Senator Elisha Abbo, the lawmaker representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, has been mandated by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, to pay N50 million damages awarded by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory for assaulting a woman, Ms. Osimibibra Warmate, in a intimacy gadget shop in Abuja, in 2019.
The three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Jamilu Tukur, in a judgment, dismissed Abbo’s appeal, which he filed against the judgment given on September 29, 2020, by Justice Samira Bature on a fundamental rights enforcement suit by Ms. Warmate.
The court, which affirmed the judgment of the High Court of the FCT, held that Justice Bature was right in upholding Ms. Warmate’s case and awarding N50 million in damages against the Senator.
It rejected Senator Abbo’s argument that the suit was not properly commenced at the trial court and that he was denied a fair hearing.
The court, in the judgment delivered on Tuesday, equally rejected Abbo’s argument that Ms. Warmate’s claim that he slapped her, pulled her hair and dragged her out of the shop did not amount to rights violation, but a case of simple assault.
While describing Abbo’s conduct as sufficiently outrageous, the court resolved all five issues identified for determination against the Senator and further awarded N500,000 cost against him in favour of Ms. Warmate.
Justices Tukur, James Abundaga and Danlami Senchi (who were on the panel) were unanimous in holding that the appeal marked: CA/ABJ/945/2020 was without merit and proceeded to dismiss it.
Justice Senchi, who authored and read the lead judgment on Tuesday, held that from the evidence presented before the trial court, Ms Warmate sufficiently proved that Senator Abbo violated her fundamental right to human dignity.
“The decision of the trial court in the award of N50 million against the appellant and in favour of the respondent was proper,” Justice Senchi said.
He added that going by the quality of evidence presented by Ms Warmate, including a medical report and video recordings of the incident, the decision of the trial court could not be tampered with.
Justice Senchi added: “The conduct of the appellant is sufficiently outrageous to merit the punishment as the facts of the case disclosed flagrant disobedience of the law, especially that the appellant is an elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Senator Abbo’s appeal was against the September 28 judgment by Justice Samira Bature of the High Court of the FCT, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit marked: FCT/HC/CV/2393/2019, which was filed by Ms Warmate.
Justice Bature had, among others, held that Senator Abbo’s violent attack on Ms. Warmate on May 11, 2019, in a intimacy gadget shop at New Bannex Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment, which constituted a breach of her fundamental right to the dignity of her person guaranteed under Section 34 of the Constitution.
President Bola Tinubu is watching closely with deep concern for the country’s social political stability and at the seeming autocratic contention apparently spreading across different regions of our beloved continent.
The President as a man who has made significant, personal sacrifices in his own life in the course of advancing and defending democracy is of the unwavering belief that power belongs in the hands of Africa’s great people and not in the barrel of a loaded gun.
The President affirms that the rule of law and a faithful recourse to the constitutional resolutions and instruments of electoral dispute resolution must not at any time be allowed to perish from our great continent.
To this end, the President is working very closely and continues to communicate with other Heads of States in the African Union towards a comprehensive consensus on the next steps forward with respect to how the power in Gabon will play out and how the continent will respond to contagious autocracy we have seen spread across our continent.
All the 20 Local Government Chairmen in Ogun State on Tuesday night besiege the Office of the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun to ask for his forgiveness on behalf of one of them, Chairman, Ijebu East Local Government, Wale Adedayo, who accused the governor of withholding LGs’ allocations.
In a dramatic turn of event, the Council prostrated and begged the governor for forgiveness.
The Chairmen led by the ALGON Chairman, Babatunde Emilola-Gazal, stormed the Governor’s office in Abeokuta, and begged for forgiveness.
A short clip of the meeting which has gone viral showed the ALGON begging for forgiveness on behalf of his colleagues including Wale Adedayo, who wrote the petition.
Gazal said, “Your Excellency, we have come here to beg you as a father that you are, as a father of all in the state, we want you to forgive us.
“Your Excellency, if you don’t forgive us, who do we run to? So, on behalf of all of us, I am tendering this apology and in particular, on behalf of Wale Adedayo,” Emilola-Gazal said, and subsequently prostrated alongside others, before the Governor.
Responding, Governor Abiodun in his remarks declared that he had always carried out his responsibilities as the Governor with “every sincerity of purpose.”
Recall that Adedayo had accused the governor of withholding the LGs’ allocations.
Adedayo lamented that LG Chairmen had been unable to execute projects in the last two years, and asked former Governor Olusegun Osoba to urgently wade in, and convince Abiodun to allow “the statutory Federal Allocation to Local Governments in Ogun State to reach each of them as envisaged by the 1999 Constitution.”
The Council boss also petitioned the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), calling for the investigation of the governor over alleged diversion of local government funds.
According to him, Abiodun has not paid a dime to Local government accounts as Federal allocation in the last two years.
