₦airaland Forum

Ekiti State Government has said it will still retain the deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II, as the Chancellor of the state-owned Ekiti State University, EKSU.

The state government’s position was made known by the authorities of EKSU in Ado Ekiti, via a letter it addressed to the former emir.

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II was dethroned on March 9 by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State.

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti had appointed Sanusi as the Chancellor of Ekiti State University in 2019.

A letter dated March 12, 2020, from EKSU’s management and signed by the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Eddy Olanipekun, confirmed the retention of the former emir as the Chancellor of EKSU.

The letter addressed to the former Emir said that the university would continue to recognise Lamido as the Chancellor of the university, despite his present travail.

The dethroned Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II has regained his freedom and is set to leave Awe, a town in Nasarawa state.

The deposed Emir was taken to Awe in Nassarwa state after his dethronement by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state.

He was dethroned over alleged disrespect to the office of the governor and other government agencies.

The 14th emir of Kano was hours after his removal banished to Nasarawa State, a development that elicited outcry from different quarters.

He was subsequently replaced by Aminu Ado Bayero, the son of the 13th emir of Kano.

Sanusi II, on Thursday instituted a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order for his release from detention and confinement.

Also, lawyers and civil society groups have continued mounting pressure on the federal and Kano State governments to allow the dethroned emir enjoy his freedom.

In a fundamental rights enforcement application filed by his lawyers led by Lateef Fagbemi, Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi and Abubakar Mahmoud, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN),

Sanusi sought for two reliefs: “An interim order releasing him from detention and/or confinement of the respondents and restoring the applicant’s rights to human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of association and movement in Nigeria (apart from Kano State) pending the hearing and determination of the Applicant’s Originating Motion.”

Respondents in the suit include the Inspector General of Police, the Director General, Department of State Service (DSS), Attorney General of Kano State and the Attorney General of the Federation.

The application was brought under sections 34, 35, 40, 41 and 46 of the Nigerian Constitution, and Articles 5, 6, 10, 12(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9 LFN 2010 and Order IV Rules 3 and 4 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009.

The deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, had wanted to relocate to Lagos State after his removal last Monday by the Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his legal team has revealed.

Sanusi was removed as Emir of Kano after being accused of insubordination by the state government.

In a statement on Tuesday, signed by Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud on behalf of the deposed emir’s legal team, government officials forced their client into the plane to begin his journey to Nasarawa against his will.

“I was at the Palace yesterday afternoon in the company of one of my colleagues to consult with the Emir,”

Mahmoud said in the statement. “We met him in good spirit in company of his family and a few associates. He said to us that he was waiting for the deposition letter from the Government House and was informed that the Commissioner of Police was on his way along with certain government officials.

"While waiting, there was commotion in the private wing of the palace as some unauthorized persons tried to gain entry into the family section. This led to some scuffle and teargas were fired by the security operatives. Normalcy was restored after the unauthorized persons along with armed security operatives retreated from the inner part of the palace.

“I subsequently, along with my colleagues was able to meet with the Commissioner of Police and other security operatives and with the permission of the emir, they were led to one of his sitting rooms where the deposition letter was served on him by an agent of the State Government.

“The Emir accepted the letter and decided to acknowledge it personally after writing some Quranic Verses in the Arabic script along with his signature.

This was handed over to the government official. “In the letter of deposition, it was stated that the Emir was to be removed to Nassarawa State. We requested to know if he was under arrest and if so we needed to see the warrant.

“The Commissioner of Police informed us that he was not under arrest. We informed the Commissioner of Police that it was illegal and violation of his constitutional rights to remove him to Nassarawa State against his wish.

“The Emir informed the Commissioner of Police that his friends had sent an aircraft to fly him and his family to Lagos and requested that they should be provided with necessary security to the airport so that he could leave.

"The Commissioner refused saying that was not their instruction.”

According to the lawyer, the government agents were willing to allow Sanusi’s family to leave for Lagos but he was to be flown to Abuja then onwards taken to Nassarawa State.

