to Deliver Ebonyi State to the All Progressive Congress Presidential Candidate President Mohammadu Buhari.

The Orginal Results from the Local Government Areas showed that the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar won convincingly at the Saturdays Poll.

The Move by the Ebonyi State Governor is due to his Personal ambition.




https://puoreports.com/2019/02/25/breaking-ebonyi-governor-rewritting-results-to-favour-buhari/

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari, has polled overall votes of 285,894 in Kogi to defeat his main challenger, Atiku Abubakar, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 218,207 votes.

The presidential results declared by the Kogi State Collation Officer, Prof Michael Adikwu, of the University of Abuja, showed that Buhari won in 14 out of the 21 LGAs of the state while Atiku won in seven.

Daily Trust reports that Buhari led Atiku with a wide margin of 67,687 votes.

Breakdown of the result declared is as follow:

Ankpa

APC- 21,109

PDP-16,749



Bassa

APC- 7,377

PDP- 10,137



Adavi

APC-24,843

PDP-10,059



Ajaokuta

APC- 13,253

PDP- 10, 710



Ijumu

APC- 8,507

PDP- 12,423



Kogi KotonKarfe

APC- 16, 588

PDP- 10,392



Mopa-Muro

APC- 3,646

PDP-Fabola 5,336



Ibaji

APC- 13,545

PDP – 10,307



Ofu

APC- 13,171

PDP- 10,374



Lokoja

APC- 24,983

PDP- 18,351



Ogori-Magongo

APC- 2,323

PDP- 1,956



Okehi

APC- 18,222

PDP- 11,965



Okene

APC- 37,617

7,839



Olamaboro

APC- 12,229

PDP- 11, 325



Omala

APC- 8,206

PDP- 11,815



Kabba-Bunu

APC- 9,131

PDP- 14,888



Yagba East

APC- 5,687

PDP- 8,841



Yagba West

APC- 7,175

PDP- 9,419



Dekina

APC- 21,392

PDP- 10, 455



Idah

APC-9,240

PDP- 8,784



Igalamela

APC- 7,650

PDP- 6,082



https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/presidential-poll-buhari-wins-in-kogi-as-inec-concludes-collation.html

Oladimejjy:
PMB till 2023

Good one

The All Progressives Congress polled 497,914 votes to beat the Peoples Democratic Party which scored 50,763 votes in Yobe in last Saturday’s presidential election.

Prof. Abubakar Gunduri, the state Collation Officer, announced the result after collation from the 17 local government areas in the state on Monday in Damaturu.

He said that the state had 1,365,913 registered voters, out of which, 601,059 were accredited for the election.

Gunduri added that a total of 586,137 votes were cast, out of which, APC scored 497,914 votes, while PDP scored 50,763 votes.

According to the collation officer, the exercise recorded a total of 559,365 valid votes and 26,772 invalid votes.

He commended the electorate, stakeholders and party agents for the peaceful elections, commitment and cooperation throughout the collation exercise.

Meanwhile, Dr Zaji Bunu and Dr Abdu Bulama, the agents of the APC and PDP, had accepted the result and signed the documents on behalf of their parties.

(NAN)


https://punchng.com/election-results-apc-polls-497914-pdp-50763-in-yobe/

***Orji Uzor Kalu wins senate seat

The Abia State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has collated presidential election results in 12 LGAs with the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar winning in 10 LGAs, while President Muhammadu Buhari won in two.

Results from the five remaining local governments were still being expected.

Also former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of APC polled 31, 203 votes to defeat Senator Mao Ohuabunwa of the PDP, who polled 20, 801 votes in Abia North senatorial election.

APC also picked two House of Representatives seats so far declared.

Mr. Benjamin Kalu of APC was declared winner of Bende Federal Constituency while Hon Nkiru Onyejeocha won in Umunneochi/Isuikwuato Federal Constituency to retained her seat for the fourth consecutive term.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/02/25/atiku-wins-10-lgas-apc-picks-two-house-seats-in-abia/?amp

millhouse:
Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District materials moved to INEC headquarters in Uyo due to the dissapearance of the Returning Office after collation.

The Nine Local Governments counted so far has PDP in a great lead apart from Ikot Ekpene which APC won marginally.

Incase you don't know why INEC took that decision,I can help you...PDP so far from the 9 LGAs result has 123,000 votes while Godswill has 69k votes...he needs like 54k votes to reach PDP'S vote...
He abducted the EO of the last LG after 5 hours he came out with over 60,000 votes and of course it is not adding up with accredited voters. INEC suspended announcement and took the results to Uyo for examination by Mr integrity of INEC, Mike Igini

Oga Leave the story.... My question to you is.... this last LGA you are referring to, whose LGA is it? Is it not Akpabio's LGA?

Secondly is it not among the LGAs in the zone that has the highest voting population if not the highest?

bender79:
After God fear politicians

What happened is this.... In Akpabio's senatorial zone there are 10 LGA and he is popular across the LGAS but most popular in two i.e his own LGA and Ikot Ekpene LGA. Surprisingly he lost in 8 of the LGAS and now used this two to win. This two LGAs has the highest voting population in the senatorial zone and it was also this two LGAs that gave him the highest votes in 2015.

More

Celebration of uncommon victory! 24022019



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blA_fAs3JFU

https://mobile.facebook.com/anietie.ekong1?v=timeline&lst=1217379961%3A1069506452%3A1533730562