Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Saturday, 18 November 2023
President Tinubu congratulates Liberia's president-elect, Joseph Boakai
Biden, Trump unpopularity trigger search for third party candidate for 2024 US election
Thursday, 16 November 2023
Obi slams APC's bankruptcy claim, emphasizes need for transparent governance
Wednesday, 14 April 2021
VP Osinbajo seeks free access to Covid-19 vaccine by developing economies
For example, if you look at what is happening with COVID-19 and access to vaccines, what we are seeing is export bans and a resort to vaccine nationalism,” Osinbajo told his audience. READ MORE
Saturday, 25 July 2020
President Buhari phobia for wearing face mask
Nigerian President Mohammadu Buhari on Thursday proved the naysayers wrong when he arrived in Bamako, capital of Mali, adorning a face mask, his first time of being seen with the protective gear to wade of the spread of Covid-19.
Right from the aircraft that conveyed him to the meeting with other presidents of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to resolve political crisis brewing in the sahel region, the president wore his facemask and also at the meeting held by the five ECOWAS leaders with the president of Mali.
President Buhari, like his United States counterpart, Donald Trump has spurned the wearing of facemask with his aides saying the president need not wear one, even at official meetings.
However, just like Trump who emerged in the public last week with a black face mask, Buhari came down from the aircraft with his white facemask and up to the point of inspecting the guard of honour and his meeting with the other heads of states.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) in the wake of the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic recommended face mask as part of protocols to prevent the spread of the dreaded disease.
...TO CONTINUE READING CLICK: https://globalfinancialdigest.com/president-buhari-wears-face-mask-for-the-first-time-in-mali/
Friday, 8 November 2019
Attempt To Amend EFCC Law Meant To Undermine Its Effectiveness
Nigeria's anti-graft agency the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused some powerful people plotting to whittle down the power of the commission by sponsoring an amendment to its enabling law.
According to the acting chairman of the commission Ibrahim Magu there was a plot to amend the agency’s enabling Act to reduce its powers.
He said although some corrupt elements were behind the plot to whittle down the powers of EFCC as a way of fighting back
There was a report that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation plans to take over the assets recovery and management functions of the country's anti-graft agencies.
However, Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has debunked the claimed, saying there was no plan to reduce the asset recovery powers of the EFCC.
Malami said the anti-graft agencies would retain their powers to seize assets from corrupt suspects.
The minister made the clarifications in a statement through his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr Umar Jibrilu Gwandu.
Magu in his presentation at a press briefing said asset recovery is key in denying the corrupt the enjoyment of the proceeds of their crimes.
He said the activities of the EFCC have also helped to restore the confidence of international investors in the economy
Magu, who made his position known at Anti-corruption Townhall meeting in Abuja, said all that is needed to fight corruption is “a combination of guts, integrity and determination.”
“For me, this is a moment to share experiences from my four-year tour of duty at the helm of the EFCC, leading the commission’s charge against all forms of corruption in Nigeria.
“It is true that corruption is the greatest problem holding back our country from fulfilling its potentials. It is entrenched in all sectors. But, in the last four years, the EFCC, backed by the political will of President Muhammadu Buhari, has, through a combination of enforcement and preventive measures, proving that this monster can be tamed.
“All that is needed is a combination of guts, integrity and determination.
“Fighting corruption comes with its peculiar challenges. The corrupt are not going to fold their hands while you retrieve what they had stolen. They would fight back. This has come in the form of:
•sponsored media attacks and even violent attacks against operatives of the Commission. My farmhouse in Nasarawa state was attacked;
•sponsorship of unwarranted amendment of EFCC laws, to reduce its powers and undermine the effectiveness of the agency; and
undermining and distracting the leadership of the commission.
The Acting EFCC chairman spoke on other inhibitions against the anti-graft war.
“The other challenges are: not enough funding support for expanding activities of the commission, especially the huge cost of investigation and prosecution of cases.
“Lack of progress in some high profile corruption cases due to the antics of defence lawyers, especially some senior advocates.
“Lack of cooperation by some institutions in both public and private sectors that should be working side – by – side with the Commission in the fight against corruption.
“Lack of cooperation by some foreign countries in the recovery of stolen assets stashed abroad.
“Insufficient manpower to cope with the ever-increasing cases of corruption and economic crimes and inadequate accommodation for staff in zonal offices
“I wish to reiterate that, no one agency can fight the ills of corruption alone, as such, we must all work together as hunters of fraud and corruption to salvage our country from the corrupt few.”
On the controversy surrounding the seizure of properties, Magu said: “Asset recovery is key in denying the corrupt the enjoyment of the proceeds of his/her crime.
“It also allows the country to channel recovered funds into national development. Within this period, the Commission has recovered several hundreds of billions of Naira which are in various categories of forfeitures.
“Some of these funds were recovered for third party individuals, companies, as well as government agencies such as NNPC, FIRs, AMCON and also state governments. Several thousand of movable and immovable properties have been recovered within the period. These are also subject of either interim or final forfeiture orders.”
He said although some corrupt elements were behind the plot to whittle down the powers of EFCC as a way of fighting back
There was a report that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation plans to take over the assets recovery and management functions of the country's anti-graft agencies.
However, Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has debunked the claimed, saying there was no plan to reduce the asset recovery powers of the EFCC.
Malami said the anti-graft agencies would retain their powers to seize assets from corrupt suspects.
The minister made the clarifications in a statement through his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr Umar Jibrilu Gwandu.
Magu in his presentation at a press briefing said asset recovery is key in denying the corrupt the enjoyment of the proceeds of their crimes.
He said the activities of the EFCC have also helped to restore the confidence of international investors in the economy
Magu, who made his position known at Anti-corruption Townhall meeting in Abuja, said all that is needed to fight corruption is “a combination of guts, integrity and determination.”
“For me, this is a moment to share experiences from my four-year tour of duty at the helm of the EFCC, leading the commission’s charge against all forms of corruption in Nigeria.
“It is true that corruption is the greatest problem holding back our country from fulfilling its potentials. It is entrenched in all sectors. But, in the last four years, the EFCC, backed by the political will of President Muhammadu Buhari, has, through a combination of enforcement and preventive measures, proving that this monster can be tamed.
“All that is needed is a combination of guts, integrity and determination.
“Fighting corruption comes with its peculiar challenges. The corrupt are not going to fold their hands while you retrieve what they had stolen. They would fight back. This has come in the form of:
•sponsored media attacks and even violent attacks against operatives of the Commission. My farmhouse in Nasarawa state was attacked;
•sponsorship of unwarranted amendment of EFCC laws, to reduce its powers and undermine the effectiveness of the agency; and
undermining and distracting the leadership of the commission.
The Acting EFCC chairman spoke on other inhibitions against the anti-graft war.
“The other challenges are: not enough funding support for expanding activities of the commission, especially the huge cost of investigation and prosecution of cases.
“Lack of progress in some high profile corruption cases due to the antics of defence lawyers, especially some senior advocates.
“Lack of cooperation by some institutions in both public and private sectors that should be working side – by – side with the Commission in the fight against corruption.
“Lack of cooperation by some foreign countries in the recovery of stolen assets stashed abroad.
“Insufficient manpower to cope with the ever-increasing cases of corruption and economic crimes and inadequate accommodation for staff in zonal offices
“I wish to reiterate that, no one agency can fight the ills of corruption alone, as such, we must all work together as hunters of fraud and corruption to salvage our country from the corrupt few.”
On the controversy surrounding the seizure of properties, Magu said: “Asset recovery is key in denying the corrupt the enjoyment of the proceeds of his/her crime.
“It also allows the country to channel recovered funds into national development. Within this period, the Commission has recovered several hundreds of billions of Naira which are in various categories of forfeitures.
“Some of these funds were recovered for third party individuals, companies, as well as government agencies such as NNPC, FIRs, AMCON and also state governments. Several thousand of movable and immovable properties have been recovered within the period. These are also subject of either interim or final forfeiture orders.”
Thursday, 7 November 2019
How President Buhari Weakens Osinbajo’s Powers Amid Succession Talk
The relationship between Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is in the spotlight after the president embarked on a private overseas trip without handing over temporary authority to his deputy.
While Buhari, 76, transferred power to Osinbajo, 62, during his first term when he traveled abroad for medical reasons, it’s the second time he’s opted not to since being re-elected in February. His chief-of-staff, Abba Kyari, this week had to fly to London so that Buhari could sign long-awaited oil legislation approved by parliament.
Speculation that Buhari is marginalizing Osinbajo was partly fueled by the president’s decision last month to appoint a new economic advisory council that reports directly to him, replacing a committee headed by the vice president.
Nigerian newspapers reported that Buhari, who is on a 15-day private visit to the U.K., this week approved the dismissal of dozens of Osinbajo’s aides.
The treatment of Osinbajo since the election “has sent a strong signal to the ruling party and national power brokers that Buhari has no plans to anoint, or go out of his way to position, his VP as his preferred successor,” said Matthew Page, an associate fellow at London-based Chatham House.
“It also sends a signal that Buhari prefers to maintain tight control over government decision-making.”
Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, declined to comment and Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, didn’t immediately respond to phone calls seeking comment.
Reversing Decisions
Even before the election, Buhari had begun undoing what could pass for Osinbajo’s legacy by reversing key decisions the latter made when he was acting president. These include removing former Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, whose appointment was confirmed by Osinbajo while Buhari was abroad, and firing Mathew Seiyefa, the vice president’s choice for head of the secret police to replace a Buhari appointee.