“It was clear to us that both the Emir and ourselves were helpless and the police and other security agents were willing to take any measure and use force to achieve their objective.

“In order not to jeopardize the Emir’s safety or the safety of any member of his family or indeed other persons around, the Emir decided to cooperate and proceed in the vehicles provided by the operatives.

“We accompanied the Commissioner of Police to the Nigerian Airforce base in Kano where the Emir was put in a private aircraft and departed at about 6.40pm.

The family subsequently boarded the aircraft arranged by his friends and departed for Lagos about 15 minutes later,” he said.

Mahmoud said though he had not spoken to the deposed emir since he departed Kano, he was told drove for nearly seven hours in the night and arrived at about 2.00 am this morning at the remote village in Nasarawa State.

“We understand the choice of location to detain HH Muhammadu Sanusi II was intended to cause maximum trauma and distress.

“This again is illegal and unconstitutional.

According to instructions we received from the Emir through his Chief of Staff, we are directed to take legal action to challenge the legality of the Emir’s detention and banishment.

“We are of the firm view that this action is illegal and unconstitutional. Section 35 of our constitution guarantees every citizen the right to personal liberty. The basis of the denial of personal liberty are set out clearly in this Section of the Constitution. None applies to the case of the Emir,” he maintained.

In a fresh twist to the crisis in the ruling All Progressives Congress, governors elected on the platform of the party are insisting that the embattled National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, will not be allowed to handle the primaries for the 2023 general elections, Saturday PUNCH learnt on Friday.

The governors are also discussing with party stakeholders on the decision to be taken to determine the fate of Oshiomhole, who was governor of Edo State for two terms before becoming the leader of the party in 2018.

A judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, Justice Danlami Senchi, on Wednesday granted an interlocutory injunction restraining Oshiomhole from functioning as national chairman of the party.

The judge, who premised his order on the November 2, 2019 resolution of the Ward 10, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, where Oshiomhole comes from, held that the former labour leader could not continue to function as the APC national chairman when he had been suspended by his ward.

Senchi therefore ordered Oshiomhole to stop parading himself as the APC national chairman, adding that the party should deny him access to its national secretariat.

The court order was, however, greeted with mixed reactions. While the supporters of the embattled chairman opposed the order, those against him celebrated his suspension by the court.

But there was confusion on Thursday when the Federal High Court in Kano, which is a court of equal jurisdiction with the FCT High Court, voided Oshiomhole’s suspension within 24 hours.

Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa held that the November 2, 2019 “purported resolution of the Ward 10, Etsako West Local Government Area, Edo State APC,” suspending Oshiomhole as a member of the APC was of no effect. He also voided the suspension of Oshiomhole as a member of the APC, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission should not recognise anybody, except Oshiomhole, as the party’s chairman.

But in his response, Oshiomhole, who said he had done his best not only when he was governor but also as the chairman of this party, claimed a minister and some governors were the brains behind the move to oust him. Speaking to State House correspondents in Abuja on Thursday, he explained that those behind the plot were those eyeing the presidential seat in 2023.

He added, “They are the ones who will plot how do we get rid of him because they want to be president in 2023 even when their hold on their state at the moment is doubtful if they were to go for referendum in terms of their approval rating.

“But you see, whatever you do, those who want to fight you will fight you. But I know that my tenure will be defined by God not by man.”

Meanwhile, an APC governor, who spoke with one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity on Friday, said it would be difficult for Oshiomhole to command the support of the majority of the governors, adding that the governors would hold informal discussions on the crises in the party and the fate of Oshiomhole.

Though the source refused to name the governors who he said were either backing or working against the ex-governor, he revealed that “not more than six of our colleagues are fully with the chairman.”

He added that there were also some governors who had yet to take a stand on whether Oshiomhole should go or be allowed to finish his tenure.

He said, “We are talking to ourselves (governors) and we are also talking to stakeholders. However, no decision will be taken without informing the President.