Peter Obi supporters continue to roll out more #AllEyesOnTheJudiciary banners, branded items and billboards, across the states, a campaign they expect will promote awareness for the outcome of #PEPT Judgement following the poor ruling of the tribunal over the years.
The Imo State Police command has arrested a security guard working at the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Chika Christopher Abakeke, for the repeated rape of an 11-year-old girl in Ihiagwa.
The 42-year-old security guard and his accomplice, 25-year-old Uchenna Jude were alleged to have conspired and raped the minor whenever her father left home for work.
While Abakeke hails from Umuokochi, Umuezeawula, in Ihiagwa, in Owerri West council area, his accomplice, Uchenna Jude hails from Umuakuntu, in Ngor-Okpala local government area, both in Imo state.
Imo Police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, disclosed in a statement that medical reports revealed that the victim had sustained severe injury in her vulva as a result of defilement and the minor narrated how the suspects defiled her repeatedly.
He disclosed that the suspects were currently held at the Umuchima Police division in Ihiagwa in the Owerri west local government area and will be transferred to the state criminal investigation department for investigations.
Each serving senator received not less than N2 million as allowance before proceeding on seven weeks of vacation, PREMIUM TIMES can report.
A senator who requested not to be named because he was not authorised by the upper house to speak on the matter confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that all the 109 senators were paid the allowance for the holidays, which commenced on Monday and ends on 26 September.
A calculation done by PREMIUM TIMES showed that the senators were paid a total of N218 million, having received N2 million each to enjoy the vacation.
The bank alerts were received by the senators on 8 August, just before the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced it.
The new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, says he will hit the ground running to ensure the victory of the ruling party in the November 11, 2023 governorship polls in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa.
Ganduje spoke on Thursday during his acceptance speech as the party’s chair after his emergence at the 12th APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.
The party’s NEC also elected former Senate spokesman, Ajibola Basiru, from Osun State as its National Secretary.
Addressing party leaders after his emergence, Ganduje thanked President Bola Tinubu and promised that internal democracy would prevail in the party during his tenure.
The ex-governor of Kano State pledged to ensure a scientific register of party members and pay utmost attention to election management and conflict resolution.
According to him, there would be level playing field for all party members during party primaries.
Ganduje promised to hit the ground running to ensure victory for the party in the three forthcoming off-season governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa.
Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi are three of the eight states with off-season governorship elections due to past litigations and court judgements. Others are Anambra, Edo, Ekiti, Osun and Ondo.
In the general elections earlier this year, the APC won the presidential poll and 16 state governorship polls leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 10, the Labour Party (LP) with one state and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) also with a state.
For the November 11, 2023 governorship poll in Kogi, the APC is fielding a former Auditor General of Local Government in the state, Usman Ododo.
In Bayelsa, the party is fielding the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, while incumbent Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, is throwing his hat into the ring for a second term in office.
Interestingly, the new APC chairman was unable to secure a win for his party in the March 18, 2023 governorship election as NNPP’s Yusuf Kabir and ally of NNPP presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, trounced Ganduje’s man, Nasir Gawuna.
Kabir scored 1,019,602 votes to defeat his closest contender, Gawuna, of the APC who polled 890,705 votes. In the February 25 poll, the APC also lost to the NNPP.
EX-PRESIDENT BUHARI EXPLAINS ABSENCE AT APC CAUCUS AND NEC MEETINGS.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has explained his inability to be present at the caucus meeting and the National Executive Committee, NEC, meetings of the All Progressives Congress, APC to which he has been invited and has conveyed his apologies, indicating that he is unable to attend due to commitments earlier made.
Muhammadu Buhari used the opportunity to express his support and commitment to the party, at the same time wishing it a good meeting as the leaders take decisions on issues of importance to the party and the nation.
The immediate past Vice President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN has expressed his regrets for his inability to attend the caucus meeting of the APC scheduled for Wednesday 2nd August 2023 .
In a letter of apology for his absence addressed to the Ag. Chairman of the party the former VP explained that he was already abroad for engagements to which he had long been committed, when he received the invitation to the meeting.
He had in fact cancelled some of his engagements abroad to be available for the two previously scheduled caucus meetings of the party which had to be postponed due to exigencies. While wishing the party fruitful deliberations, he expressed his commitment to the Party and his availability for future meetings and activities of the party.
The Minister of Communication, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy informs the public that it has been found that the TikTok application is the preferred social network by people with bad intentions to spread hateful and counterproductive messages threatening the stability of the country.
As a result, the TikTok social network is suspended in Senegal until further notice.
Telephone operators are required to comply with notified requisitions.