Although the next presidential election isn’t due until 2023, Buhari can’t stand again and attention is already turning to the question of who’ll be the ruling All Progressives Congress’s candidate.
A former law professor from southwest Nigeria, Osinbajo won praise for his decisive handling of economic matters, especially during the president’s lengthy health-related absences during his first term.
Under an informal arrangement, the APC is expected to select a candidate from the mainly Christian south to replace Buhari, who comes from the predominantly Muslim north.
APC spokesman Lanre Issa-Onilu didn’t immediately respond to phone calls requesting comment.
Opinions differ over the legality of Buhari’s decision not to transfer power to Osinbajo while he’s in the U.K. for undisclosed private reasons.
The president’s supporters say he’s under no obligation to hand over responsibilities if his absence is shorter than 21 days.
“This is some kind of clever attempt to explain away the provisions of the constitution,” said Clement Nwankwo, director of the Abuja-based Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre.
“What he (Buhari) has done is not in line with the provisions of the constitution.”
Speculation that Buhari is marginalizing Osinbajo was partly fueled by the president’s decision last month to appoint a new economic advisory council that reports directly to him, replacing a committee headed by the vice president.
Nigerian newspapers reported that Buhari, who is on a 15-day private visit to the U.K., this week approved the dismissal of dozens of Osinbajo’s aides.
The treatment of Osinbajo since the election “has sent a strong signal to the ruling party and national power brokers that Buhari has no plans to anoint, or go out of his way to position, his VP as his preferred successor,” said Matthew Page, an associate fellow at London-based Chatham House.
“It also sends a signal that Buhari prefers to maintain tight control over government decision-making.”
Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, declined to comment and Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, didn’t immediately respond to phone calls seeking comment.
Reversing Decisions
Even before the election, Buhari had begun undoing what could pass for Osinbajo’s legacy by reversing key decisions the latter made when he was acting president. These include removing former Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, whose appointment was confirmed by Osinbajo while Buhari was abroad, and firing Mathew Seiyefa, the vice president’s choice for head of the secret police to replace a Buhari appointee.
Although the next presidential election isn’t due until 2023, Buhari can’t stand again and attention is already turning to the question of who’ll be the ruling All Progressives Congress’s candidate.
A former law professor from southwest Nigeria, Osinbajo won praise for his decisive handling of economic matters, especially during the president’s lengthy health-related absences during his first term.
Under an informal arrangement, the APC is expected to select a candidate from the mainly Christian south to replace Buhari, who comes from the predominantly Muslim north.
APC spokesman Lanre Issa-Onilu didn’t immediately respond to phone calls requesting comment.
Opinions differ over the legality of Buhari’s decision not to transfer power to Osinbajo while he’s in the U.K. for undisclosed private reasons.
The president’s supporters say he’s under no obligation to hand over responsibilities if his absence is shorter than 21 days.
“This is some kind of clever attempt to explain away the provisions of the constitution,” said Clement Nwankwo, director of the Abuja-based Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre.
“What he (Buhari) has done is not in line with the provisions of the constitution.”
President Buhari May Drop Magu, Fowler From EFCC, FIRS~Sources
There are strong indications that President Muhammadu Buhari may not renew the appointment of both the Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu and his counterpart at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Babatunde Fowler.
According to a report by Thisday, the President is weighing his options on the two appointees and could replace them as soon as possible.
Magu, who has been rejected twice at the point of confirmation by the Senate has remained head of the anti-graft agency in acting capacity since 2015.
By November 9, Magu would have spent four years in office as the acting chairman of the EFCC and no attempt has been made by the government to re-present his candidature to the Senate for confirmation, sources said.
In the case of the Fowler, by December 9, he would have clocked four years in office as chairman of the tax agency. He was first appointed on August 18, 2015, and got confirmed by the Senate by December of the same year.
The FIRS boss has in recent times been subjected to some close scrutiny by the presidency with the query issued to him by the president chief of staff on his inability to meet revenue target.
At, some point, he was alleged to have conspired with some top officials of the revenue generation agency to defraud the organisation through duty allowances that ran to millions of naira.
However, at the end of the day, he seems to have scaled the hurdle and successfully exonerated himself of the allegations.
Magu’s case is more complex, having regard to his non- confirmation by the Senate,
the president has been under intense pressure by politicians, top government officials and others in the last few months to take a decision on his tenure in office.
While some of the lobbyists, especially influential politicians, were said to be mounting pressure on the president to drop both Magu and Fowler, there are other top politicians who are said to be in support of the retention of the two personalities to sustain the gain in their organisations.
Although, no final decision has been made concerning the two top government officials, but the likelihood of them being retained by the president remains contentious.
The options, a presidential source said, were for the president to retain them by giving them a new term, extend their tenure or drop them.
The president, for instance, could either reappoint Magu for another term of four years, in line with Section 3(1) of the EFCC Act or to replace him.
Section 3(1) of the EFCC Act states: “The Chairman and members of the Commission other than ex-officio members, shall hold office for a period of four years and may be re-appointed for a further term of four years and no more.”
It was gathered there were so many forces arrayed against Magu and his chances of remaining in the EFCC beyond the expiration of his first term tenure would depend on which of the group of the lobbyists win with the president.
Magu case was said to have been compounded by his close relationship with the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and his altercations with the Attorney General of the federal Abubakar Malami.
For Fowler, his relationship with a top chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) who has been speculated to be eyeing the position of president come 2023, seems to be working against him as well.
But some sources told THISDAY yesterday that the president might retain Magu by making him also a beneficiary of the tenure extension being enjoyed by the four services chiefs: the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
It was learnt that Magu, enjoyed the confidence of the president, which was why he was retained despite his rejection by the Eighth Senate, which refused to confirm his nomination as substantive EFCC chairman.
In explaining his rejection when he was first considered on December 15, 2016, the Senate had said it refused to confirm Magu based on security report, in an apparent reference to the mandatory report from the Department of State Services (DSS) on nominees for top public office appointments, available to the senators.
The then Senate spokesman, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, had said the Senate took the decision after a closed-door meeting, adding: “The Senate wishes to inform the public that based on available security report, the Senate cannot proceed with the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“The nomination of Ibrahim Magu is hereby rejected and has been returned to the President for further action.”
The same fate befell Magu when he was re-presented for confirmation in March 2017.
The Senate had again rejected his nomination as the DSS upheld its earlier position that Magu was not fit for the position.
When Magu appeared in the Senate for confirmation on March 15, 2017, Senator Dino Melaye had read out a portion of the DSS report, which stated: “In the light of the foregoing, Magu has failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption stand of the current government.”
During the screening, Magu had satisfactorily answered the senators’ questions but he was confronted with the DSS verdict on him.
However, he had questioned the trustworthiness of the DSS report, adding that the security agency sent out two reports on him with different contents.
“What do you say about credibility of that agency?” he had asked rhetorically.
But despite his rejection, the president had rebuffed entreaties to replace him then; thereby leaving him to continue in office in acting capacity.
Under Magu’s watch, the EFCC has recovered about N939.51billion in four years and secured about 1,636 convictions, including those of two former governors: Senator Joshua Dariye (Plateau State) and Jolly Nyame (Taraba State)
Analysts asked on Wednesday whether given the controversy that heralded his confirmation hearing, the president would just reappoint him or return him to the Senate for confirmation for a second tenure given a new found friendly relations the executive has with the legislature.
Fowler was named the acting chairman of the FIRS on August 18, 2015 to replace its former Coordinating Director, Samuel Odugbesan, who was put in the position five months earlier.
The Senate on December 9, 2015, confirmed his appointment for four-year tenure.
However, the commencement of his tenure had sparked a legal battle following a suit filed by an Abuja-based lawyer, Stanley Okwara, seeking an order of the court to sack him on the grounds that his tenure lapsed on August 18, 2019.
Okwara, in the suit No FHC/KN/CS/141/2019, had asked the Federal High Court, sitting in Kano, to order Fowler to vacate his office.
But a lawyer with the FIRS, Barry Chukwu, in an affidavit dated September 30, had countered Okwara’s claim, saying Fowler’s tenure could only have been said to have started counting in the aftermath of the Senate’s ratification of his nomination.
Chukwu, in an affidavit, had said: “Following a meeting by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 9th December, 2015, Fowler was confirmed as the substantive Executive Chairman of the FIRS.
“The following day, 10th December 2015, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, informed President Muhammadu Buhari of Fowler’s suitability for confirmation as substantive Executive Chairman of the FIRS.
“Based on this, Fowler’s appointment as Executive Chairman did not take effect on 20 August, 2015 when he was appointed as the acting FIRS Chairman.”
He also quoted a letter from the then Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, to the president, informing him of Fowler’s confirmation as the FIRS chairman.
“Your Excellency may, therefore, wish to formally appoint the confirmed nominee as Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service,” Saraki’s letter, dated 15 December 2015, read in part.
The court, however, struck out Okwara’s suit, upholding the preliminary objection filed by Fowler’s counsel, Paul Erokoro, that the plaintiff had no locus standi to file the suit.
Magu, who has been rejected twice at the point of confirmation by the Senate has remained head of the anti-graft agency in acting capacity since 2015.
By November 9, Magu would have spent four years in office as the acting chairman of the EFCC and no attempt has been made by the government to re-present his candidature to the Senate for confirmation, sources said.
In the case of the Fowler, by December 9, he would have clocked four years in office as chairman of the tax agency. He was first appointed on August 18, 2015, and got confirmed by the Senate by December of the same year.
The FIRS boss has in recent times been subjected to some close scrutiny by the presidency with the query issued to him by the president chief of staff on his inability to meet revenue target.
