The leader of one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State,Senator Kabiru Marafa on Friday accepted Thursday’s verdict of the Court of Appeal that paved the way for the party to contest all elections in the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday said it had decided to relist the party’s candidates in the state for elections on account of the court’s ruling.

“This is what Allah has decided and destined, we have accepted it,” Marafa said in a statement.

He added: “We tried our best but Allah knows the wisdom behind this. I have said it, that whatever comes out from the court, we will open our hands and accept it as Allah’s will. What we are fighting is injustice and nothing personal.

“I’m appealing to my teeming supporters to be law abiding and shun anything that would cause confusion and breach of public peace.

“Please come out massively to vote for President Buhari. And for other elections vote for the candidates that will protect you and your properties in senatorial and house of representatives elections. Vote according to your conscience.

“We have already filed an appeal at the Sokoto division of the appeal court. It will come up soon. We will pursue it to its logical conclusion.

“I sincerely thank all the good people within and outside the state that supported us in standing up to the tyrannical tendencies of Gov Yari and his backers.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/zamfara-apcmarafa-accepts-appeal-courts-decision/

THE Federal Government and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) have asked the Supreme Court to decline jurisdiction over a suit seeking its intervention in the trial of suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

The FG and the AGF contended that Onnoghen’ trial was personal to him and could only involve the Supreme Court, where an appeal arises from the Court of Appeal on a decision reached either during or after the trial at the CCT.

Their position is contained in a notice of objection they filed against a suit instituted at the Supreme Court by Cross River State.

The state government, in their originating summons, queried the propriety of Onnoghen’s trial before the CCT and urged the Supreme Court to declare it illegal on the grounds that it was only the National Judicial Council (NJC) that could exercise disciplinary powers over a serving judge.

In their objection, the FG and AGF (listed as defendants in the suit), argued that the subject of the case did not qualify as a dispute between the Cross River State and the Federal Government, as envisaged under Section 232(1) of the Constitution.

They added: “The subject matter of this suit is personal to Hon. Justice Onnoghen Nkanu Walter Samuel and does not, in any way, affects the Cross River State Government as to confer it with the locus to institute this suit.

“The reliefs and claims made herein by the plaintiff are not for the benefit of Cross River State, but personal to Justice Onnoghen Nkanu Walter Samuel.

“The alleged cause of action in the subject matter of this suit is not one that creates the existence or extent of a legal right between the Cross River State Government, in its capacity as a state and the defendants in this suit as stated under Section 232(1) of the Constitution.

“The Honourable Justice Onnoghen Nkanu Walter Samuel, being an indigene of Cross River State and the highest judicial officer from the state does not confer on the plaintiff the locus to institute this suit.

“The fact that the suit partly relates to the interpretation of the Constitution does not confer on the plaintiff the locus to invoke the original jurisdiction of this honourable court.”

The plaintiff, in their originating summons, want the court to among others, declare that, by the provisions of sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Constitution, there a clear recognition of the doctrine of separation of powers and checks and balances in relation to the operations of the three arms of government.

The Cross River State wants the court to declare that, by virtue of the provisions of sections 153(1), 158(1(, Paragraph 21(b) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to Constitution, it is the NJC that is exclusively empowered to recommend to the President or Governor the appointment/removal of any judicial officer.

It also seeks a declaration that the CCT, not being the NJC, is not vested with the jurisdiction over any judicial officer for an alleged official misconduct on the part of a judicial officer, without a formal complaint of such official misconduct being first made to and investigated by the NJC.

The plaintiff equally wants the Supreme Court to declare that the filing of the charge, before the CCT, against Onnoghen, being a judicial officer, without any formal complaint having been made against him to the NJC, robbed the CCT of jurisdiction to try the charge and all the proceedings relating thereto, amount to a nullity.

It, therefore, urged the court to grant an order of injunction, restraining the defendants and their agents from further initiating or proceedings with any similar charge or charges against Onnoghen or any judicial officer of the superior court created by the Constitution, until a formal report of misconduct is first, made to and investigated by the NJC.

At the Supreme Court yesterday, lawyer to the defendants, Dayo Apata (who is the Solicitor General of the Federation), told the court that his clients have just filed some processes, including a memorandum of appearance, notice of preliminary objection and a counter affidavit to the originating summons.

Apata said he was able to serve the processes on the plaintiff’s lawyer shortly before the court began sitting yesterday.

Lawyer to the plaintiff, Lucius Nwosu (SAN), acknowledged the service of the defendants’ processes on him.