Done in Dakar, August 02, 2023 Me: Moussa Bocar THIAM
COMMUNIQUE AT THE END OF THE CENTRAL WORKINGCOMMITTEE (CWC) MEETING OF THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC) HELD ON TUESDAY, THE 25TH DAY OF JULY 2023
CWC-in-Session after exhaustively deliberating on the crippling economic situation facing Nigerians and its attendant consequences of mass suffering, poverty and angst pervading Nigerian workers and peoples which are clear resultants of the insensitive policies and actions of the present Administration;
Recalled that on the 29th day of May, 2023, the President of the federal republic gave Nigerians an inaugural shocking gift by increasing the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from N 185 to N500; this action was considered was strongly condemned by various Organs of Congress because of the massive suffering it imposed on the lives of Nigerians.
However, as if that was not enough, the federal government through the instrumentality of the NNPCL effected a further hike in the price of PMS to N617 per litre without having addressed the dire consequences which the earlier hike had imposed on Nigerians. Other anti-poor policies have since been unleashed on Nigerians which have left workers and masses reeling and deeply impoverished.
CWC-in-Session noted unfortunately:
That the federal government has shown enormous disdain and contempt for Nigerian people and workers having acted and continued to act without regards to the welfare and cries of the citizenry.
That Government seems to have declared a war of attrition on Nigerian workers and masses without any care leaving them to the throes of hopelessness and helplessness.
That the federal government has refused to put in place safeguards to protect Nigerians from the harsh Economic situation that its policies have inflicted on the people rather it has decided to insult the sensibilities of Nigerian masses by offering us N8000 per family and offering themselves N70b.
That the federal government has frustrated and abandoned its own Committee which was a product of social dialogue between the government and workers organisations in the country. While the Committee has not met, the government embarked on unilateral actions and programmes.
that since Mr. President’s “subsidy is gone forever” speech at inauguration day; the peace of mind of Nigerians has gone; decent living gone increasing despair of unimaginable dimensions.
That the federal government has continued to treat Nigerians as Slaves and a conquered people which it treats with impunity without any concern on the consequences.
That the federal government has continued in an unholy mission of robbing the poor to pay the rich in Nigeria as typified by its continued frustration of the activation of the agreed alternatives to Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and new hike in prices of PMS to N617 per litre.
That the federal government has continued to promote the gang up of the ruling elite against Nigerian people and workers.
Observes that the federal government has continued to churn out without relenting policies designed to emasculate Nigerian workers and people via not just increases in PMS prices with its spiraling affect but also increases in VAT, increases in School fees across all Publicly owned Secondary and Tertiary institutions of learning that the NNPCL has turned itself into the forces of demand and supply and fixes the price of Petroleum products while mouthing deregulation.
that Government’s conduct suggests it does not intend to commit itself to the MOU it signed with NLC and TUC.
that Nigerians are outraged and have been putting pressure on the NLC to lead them in protest against the increases in the pump price of PMS
that the pressure has come to a breaking point and given Government’s continued indifference to the plight of the poor, resolved that, It would not be party to the killing of poor Nigerian workers and masses.
that it is the responsibility of men and women of conscience propelled by patriotic zeal to take necessary action to protect democracy and our beloved nation since it is clear that the federal government is not interested in discussions having exhausted half of the agreed 8 weeks without activating the Presidential Steering Committee.
The CWC-in-session subsequently resolved as follows: the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the federal government including the recent hike in PMS price, Increase in Public School fees, the release of the 8 months withheld Salary of University lecturers and Workers and increase in VAT.
the immediate inauguration of the Presidential Steering Committee as agreed in the earlier consequential dialogues
to begin the building across the nation of a Coalition of all Nigerians where all will be leaders and all will be followers
to call on all civil society organisations and Nigerians wherever they may be to begin mobilization to take action on their own to save our nation.
to lead and organize mass protest rallies across the nation to demonstrate outrage against the inhuman actions and policies of the government.
to give the federal government a Seven — Day ultimatum within which to meet all our demands and to embark on a nation — wide action beginning Wednesday the 2nd of August, 2023 to compel the government to reverse its anti-poor and antiworkers policies.
to Consequently direct all Affiliates and State Councils to begin immediate mobilization and closely work with associations, individuals and other entities including the ones already on the streets to ensure that government listens to the people.
President Bola Tinubu is meeting with a prominent Niger Delta leader and former leader agitator for the course of the oil-rich region, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Dokubo is widely recognised as one of the vocal supporters of the President, during the presidential campaigns.
Although details of the agenda of the meeting is not available yet, it is believed that meeting Dokubo is likely to be part of the President’s ongoing consultations with opinion leaders from the Niger Delta part of the country.
One of the Tinubu administration’s key economic targets is shoring up oil and gas production and part of the plan to achieve that will be by rooting out the menace of oil-theft.
The President, earlier in the week, met with some other key figures from the region, including former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Chief Timi Alaibe, and former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). Dr Dakuku Peterside.
The Head of Transparency International, Nigeria, Auwal Rafsanjani, says the suspension of the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, did not surprise the organisation.
Mr Rafsanjani, also the executive director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday announced the suspension of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) chairman in a statement by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
Mr Bawa was suspended based on “weighty allegations of abuse of office” levelled against him.
