₦airaland Forum

The Federal Government is set to re-arraign the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, on an amended six-count treasonable felony charge.

The amendment came on a day trial Justice Binta Nyako fixed to hear an application Kanu filed to be released on bail, pending the determination of the charge against him.

A member of Kanu’s legal team, who craved anonymity, told Vanguard on Wednesday that FG had in the amended charge, listed some lawyers representing the embattled IPOB leader, including Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Mr. Maxwell Opara, as accomplices of the defendant.

FG, it was gathered, alleged that the said lawyers, were constantly in contact with Kanu, after he jumped bail and fled the country.

It will be recalled that Kanu was subsequently re-arrested and returned back to the country from Kenya, in controversial circumstance.

Trial Justice Binta Nyako had on April 8, struck out eight out of the 15-count treasonable felony charge FG preferred against Kanu.

Justice Nyako held that the charges were mere repetitions that did not disclose any offence that could be sustained by the proof of evidence before the court.

FG had in the counts that were struck out, alleged that Kanu had through his broadcasts, incited members of the public to not only stage a violent revolution, but to attack police officers and also destroy public facilities in Lagos State.

While the court threw out counts 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12,13 and 14 of the charge, it okayed Kanu’s trial on counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 15.

The ruling followed an application Kanu filed to quash the entire charge against him, which he insisted was manifestly incompetent and legally defective.

The IPOB leader, through his team of lawyers led by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to try him on the strenght of an incompetent charge.

Ozekhome (SAN), further told the court that his client was “unlawfully, brutally and extraordinarily renditioned from Kenya without his consent”.

He argued that since some of the allegations FG levelled against Kanu, were purportedly committed outside the country, the high court, therefore, lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the charge.

“The charges appears to give this court a global jurisdiction over offences that were allegedly committed by the Defendant, without specifying the location or date the said offences were committed”.

He argued that under the Federal High Court Act, such charge must disclose specific location where the offence was committed.

More so, Ozekhome contended that Kanu could not be charged with belonging to an unlawful organization since the action of FG, in proscribing the IPOB, is still subject of legal dispute at the Court of Appeal and therefore subjudice.

Consequently, he urged the court to dismiss the charge, as well as to discharge and acquit the defendant.

However, FG’s lawyer, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran, opposed the application and urged the court to allow the prosecution to open its case.

He argued that Kanu’s application would touch the substance of the case that is yet to be heard.

“The position as at now is that the IPOB is a proscribed organization which was duly proscribed through the due process of law”.

He argued that Section 32 of the Terrorism Prevention Act imbued the court with the requisite jurisdiction to handle the trial.

On Kanu’s bail request, Ozekhome, maintained that the amended charge contained bailable offences, while FG’s lawyer, Labaran, argued that the defendant betrayed the previous discretion the court exercised in his favour when he jumped bail and escaped from the country.

He argued that it was owing to Kanu’s conduct that the court revoked his bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

FG had in some of the charges that were sustained by the court, alleged that Kanu had in his broadcast that was received and heard in Nigeria, issued a deadly threat that anyone who flouted his sit-at home order, should write his/her Will.

It told the court that as a result of the threat, Banks, Schools, Markets, Shopping Malls, Fuel Stations domiciled in the Eastern States of Nigeria, were not opened for businesses, citizens and vehicular movements in the Eastern States of Nigeria were grounded.

It alleged that Kau had on diverse dates between 2018 and 2021, made a broadcast received and heard in Nigeria, inciting members of the public to hunt and kill Nigerian security personnel and their family members, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 1 (2) (h) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.

While FG, in count-8, alleged that Kanu, directed members of the IPOB “to manufacture Bombs”, it told the court in count-15 that the defendant had between the month of March and April 2015, “Imported into Nigeria and kept in Ubulisiuzor in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, a Radio Transmitter known as Tram 50L concealed in a container of used household items which you declared as used household items, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 47 (2) (a) of Criminal Code Act Cap, C45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004”.

Former Lagos state governor and Presidential hopeful on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Bola Tinubu has concluded plans to dump the ruling party, if the May 30 primaries are schemed against him, an associate of the former Lagos state government has said.

The associate who spoke on the condition of anonymity told Vanguard that the development was the reason former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal stated recently that Tinubu had plan B if APC primaries are manipulated against him.