Nwosu said, in view of the importance of the case, he would urge the court to grant a short adjournment to enable him respond to the defendant’s processes.

Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, who presided over a seven-man panel of the court, adjourned to February 28 for the hearing of the defendants’ objection along with the substantive suit.


http://thenationonlineng.net/fed-govt-agf-ask-supreme-court-to-stay-off-onnoghens-case/

Thanks Osibanjo, Marafa and Yari for resolving this Zamfara issue

Osinbajo Wades Into Zamfara APC Crisis

VICE President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday waded into the All Progressives Congress, APC, crisis in Zamfara State.

The APC in Zamfara State has been embroiled in a dispute over the party’s primaries in the state, which has led to uncertainties about the participation of the party’s candidates in governorship, national assembly and state assembly elections.

One of the principal actors and APC governorship aspirant Senator Kabir Marafa, met with Prof. Osinbajo behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Senator Marafa who represents Zamfara Central Senatorial District and Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources, Downstream said,

“I am here because of that, because of the logjam. The vice president is concerned that the problem still lingers.

“He regretted that the problem has persisted because it is a family problem and he promised to do the needful.

We will tap from his years of experience and wisdom.”

Senator Marafa said that he had a fruitful discussion with the vice president, who made a proposal that would lead to the resolution of the dispute. He said the proposal would be discussed with his supporters before he would give a feedback to the vice president.

He said, “Our discussion was quite fruitful; it was an honest discussion. He is a good man and he gave out a proposal, which we are going to look at. We are not alone in the journey. We have followers and friends. We are going to look at it and I promise him that I will get back to him today or tomorrow.

“ Senator Marafa said the postponement of the presidential and national assembly elections from February 16 to February 23 was an advantage to the Zamfara APC, adding, “Naturally, if not because of the postponement I wouldn’t have been here today. So, it goes without saying that it is an advantage.

“If the election had taken place last Saturday, there wouldn’t be anything to discuss. So it is an understatement to say that it is an advantage to Zamfara State. So, for whatever it is, it definitely gives Zamfara State some five more days within which to work out something.”

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/osinbajo-wades-into-zamfara-apc-crisis/

Caseless:
I nor tell you? PDP supporters are dunderheads . They don't read to learn.



Buhari is a better match for Dubai rigging strategy.

Mmmmmh

Hahahaha.... We are making progress

haffaze777:


Snatch ballot box and be shot,we have spoken

Gbam

AroleOduduwa:
Trying to justify the preposterous speech by the president. Buhari made that treat to scare people so they won’t come out to vote.

Why are you so concerned? Hope you're not a ballot box snatcher cos if you are then Saturday will be your last...

kahal29:
.......Leave Ballot Boxes Snatchers alone" PDP warns President Buhari.

Hahaha.....

Another SAN, Seyi Sowemimo reasoned that the President was merely sending a strong message that electoral offences would no more be tolerated.

He said: “We should be charitable enough not to ascribe to the President that he wants to encourage security agents to kill people. I think with the postponement and the reasons given for the postponement, you can tell that it’s been a disappointment for everybody, including the president himself and maybe more so for him, because it may have appeared as if it is a failure on his administration.

“So, I think the man was trying to send a very strong message out there, that all these things that have militated against elections going on, like buildings being burnt down and all that.

“I think it’s just right that he should let people know that we really can’t afford to have any disruption in our plans anymore. So, I don’t think he’s asking them to murder people.”

He added: “The duty of the president is to enforce all laws in our country. That’s why they are the executive arm of the government. They are to enforce laws and to stop criminality in the land. So, he’s merely saying the obvious, that ‘I will enforce the law, I will punish the offender according to law’. So, what is unconstitutional about that?

“There are laws that prohibit crime, electoral offences and so on. So, if you contravene them, he is saying he will enforce the law. He is merely saying the obvious. What is his duty if he cannot say that? Then who else will do it? That’s executive function.”

A senior advocate of Nigeria SAN, Mr. Ahmed Raji, has said a ballot box snatcher deserved to be visited with the full weight of the law.

He added that the President’s statement was a warning to whoever was planning to snatch ballot boxes on the day of election that such culprit could be shot by security agencies in the process of trying to effect an arrest.

Raji said, “Anybody who is trying to rubbish our elections and therefore giving the country a bad name should be visited with the full wrath of the law.”

From the Punch Newspaper

https://punchng.com/outrage-as-buhari-says-death-awaits-ballot-box-snatchers/

adadike:
I see the NA killing lots of innocent Nigerians come Saturday.