“Yes, he (Oshiomhole) was right to say governors are against him. We were also the ones that made him national chairman. He was a governor and he knew how important his office was. He cannot deny that we are a serious integral part of the party. So, if we are working with the minister he once abused are against him, that is fine. It is also an indication that he is losing grip of the party.

“We will not allow someone to de-market the APC ahead of the 2023 elections. That is why he has to go. A national chairman that is being teleguided by an individual because of his ambition can no longer lead us.

“Already, we have become the laughing stock of Edo and Ondo politics. How do we have a chairman that cannot reconcile warring factions in his state? He is also watching as the party is being rubbished by its members in Ondo State. What type of a father does that?

“There are so many of our governors who have wondered why the national chairman would give different directives to states on the mode of party primaries to be conducted. It is never done. Party primaries ought to be uniform in all the states. But in the book being read by our national chairman, all states are not equal. He will ask a state to go for open primary, then another for delegates’ primary. We are tired of inconsistencies.”

…fear national chairman may deny Akeredolu, Obaseki tickets

The governor also said there was no way he and his colleagues would allow the fate that befell a former Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwumi Ambode, to repeat itself in Edo and Ondo states, both of which have their governorship elections later in the year.

Ambode could not secure a second term ticket owing to what some of his supporters called a gang-up against him, especially the decision of the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, not to support his re-election.

However, the source said, “They are working towards repeating what they did in Lagos in 2018 in Edo this year. We will not agree to that. They are also the same set of people who are plotting to deny the Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, a second term ticket.

“We will not allow our colleagues to be disgraced just because of the ambition of an individual. The governors must be allowed to participate in transparent primaries as stipulated in the constitution of our party.”

Asked if there would be terms of agreements between the warring parties, the source said it was not impossible. “But we will not be cowed; politics is give and take,” he added.

Party must appoint acting chairman now –Govs Forum DG

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, the umbrella body for governors elected on the platform of the APC, Salihu Lukman, has called for the appointment of an acting national chairman for the party, saying this would provide the necessary atmosphere for the APC to rebuild and reposition itself for the future.

Lukman, who on November 13, 2019 called on Oshiomhole to convene the National Executive Council meeting or resign, said in Abuja on Friday the remaining members of the party’s National Working Committee, in consultation with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), governors and other party leaders who are leading members of the national caucus could resolve all issues and convene a NEC meeting to appoint an acting chairman.

He said, “With the appointment of an acting National Chairman, the next action would be to seek to invoke provisions of Article 25 A(i) of the APC constitution, which stipulates that the national convention of the party shall be held once in two years at a date, venue and time to be recommended by the National Working Committee and approved by the National Executive Committee, subject to the giving of statutory notice to INEC and at least fourteen days’ notice given to members eligible to attend.”

The PGF DG further said with or without the party’s current challenges, a national convention was due given that it was already two years since the last convention held, where the Oshiomhole-led NWC was elected.

He described the current crisis as a litmus test for the party’s leaders to demonstrate their capacity in organisation, consultation and negotiation.

Govs issue notice of emergency NEC meeting for Tuesday

The governors have called an emergency NEC meeting for Tuesday to decide the fate of Oshiomhole.

The notice of the meeting, which was seen by one of our correspondents, was sent to the NEC members on Friday night.

The notice, which was signed by the party’s acting National Secretary, Chief Victor Giadom reads, “In line with Article 25 (B) (II) of the constitution of our great party, members of the APC National Executive Committee are invited to attend an emergency meeting which is scheduled to hold on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 3pm.

“All members are expected to be seated before the arrival of the President.”

Most progressive govs still behind ex-Edo gov –Eta

Also, the National Vice-Chairman (South-South) of the APC, Chief Hilliard Eta, on Friday said most APC governors were still behind Oshiomhole.

Eta, in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH, also criticised his North-East colleague, Salihu Mustapha, for describing as nullity the order of the Federal High Court in Kano voiding Oshiomhole’s suspension.