At, some point, he was alleged to have conspired with some top officials of the revenue generation agency to defraud the organisation through duty allowances that ran to millions of naira.
However, at the end of the day, he seems to have scaled the hurdle and successfully exonerated himself of the allegations.
Magu’s case is more complex, having regard to his non- confirmation by the Senate,
the president has been under intense pressure by politicians, top government officials and others in the last few months to take a decision on his tenure in office.
While some of the lobbyists, especially influential politicians, were said to be mounting pressure on the president to drop both Magu and Fowler, there are other top politicians who are said to be in support of the retention of the two personalities to sustain the gain in their organisations.
Although, no final decision has been made concerning the two top government officials, but the likelihood of them being retained by the president remains contentious.
The options, a presidential source said, were for the president to retain them by giving them a new term, extend their tenure or drop them.
The president, for instance, could either reappoint Magu for another term of four years, in line with Section 3(1) of the EFCC Act or to replace him.
Section 3(1) of the EFCC Act states: “The Chairman and members of the Commission other than ex-officio members, shall hold office for a period of four years and may be re-appointed for a further term of four years and no more.”
It was gathered there were so many forces arrayed against Magu and his chances of remaining in the EFCC beyond the expiration of his first term tenure would depend on which of the group of the lobbyists win with the president.
Magu case was said to have been compounded by his close relationship with the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and his altercations with the Attorney General of the federal Abubakar Malami.
For Fowler, his relationship with a top chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) who has been speculated to be eyeing the position of president come 2023, seems to be working against him as well.
But some sources told THISDAY yesterday that the president might retain Magu by making him also a beneficiary of the tenure extension being enjoyed by the four services chiefs: the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
It was learnt that Magu, enjoyed the confidence of the president, which was why he was retained despite his rejection by the Eighth Senate, which refused to confirm his nomination as substantive EFCC chairman.
In explaining his rejection when he was first considered on December 15, 2016, the Senate had said it refused to confirm Magu based on security report, in an apparent reference to the mandatory report from the Department of State Services (DSS) on nominees for top public office appointments, available to the senators.
The then Senate spokesman, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, had said the Senate took the decision after a closed-door meeting, adding: “The Senate wishes to inform the public that based on available security report, the Senate cannot proceed with the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“The nomination of Ibrahim Magu is hereby rejected and has been returned to the President for further action.”
The same fate befell Magu when he was re-presented for confirmation in March 2017.
The Senate had again rejected his nomination as the DSS upheld its earlier position that Magu was not fit for the position.
When Magu appeared in the Senate for confirmation on March 15, 2017, Senator Dino Melaye had read out a portion of the DSS report, which stated: “In the light of the foregoing, Magu has failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption stand of the current government.”
During the screening, Magu had satisfactorily answered the senators’ questions but he was confronted with the DSS verdict on him.
However, he had questioned the trustworthiness of the DSS report, adding that the security agency sent out two reports on him with different contents.
“What do you say about credibility of that agency?” he had asked rhetorically.
But despite his rejection, the president had rebuffed entreaties to replace him then; thereby leaving him to continue in office in acting capacity.
Under Magu’s watch, the EFCC has recovered about N939.51billion in four years and secured about 1,636 convictions, including those of two former governors: Senator Joshua Dariye (Plateau State) and Jolly Nyame (Taraba State)
Analysts asked on Wednesday whether given the controversy that heralded his confirmation hearing, the president would just reappoint him or return him to the Senate for confirmation for a second tenure given a new found friendly relations the executive has with the legislature.
Fowler was named the acting chairman of the FIRS on August 18, 2015 to replace its former Coordinating Director, Samuel Odugbesan, who was put in the position five months earlier.
The Senate on December 9, 2015, confirmed his appointment for four-year tenure.
However, the commencement of his tenure had sparked a legal battle following a suit filed by an Abuja-based lawyer, Stanley Okwara, seeking an order of the court to sack him on the grounds that his tenure lapsed on August 18, 2019.
Okwara, in the suit No FHC/KN/CS/141/2019, had asked the Federal High Court, sitting in Kano, to order Fowler to vacate his office.
But a lawyer with the FIRS, Barry Chukwu, in an affidavit dated September 30, had countered Okwara’s claim, saying Fowler’s tenure could only have been said to have started counting in the aftermath of the Senate’s ratification of his nomination.
Chukwu, in an affidavit, had said: “Following a meeting by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 9th December, 2015, Fowler was confirmed as the substantive Executive Chairman of the FIRS.
“The following day, 10th December 2015, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, informed President Muhammadu Buhari of Fowler’s suitability for confirmation as substantive Executive Chairman of the FIRS.
“Based on this, Fowler’s appointment as Executive Chairman did not take effect on 20 August, 2015 when he was appointed as the acting FIRS Chairman.”
He also quoted a letter from the then Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, to the president, informing him of Fowler’s confirmation as the FIRS chairman.
“Your Excellency may, therefore, wish to formally appoint the confirmed nominee as Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service,” Saraki’s letter, dated 15 December 2015, read in part.
The court, however, struck out Okwara’s suit, upholding the preliminary objection filed by Fowler’s counsel, Paul Erokoro, that the plaintiff had no locus standi to file the suit.
Wednesday, 6 November 2019
Don't Call Me 'Your Excellency' Again, Sanwo-Olu says
Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared that he does not want to be addressed as 'His excellency' any longer, rather he would prefer the prefix 'Mr. Governor' hence.
In a statement on Wednesday, Sanwo-Olu said he will sign an executive order on Thursday to give official effect to the new title.
"I wish to be addressed simply as Mr. Governor, a title that will constantly remind me that I have been chosen out of so many fellow compatriots to lead a collective salvage of our political economy. "A salutation that sanitises the paraphernalia of office and reminds us all of our imperfections and mortality. To give official effect to this announcement, I shall issue tomorrow an executive order that will formally ensure full compliance with this new policy," the governor said.
According to him, the office of the Governor has been celebrated as the paragon of excellence, a temple of perfection and a throne of purity. This demi-god mystique spreads over the entire machinery of the executive arm of the government, symbolising an authoritarian disposition on the governed.
In the last five months that I have been privileged to exercise the mandate freely given to me by the great and hardworking people of Lagos State, it has come to my consciousness to review certain features of citizen-government relations which impede the genuine expression of the democratic spirit of our society and the meaningful exercise of the sovereignty of our people.
The office of the Governor has been celebrated as the paragon of excellence, a temple of perfection and a throne of purity. This demi-god mystique spreads over the entire machinery of the executive arm of the government, symbolising an authoritarian disposition on the governed.
"It has deformed the orientation of elected and appointed persons who are paid from the taxes of the people to see themselves as oppressors who can do no wrong and must be served, rather than serve the people.
"Whatever might have been the reason for this myth, let us be honest, the office is occupied by a mortal who has been called upon to serve the electorate with humility - and sincerity. The office of Governor is a public trust that calls for sacrifice, modesty and willingness to add value to the lives of the people.
"Fellow Lagosians, I have come to the conclusion that for us to change the narrative of governance, we have to strike down this seeming symbol of executive arrogance that commands popular obeisance and undermines the democratic role of citizens as the masters of those they have elected and appointed to serve. It is a conviction that I believe will send the right signals to all politicians and civil servants that service to the people has brought us here. It is the duty we are obliged to do. It is the responsibility that we bear wherever we find ourselves; whenever we are called to serve.
"Only God, the Almighty, the Creator, the Protector is the Most Excellent. No man can share His eternal qualities," the governor concluded.
"I wish to be addressed simply as Mr. Governor, a title that will constantly remind me that I have been chosen out of so many fellow compatriots to lead a collective salvage of our political economy. "A salutation that sanitises the paraphernalia of office and reminds us all of our imperfections and mortality. To give official effect to this announcement, I shall issue tomorrow an executive order that will formally ensure full compliance with this new policy," the governor said.
According to him, the office of the Governor has been celebrated as the paragon of excellence, a temple of perfection and a throne of purity. This demi-god mystique spreads over the entire machinery of the executive arm of the government, symbolising an authoritarian disposition on the governed.
In the last five months that I have been privileged to exercise the mandate freely given to me by the great and hardworking people of Lagos State, it has come to my consciousness to review certain features of citizen-government relations which impede the genuine expression of the democratic spirit of our society and the meaningful exercise of the sovereignty of our people.
The office of the Governor has been celebrated as the paragon of excellence, a temple of perfection and a throne of purity. This demi-god mystique spreads over the entire machinery of the executive arm of the government, symbolising an authoritarian disposition on the governed.
"It has deformed the orientation of elected and appointed persons who are paid from the taxes of the people to see themselves as oppressors who can do no wrong and must be served, rather than serve the people.
"Whatever might have been the reason for this myth, let us be honest, the office is occupied by a mortal who has been called upon to serve the electorate with humility - and sincerity. The office of Governor is a public trust that calls for sacrifice, modesty and willingness to add value to the lives of the people.
"Fellow Lagosians, I have come to the conclusion that for us to change the narrative of governance, we have to strike down this seeming symbol of executive arrogance that commands popular obeisance and undermines the democratic role of citizens as the masters of those they have elected and appointed to serve. It is a conviction that I believe will send the right signals to all politicians and civil servants that service to the people has brought us here. It is the duty we are obliged to do. It is the responsibility that we bear wherever we find ourselves; whenever we are called to serve.
"Only God, the Almighty, the Creator, the Protector is the Most Excellent. No man can share His eternal qualities," the governor concluded.