Although, he noted that APC remains the primary platform Tinubu intends to actualize his dream of presiding over the affairs of the nation; other options including the SDP would be explored if the primaries come short of transparency and credibility.

“It is too early to ask if Asiwaju would leave the APC for another party. He is a big factor in APC, a party he helped formed, financed and nurtured into what it is today. We are not unaware of recent developments and attempts to insult a man who has paid his dues in the political evolution of this country. But that is not important for now. What I can tell you is that our leader, like other contestants, is looking forward to a credible process that would lead to the emergence of our flag bearer. But if that process is compromised, I can tell you for free that we will encourage him to explore other options.

“Yes, a lot has been said about SDP and Asiwaju. When we get to that bridge, we will cross it. SDP offered him a platform to become a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria years ago but for now, he is in APC and will remain there until circumstance dictates otherwise,” he said.

Tinubu is gunning for the sole ticket of the party alongside other formidable contestants such as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Rotimi Amaechi, Ogbonayya Onu, Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello among others. In an interview with the media a few months ago, President Muhammadu Buhari had said that he would not reveal the identity of his preferred successor, lest he be eliminated.

Only recently APC chieftain and until recently a Presidential aspirant, Moses Ayom called on Babachir Lawal to withdraw his comment on Tinubu’s possible defection, labelling same as a threat to the Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee, saying “right now, the NWC is the leadership of the APC and it should be given all kinds of support to succeed. The idea of indirectly threatening the NWC that Tinubu has another option if he is not given ticket should not arise at all. As a committed APC leader from the Middle-Belt, I call on Babachir to withdraw the comments and apologize to the party immediately.”

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Sunday said that he will remain grateful to Justice Mary Odili for her timely intervention that saved his political career in 2004.

Governor Wike stated this during the 70th birthday and retirement thanksgiving mass of Justice Mary Odili as Justice of the Supreme Court that was held at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Chaplaincy, Catholic Institute of West Africa, (CIWA) in Port Harcourt.

He recalled how he cried to Justice Odili when he got the hint that his name was not included among those cleared to contest either as first term or second term chairmen of local councils in the state

Having listened to him, Wike said the retired jurist took the complaint to her husband, Dr Peter Odili, who was the governor of Rivers State then.

Wike explained that the manner Justice Odili presented the matter got her husband acting on it immediately.

He said, first, Dr Peter Odili invited the then Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, Uche Secondus, to confirm the observation and thereafter put a call across to the then National Secretary of the PDP, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor.

“In 2004, that time her husband was the governor, so she was going to Bori Camp for women empowerment scheme. I was to run for the second tenure as chairman of my local government (Obio-Akpor),” Wike said.

“Now, they were having lunch with her husband and the former state party chairman then, Prince Uche Secondus. And, I was told that my name had been removed in the list. So, I ran down to Government House.

“She has finished her own lunch, left her husband and was entering the vehicle. I said ‘Mummy, I’m finished.’ She asked what happened; I said they’ve removed my name.

“She ran back straight to her husband and informed him. Her husband asked who removed his name. At that time, Secondus had left. The husband then called the security at the gate, they stopped Secondus and ask him to come back.”

He further added: “That was how I went back as second term chairman. For me, I can’t talk about my growth without mentioning her. If she was not around that day, to see the governor, you know is not an easy thing. Her being around that particular day saved my career in politics. And so that was how I grew from there to become what I am today.”

Wike noted a vital lesson of life he learnt from Justice Odili, which is the determination to build the capacity to be successful in ones career while not ignoring giving requisite attention to the family.

For Justice Mary Odili, Wike stated that there was a good balance she maintained that made her to succeed both in her career as a legal practitioner, a mother and wife in the family.

Governor Wike said Justice Mary Odili had remained an embodiment of care and compassion because without relenting she treated everybody with dignity that they deserved.

“I have seen somebody who is very compassionate, and very caring. The moment you’re around her husband, she takes care of you. She sees you as her husband’s person and so she will always relate with you. Some of us are direct beneficiaries of the care through our relationship with the husband,” Wike added.

He therefore commended Justice Mary Odili for the 44 years of meritorious public service, which he described as no mean feat.

In his homily, the chaplain of the Chaplaincy at CIWA, Very Rev. Monsignor Pius Kii, exhorted on the physical and eternal benefits Christians derive when they love God, one another and their enemies.

Kii emphasised that living a life of love demonstrates faithful discipleship, obedience to God and secures daily victory in life’s endeavours.