Are you a ballot box snatcher?

I concur

When a ballot box snatcher, armed with offensive weapons, including a gun, is shot dead by security agents, he has been brought to justice in accordance with the law - See Section 33(2)(a-c) of the Constitution of Nigeria. Cest fini.

https://mobile.facebook.com/jiti.ogunye?v=timeline&lst=1217379961%3A100003785127544%3A1550517115&ref=104

President Muhammadu Buhari reacts to INEC Elections Postponement on arrival at the Airport.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0ms1u5YO_8

This is a tricky one

FastShipping:
Anxiety in the air. Please proceed and hold elections in states that are ready. Other states can be held next Saturday.

I concur..... Other states maybe Monday

Details coming....

Corrinthians:
Someone, look for Pachukwudi44 AKA Ngwakwe, the bigoted disgraced ex mod, and give him a bear hug. The man needs to be restrained from all lethal objects right now.

The young man is on the loose since NJC adjourned their meeting indefinitely the last time thereby shattering all his hopes, permutations and predictions.

Note

The Acting CJN, who was assisted by seven other justices of the Supreme Court to administer the oath of office on the panelists, noted that the task before the panel was an onerous one that would impact heavily on the judiciary and nation such that they could not afford to fail.

The number of Supreme Court justices that assisted him has increased from one which it was the last time to seven which comprises a full panel of the Supreme Court.

***Tasks panel to decide electoral matters without bias

Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Muhammad, has urged chairmen and members of election petition tribunals that would handle cases emanating from the 2019 general elections to be guided by the rule of law and not sentiments.

Muhammad, who made the appeal yesterday at the swearing-in ceremony of 17 chairmen and members of the panel, stated that judicious adjudication of electoral matters goes a long way in determining peace in the country.

The Acting CJN, who was assisted by SEVEN [7] other justices of the Supreme Court to administer the oath of office on the panelists, noted that the task before the panel was an onerous one that would impact heavily on the judiciary and nation such that they could not afford to fail.

His words: “It is the general belief that elections held when the rule of law is fragile, seldom lead to lasting democratic governance. You are enjoined to always strike a balance between justice and rule of law, as you embark on this critical national assignment.

“As you all know, the rule of law delayed is lasting peace denied because justice is a handmaiden of true peace. We need this in Nigeria more than ever before. The trumpet must first sound from the temple of justice; hence we put you forward as champions of this noble cause.

“By virtue of this oath, you are now armed with the power to adjudicate on electoral disputes and take decisions in accordance with your convictions, which must be deeply rooted in law and not sentiments or public opinion.”

Muhammad, therefore, charged them to submit themselves to the sanctity of rule of law and constitutional supremacy in the discharge of their judicial functions, adding that their participation in the tribunals was not by accident but God’s design.

However, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Rev. Justin Welby, yesterday assured Nigerians of prayers from other countries of the world towards a peaceful and fair election.

https://m.guardian.ng/news/acting-cjn-tasks-panel-to-decide-electoral-matters-without-bias/

Nwodosis:
It will be easier for him to prove when he assumes office by May 29th 2019!

Hahaha

President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party have scheduled the grand finale of their presidential campaign rallies to hold in their home states on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s poll.

Buhari comes from Katsina State and Atiku from Adamawa State.

According to the timetable of the general elections released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections, which commenced on November 18, 2018, end on February 14, 2019.

One of our correspondents learnt that Buhari’s advance team left Abuja for Katsina on Wednesday.

A presidency source said, “The final rally of the APC presidential campaign will be holding in Katsina.

“The President’s advance team left Abuja today (Wednesday) for Katsina.

“The President will be joining them after the Abuja rally today (Wednesday). Once in Katsina, the President will stay back to vote in the election on Saturday before returning to Abuja on Sunday.”

In Adamawa, Atiku is also expected to use the occasion to appeal to his supporters and others in the state to vote for him.

It was also learnt that the PDP would no longer hold any presidential campaign rallies in both Abuja and Ogun State.

While the Ogun rally was said to have been cancelled due to factionalisation of the party in the state, the party said it cancelled that of Abuja to avert clashes with APC members.

Our correspondents report that the national leadership of the PDP is supporting a member of the House of Representatives, Ladi Adebutu, as its governorship candidate in Ogun, while INEC recognises Senator Buruji Kashamu.