PDP Senator Olujimi Floors APC Adeyeye At Appeal Court
The Court of Appeal declared Senator Biodun Olujimi of the main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the election.
Olujimi, a former principal officer in the 8th senate, is a former deputy governor of Ekiti state. She had won the case at the lower tribunal in the state weeks back.
Olujimi in a tweet said: "Congratulations to my Steadfast Constituents of Ekiti South Senatorial District and all Ekiti people indeed. It is a Victory For Democracy and the Freedom of Choice. May God only be Praised, to Him alone be ALL the Glory."
Adeyeye was a former spokesman of the main opposition party before he switched allegiance to the ruling party to contest the election this year.
The Election Tribunal had earlier declared Olujimi winner with total votes of 54,894 against Adeyeye, who garnered 52,234 after the Justice Danladi Adeck-led tribunal nullified elections in some units.
However, Adeyeye appealed the September 9 judgment that nullified his election and declared the PDP candidate, Olujimi, winner of the poll.
Tuesday, 5 November 2019
How Abba Kyari Manipulated Buhari To Act Against Osinbajo's interest
PREMIUM TIMES EXCLUSIVE
When Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari seeking approval for funds to continue his role in resolving the deadly farmers-herdsmen conflict earlier this year, he did so with little awareness that a middleman would intercept it, moderate it and ultimately discard his role altogether.
Yet, that was exactly what transpired after Mr Osinbajo pushed a memo to Mr Buhari earlier this year that was subsequently undermined by Abba Kyari, the president’s chief of staff.
After successfully rubbishing Mr Osinbajo’s request to Mr Buhari, Mr Kyari went on to instigate the president to sack Mr Osinbajo from his role as the head of a committee that was raised to resolve the perennial violence between farmers and herdsmen, PREMIUM TIMES can report based on official documents and interviews with people familiar with the tussle for influence at the Presidential Villa.
The exclusive documents in our possession provide a rare glimpse into the humiliation Mr Osinbajo is facing at a time speculations are rife nationwide about how poorly the vice-president was being treated by the president’s senior aides and allies.
A Request Made
The documents showed Mr Osinbajo sought the president’s approval for three proposals relating to the development of the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP). Mr Osinbajo had earlier been mandated by the president to lead the initiative with other governors in the National Economic Council (NEC).
The NLTP was proposed when the Buhari administration came under pressure to find a lasting solution to the incessant herdsmen violence that killed nearly 4,000 people between 2016 and 2018.
The plan included programmes of rehabilitation of displaced persons in states ravaged by the farmers-herders’ violence and development of ranches for nomadic herders in any willing state of the federation.
After months of preliminary consultations and inputs from affected states, an agreement was reached by states to form a substantive committee that would oversee implementation of the compromise, make NLTP the coordinating institution of all outstanding issues bordering on herdsmen crisis and coordinate funding for the transformation efforts.
In an April 12, 2019 memo to the president, the vice-president detailed the agreement to the president and requested approval. He mentioned that N35 billion had been earmarked for the livestock transformation policy, out of which N12 billion had already been released for ruga projects (construction of ranches for Fulani herders along designated grazing routes).
The entire N35 billion was pulled from the ecological funds of federal and state governments. The N12 billion was earmarked for emergency ruga projects in Niger, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba, Nasarawa, Benue, Kaduna, Katsina and Adamawa. The states were designated frontline states affected by the farmers-herders crisis.
Subsequently, since N12 billion had been earmarked for immediate use, Mr Osinbajo pleaded with Mr Buhari to release N22 billion for the longtime implementation of the project, including providing succour for people displaced by the violence in Benue, Plateau and other states.
Mr Osinbajo also stated in the memo (reference: SH/VP/NLTP/02/1) that the N22 billion would be deposited in a dedicated account with the CBN and only withdrawn for specific purposes as may be approved by the member states in the proposed Steering Committee.
‘Duplication of Efforts’
But rather than forwarding the vice president’s memo to the president for approval, Mr Kyari held it for more than a month, eventually submitting it to the president on May 16. But before he submitted it, the chief of staff reworked the memo to include his own observation and recommendations to the president.
Mr Kyari told the president that the request by Mr Osinbajo should be rejected because the N12 billion voted for the Ruga projects had not been fully utilised.
“Given that the president has approved N12 billion for intervention for the Ruga Model, through the National Food Security Council (NFSC), we respectfully recommend that we first evaluate the development impact of this particular project before releasing further amounts for the NLTP,” Mr Kyari wrote. “This is key especially as major security operations are ongoing in some of these locations.”
On Mr Osinbajo’s request for an inclusive Steering Committee to be inaugurated to drive the livestock transformation policy, Mr Kyari knocked it as a duplication of efforts.
“This plan may not be an effective strategy due to the overriding importance of farmer/herder issues in the National Food Security Council, which Mr President is the chairman,” he said.
The chief of staff then proceeded to recommend that Mr Buhari should scrap the NLTP, an initiative by state governors and the vice-president as a representative of the administration.
“To avoid duplication of efforts, we respectfully recommend (with emphasis) that Mr President retains oversight of the farmer/herder issues under the NFSC,” Mr Kyari said, adding that the council includes all heads of security and intelligence agencies as well as representatives of governors from the six geopolitical zones.
Finally, Mr Kyari proposed the establishment of a National Livestock and Fisheries Commission that would be responsible for “formulating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating all projects relating to ranching, fisheries and other related issues.”
A Vice-President Undermined
On May 24, the president approved Mr Kyari’s request, consequently discarding Mr Osinbajo’s request.
“Your recommendations above endorsed,” Mr Buhari said when he signed the memo with reference number: PRES/65-I/COS/2/996.
In approving Mr Kyari’s recommendations over Mr Osinbajo’s even without consulting with his deputy, Mr Buhari appeared to have more respect for his aides.
Presidency sources told PREMIUM TIMES there was no basis for the president’s action, which is just one of several acts of insubordination against the vice-president.
Osinbajo addressed the memo directly to the president, and it is unclear why the chief of staff had to sit on it and eventually rubbishing the content before passing it to the president.
“It is not for the chief of staff to advise the president on a memo that came directly from the vice-president,” an official told PREMIUM TIMES under strict anonymity to avoid being victimised for discussing confidential State House matters.
“The vice-president issued the memo based on a policy he had been personally supervising,” the official said. ” So there is no basis, especially in writing, that it should be subjected to the advice of a subordinate.”
The official said it was not uncommon for a president to call his chief of the staff or other aides to seek verbal advice on an action he wanted to take over a request from the vice-president, but he would then have to first revert to the vice-president for further briefing and suggestions on areas that need improvement.
Another official told PREMIUM TIMES Mr Kyari took the step to retain powers for himself by proxy. If the approval sought by Mr Osinbajo had been granted, matters around the farmers-herders crisis would have been joint federal-states concerns and issues would have to be vigorously debated before funding is earmarked.
“He knows that if the president is in charge, he will be the one issuing orders over the livestock matters in the president’s name,” the source said. “That would include spending monies without any questions or accountability unlike what would have happened if the Steering Committee had been approved.”
Mr Buhari abruptly suspended the ruga projects in July following an outcry from Nigerians that the establishment of Ruga settlements should be voluntary amongst states and not imposed by the federal government through the takeover of state lands.
Presidential spokespersons Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu did not return multiple requests for comments from PREMIUM TIMES for this story.
Managing a jungle
PREMIUM TIMES obtained the memos as Mr Buhari was embarking on a private two-week visit to the United Kingdom.
The president did not hand over power to Mr Osinbajo. Instead, he has been asking his aides to bring crucial documents to him for assent in London. The Nigerian law requires that the president hand over power if he would be away from duty for 21 days.
On Monday, Mr Kyari flew to London to submit a new bill on offshore oil fields to the president for assent. The action drew sparked among Nigerians, who said it was embarrassing that the presidency would make a public show of such a controversial action.
“One of the acute dangers of the executive presidency in the third world is that it gives too much power to whoever the president chooses,” said political analyst Sola Olubanjo.
“If the president gives you attention you become powerful,” he said. “Even if you are a cook or cleaner, you will be controlling the vice-president and the ministers without anyone questioning you.”
Mr Olubanjo said under an ideal situation, especially in advanced societies, the vice-president would resign his position immediately for what Mr Kyari did.
“It was a clear case of insubordination and it also showed that the vice-president does not have the president’s ears,” Mr Olubanjo said. “But the seat of power is a jungle here and those in power are only looking to perpetuate themselves in office even under very humiliating circumstances.”
When Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari seeking approval for funds to continue his role in resolving the deadly farmers-herdsmen conflict earlier this year, he did so with little awareness that a middleman would intercept it, moderate it and ultimately discard his role altogether.
After successfully rubbishing Mr Osinbajo’s request to Mr Buhari, Mr Kyari went on to instigate the president to sack Mr Osinbajo from his role as the head of a committee that was raised to resolve the perennial violence between farmers and herdsmen, PREMIUM TIMES can report based on official documents and interviews with people familiar with the tussle for influence at the Presidential Villa.
The exclusive documents in our possession provide a rare glimpse into the humiliation Mr Osinbajo is facing at a time speculations are rife nationwide about how poorly the vice-president was being treated by the president’s senior aides and allies.
A Request Made
The documents showed Mr Osinbajo sought the president’s approval for three proposals relating to the development of the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP). Mr Osinbajo had earlier been mandated by the president to lead the initiative with other governors in the National Economic Council (NEC).