He explained that Salihu had no power to speak for the party, adding the apart from the chairman, only the National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, could speak for the party.

…says Fayemi, Bello, four others behind chairman’s travails

On reports that some governors and a serving minister were behind Oshiomhole’s ordeal, Eta said, “Those people mentioned in that story are the major culprits; perhaps if you add Yahaya Bello of Kogi State there, it will be complete.

“Of the APC governors, only about six are against him. All the governors in the South-West, except Fayemi, are for him, including those of Katsina, Kano, and others. Those who want to cause mischief are usually the loudest.”

He added that the main reason behind the crisis in the party was the 2023 general elections, adding that he was sure that the ongoing national reconciliatory committee, headed by Chief Bisi Akande, would address the issues.

He also blamed the Peoples Democratic Party for fuelling the crisis, adding that opposition had always wanted to get Oshiomhole out of their way.

“I believe the party would emerge from all of these crises stronger than it used to be,” he added.

Meanwhile, security personnel drawn from the police, Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Friday barred members of staff of the party, journalists and visitors from accessing the party secretariat.

One of our correspondents, who visited the secretariat, located at Wuse Zone 2 of Abuja, also observed that more than 20 police vans were strategically mounted at the entrance of the secretariat.

The vans were positioned from one end of Blantyre Street, where the party secretariat is located, to the other end, even though the reason for the heavy deployment of the security personnel in the area was not clear.

It was learnt that they were instructed to ensure that the embattled chairman does not gain access to the building.

Sources also said the action might not be unconnected with plans to avert possible clashes between the supporters and opponents of the embattled national chairman.

In a related development, Oshiomhole and the recently-announced acting Secretary, Waziri Bulama, were at the Police Headquarters on Friday to meet with the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.

Although details of the meeting were not made public as of the time of filing this report, the embattled party chairman was said to have left Louis Edet House for his private office at Aso Drive in the Federal Capital Territory.

It was also gathered that a rash of meetings are being planned by pro and anti-Oshiomhole members of the NWC at separate locations in Abuja.

The Imo State governorship candidate of the Action Alliance for the 2019 election, Uche Nwosu, has appealed to the President to intervene in the crisis in the APC.

Speaking on Friday, Nwosu, who has since returned to the APC, noted that since Buhari remained the father of the party, his intervention would administer justice, heal all grievances and restore peace and progressive ideals on which the party was founded.

Nwosu said, “It will take the intervention of the President as the leader of the party to restore peace and harmony in the party. The crisis in our party should not be allowed to continue beyond this; that is why I am appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene as the father of the party and bring the warring factions together and resolve the issues.

The All Progressives Congress in Oyo State has taken a swipe at Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, saying his role in the crisis in the state chapter of the party was an act of ingratitude against Oshiomhole, who made him who he is in Edo State politics today.

The Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Olatunde Abdul-Azeez, told Saturday PUNCH on Friday that, “In our view, Governor Obaseki’s action was a demonstration of an ungrateful soul to his benefactor.”

Meanwhile, there are fears in some quarters that the ruling party stands the risk of not fielding candidates for the forthcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.

One of our correspondents learnt in Abuja on Friday that this was due largely to the determination of feuding power blocks within the party to seek judicial intervention up to the Supreme Court.

A member of the party’s National Working Committee who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “This battle has just started. The litigations will continue up till the Supreme Court. The matter we are currently dealing with is that of the injunctions issued; the court has not even touched the substantive suit yet.

“One of the courts has even adjourned the matter till April 8 and if you look at the INEC time table, the Edo governorship primary is supposed to hold in April while that of Ondo is supposed to hold in July. The question now is who is the National Chairman in the light of what is happening? Unless that is sorted out before then, we will be forced as a party to contend with further litigations.

“If with the prevailing situation Oshimohole forces his way and submits the list of candidates and someone goes to court, the fate that befell us in Zamfara, Rivers and Bayelsa will repeat itself.”