“The PDP took the decision not to go to Ogun to avoid what happened between Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s loyalists and the other camp of the APC when President Buhari went there to campaign,” a member of the National Working Committee of the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

“Let the PDP as a party continue to campaign in the state. Whoever the court finally settles for as the governorship candidate can later claim the glory.”

Spokesman for the PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, confirmed the cancellation of the party’s rallies in both Abuja and Ogun to one of our correspondents.

He said, “Yes, it is true that we have cancelled the rallies in Abuja and Ogun. We cancelled that of Abuja in order to avoid clashes with our opponent.”


https://punchng.com/pdp-shuns-ogun-as-buhari-atiku-hit-home-states-to-woo-voters/

I know it will come to this

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday failed to hear the three appeals filed by suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen.

The appellate court had in late January adjourned on February 12, 2019 for the hearing of the appeals.

But, when lawyers to parties got to court on Tuesday, the court could not form quorum for the purpose of hearing the appeals.

Parties were told to await information, on a later date, on when the hearing is to be rescheduled.

The appeals are against the decisions of the Code of Conduct to assume jurisdiction over the charge pending against Onnoghen and the ex-parte injunction granted by the CCT, on which President Muhammadu Buhari acted to suspend Onnoghen.


http://thenationonlineng.net/appeal-court-fails-to-hear-onnoghens-appeals/


Could this be the reason why NBA is now begging to allow NJC determine his fate?

Chai

SaiATKUOBI2019:
If anyone tells you the reason Buhari is not working is that
he inherited corruption, tell them great leaders don't blame
people and events for their failures. They simply accept
responsibility and move on. Ask them, what has Buhari
done after all the fake promise of fixing power in 6wks,
reducing pump price to #45 naira, making N1 equal to a $ 1,
stopping Boko Haram etc. It's a shame.
The inferno truth is, corruption started from heaven when
Satan violated a privilege given him. That never stop God's
works.
He waited for God to create man and brought his
lawlessness and corruption into the garden of Eden.
God wasn't moved. He introduced a redemption plan; The
Savior was born, sadly, Judas Iscariot was there.
Not discouraged yet, He gave us God the Holy Spirit.
If anyone tells you the reason Buhari is not working is that
he inherited corruption, tell them corruption is rooted in the
DNA of homo sapiens ( Latin: wise man ) because we are
just mere mortal infected with a virus of good & evil.
Yet, great leaders don't blame people and events for their
failures. They simply accept responsibility and move on."

Mmmmmh

Legal hostilities resume on Monday, February 11, 2019, at Supreme Court in an appeal that will decide the fate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in fielding candidates for the various elective positions in Rivers State.

The appeal lodged by a faction of the party loyal to the Minister of Information, Rotimi Ameachi, is an offshoot of some judicial decisions that barred the party from presenting candidates for the forthcoming general elections.

Recall that the Port Harcourt division of the Court of Appeal had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting candidates from the APC.

Last Friday, the apex court upheld the order of Federal High Court sitting in Port-Harcourt which last year, barred the All Progressives Congress (APC) from conducting any primary election pending the determination of a suit brought before it by a team of 22 aggrieved members of the party.

The apex court, in a judgment set aside the ruling of the Court of Appeal in Port-Harcourt which in October last year, upturned the interlocutory order of the High Court in the political case.

However, it is hope that the outcome of Monday’s proceedings at the Supreme Court, which borders on the main appeal, will resolve the legal quagmire that the APC has found itself in Rivers State.

The Supreme Court panel led by Justice Mohammad Dattijo, had last Friday validated the High Court order that barred APC from conducting its Rivers primaries.

The Supreme evoked Section 22 of its act which allows it to take over a matter and give final judgement to decide on the appeal.

In a lead judgment delivered by Justice Sidi Barge, the Apex Court held that by virtue of Section 11, Rule Five of the Appeal Court rules, the appeal against the High Court ruling having been withdrawn by the APC was tantamount to outright dismissal.

Justice Barge said that since the Court of Appeal failed to make dismissal pronouncement for the said appeal, the apex court had no choice than to evoke Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to assume jurisdiction over the case and decide on it.

“It is apparent that the lower court based its decision on the lack of authority of Felix C. Nwafor on a decision which had been set aside by the Supreme Court.

“The letter dated 3rd August, 2019, was, assuming it was valid, for Fagbemi (SAN) to act as ‘the only counsel on record’. He cannot also not use same as basis for leading others including Tuduru Ede. A change of counsel would have reversed or regularised the development. The letter of Fagbemi to ‘continue to act as counsel on record is a misnomer. He has never been counsel on record save for Tuduru Ede, who initiated the appeal by filling the notice of appeal.