The NLTP was proposed when the Buhari administration came under pressure to find a lasting solution to the incessant herdsmen violence that killed nearly 4,000 people between 2016 and 2018.
The plan included programmes of rehabilitation of displaced persons in states ravaged by the farmers-herders’ violence and development of ranches for nomadic herders in any willing state of the federation.
After months of preliminary consultations and inputs from affected states, an agreement was reached by states to form a substantive committee that would oversee implementation of the compromise, make NLTP the coordinating institution of all outstanding issues bordering on herdsmen crisis and coordinate funding for the transformation efforts.
In an April 12, 2019 memo to the president, the vice-president detailed the agreement to the president and requested approval. He mentioned that N35 billion had been earmarked for the livestock transformation policy, out of which N12 billion had already been released for ruga projects (construction of ranches for Fulani herders along designated grazing routes).
The entire N35 billion was pulled from the ecological funds of federal and state governments. The N12 billion was earmarked for emergency ruga projects in Niger, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba, Nasarawa, Benue, Kaduna, Katsina and Adamawa. The states were designated frontline states affected by the farmers-herders crisis.
Subsequently, since N12 billion had been earmarked for immediate use, Mr Osinbajo pleaded with Mr Buhari to release N22 billion for the longtime implementation of the project, including providing succour for people displaced by the violence in Benue, Plateau and other states.
Mr Osinbajo also stated in the memo (reference: SH/VP/NLTP/02/1) that the N22 billion would be deposited in a dedicated account with the CBN and only withdrawn for specific purposes as may be approved by the member states in the proposed Steering Committee.
‘Duplication of Efforts’
But rather than forwarding the vice president’s memo to the president for approval, Mr Kyari held it for more than a month, eventually submitting it to the president on May 16. But before he submitted it, the chief of staff reworked the memo to include his own observation and recommendations to the president.
Mr Kyari told the president that the request by Mr Osinbajo should be rejected because the N12 billion voted for the Ruga projects had not been fully utilised.
“Given that the president has approved N12 billion for intervention for the Ruga Model, through the National Food Security Council (NFSC), we respectfully recommend that we first evaluate the development impact of this particular project before releasing further amounts for the NLTP,” Mr Kyari wrote. “This is key especially as major security operations are ongoing in some of these locations.”
On Mr Osinbajo’s request for an inclusive Steering Committee to be inaugurated to drive the livestock transformation policy, Mr Kyari knocked it as a duplication of efforts.
“This plan may not be an effective strategy due to the overriding importance of farmer/herder issues in the National Food Security Council, which Mr President is the chairman,” he said.
The chief of staff then proceeded to recommend that Mr Buhari should scrap the NLTP, an initiative by state governors and the vice-president as a representative of the administration.
“To avoid duplication of efforts, we respectfully recommend (with emphasis) that Mr President retains oversight of the farmer/herder issues under the NFSC,” Mr Kyari said, adding that the council includes all heads of security and intelligence agencies as well as representatives of governors from the six geopolitical zones.
Finally, Mr Kyari proposed the establishment of a National Livestock and Fisheries Commission that would be responsible for “formulating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating all projects relating to ranching, fisheries and other related issues.”
A Vice-President Undermined
On May 24, the president approved Mr Kyari’s request, consequently discarding Mr Osinbajo’s request.
“Your recommendations above endorsed,” Mr Buhari said when he signed the memo with reference number: PRES/65-I/COS/2/996.
In approving Mr Kyari’s recommendations over Mr Osinbajo’s even without consulting with his deputy, Mr Buhari appeared to have more respect for his aides.
Presidency sources told PREMIUM TIMES there was no basis for the president’s action, which is just one of several acts of insubordination against the vice-president.
Osinbajo addressed the memo directly to the president, and it is unclear why the chief of staff had to sit on it and eventually rubbishing the content before passing it to the president.
“It is not for the chief of staff to advise the president on a memo that came directly from the vice-president,” an official told PREMIUM TIMES under strict anonymity to avoid being victimised for discussing confidential State House matters.
“The vice-president issued the memo based on a policy he had been personally supervising,” the official said. ” So there is no basis, especially in writing, that it should be subjected to the advice of a subordinate.”
The official said it was not uncommon for a president to call his chief of the staff or other aides to seek verbal advice on an action he wanted to take over a request from the vice-president, but he would then have to first revert to the vice-president for further briefing and suggestions on areas that need improvement.
Another official told PREMIUM TIMES Mr Kyari took the step to retain powers for himself by proxy. If the approval sought by Mr Osinbajo had been granted, matters around the farmers-herders crisis would have been joint federal-states concerns and issues would have to be vigorously debated before funding is earmarked.
“He knows that if the president is in charge, he will be the one issuing orders over the livestock matters in the president’s name,” the source said. “That would include spending monies without any questions or accountability unlike what would have happened if the Steering Committee had been approved.”
Mr Buhari abruptly suspended the ruga projects in July following an outcry from Nigerians that the establishment of Ruga settlements should be voluntary amongst states and not imposed by the federal government through the takeover of state lands.
Presidential spokespersons Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu did not return multiple requests for comments from PREMIUM TIMES for this story.
Managing a jungle
PREMIUM TIMES obtained the memos as Mr Buhari was embarking on a private two-week visit to the United Kingdom.
The president did not hand over power to Mr Osinbajo. Instead, he has been asking his aides to bring crucial documents to him for assent in London. The Nigerian law requires that the president hand over power if he would be away from duty for 21 days.
On Monday, Mr Kyari flew to London to submit a new bill on offshore oil fields to the president for assent. The action drew sparked among Nigerians, who said it was embarrassing that the presidency would make a public show of such a controversial action.
“One of the acute dangers of the executive presidency in the third world is that it gives too much power to whoever the president chooses,” said political analyst Sola Olubanjo.
“If the president gives you attention you become powerful,” he said. “Even if you are a cook or cleaner, you will be controlling the vice-president and the ministers without anyone questioning you.”
Mr Olubanjo said under an ideal situation, especially in advanced societies, the vice-president would resign his position immediately for what Mr Kyari did.
“It was a clear case of insubordination and it also showed that the vice-president does not have the president’s ears,” Mr Olubanjo said. “But the seat of power is a jungle here and those in power are only looking to perpetuate themselves in office even under very humiliating circumstances.”
NDDC Gets New Board, Management As Senate Confirms Buhari Nominees
Nigeria Senate on Tuesday confirmed the nomination of 15 persons to the board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), out of 16 names submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari for the parliament's confirmation.
The Senate, however, rejected the nomination of Joy Nunieh, nominee for Rivers, following her absence at the screening conducted by Senate Committee on Niger Delta
Nunieh ,who currently serves on the interim committee overseeing activities of NDDC did not communicate to the Senate Committee on Niger Delta over her absence from the screening.
The confirmation of the 15 nominees followed the receipt of the report from the committee and consideration of the same at the senate committee of the whole.
Presenting the report, Chairman of the committee Peter Nwaboshi (PDP Delta)said the nominees were screened and found suitable to serve on the board of the NDDC in accordance with section 2(2)( a) of the NDDC Act, 2000.
He, however, said the nominee for the Rivers did not appear for the screening adding that there was no official communication to the committee on reasons for her absence.
Commenting on the report, Ike Ekweremadu (PDP Enugu,) before the confirmation raised the issue of the current interim management of the NDDC noting that the committee was an act of sabotage and should be set aside.
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan in his remark thanked the Senate particularly the committee on screening and confirmation of the nominees.
He urged the nominees to justify the trust bestowed on them by execution of projects for the people of the Niger Delta.
He said the nominees, when inaugurated should ensure value for money on projects given the unreputable narratives about NDDC.
President Buhari, had in a letter dated Oct 18, forwarded the list of the nominees for the board and management of the NDDC to the senate.
Lawan who had announced the list at plenary on Oct 29, directed the Senate Committee on Niger Delta to conduct the screening of the nominees and report back in one week.
The confirmed nominees are the Chairman, Pius Odubu (Edo), Managing Director, Bernard Okumagba (Delta), Executive Director Projects, Otobong Ndem (Akwa Ibom).
“Executive Director Finance and Admin, Maxwell Okoh (Bayelsa) as well as Delta representative, Jones Erue; Victor Ekhatar (Edo) and Nwogu Nwogu Abia.
“Others are Theodore Allison (Bayelsa); Victor Antai (Akwa Ibom); Maurice Effiwatt (Cross River), Olugbenga Edema (Ondo); Hon. Uchegbu Kyrian (Imo).
North -West nominee Aisha Muhammed, from Kano, Ardo Zubairu representing North- East (Adamawa) and South West Representative Badmus Mutalib (Lagos).
Nunieh ,who currently serves on the interim committee overseeing activities of NDDC did not communicate to the Senate Committee on Niger Delta over her absence from the screening.
The confirmation of the 15 nominees followed the receipt of the report from the committee and consideration of the same at the senate committee of the whole.
Presenting the report, Chairman of the committee Peter Nwaboshi (PDP Delta)said the nominees were screened and found suitable to serve on the board of the NDDC in accordance with section 2(2)( a) of the NDDC Act, 2000.
He, however, said the nominee for the Rivers did not appear for the screening adding that there was no official communication to the committee on reasons for her absence.
Commenting on the report, Ike Ekweremadu (PDP Enugu,) before the confirmation raised the issue of the current interim management of the NDDC noting that the committee was an act of sabotage and should be set aside.
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan in his remark thanked the Senate particularly the committee on screening and confirmation of the nominees.
He urged the nominees to justify the trust bestowed on them by execution of projects for the people of the Niger Delta.