A pathologist, Dr Oluwaseun Williams, on Thursday, testified before an Ikeja High Court that Kolade Johnson, a 35-year-old football fan allegedly killed by a policeman at the Mangoro area of Lagos, suffered six gunshot injuries.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Williams testified while being cross-examined by defence counsel, Mr Abayomi Omotubora, at the trial of Ogunyemi Olalekan, a dismissed police inspector accused of murder.

Williams, the sixth prosecution witness, is a Consultant Pathologist at the Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

The witness, who said that he had practised pathology for 10 years, interpreted an autopsy report (Exhibit D2) during the cross-examination.

“There were four injuries on the thigh, two injuries on the hands, one on the right hemiscrotum (either half of a scrotum), one on the left hemiscrotum.

“The injury on the left hemiscrotum was an abrasion which could be from anything and the second hand injury was not related to injuries caused by gunshots.

“Six of the injuries were related to the penetrative missiles. The injuries on the thigh were through. There are features that are suggestive that they were caused by firearm missiles.

“We counted six injuries identified as firearm injuries,” he said.

“The anterior defects in the right hemiscrotum and thigh had dark burn edges caused by something hot and penetrative at the same time which is suggestive of a bullet,” he added.

The pathologist said a wound on the deceased’s left hand was a gunshot injury while the injury on the right hand was a laceration.

“In this case, the cause of death was gunshot injuries,” Williams told the court.

Earlier, while being led in evidence by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Yhaqub Oshoala, Williams narrated how he carried out an autopsy on April 10, 2019, on Johnson’s corpse.

He said prior to the autopsy, the body of the deceased was identified by the Investigating Police Officer from the State Criminal Investigation Division, Panti, Lagos.

Williams said as part of the autopsy, verification of all relevant documents and coroner’s papers was done and the body was identified via a name tag.

He added that forensic photography of the corpse was conducted.

“The clothing was examined for defects and, in this instance, it was blood-soaked. The contents of his wallet which included ATM cards and a slip, which I believe was a football betting slip, were removed.

“We removed the clothing with the assistance of our morticians and it was released to the family of the deceased. We did a thorough examination of the body – front and back.

“We were able to identify multiple defects both anterior and posterior on the right lower limbs. A further examination of these defects revealed injuries with round burnt edges which are suggestive of firearm injuries or gunshot.

“On further examination of these defects, we were able to identify defects in the tissues of the lower limbs as well as a destruction of the lower limbs,” he said

Williams said Johnson’s right femoral vessel which supplied blood to the lower limbs were totally separated and destroyed by bullets which penetrated his front thigh and passed through the back of his thigh.

Williams said on conclusion of the autopsy, his team prepared an interim report for the IPO of the case, adding that the original copy of the death certificate was issued to Johnson’s family.

Justice Adenike Coker adjourned the case until March 19 for the continuation of trial and ordered that Olalekan be further remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility.

According to the prosecution, Olalekan, who worked with the Special Anti-Cultism Squad of the Nigeria Police, committed the alleged murder at 5.10 p.m. on March 31, 2019, on Onipetesi Estate, Mangoro, Lagos State.

NAN reports that Section 223 prescribes a death sentence for anyone convicted of murder.

Acting National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Victor Giadom has declared the party will respect court order on the alleged suspension of its National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

A FCT HIgh Court on Wednesday restrained Oshiomhole from acting as chairman of the party.

Reacting to the ruling, Giadom told reporters that the party will abide by the order.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazak have split Kwara All Progressives Congress down the middle, with two factions now emerging in the party’s executive committee.

A faction loyal to the governor consist of some aggrieved members led by the state Deputy Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdullahi Samari.

The group accused the state Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Bolarinwa, of financial recklessness.

Samari, at a press conference in Ilorin, accused Bolarinwa of running the party like a sole administrator alleging that the chairman is involved in shady deals contrary to the fundamental principles upon which the party was built.

He explained that the party has been enmeshed in some sort of internal schism occasioned by the dissatisfaction expressed by a bloc of the State Executive Committee against the leadership of the chairman.