“The instruction of Felix C. Nwafor, was direct and specific. He was not to act as counsel on record. He had the mandate of the respondent to discontinue the appeal by filling a notice of withdrawal, which he did.

“There is nowhere in this appeal or records where the instruction of Felix Nwafor, to this effect has been denied or withdrawn. This was further strengthen by the averments contained in the affidavit deposed to by Chiewe Chinweikpe, in support of the motion on notice dated 12th September, 2018 as contained at page 31-35 of the records of appeal.

“Clearly from the foregoing, I have no hesitation in holding that it is inappropriate for the lower court to now rely on its previous decision in June 21, 2018 in October 31, 2018 to circumvent the effect of the notice of withdrawal which in actual fact, the Supreme Court being the apex court in the nation’s judicial hierarchy, had set aside the ruling on October 22, 2018 in SC/764/2018- APC V Ibrahim Umah and others.

“It is my considered opinion that this appeal must be given a decent burial. The appeal having been withdrawn at the lower court by the respondent is deemed distilled. This is what the lower court failed or evaded to do.

“Therefore by virtue of Section 22 of the Supreme Court act 2004, the lower court having failed to exercise its powers provided under Order 11, Rule 5, this court is bound to do so.

“Thus I’ll allow, the appeal and set aside the ruling of the lower court dated October 31st 2018. I hear by dismiss Appeal No Ca/Ph/198/2018.


https://www.sunnewsonline.com/rivers-apc-returns-to-supreme-court-monday/

Detectives have quizzed a Senior Advocate of Nigeria over alleged payment of about $30,000 into one of the domiciliary accounts of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Mr Joe Agi is said to be the referee to the CJN when one of the domiciliary accounts was opened.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) searched the home of the senior lawyer in Abuja early yesterday after obtaining a court order.

It was also learnt that more suspects might be arrested in connection with the ongoing screening of Justice Onnoghen’s accounts.

About $3 million, allegedly undeclared by the CJN, was rated as “suspicious” by detectives.

EFCC detectives traced about $30,000 deposit into the CJN’s account by the SAN.

The purpose of the payment is being probed, although the CJN had hinted that the huge cash in his domiciliary accounts was from farming.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “In continuation of the ongoing probe of the CJN’s accounts, we have made more discoveries, including payment of $30,000 into Onnoghen’s account by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN), Mr. Joe Agi.

“The Senior Advocate actually paid the $30,000 in three tranches of $10,000 each into one of the domiciliary accounts of Onnoghen. It was in the process of scanning through the payment teller that we saw one J. Agi as the depositor.”

Initially, it did not occur to detectives that the same Agi on the teller could be a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. But a senior hand was able to recall that a SAN bears Agi, the source said, adding that detectives found that the SAN’s number correlated with the GSM number on the teller. “A call was made to the number on the teller and the True Caller device revealed the full identity of Joe Agi,” he said, pleading not to be named so as not to jeopardise the investigation.

The source went on: “We invited Agi for interaction on why he paid the $30,000 into the CJN’s account. So far, he has made useful statement to our team. We also applied to a court for a valid warrant to search his house in Abuja.

“When we got the order, our detectives went to the house of the SAN to execute the warrant.”

Asked why detectives believed they need to quiz Agi, the source added: “Detectives also discovered that Agi served as a referee to the CJN when he opened one of the domiciliary accounts under probe. We have retrieved the referee form the Standard Chartered Bank (SCB).

“We have asked Agi to explain the relationship between him and the CJN to have served as Onnoghen’s referee in opening a domiciliary account. A referee is like a guarantor and the SAN needs to explain more to our detectives.

“We might invite more suspects because there are a lot of issues surrounding the analysis of the CJN’s accounts.

“By the time we release latest details of our findings in the CJN’s accounts, Nigerians will be able to appreciate the extent of work done.”

Most of the lodgments in the CJN’s accounts , which were effected between 2012 and 2016 respectively, were undeclared in his Assets Declaration Form.

The NFIU was mandated to restrict the operation of five accounts of the CJN with a balance of about $3million.

The accounts in the Standard Chartered Bank are coded as USD No. 870001062650; Euro account No. 93001062686; Pound Sterling A/CNo. 285001062679; e-Saver Savings (Naira) account No. 5001062693; and a Naira A/C No. 0001062667.An intelligence report on the CJN’s accounts reads in part: “Pattern of structured payments of $10,000.00 each in 2012. For example, a total of $630,000.00 was credited to the accounts using this pattern. ”Similarly structured payments of $10,000.00 amounting to $297,800.00, $50,000.00 and $36,000.00 were deposited in the account in 2013, 2015 and 2016 respectively.