He said the nominees, when inaugurated should ensure value for money on projects given the unreputable narratives about NDDC.
President Buhari, had in a letter dated Oct 18, forwarded the list of the nominees for the board and management of the NDDC to the senate.
Lawan who had announced the list at plenary on Oct 29, directed the Senate Committee on Niger Delta to conduct the screening of the nominees and report back in one week.
The confirmed nominees are the Chairman, Pius Odubu (Edo), Managing Director, Bernard Okumagba (Delta), Executive Director Projects, Otobong Ndem (Akwa Ibom).
“Executive Director Finance and Admin, Maxwell Okoh (Bayelsa) as well as Delta representative, Jones Erue; Victor Ekhatar (Edo) and Nwogu Nwogu Abia.
“Others are Theodore Allison (Bayelsa); Victor Antai (Akwa Ibom); Maurice Effiwatt (Cross River), Olugbenga Edema (Ondo); Hon. Uchegbu Kyrian (Imo).
North -West nominee Aisha Muhammed, from Kano, Ardo Zubairu representing North- East (Adamawa) and South West Representative Badmus Mutalib (Lagos).
Monday, 4 November 2019
President Buhari Signs Deep Offshore Act Into Law In London
President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the Bill amending the Deep Offshore (and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract) Act.
The president disclosed in a series of tweets on his verified Twitter handle on Monday.
“This afternoon I assented to the Bill amending the Deep Offshore (and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract) Act.
"This is a landmark moment for Nigeria; let me use this opportunity to thank the National Assembly for the cooperation that produced this long-overdue amendment.
“You will recall that in my 2020 Budget Presentation Speech before the National Assembly in October, I highlighted the need to urgently review the fiscal terms for deep offshore oil fields, to reflect current realities and to ensure increased government revenues.
“Now, a month later, we have together with the 9th National Assembly made history with the passage and the signing of the amended Bill into law.
"We will continue to work together to deliver on all our promises to ensure inclusive growth and enhance the welfare of all Nigerians,” Buhari said in the tweets.
President Buhari is currently in London on a private visit right now.
A question put to Tolu Ogunlesi on his twitter handle but he deflected it by asking: "He told you he’s on leave??"
“This afternoon I assented to the Bill amending the Deep Offshore (and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract) Act.
"This is a landmark moment for Nigeria; let me use this opportunity to thank the National Assembly for the cooperation that produced this long-overdue amendment.
“You will recall that in my 2020 Budget Presentation Speech before the National Assembly in October, I highlighted the need to urgently review the fiscal terms for deep offshore oil fields, to reflect current realities and to ensure increased government revenues.
“Now, a month later, we have together with the 9th National Assembly made history with the passage and the signing of the amended Bill into law.
"We will continue to work together to deliver on all our promises to ensure inclusive growth and enhance the welfare of all Nigerians,” Buhari said in the tweets.
President Buhari is currently in London on a private visit right now.
A question put to Tolu Ogunlesi on his twitter handle but he deflected it by asking: "He told you he’s on leave??"
Appeal Court Sacks APC House of Reps Leader
The Court of Appeal in Kaduna has sacked the House Representative Leader, Alhassan Doguwa.
Doguwa, who represents Tudunwada/Doguwa Federal Constituency was sacked by the appellate court in a unanimous judgment, which nullified the entire election in the two local government areas he represents.
The ranking lawmaker, whos is also the All Progressive Congress (APC) house leader, will have to face a fresh election in the two local government areas, if he wants to retain his seat in the house.
The court, in a judgment delivered by Oludotun Adefope-Okojie, ordered fresh elections in the constituency.
The sack occurs days after another House of Reps member from Kano, Abdulmumin Jibrin, was also sacked by the appeal court.
Just like Doguwa, the court ordered a fresh election in the two local governments of Kiru and Bebeji which constitutes Jibrin’s federal constituency.
Journey to justice
The National Assembly election tribunal had dismissed a petition filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Yusha’u Salisu, against Doguwa’s election for failure to prove allegations of irregularities and over-voting in the election.
However, the Court of Appeal judges said they wondered how the tribunal arrived at the conclusion that PDP and its candidate had failed to prove their case.
While setting aside the tribunal judgment, the court nullified the entire election in the two local government areas Doguwa represents, saying the whole process was marred by irregularities.
The appellate court held that the entire election could not stand as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had omitted other parties from the final declaration of the result.
The court said INEC made a ‘substantial breach’ by writing the results of only two of the 53 parties that participated in the election in Form EC 8 (II) E.
The court, therefore, ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election within 90 days in the entire constituency.
Doguwa emerged as the house majority leader at the beginning of the ninth assembly after a consensus by the North-West caucus of the house.
The APC had announced its decision to zone the position to the North-West.
Doguwa, who represents Tudunwada/Doguwa Federal Constituency was sacked by the appellate court in a unanimous judgment, which nullified the entire election in the two local government areas he represents.
The court, in a judgment delivered by Oludotun Adefope-Okojie, ordered fresh elections in the constituency.
The sack occurs days after another House of Reps member from Kano, Abdulmumin Jibrin, was also sacked by the appeal court.
Just like Doguwa, the court ordered a fresh election in the two local governments of Kiru and Bebeji which constitutes Jibrin’s federal constituency.
Journey to justice
The National Assembly election tribunal had dismissed a petition filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Yusha’u Salisu, against Doguwa’s election for failure to prove allegations of irregularities and over-voting in the election.
However, the Court of Appeal judges said they wondered how the tribunal arrived at the conclusion that PDP and its candidate had failed to prove their case.
While setting aside the tribunal judgment, the court nullified the entire election in the two local government areas Doguwa represents, saying the whole process was marred by irregularities.
The appellate court held that the entire election could not stand as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had omitted other parties from the final declaration of the result.
The court said INEC made a ‘substantial breach’ by writing the results of only two of the 53 parties that participated in the election in Form EC 8 (II) E.
The court, therefore, ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election within 90 days in the entire constituency.
Doguwa emerged as the house majority leader at the beginning of the ninth assembly after a consensus by the North-West caucus of the house.
The APC had announced its decision to zone the position to the North-West.
Senate Turns Back CBN Governor Representatives, Re-Issues Summon For Emefiele
Representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele were sent away from the Senate committee room on Monday by the parliament's Committee on Finance.
The delegates, led by the regulatory bank's deputy governor, Adebisi Shonubi were not accorded any recognition by the committee because their invitation was not meant for the governor himself.
According to the chairman of the committee, Solomon Adeola, the deputy governor was asked to leave with his team because the invitation was not meant for him
The panel also accused Emefiele of not giving them prior notice that he would be sending a representative.
The CBN governor was therefore asked to appear before the panel again on Thursday.
The finance committee had summoned Emefiele, to appear before it on Monday to further explain why the regulatory bank exchange rate policy of the bank.
Emefiele was expected at the Senate panel with detailed explanations on the rationale behind the exchange rates the CBN used for three key projects under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF)
The multi-billion-dollar projects are being funded by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
The PIDF was earmarked from the dollar-denominated Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) to partly fund the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge, Abuja–Kano Expressway, East-West Road and Mambilla Hydro Project.
The first three projects had already been funded to the tune of N163.8 billion.
The panel demanded the appearance of the CBN governor during an interactive session between the panel and the Managing Director of NSIA, Uche Orji.
The CBN governor was therefore asked to appear before the panel again on Thursday.
The finance committee had summoned Emefiele, to appear before it on Monday to further explain why the regulatory bank exchange rate policy of the bank.
Emefiele was expected at the Senate panel with detailed explanations on the rationale behind the exchange rates the CBN used for three key projects under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF)
The multi-billion-dollar projects are being funded by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
The PIDF was earmarked from the dollar-denominated Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) to partly fund the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge, Abuja–Kano Expressway, East-West Road and Mambilla Hydro Project.
The first three projects had already been funded to the tune of N163.8 billion.
The panel demanded the appearance of the CBN governor during an interactive session between the panel and the Managing Director of NSIA, Uche Orji.
Apostle Suleman Mulls Standing As Surety For Sowore
A Nigeria clergyman and President of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleman, has indicated interest in standing as surety for Convener, #RevolutionNow and publisher of an online Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the February 2019 presidential election and founder of an online news publication Sahara Reporters, was arrested by the Department of Security Services (DSS) on August 3, 2019 for alleged treason after calling for a protest tagged #RevolutionNow
In a tweet on his verified Twitter handle @APOSTLESULEMAN on Monday, Suleman expressed concerns that though Sowore had hurt many people in the past — including Suleman himself — he is of the opinion that Sowore should not be allowed to “rot where he is.”
“In a situation like this, what will Christ do?” Suleman asked; adding, “am ‘considering’ standing bail for him.”
✔@APOSTLESULEMAN
"Am really worried that nobody is ready to stand surety for @YeleSowore..yes he has hurt a lot of people, me inclusive. But do we focus on that and let his rot where he is even if he caused it in a situation like this what will christ do? am 'considering' standing bail for him..."
Among the bail conditions imposed on Sowore and his so-accused are that the Sahara Reporters publisher should produce two sureties with N50 million.
The court said Sowore’s sureties must deposit tax clearance certificates for three years, 2016 to 2018, and documents of landed properties in Abuja.
The sureties were also to deposit affidavit of means for their assets.
The court ruled that when released after meeting his bail conditions, Sowore should remain in Abuja till the case is determined while his co-accused.
It was not clear if Apostle Suleman has a property in Abuja and will be willing to cough out N50 million naira as bail bond for Sowore.