Mr Bawa, following his suspension, has since been invited by the SSS for interrogation.
”The suspension did not come to us by surprise, this is because of the way and manner the previous regimes or governments have always removed the EFCC leaders when they come into power.
”For this development, with regard to the removal of the EFCC chairman, we believe that already we knew that he was going to be removed because of so many political interests and changes that can happen.”
He said Mr Tinubu might not likely retain Mr Bawa because of how he was appointed and his affiliation.
”He will want to get rid of anything that has to do with that.
”Also there are some political interests, some politicians associated with the government also have issues with the current suspended EFCC chairman and therefore, they are likely not to be comfortable to have him there.”
Mr Rafsanjani added that ”the EFCC office has been unnecessarily made too much political.
”Therefore, it is making it difficult to do what ordinarily government agency is supposed to do.
”So, we need to look at it from that context and from that perspective, so I’m not surprised.”
Mr Rafsanjani, however, said that ”what is important is that we must insist and demand that the anti-corruption and the good work of agencies, including EFCC, must continue in the country.”
He also advised the government to look beyond politics in appointing the next chairman of EFCC.
”In appointing the next one, I think first and foremost, let’s make that office to be a technical professional office.
[b]”Let’s make it less political; let us remove the use of that to settle political issues.
”I think we need to have a credibly experienced, fairly minded person to carry out that responsibility,”[/b] he said.
President Bola Tinubu has directed that the l Director of Operations at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulkarim Chukkol immediately takes charge of the anti-graft agency following the indefinite suspension of the Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa.
A statement issued from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation says weighty allegations of abuse of office had been levelled against Bawa, who has been in office since February 24, 2021.
Chukkol is one of the young officers elevated following the appointment of Bawa over a year and half ago.
*University of Maiduguri B.sc 1995 - 2000
*FBI National Academy, Quantico Session 244 2011 -
*University of Virginia Postgraduate DiplomaCriminal Justice Education 2011 -
*United States Telecommunications Training Institute Cybersecurity and Spectrum Monitoring 2010 -
*Canadian Police College Criminal Justice Education 2006
OPERATIONAL CHANGES TO THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) wishes to inform all authorized dealers and the general public of the following immediate changes to operations in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange (FX) Market:
• Abolishment of segmentation_ All segments are now collapsed into the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window Applications for medicals. school fees. BTA/PTA, and SMEs would continue to be processed through deposit money banks
• Re-introduction of the "Willing Buyer, Willing Seller model at the I&E Window. Operations in this window shall be guided by the extant circular on the establishment of the window, dated 21 April 2017 and referenced FMD/DIR/CIR/GEN/08/007. All eligible transactions are permitted to access foreign exchange at this window
• The operational rate for all government-related transactions shall be the weighted average rate of the preceding day's executed transactions at the I&E window, calculated to two (2) decimal places
• Proscription of trading limits on oversold FX positions with permission to hedge short positions with OTC futures. Limits on overbought positions shall be zero.
• Re-introduction of order-based two-way quotes, with bid-ask spread of Ni. All transactions shall be cleared by a Central Counter Party (CCP). • Reintroduction of Order Book to ensure transparency of orders and seamless execution of trades.
• The operational hours of trades shall be from 9am to 4pm, Nigeria time
• Cessation of RT200 Rebate Scheme and the Naira4Dollar Remittance Scheme, with effect from 30 June 2023.
Further guidance on these matters shall be communicated in due course All market participants and the general public are kindly enjoined to abide by these rules.
Ange a re-Ejernbi, PhD Director, Financial Markets 14 June 2023
The Federal Government, Wednesday, said it had begun putting all necessary measures in place to ensure students loan begin between September and October 2023.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Andrew David Adejo, who revealed this while speaking to newsmen in Abuja, said already, President Bola Tinubu has approved a committee made up of ministries and agencies to see to the realization of the Students Loan Bill he recently assented to.
The Students Loan Bill, sponsored by the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, provides for interest-free loans to indigent Nigerian students.
The law is to provide easy access to higher education for indigent Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the Permanent Secretary said.
Adejo said “The bill is to make sure that every Nigerian has access to higher education through what we called the Higher Education Nigerian Bank.
“Learning from past mistakes, the bank is not going to be the type that will sit down and be collecting application loans, it will also perform normal banking functions and make sure loans are given because we had cases of loan recovery in the past.
“The Act as it is tells us the process, but as I speak with you today, the president has approved the committee made up of the Ministries and agencies and their meeting will be coming up 20th of June.
“The president has also directed that by September to October of this 2023/2024 academic session, he wants to see recipients of these loans. So it is a very serious march for us so between now and then we have to phantom the process for people to get the loan,” he added.
The Permanent Secretary further said the government will create a specialised bank for the operation of the loans, noting that there will be a tracking system for the efficient running of the loans scheme.