“Unfortunately, rather than address the sundry issues that bother on the lack of accountability, transparency, equity, fairness, sacrosanctity of the provisions of the Party’s Constitution and our demand for same.

“A cabal within the Party Executive and the State Chairman are deliberately diverting attention from the real issues and instead blaming some imaginary forces for the rising opposition against their autocratic leadership,” Samari alleged.

The Vice Chairman of Kwara North of the party, Mr Sunday Oyebiyi, told newsmen that the contributions of the minister during the 2019 general elections were immeasurable and dismissed the claims of Samari.

Oyebiyi said their (Samari’s group) reference to a cabal within the party led by the minister was petty, childish and laughable.

“They are afraid of their own shadows and in going down, they are willing to pull anyone strand with them. The APC will outlive many of them.

“If the memories of these aggrieved people is short, we cannot be accused of same. The struggle to win election was fierce and challenging.

“During this period of tribulations, it was only Alhaji Lai Mohammed that we saw, he sponsored sensitisation programmes, provided logistics and other such supports requested from him.

“He stood by us and together we navigated the rough roads to victory. This is not news to our traducers, they only chose the path of mischief,” Oyebiyi said.

He reiterated that contrary to the norm, there was a gaping disconnect between the governor, the party and revered party elders, asserting that there is no crisis within the party.

The APC chieftain explained further that this scenario has been in place since after the party primaries, during and indeed after the elections.

“Severally, party elders had tried to wade into the matter by meeting with the state party chairman, the minister and the governor himself.

“However, a follow up meeting with the governor to resolve the areas of differences have not been possible because the governor has refused to grant audience to the elders,” Oyebiyi said.

He said it was well-known fact that all hands were on deck during the election under the aegis of one APC, it was after the victory had been won, that splinter groups with a recurring AA acronym began to spring up.

“The promoters of these groups have acted in ways inimical to the constitution of the party.

“Their activities presupposes a parallel structure to the party structure and they have bandied the name of the governor as giving approval to their activities.

“Not once has the Governor or his representatives come out to denounce them, rather they are financed from the Government House.

“The turncoat Publicity Secretary has revealed that much in his garrulous radio programmes,” Oyebiyi said.

He absolved the party chairman of any financial recklessness as insinuated by the aggrieved group.

“Any allusion to Bolarinwa’s leadership not being accountable, transparent and fair is a disservice and a diversion from the main antics of the so-called aggrieved groups.

“For the avoidance of doubt, a member of the state same executive with Bolarinwa as chairman, he carries everybody along, consulting, seeking divergent opinions and ensuring consensus in a manner that is satisfactory to all,” Oyebiyi added.

He said the chairman cannot be more transparent than he has proven, noting that the system of financial operations of the party requires not less than three party officials to sign cheques.

“How will Mustapha Ishowo, the aggrieved State Secretary, claim ignorance of how party monies, especially donations from aspirants was spent as one of the signatories.

“In addition to being a signatory, he (Ishowo) is the only receiver of the account transaction notifications,” Oyebiyi said.

All the courts including High courts, magistrate courts, and others have been shut down in Cross River State over non-confirmation of Chief Judge, Justice Akon Ikpeme.

Already, all the lawyers in the state have embarked on peaceful demonstration marching from the High court at Mary Slessor to the House of Assembly protesting the non-confirmation of the CJ.

Judiciary workers also have embarked on a similar protest locking all offices against people that have cases in various courts in the state.

Judiciary committee in the House of Assembly had slated today, Monday for the confirmation of the CJ after postponing it from Friday.

Sadly, none of legislatures was in the House but a source alleged that the lawmakers were holding clandestine meeting at an undisclosed venue.

Interesting, security operatives have taken over the premises preventing the protesters and some lawyers from coming into the House.

At the time of filing this report, nobody knows whether the CJ will be confirmed today or not. Already, the tenure of the acting CJ expires today, Monday, March 2nd.