In a tweet on his verified Twitter handle @APOSTLESULEMAN on Monday, Suleman expressed concerns that though Sowore had hurt many people in the past — including Suleman himself — he is of the opinion that Sowore should not be allowed to “rot where he is.”
“In a situation like this, what will Christ do?” Suleman asked; adding, “am ‘considering’ standing bail for him.”
✔@APOSTLESULEMAN
"Am really worried that nobody is ready to stand surety for @YeleSowore..yes he has hurt a lot of people, me inclusive. But do we focus on that and let his rot where he is even if he caused it in a situation like this what will christ do? am 'considering' standing bail for him..."
Among the bail conditions imposed on Sowore and his so-accused are that the Sahara Reporters publisher should produce two sureties with N50 million.
The court said Sowore’s sureties must deposit tax clearance certificates for three years, 2016 to 2018, and documents of landed properties in Abuja.
The sureties were also to deposit affidavit of means for their assets.
The court ruled that when released after meeting his bail conditions, Sowore should remain in Abuja till the case is determined while his co-accused.
It was not clear if Apostle Suleman has a property in Abuja and will be willing to cough out N50 million naira as bail bond for Sowore.
Nigeria Directs NDDC Contractors To Refund Fraudulent Projects Fee
The Federal Government has opened a fresh account for contractors who were mobilised for Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) projects but defaulted to return the sums or resume work immediately, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio has disclosed.
Akpabio promised to reposition the interventionist agency by making life better for the people of the region, stating that he would not be deterred by the “campaign of calumny by faceless individuals who have benefitted over the years from the NDDC.”
He regretted that so much money had been given to the commission over the years yet “nothing commensurate is on the ground.”
Akpabio alleged that some people in government were frightened by the forensic audit directed by President Muhammadu Buhari, maintaining that he was committed to enthroning accountability and good governance at the agency.
He pledged that all ex-agitators would be captured in the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) and other empowerment programmes of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The minister reiterated his commitment to making the oil-rich area more visible to foreign investors, just as he disclosed that extra industries had been earmarked for the region.
He charged the youths on viable economic ventures like modern palm oil factories, high-tech garment industries and productive agriculture exports through the amnesty project.
Earlier, the coordinator of the ex-agitators, Alfred Etuk, extolled the minister for his leadership, pledging partnership for sustainable peace and development in the region.
Besides, the minister has dismissed an insinuation that he collected money from an erstwhile chief executive of the agency, Isima Ekere, or any other individual.
He described the allegation as “spurious and part of the conspiracy of those who have been milking the resources meant for the development of the Niger Delta for the past 19 years.”
In a statement on Sunday, the minister said: “It is part of their effort to frustrate the forensic audit of the accounts of the NDDC ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari. I did not receive any kobo from anyone in the NDDC or any other agency of government and would want anyone who has any claim to the contrary to come out openly to lay the fact bear before the public.”
Besides, the Niger Delta Civil Society Coalition (NDCSC) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to mandate anti-graft agencies to probe the award of water hyacinth contracts by the agency.
He regretted that so much money had been given to the commission over the years yet “nothing commensurate is on the ground.”
Akpabio alleged that some people in government were frightened by the forensic audit directed by President Muhammadu Buhari, maintaining that he was committed to enthroning accountability and good governance at the agency.
He pledged that all ex-agitators would be captured in the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) and other empowerment programmes of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The minister reiterated his commitment to making the oil-rich area more visible to foreign investors, just as he disclosed that extra industries had been earmarked for the region.
He charged the youths on viable economic ventures like modern palm oil factories, high-tech garment industries and productive agriculture exports through the amnesty project.
Earlier, the coordinator of the ex-agitators, Alfred Etuk, extolled the minister for his leadership, pledging partnership for sustainable peace and development in the region.
Besides, the minister has dismissed an insinuation that he collected money from an erstwhile chief executive of the agency, Isima Ekere, or any other individual.
He described the allegation as “spurious and part of the conspiracy of those who have been milking the resources meant for the development of the Niger Delta for the past 19 years.”
In a statement on Sunday, the minister said: “It is part of their effort to frustrate the forensic audit of the accounts of the NDDC ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari. I did not receive any kobo from anyone in the NDDC or any other agency of government and would want anyone who has any claim to the contrary to come out openly to lay the fact bear before the public.”
Besides, the Niger Delta Civil Society Coalition (NDCSC) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to mandate anti-graft agencies to probe the award of water hyacinth contracts by the agency.
Wednesday, 30 October 2019
PDP Chairman, Secondus Boosts 'Nigerians Voted PDP' Despite Supreme Court judgment
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus has said that inspite of the Supreme Court judgment against the party presidential candidate, the whole world knows that Nigerians voted PDP and its candidate in the last election.
Secondus, said in a statement on Wednesday that the final judgment comes from God almighty.
“Nigerians know that you voted PDP, even APC knows that you rejected them on February 23, 2019.
“International community knows you voted for PDP. If Supreme Court of seven justices says otherwise, leave it to God, the ultimate Judge.”
The seven-man panel of the Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the appeal of the party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and affirmed the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the last February presidential election.
According to the Supreme Court Justices, Atiku Abubakar appeal lack merit.
However, PDP chairman said that Nigeria is in such an untidy state that only God can
bail her out.
He urged Nigerians to remain resolute in their prayers to God, adding that the country is in such “an untidy state that only God can bail” her out.
Secondus commended Nigerians of all divide for their commitment and support to the party and to democracy.
He said the commitment of Nigerians to democracy and its tenets, “despite inhibiting factors,” is worthy of emulation and highly commendable.
“We thank you for your support for PDP, for your commitment to democracy.
He also commended journalists for their commitment to democracy and good governance in Nigeria and urged them not to relent in their roles of holding politicians accountable to the people.
“Nigerians know that you voted PDP, even APC knows that you rejected them on February 23, 2019.
“International community knows you voted for PDP. If Supreme Court of seven justices says otherwise, leave it to God, the ultimate Judge.”
The seven-man panel of the Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the appeal of the party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and affirmed the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the last February presidential election.
According to the Supreme Court Justices, Atiku Abubakar appeal lack merit.
However, PDP chairman said that Nigeria is in such an untidy state that only God can
bail her out.
He urged Nigerians to remain resolute in their prayers to God, adding that the country is in such “an untidy state that only God can bail” her out.
Secondus commended Nigerians of all divide for their commitment and support to the party and to democracy.
He said the commitment of Nigerians to democracy and its tenets, “despite inhibiting factors,” is worthy of emulation and highly commendable.
“We thank you for your support for PDP, for your commitment to democracy.
He also commended journalists for their commitment to democracy and good governance in Nigeria and urged them not to relent in their roles of holding politicians accountable to the people.
Profiles Of The 7 Supreme Court Justices Who Nailed Atiku's Ambition
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal filed by Nigeria’s main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) and it's presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar against the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, who led six other members of the apex court’s panel, disclosed that he and members of the panel had read all the documents and exhibits filed in the case for two weeks and found the appeal to be lacking in merit.
The panel is made up of six men and one women and is led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad.
Below is the profiles of the seven-man Supreme Court panel that nailed the political ambition of Atiku, at least for the next four years.
CJN Tanko Muhammad
Justice Tanko Muhammad, CFR, JSC was born on the 31st of December 1953. He hails from Doguwa, Giade Local Government Area of Bauchi State. He attended primary school at Giade Primary School from 1961 to 1968. He proceeded to Government Secondary School, Azare from 1969 to 1973. He then proceeded to Abdullahi Bayero University College, Kano for his IJMB from 1975 to 1976. After a successful completion of his course, He got admission to read Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1976 to 1980. He attended Nigerian Law School from 1980 to 1981. In furtherance of his educational career, he went back to the prestigious ABU, Zaria for his Masters Degree in Law (LLM) on Part Time basis, from 1982 to 1984. In order to update himself in the field of Law, he went back to ABU, Zaria in 1987 to 1998 and obtained his Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Law, also on Part Time basis.
Muhammad, CFR, JSC was appointed as Magistrate Grade II in 1982 to 1984 with Bauchi State Judiciary. He rose to Senior Magistrate Grade II from 1984 to 1986. He was appointed as the Provost, College of Legal and Islamic Studies, Bauchi from 1986 to 1989. He was appointed Chief Magistrate/Deputy Chief Registrar, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja from 1990 to 1991. From 1991 to 1993, he served as a Kadi (Judge) of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Bauchi State. He was elevated to the position of Justice of the Court of Appeal from 1993 to 2006. He was appointed as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the year 2006 and was sworn-in on the 8th of January 2007. He became the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman National Judicial Council on Thursday, 25th July 2019.
Bode Rhodes-Vivour:
Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour was born to the family of Mr and Mrs Akinwunmi Rhodes-Vivour in 1951, in Lagos Island. He obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1963.
He went on to attend St Gregory’s College, Obalende, Lagos, where he obtained his West African Examination Council (WAEC) Certificate in 1968, and the Higher School Certificate (HSC) in 1970, before proceeding to the University of Lagos where he graduated in 1974 with an LLB Honors.
Olabode Rhodes-Vivour attended the Lagos Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1975. He started his career as a Pupil State Counsel in 1976, and in 1978 he became a State Counsel and rose to become a Senior state Counsel by 1982. He was promoted to the position of Principal State Counsel in 1984, and by 1989 his hard work and career progression had earned him the position of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Lagos State, a position which he held until 1994.
Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour was appointed to the bench as a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Lagos State, on 18th February, 1994. His distinct attributes of service led to his elevation to the Appeal Court on 25th April, 2005.