In her remarks, Justice Odili described the joy she felt as unspeakable and a thing of honour to have Governor Wike, as a sitting governor, doing a vote of thanks in her honour.

According to her, she and her spouse, Dr. Peter Odili have lots of things to always thank God for and will remain grateful to him because he gave them countless triumphs despite the challenges that they have encountered.

She said: “The good Lord knows that Peter and I don’t know how to properly thank God. Our journey in life has been such that the good Lord has always been there. There have been challenges no doubt, but the good Lord did not promise us that we will not have challenges, tribulations or difficulties. But the good Lord has always stood by us and made us prevail in all those trials and tribulations.”

sosanova:
RIP Kano APC
Kwankwaso still has his loyalists in Kano PDP, Despite Kwanskwanso moving some of his loyalists to NNPP, it is a win win situation for Kwankwaso
Danjuma Goje is moving back to PDP in Gombe state alongside his loyalists
.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni on Friday submitted the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms of the Senate President Ahmad Lawan.

Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade also submitted his presidential forms at the APC secretariat in Abuja.

A group called the National Stability Project purchased and presented the presidential forms to the Senate President on Monday, which he accepted.

The forms, which cost N100m, has also been purchased by several other top APC bigwigs, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Indications have emerged that former President Goodluck Jonathan may not contest the 2023 presidential election on the All Progressives Congress platform.

Vanguard learned from a reliable source that the N100 million nomination and expression of interest form bought for the former president by the Fulani community earlier this week, has yet to be completed and returned as the deadline ends today.

“The former president is considering many things and we cannot say if indeed the form bought for him has been completed in the first instance or if in deed, he is even keen on running on the platform of the APC,” the source told Vanguard on Friday afternoon.

Details later…

fergie001:
I just saw that he went through someone.

Again, the person has no locus standi to institute that suit.


Wrong on all fours....... Between now and Monday, the President will suspend Emefiele. Just watch, maybe before the end of today sef.

fergie001:
1. He didn't disclose he belongs to any Party, that's why no political party was joined in the suit. In the eyes of the law, he doesn't belong to any Party.

2. The main claims are against INEC, a FG agency which divests the powers of a State High Court to handle same.

3. The CBN and INEC are housed in Abuja, a Delta High Court has no territorial jurisdiction outside Delta State.

fergie001:
That's what the NJC is trying to fight with new Policy direction. This Kwale High Court always cause trouble....always.

Is the Judge not aware that he doesn't have territorial jurisdiction to handle this case.? The NJC should come hard on ths Judge.

garfield1 vicdom kahal29 penguin2 indispensable85 ejimatic agberaorogboye

Jashub:
[s][/s] My problem with people like you is that you despise reading so as to grab the meaning of every post .

See another headline that attributed her death to blasphemous statements against prophet Muhammad

https://sapatv.com.ng/videotears-female-student-st-on-fre-for-insulting-prophet-mohammed-in-sokoto/

Penguin2:


What happened sir?

Have you too abandoned Tinubu?

I mean, are you no longer standing on Tinubu’s scrotal sac?

fergie001:
This issue has been over-flogged.

They will win the suit, they have a good lawyer.

vicdom garfield1 kahal29 penguin2 indispensable85 ejimatic agberaorogboye

fergie001:
Vicdom & wahala.

Gombe state Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, has pledged the support of his administration and the entire All Progressives Congress APC delegates from the state for the presidential ambition of Ekiti state Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Dr John Kayode Fayemi.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued Thursday in Abuja by the spokesman of the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Team, Femi Ige.

He said Governor Yahaya who received the campaign team of the Ekiti State Governor led by a former Deputy National Chairman of the APC, explained that with Governor Fayemi’s deep knowledge as Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, “he is undeniably the best among the presidential aspirants who have been here and we will back you to the end,”

Continuing, Governor Yahaya said; “Fayemi has widely acknowledged experience, energy capacity, and deep knowledge. These are the qualities we need at this critical moment in Nigeria. My brother Fayemi, you have our support because we are convinced that Nigeria needs you. I have been encouraged by your consensus building capabilities and I personally encouraged you to step out for the big job and I am happy that you have taken up the challenge”.

Responding, the Ekiti governor thanked his Gombe counterpart and the delegates for the reception, promising not to take the endorsement and the love shown him for granted.

Fayemi hinged the core programme of his government if elected on Security, Economy, Energy and Job Creation.