He also said it will cover both students in private and public schools, adding that the government will create a new bank for it.
“We are not going to use existing banks. We are going to create a new bank that will address this because we can’t use an existing bank.
“We don’t want to make it that only people who want to go to public schools will benefit from, private schools are paying tuition so you have to give them the opportunity
“The loan is for you to get an education programme and get employed then you start paying back. The loan recovery does not start until you get employed.
While commending President Tinubu as a job creator he said, “Our current president today is a job creator from his experience from the private sector and he has given us policy direction and job creation is one of the things he is going to do, even though you cannot create a job for everybody.”
According to him, as of June 12, only three people have seen the Act, which is the president, the current Chief of Staff and himself.
“What you have seen is the bill. The president has assented to the bill, let us wait to see the Act and you get the Act when it is transmitted to the Ministry of Justice to produce a gazette,” he said.
The immediate past governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje has asked a high court in the state to perpetually restrain the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from inviting or investigating him over dollar videos.
The video clips, published by DAILY NIGERIAN in 2018, had showed how the former governor was receiving bundles of dollar notes suspected to be a bribe from a contractor.
While the governor had since debunked the content of the videos, the state House of Assembly subsequently set up a committee to investigate the allegations.
The committee was yet to turn in its report even as a new assembly was inaugurated on Tuesday.
But in a suit seen by TheCable on Wednesday, Mr Ganduje, through the former Kano attorney general, asked the court to restrain the anti-graft agency from investigating him until a suit between himself and Jafaar Jafaar, publisher of the DAILY NIGERIAN, is determined.
Mr Ganduje also asked the court to declare that the invitation and interrogation of the state universal basic education board, SUBEB, chairman and accountant general of Kano in connection to the video is illegal.
Some of the prayers read: “A declaration of this Honourable Court that by virtue of the supremacy of the 1999 constitution as established by Sections 1 (1) thereof, since the Kano state house of assembly has begun investigation pursuant to its powers under section 128 of the 1999 constitution in connection with the video clips of bribery allegation against Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
“The defendant cannot exercise its investigative powers under the Sections 6, 7, 13 and 46 of the Economic and Financial Crimes (Establishment) Act 2004 (EFCC ACT), until after the Kano state house of assembly concludes or bring its investigation to an end.
“A declaration of this Honourable Court that by virtue of the supremacy of the 1999 constitution as established by Sections I (1) thereof, and the doctrine of separation of powers since there is a pending Case No: CV/1598/2021, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduic y, Jaafar Jafaar & Anor, before high court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja (Coram: Hon. Justice Y. Halilu) in which Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is challenging the authenticity of the said video clips.
“The defendant cannot exercise its investigative powers under the sections 6, 7 and 13 of the Economic and Finance Crimes (Establishment) Act 2004 (CFCC ACT), until after the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja (Coram: Hon. Justice Y. Halilu) has decided the matter before it.”
Some vehicles have been seized from the residence of the immediate past governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, in Gusau, the state capital.
Sources told Daily Trust that Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) were impounded during a raid on Matawalle’s GRA residence in Gusau, on Friday.
Speaking on a local radio station, the governor had said, “Former governor Bello Matawalle had gone away with 17 vehicles from his office and those in the deputy governor’s office claiming that the vehicles are his personal belongings. In fact, not even office equipment were spared.
Daily Trust cannot confirm the number of vehicles recovered, but a source said a total of four jeeps were seized.
Policemen were said to have stormed the former governor’s residence, which is not far from Government House, Gusau.
ASP Yazdi Abubakar, Police Public Relations Officer in Zamfara, could not be reached for comments as his phone rang out when Daily Trust attempted to get his reaction.
Also, the Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communication to the former governor, Zailani Bappa, was also unavailable at the time of this report as his mobile lines were switched off.
Two days after taking over the reins of power, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara had accused Matawalle of leaving with 17 government vehicles and looting property including television and cookers from the state government house.
“The atrocities are beyond comprehension, I’ve never seen crass irresponsibility like this one. But, with good planning I’m assuring the citizens of the state that we will do our best to correct the anomalies.”
On Saturday, Lawal gave Matawalle an ultimatum of five days to return vehicles allegedly taken away by officials of his administration.
Lawal, who gave the ultimatum via a statement issued by his spokesman, Sulaiman Idris, vowed to recover looted funds and properties of the state government.
“We have the facts and records available that expose Matawalle’s impropriety. Where is the lie? A contract was awarded by the former governor, for the purchase of vehicles to be distributed to dignitaries and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) at the cost of N1,149,800,000. The contract for the purchase of the vehicles was awarded to Hafkhad Properties and Facilities Management Nig. Ltd.”
“The money was meant for the purchase of a Toyota Lexus VIP Bullet Proof 2021 Model; Toyota Land Cruiser VIP Bullet Proof 2021 Model; Toyota Prado V6 2021 Model; Toyota Prado V4 2021 Model; Peugeot 2021 Model; Toyota Hilux 2021 Model; Toyota Land Cruiser Bullet Proof 2021; and Toyota Lexus 2021 Model.