In 2008, on Secondment by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he was posted to Sierra Leone Judiciary as Justice of the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone, whereupon his return in September, 2010, he was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Rhodes-Vivour has attended various International and Professional conferences within and outside the country. He is a recipient of many notable awards amongst which are –
Lagos State Judiciary Merit Awards in recognition of invaluable service to the High Court of Lagos state (2003).
Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFR 2012).
Life Bencher (2016)
His hobbies are reading, watching sports, movies and documentaries. He is married to Mrs Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour and they are blessed with (3) three children.
Kayode Ariwoola:
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola was born on August 22, 1954.
Prior to becoming a Justice of the Supreme Court, he was appointed a judge of the Oyo State High Court in 1992 and later made a Justice of the Court of Appeal in November 2005.
On November 22, 2011, he was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of Nigeria as Justice.
He is also a Member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the International Bar Association, and the Nigerian Body of Benchers
Amiru Sanusi:
Justice Amiru Sanusi was born in February 1950. He is an indigene of Katsina State. He bagged a Bachelors Degree in Law from Ahmadu Bello University and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978. Prior to becoming a Justice of the Supreme Court, he served as a judge in his home state, Katsina from 1990 to 1998, before he was promoted to the Court of Appeal in December 1998.
He has the national award of Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR). He was sworn-in as a Supreme Court judge on May 14, 2015, at the Supreme Court Complex.
John Okoro:
John Inyang Okoro was born July 7, 1959). His appointment as justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria was confirmed by the Senate on October 2013. He was sworn in on November 15, 2014, by Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, the then Chief Justice of Nigeria.
In 2016, Okoro was one of the judges arrested by the State Security Service in a controversial raid on judges’ homes. He later said he was being persecuted by the SSS because he refused a bribe from the current transportation minister, Rotimi Amaechi.
Ejembi Eko:
Ejembi Eko was born May 23, 1952. His appointment as Supreme Court judge was approved by the Senate in October 2016 after which he was sworn in as a justice of the Supreme Court in 2016.
Uwani Abba-Aji:
Born November 1956 in Gashua, Yobe State, Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji was sworn in as Supreme Court judge in January. She thus became the seventh woman to sit at Nigeria’s Supreme Court and second from the North East after Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi.
Called to the Bar in 1981, She started from Central Primary School, Gashua and later Government Girls Secondary School, Maiduguri now Government Girls College. She then proceeded to the Institute of Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria between 1974 and 1976 where she obtained a diploma in law. She later acquired an LLB (1980) from the same institution. After serving at various cadres, from Clerical Assistant, Area Courts Division in 1973 to Acting Chief Registrar, High Court of Yobe State, November to December 1991, Ms Abba Aji was appointed as a High Court Judge on December 18, 1991. She was there until September 22, 2004, when she was called up to serve at the Court of Appeal.
She is the only woman in the Supreme Court panel heard the election petition appeal by Abubakar and the PDP.
The panel is made up of six men and one women and is led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad.
Below is the profiles of the seven-man Supreme Court panel that nailed the political ambition of Atiku, at least for the next four years.
CJN Tanko Muhammad
Justice Tanko Muhammad, CFR, JSC was born on the 31st of December 1953. He hails from Doguwa, Giade Local Government Area of Bauchi State. He attended primary school at Giade Primary School from 1961 to 1968. He proceeded to Government Secondary School, Azare from 1969 to 1973. He then proceeded to Abdullahi Bayero University College, Kano for his IJMB from 1975 to 1976. After a successful completion of his course, He got admission to read Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1976 to 1980. He attended Nigerian Law School from 1980 to 1981. In furtherance of his educational career, he went back to the prestigious ABU, Zaria for his Masters Degree in Law (LLM) on Part Time basis, from 1982 to 1984. In order to update himself in the field of Law, he went back to ABU, Zaria in 1987 to 1998 and obtained his Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Law, also on Part Time basis.
Muhammad, CFR, JSC was appointed as Magistrate Grade II in 1982 to 1984 with Bauchi State Judiciary. He rose to Senior Magistrate Grade II from 1984 to 1986. He was appointed as the Provost, College of Legal and Islamic Studies, Bauchi from 1986 to 1989. He was appointed Chief Magistrate/Deputy Chief Registrar, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja from 1990 to 1991. From 1991 to 1993, he served as a Kadi (Judge) of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Bauchi State. He was elevated to the position of Justice of the Court of Appeal from 1993 to 2006. He was appointed as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the year 2006 and was sworn-in on the 8th of January 2007. He became the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman National Judicial Council on Thursday, 25th July 2019.
Bode Rhodes-Vivour:
Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour was born to the family of Mr and Mrs Akinwunmi Rhodes-Vivour in 1951, in Lagos Island. He obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1963.
He went on to attend St Gregory’s College, Obalende, Lagos, where he obtained his West African Examination Council (WAEC) Certificate in 1968, and the Higher School Certificate (HSC) in 1970, before proceeding to the University of Lagos where he graduated in 1974 with an LLB Honors.
Olabode Rhodes-Vivour attended the Lagos Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1975. He started his career as a Pupil State Counsel in 1976, and in 1978 he became a State Counsel and rose to become a Senior state Counsel by 1982. He was promoted to the position of Principal State Counsel in 1984, and by 1989 his hard work and career progression had earned him the position of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Lagos State, a position which he held until 1994.
Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour was appointed to the bench as a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Lagos State, on 18th February, 1994. His distinct attributes of service led to his elevation to the Appeal Court on 25th April, 2005.
In 2008, on Secondment by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he was posted to Sierra Leone Judiciary as Justice of the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone, whereupon his return in September, 2010, he was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Rhodes-Vivour has attended various International and Professional conferences within and outside the country. He is a recipient of many notable awards amongst which are –
Lagos State Judiciary Merit Awards in recognition of invaluable service to the High Court of Lagos state (2003).
Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFR 2012).
Life Bencher (2016)
His hobbies are reading, watching sports, movies and documentaries. He is married to Mrs Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour and they are blessed with (3) three children.
Kayode Ariwoola:
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola was born on August 22, 1954.
Prior to becoming a Justice of the Supreme Court, he was appointed a judge of the Oyo State High Court in 1992 and later made a Justice of the Court of Appeal in November 2005.
On November 22, 2011, he was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of Nigeria as Justice.
He is also a Member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the International Bar Association, and the Nigerian Body of Benchers
Amiru Sanusi:
Justice Amiru Sanusi was born in February 1950. He is an indigene of Katsina State. He bagged a Bachelors Degree in Law from Ahmadu Bello University and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978. Prior to becoming a Justice of the Supreme Court, he served as a judge in his home state, Katsina from 1990 to 1998, before he was promoted to the Court of Appeal in December 1998.
He has the national award of Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR). He was sworn-in as a Supreme Court judge on May 14, 2015, at the Supreme Court Complex.
John Okoro:
John Inyang Okoro was born July 7, 1959). His appointment as justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria was confirmed by the Senate on October 2013. He was sworn in on November 15, 2014, by Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, the then Chief Justice of Nigeria.
In 2016, Okoro was one of the judges arrested by the State Security Service in a controversial raid on judges’ homes. He later said he was being persecuted by the SSS because he refused a bribe from the current transportation minister, Rotimi Amaechi.
Ejembi Eko:
Ejembi Eko was born May 23, 1952. His appointment as Supreme Court judge was approved by the Senate in October 2016 after which he was sworn in as a justice of the Supreme Court in 2016.
Uwani Abba-Aji:
Born November 1956 in Gashua, Yobe State, Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji was sworn in as Supreme Court judge in January. She thus became the seventh woman to sit at Nigeria’s Supreme Court and second from the North East after Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi.
Called to the Bar in 1981, She started from Central Primary School, Gashua and later Government Girls Secondary School, Maiduguri now Government Girls College. She then proceeded to the Institute of Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria between 1974 and 1976 where she obtained a diploma in law. She later acquired an LLB (1980) from the same institution. After serving at various cadres, from Clerical Assistant, Area Courts Division in 1973 to Acting Chief Registrar, High Court of Yobe State, November to December 1991, Ms Abba Aji was appointed as a High Court Judge on December 18, 1991. She was there until September 22, 2004, when she was called up to serve at the Court of Appeal.
She is the only woman in the Supreme Court panel heard the election petition appeal by Abubakar and the PDP.
Government Sets Up Interim Committee To Run NDDC
Nigeria federal government has set up an interim management committee to run the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
This development was announced on Tuesday evening through a statement from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, inaugurated the committee on Tuesday in Abuja.
The mandate of the committee is to help create an “enabling environment” for the forensic audit of the NDDC which was announced by President Muhammadu Buhari, the statement said.
Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, said on Saturday that corruption and political interference have disrupted the original purpose of setting up the NDDC.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, inaugurated the committee on Tuesday in Abuja.
The mandate of the committee is to help create an “enabling environment” for the forensic audit of the NDDC which was announced by President Muhammadu Buhari, the statement said.
Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, said on Saturday that corruption and political interference have disrupted the original purpose of setting up the NDDC.
He vowed to revive the commission and get it to work for the good of the Niger Delta region and the people.
“I think people were treating the place as an ATM, where you just walk in there to go and pluck money and go away, I don’t think they were looking at it as an interventionist agency,” said Akpabio, a former minority leader of the Senate.
“I think people were treating the place as an ATM, where you just walk in there to go and pluck money and go away, I don’t think they were looking at it as an interventionist agency,” said Akpabio, a former minority leader of the Senate.
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