The presidential aspirant said: “Any government who can successfully tackle these would have succeeded in bringing happiness to our country, discourage the urge to secede and address our perennial problem of youth restiveness. I believe I have the education, the energy, the capacity and the knowledge to tackle these myriad of problems” the governor added.

Noting that he may not be the richest among the aspirants, Fayemi said “history has shown us that the richest or children of the richest have never ruled Nigeria.

“Tafawa Balewa was a teacher, Shagari a headmaster, Obasanjo had no money when he left prison, Umaru Yar’Adua was a university teacher, Jonathan had no shoes and of course we know the background of our current president. What Nigeria needs now are education, capacity, energy, experience which I have in abundance.

“Nigeria needs a president who will make the Onitsha man feel comfortable in Sokoto and the Kano man to feel at home in Ibadan or Awka. I feel this best describes me and I promise not to let you down,” he pledged.

Apparently, Obiano admitted to Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba State that His Excellency @PeterObi left money behind in foreign currencies. Eziokwu anapụta ife. pic.twitter.com/a9UukA4hjt

— Aji Bussu Onye Mpiawa azụ 🇨🇮 (@AfamDeluxo) May 11, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that all members of the Federal Executive Council running for elective offices to submit their letters of resignation on or before Monday the 16th of May, 2022.

Details Later.

fergie001:
garfield1 vicdom kahal29 penguin2 indispensable85 ejimatic agberaorogboye AAA593


I believe it is.

The Appeal Court nullified the judgement in Umuahia on technical grounds that Edede had no locus.

The PDP challenged that section hence the Appeal Court ruled that Section 84(12) is unconstitutional wrt to Section 42 of the 1999 CFRN.

It means that Section 84(12) is null and void hence all political appointees can keep their jobs and contest as before.

An explosion has rocked the headquarters of Six Brigade Nigeria Army located in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.

The incident took place late Tuesday night in the backyard of the building but no casualty was recorded.

The Army has so far barricaded the roads leading to and fro the axis of the Six Brigade Nigeria Army headquarters to forestall further attempts on their lives.

No statement has emanated from the Brigade commander as to what transpired.

fergie001:
Firstly, by Instituting the case alone and the manner he has surreptitiously taken this case has made Godwin Emefiele lose every credibility, that is if he had any.

Section 84(12) & its wahala. Every person in the Federal Executive arm is a political appointee excepting the President & his Vice.

In Oni v Fayemi, the Appeal Court ruled that while the Ministers are Public Officers, they are not employed in the Public Service of the Federation. The determination of Emefiele or any other public Officer will rest on the nature of their appointment.

3 types of employment are recognised in Nigeria;
A. Employment at will or servant holding an office at pleasure of employer, i.e. Master and servant relationship.

B. Employment by written contract of employment;

C. Employment which is governed by statute;

Ministers fall under Section A. (Their position isn't tenured and they can be fired at any time by the President without recourse to anything or anybody).

The CBN been a legislation of the National Assembly falls under C.
This is an employment with statutory flavour. The employment or termination is protected by statute or laid down regulations and it is usually tenured. However, the SC has said many times that employment with a Statutory body is not automatically clothed with statutory flavour but will be determined by the contractual terms between employer & employee in the letter of employment.

To have a statutory flavour, the appointment and removal of the employee must be defined in the enabling statute so that a valid determination of such employment is predicated upon the satisfaction of the statutory provisions. What it means literally is that: If the Senate does not support the President according to the CBN Act, the Governor will be reinstated if the President touches him.

I believe it is clear from the Act on screenshot below that Emefiele is employed in the Service of The Federation and should leave there 30 days before the date of election.

The question: Should The date of the election be 30 days to the Primary election or 30 days to the general election. A question for another day.

vicdom garfield1 kahal29 penguin2 indispensable85 ejimatic agberaorogboye

A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele’s request to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami preventing him from his Presidential Ambition.

The CBN Governor on Monday told the Court in Abuja that he can run for the post of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without vacating his position as the CBN Governor.

The CBN Governor through his Counsel, Mike Ozekhome, told the court that Section 84 ((12) of the Electoral Act as amended, 2022 does not affect him, being a public servant and not a political appointee.

The court in its ruling, however, summonsed INEC, and AGF to appear before it on May 12, to show cause on why status quo antebellum, should not be granted to the CBN Governor.