“There was also a credit of $121,116.00 into the account from 2014 to 2016 from Life Friend Plc. The payments were in four installments, of $30,279.00 each. These payments suggest the suspect has investments

“ A payment at $482,966.00 from Alicia Redemption Pro and shortly after, $800,000.00 was invested in SCB Investment subscription. We are in the process of verifying these transactions;

“Other suspicious transactions in the account are credit of $19,764.00 from Pur of Noble and seven (7) payments of $3,250.00 each amounting to $22,750.00 from Lloyds TSB.

On the pound sterling (GBP), the investigative team discovered “a self- transfer of £40,268.40 into the account on May 31 2016.”

“There were also self-deposits by the suspect of £49,760.00 from July 2015 to September, 2016 but the balance as at September 30, 2016 was £108,348.00,” the report added.

Regarding the Naira account, the report said: “The following highlights some of the suspicious activities in the account: ”A transfer of N41,262.000.00 ($260,000) was made from the Dollar account. The money was used to make payment of N41million to Ad hoc Committee on the Sale of Federal Government Houses, suggesting that he bought a property with proceeds of the transfer;

“The only other significant transactions in the accounts are six (6) structured cash payments of N500,000.00 each and one payment of N700,000.00 amounting to N3.7mlllion from November, 2013 to August, 2016.”


http://thenationonlineng.net/san-quizzed-over-30000-in-cjn-onnoghens-account

roundman:
See as a whole CJN of a nation dey lie?

Am telling you.... Just see how he is disgracing himself

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, continued his battle for survival yesterday, hinting at agriculture as the source of his wealth with a petition to the acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, over alleged threat to the lives of workers on his farm in Masaka, Nasarawa State.

Onnoghen was suspended a couple of weeks ago by President Muhammadu Buhari and has a February 13 date with the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), where he is being arraigned for alleged asset declaration offences.

He has, however, asked the CCT Chairman, Mr. Danladi Umar, to stand down from the panel of three on the grounds of likelihood of bias.

In an apparent bid to force the CJN out of office, the federal government had acted speedily on a petition by a non-governmental organisation alleging that the apex court justice had failed to declare his assets fully, complaining that he failed to disclose some domiciliary accounts habouring huge forex.

Few days later, the media was awash with details of the said hidden accounts with insinuation that the hefty cash could be proceed of illicit transactions.

In a nationwide broadcast, the president complained that while he was being upbraided for unlawfully suspending the CJN, no one was talking about the funds found in Onnoghen’s account.

Analysts said yesterday that Onnoghen’s petition complaining about ‘herdsmen’ attack on his farm, might be his strategy of explaining the source of his wealth already being assailed by the federal government.
Under the 1999 Constitution as altered, public officers are allowed to engage in farming.

In the petition dated February 2 and filed February 4, his counsel, Mr. Ogwu Onoja, SAN, said his client, the CJN informed him that “some men who appeared to be herdsmen were at the farm yesterday afternoon and also later at night, inquiring about the owner of the farm and issued frightening threats to the farmers.

Onoja stated that the workers are now living in dreadful fear and have consequently stopped all farming activities.

According to Onoja, the farm, which belongs to the family of Onnoghen, is a large commercial venture that provides employment to a large number of people who live on the farm and tend to the commercial poultry, piggery, livestock as well as cash and food crops on the farm.

While the petitioner said the threat of the herders was being considered as an indication of imminent attack on the lives and property on the farm, he called on the IG and police to urgently move in and forestall any possible destruction of lives and property at the farm.

He said in part: “We implore you, in the discharge of your constitutional duty as the Chief Police Officer of the nation, to deploy your men to secure the farm to avoid a breakdown of law and order, the possible unleashing of mayhem on the workers, destruction of the farm, including the property thereon and the disruption of ongoing farming activities particularly in this season of harvest.

“We also call for a thorough, exhaustive and stringent investigation into this matter so as to unearth the identities of the persons behind this menace.
“We trust that you will use your good offices to quash this impending threat and help restore confidence of the people in the farm and its immediate environ.”


https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/02/06/onnoghen-hints-at-agric-as-source-of-his-wealth/amp/


It's no longer AGRICODE, Forex Trading and Other Investments, it is now farming

Will he hear?