“We have communicated officially to former Governor Bello Matawalle and his Deputy to return all the missing vehicles within five working days,” he stated.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had said Matawalle was under investigation for N70 billion misappropriation.
But Matawalle fired back by accusing the commission’s chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, of demanding $2 million bribe from him.
Nigerians can now earn US Dollars by acquiring premium domain names, most clients earn about $7,000 to $10,000, all paid in US Dollars. Click here to learn how to start.
Panic In Anambra Assembly As Armed Men Try To Whisk Away Member-Elect
There was panic at the Anambra State House of Assembly as four armed men, suspected to be operatives of the Directorate of Security Services (DSS), tried to whisk away member-elect for Nnewi North constituency, Mr Onyekachukwu Ike.
The armed men drove into the Assembly complex in three vehicles and grabbed the member-elect after he participated in a valedictory thanksgiving mass for the seventh Assembly.
They forced the member-elect into their vehicle and were trying to drive out of the Assembly complex when security personnel quickly locked the exit gate.
The Acting Clerk of the Assembly, Mrs Esther Aneto, and other senior staff lamented that the suspected DSS operatives did not inform them or even the Police personnel at the Assembly before trying to whisk Ike away.
One of the suspected DSS operatives, however, explained that they had a court order to arrest the member-elect.
It took the intervention of the Speaker, Dr Uche Okafor, and the Deputy Governor, Dr Onyeka Ibezim, who came to represent the Governor at the Valedictory session of the seventh Assembly, before the member-elect was released.
There is a former governor of the PDP that frequents Presidential Vila daily like a buss conductor. He will soon inflict the administration with his toxic equity, fairness and Justice poison.
COMMUNIQUE AT THE END OF AN EMERGENCY NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) MEETING OF THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC) HELD ON TUESDAY, THE 6TH DAY OF JUNE 2023
An emergency National Executive Council (NEC) of the Congress which was called to discuss the outcome of the Dialogue between the NLC and the Federal Government on the Petroleum Products Price hike after extensive deliberation observed that:
1. Whereas the previous NEC-in-Session had ordered a nation-wide withdrawal of Service and mass protest over the Petroleum Price hike by the federal government;
2. Whereas the federal government was in breach of the 2023 Appropriation Act, the NLC will not encourage lawlessness on its part;
3. Taking into account that the federal government has procured a Court injunction restraining Congress from proceeding with the proposed nation-wide strike as the NEC-in-session had ordered to begin, Wednesday, the 7th of June, 2023;
4. Recognizing the willingness of government for continuous engagement through dialogue and to offer reasonable palliatives in due course to cushion the effect of its policies and some levels of understanding reached
5. Considering the mood of the Socio-polity last elections and the need to pursue national stability and; Consequently, the NEC-in-session resolved as follows;
6. to commend and applaud the diligence of the Congress’ leadership in carrying out the assignment given to it by NEC.
7. to demonstrate to the federal government the need to comply with the Laws of the land especially as it concerns obedience to the rulings of the Courts and their brazen disregard to the 2023 Appropriation Act
8. to therefore support and accept the decision of the leadership of Congress to suspend the proposed strike action in compliance with the flawed rulings of the NIC and also allow negotiations to flow freely and enable final agreement during or after the 19th June, 2023 negotiation round with the Federal Government.
9. to however register in strongest terms its disgust and disapproval with the ruling of the National Industrial Court (NIC) for its continuous weaponization of the instrument of Exparte injunction in favour of Government against the interests of Nigerian workers in defiance of the position of the Supreme Court on the use of this instrument.
10. All Affiliates and State Councils of Congress are hereby directed to suspend further action and mobilization until the outcome of the final negotiations.
11. To commend all Affiliates and State Councils on their robust mobilization towards a successful nation-wide strike action and to also remain vigilant in case there is a need to continue.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has again summoned Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), over a $53 million judgement debt arising from the Paris Club refunds.
Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, on Tuesday, insisted that the court will not hear Emefiele’s motion for stay until he appears before it.
BACKGROUND The case started due to an alleged $70 million judgment debt against Linas International Ltd for the lawyer’s (Joe Agi) assistance with the Paris Club refund.
Emefiele allegedly only released $17 million, leaving $53 million in unpaid debt.
On January 23, 2020, the court ruled that the CBN governor must appear “to be examined on oath touching the means you have or have had, since the date of the said garnishee order absolute, to pay the balance of $53 million now due and payable under the said garnishee order absolute and also show cause why you should not be committed to prison for default in payment of the said sum”.
In October 2022, Agi, through his counsel Isaac Ekpa and Chinonso Obasi, filed another application against Linas International, minister of finance, and the CBN, seeking “an order directing the inspector-general of police to arrest Emefiele and bring him to court alongside his lawyers: Damian Dodo, Audu Anuga, both senior advocates of Nigeria, and Ginika Ezeoke, Jessica Iyoke, Abdullahi Afolayan, and Olayemi Afolayan”.
The court granted the application and ordered Emefiele to appear in court on Wednesday, January 18.
However, at the court session on January 18, the case was adjourned to March 20.
In a suit dated January 12, Emefiele asked the court appeal in Abuja to set aside an order of a federal high court compelling his appearance in a $53 million judgment debt proceedings.
TUESDAY’S COURT PROCEEDINGS At the resumption of the hearing on Tuesday, Ayodele Arotiowa, counsel to Agi, told the court that at the last adjourned date, Emefiele was asked to appear before the court.
Arotiowa added that the order has not been obeyed by the CBN governor.
Responding, Audu Anuga, counsel to Emefiele and CBN, said the court did not sit on the last adjourned date.
Anuga told the court that his client had filed an appeal against the order alongside a motion of stay.
Responding to Anuga’s comment, the presiding judge said the court order prompted Emefiele to appeal so that he did not appear in court.
Ekwo said the court would not entertain the motion for stay until Emefiele appears before it.
“I am not going to hear you on this application until Mr Godwin Emefiele appears in court,” the judge said.
“Therefore, I am going to give you a date for you to report to the court in compliance with the order of the court.
“Upon being aware that the motion for stay of execution is a live matter in this court, this court shall not hear that application unless and until Mr Godwin Emefiele who has been ordered to appear in court appears in court.
The House of Representatives has poked holes in the purported launch of Nigeria Air at the twilight of the administration of former President, Muhammadu Buhari, declaring it a fraud.
Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, declared the launch of Nigeria Air a fraud after the major stakeholders in the deal between the Federal Government and Ethiopian Airlines denied knowledge of the launch.
The Ministry of Aviation claimed Nigeria Air was only unveiled and not launched, which the committee dismissed as an attempt to divert the lawmakers’ attention.
Members of the committee were shocked when NAMA disclosed that the aircraft bearing Nigerian colours was on a chartered flight to Nigeria.
Other stakeholders who confirmed the disclosure noted that a chartered flight could be painted in any colour and with any inscriptions.
A Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday, awarded a N10 million fine against Mr Festus Keyamo, former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, for filing a frivolous suit against Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s presidential candidate in the Feb. 25 election.
Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling, awarded a N5 million fine each in favour of Abubakar and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), making a N10 million against Keyamo.
Justice Omotosho, who described the suit as “frivolous, vexatious and abuse of court processes,” directed that the fine should be paid “at 10 per cent per annum until the cost is finally liquidated.”
The order followed an oral application by counsel for Atiku, Benson Igbanoi, and that of the ICPC, Oluwakemi Odogun, asking for cost after the matter was dismissed.
Keyamo, who was also the spokesperson of the dissolved Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), had filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/84/2023 on Jan. 20.
In the application, he had sought an order compelling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ICPC and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to probe and prosecute Abubakar.
Keyamo based his action on the ground of claims by one of Abubakar’s aides, Michael Achimugu, that between 1999 and 2007 when he was vice president, he (Achimugu) conspired with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to rip off the country using what he termed “Special Purpose Vehicles.”
The ex-minister filed the suit after the 72-hour ultimatum he gave the three investigating agencies elapsed.
He alleged that Abubakar was in violation of Section 18(2) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and Section 96(1) of the Penal Code, hence, unqualified to contest in Feb. 25 poll.
But Atiku (1st defendant), through his lawyer, filed a notice of preliminary objection, seeking for an order dismissing the suit for being incompetent, lack of locus standi, want of jurisdiction and for non-disclosure of reasonable cause against him.
The EFCC, ICPC and the CCB, in their separate preliminary objections, also challenged the competency of the suit and jurisdiction of the court.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Omotosho held that he had two issues for determination and that was whether the suit was frivolous and whether the relief sought by Keyamo could be granted.
The judge, who said the jurisdiction of the court would be determined, also said that the locus standi of the applicant would also be looked into.
“Locus standi is the capacity of a party to institute an action. It interrogates what is the business of the plaintiff with the defendants
“The need for proper locus standi is to prevent busy body from instituting a suit and restraining them from wasting the time of the court,” he said.
He said though the court did not say that the ex-minister did not have a right to write statutory agencies to investigate Abubakar, but that he had not shown why he was affected by Abubakar’s action.
“A citizen of a country has a right to report crime and that cannot be an infraction on fundamental rights of any person.
“But the complainant is to complain to the statutory agencies and not to drag the 1st defendant with the agencies to court to seek an order to compel the agencies to investigate the suspect,” he said.
Justice Omotosho held that Investigating authorities had the discretionary powers to investigate any case and to know if such case would warrant any prosecution or not, citing previous cases to back his decision.
“The law is that the court cannot compel investigating agencies to perform their discretionary powers,’ he said.
The judge, who read Keyamo’s letter wherein he gave the investigating agencies 72-hour ultimatum to investigate Abubakar, said the Court of Appeal in one of its decisions, cautioned public officers against abuse of powers.
He said that it was unheard of that a citizen would give statutory agencies 72-hour to investigate and prosecute an alleged offence.
“And immediately after the 72 hours, an action was filed.
“The question is, is 72 hours sufficient for the investigation and conclusion of action of this nature. The answer is no,” he said.
Omotosho, who said that Keyamo did not even give a reasonable time for the statutory bodies to act before filing the suit, said: “This means that the action was filed in bad faith.”
He said the case was frivolous and an abuse of court process.
“The plainitiff who is supposed to be a lawyer would think that a suit compelling a statutory body will success giving 72 hours?
“The plaintiff should know that these agencies are at liberty on when to investigate and when to conclude,” he said.
He said Keyamo acted as if he was “an errand boy.”
He said it was high time public officers knew that statutory agencies should not be used to settle political discord.
The judge, therefore, commended the EFCC, ICPC and the CCB for refusing to act in a way that would suggest that Keyamo was giving them directive.
“The plaintiff should know that such suit will not succeed,” he said.
Omotosho, who described the suit as frivolous, vexatious and abuse of court process, consequently dismissed the suit.
Shortly after the ruling, ICPC’s lawyer, Odogun, asked for a N30 million fine in favour of his client.
She argued that the ICPC had been diligent in defending the matter and that time and resources had been wasted.
Also, Abubakar’s lawyer, Mr Igbanoi, prayed the court for a N200 million fine against Keyamo, considering that his client was former vice president and presidential candidate in the last election.
But Keyamo’s counsel, O. C. Uju, disagreed with the two lawyers asking the court to dismiss their application for a cost.
The judge, however, awarded a N5 million fine each in favour of Abubakar and ICPC.
Our client respectfully disagrees with the reasons for the said decision because the law-enforcement agencies did not indicate their willingness to commence investigations, even if they were given more time.
We want to establish a legal principle that the society cannot wait ad infinitum for law-enforcement agencies to do their statutory duties. The suit was designed to prompt the agencies to show their readiness to investigate.
We are immediately filing an appeal against the said decision to the Court of Appeal as the struggle on this issue continues.
John Ainetor, Asst. Head of Chambers, Festus Keyamo Chambers, Abuja office
The Nigeria Police Force, Abia State Command in the South-East region has arraigned a 55-year-old man identified as Sunday ThankGod, in court for refusing to pray in church.
According to the charge sheet obtained by SaharaReporters, ThankGod would be arraigned before a Magistrate Court of Abia State in the Aba South Magisterial District holding at Aba South.
In the charge No: MAS/COS/2c/2023, the defendant was accused of conducting himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by neglecting the opening prayer of the Bishop at the Apostolic Christian Church Mission (ACCM) at No. 34 Omuma Road, Aba.
The charge read, "That you, Sunday ThankGod, on the 16th day of April, 2023 at Apostolic Christian Church Mission (A.C.C.M) at No. 34 Omuma Road Aba, in the Aba South Magisterial District did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by neglecting the Opening Prayer of the Bishop and thereby caused public disturbance at the church and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code Cap. 80 Vol 3 Laws of Abia State of Nigeria, 2005."
The date for his trial has not been confirmed at the time of filing this report.
President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero says he has been wondering whether President Bola Tinubu has ever wondered why past leaders never carried out the fuel subsidy removal.
Comrade Ajaero also reminded the President of his speech at the "Occupy Nigeria" protest in 2012 when former President Goodluck Jonathan did the same thing.
Why Tinubu acknowledged then that subsidy must go, he accused the Jonathan-administration of been insensitive to the plight of the masses.
A Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Thursday granted an application for extension of remand of afrobeat singer Seun Kuti for additional four days. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Olatubosun, extended Kuti’s remand until May 22.
Mr Simon Lough (SAN), who led a police legal team to the court, had moved the application.
According to him, the extension is to allow further investigation into the case.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kuti is charged with assaulting a police officer.
He allegedly committed the offence on May 13 on the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos State.
The police charged him with slapping an inspector after driving dangerously on the bridge and deliberately blocking a moving police vehicle.
Kuti was arraigned on Tuesday during which the chief magistrate ordered his remand for 48 hours.
She, however, held that the defendant should be admitted to bail in the sum of one million Naira with two sureties in like sum, at the end of the 48-hour remand.
She said that one of the sureties must be a landlord within the jurisdiction of the court.
She had adjourned the case until May 22 for mention and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and forward a copy to the state director of public prosecutions for advice.
Politics › Appeal Court Upholds ₦50M Damages Against Abbo For Slapping Intima Gadget Seller by References1(op): 9:26pm On Aug 30, 2023
