Finance minister distributes N12m packages to Kaduna women

Finance minister Zaina Ahmed on Saturday distributed empowerment  packages worth N12 million to 3,300 women  ‎across  23 local government areas of Kaduna State.

The empowerment packages include grinding machines, cosmetology starter packs to women who were trained on cosmetics making, and cash to business women to expand their businesses.

‎‎Speaking at the distribution ceremony in Kaduna, the minister said the empowerment programme was in collaboration with National Directorate of Employment (NDE), who trained the beneficiaries and Buhari-El-Rufai Support Team (BEST).

“Realising that our women are not benefiting from government support, I decided to encourage them to form cooperative societies and together with BEST we partnered with NDE to train them.

“Today we are giving them starter packs to help them roll-out their business and for those with little business we are giving them cash support to expand their business.

Aisha Buhari, who was represented by the wife of Nasarawa State Governor, Hajiya Mairo Al-makura also urged women of the state to give 100 support to APC and advised them against selling their votes.

2019 elections: Allow journalists unfettered access during elections, INEC urges police, security operatives

The Independent National Electoral Commission has called on the Police and other security agencies not to stand in the way of accredited journalists deployed to cover the general elections.

Mr Festus Okoye, INEC Federal Commissioner in charge of Anambra, Enugu and Benue states made the call at a Sensitisation Forum for the Media in Awka on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the forum was organised for media practitioners ahead of the 2019 general election.

He said journalists were critical stakeholders in the process and must be granted unfettered access to voting, coalition and distribution centres.

According to him, accredited journalists must also be allowed to inspect all election materials.

The federal commissioner said media managers must be guided by election rules and relevant materials including the 1999 Constitution as amended, Electoral Act 2010 as amended and INEC Regulations and Guidelines to effectively perform the roles.

He said that the public had relied on the media for the right information during elections; hence the need for them to be in tune with the basic rules guiding the process could not be overemphasized.

“It is axiomatic that you cannot give what you do not have. Therefore, to report effectively, media managers must have good knowledge of the dynamics and nuances of the electoral process.

“A media manager that is blank in terms of information or does not read but relies on old order to informing the public is a danger to the electoral process.

“It is a matter of common knowledge that a majority of the Nigerian people rely on the media for information on the electoral process, so it is fundamental and in the national interest for the media to be on top or be reliable,’’ he said.

Okoye said some political parties were also guilty of not following development in the electoral laws and guidelines adding that all the stakeholders must ensure the process were free, fair and credible.

He wondered why politicians were against continuous accreditation and voting when it was actually suggested and subsequently endorsed by them during commission’s expanded stakeholders meeting in Abuja.

He said the resolution became imperative to forestall the 2015 experience where over 2 million accredited voters were not able to cast their votes due to the clumsiness of the process.

In his lecture titled “INEC and 2015 General Election’’, Mr Victor Aluko said elections were also media events, adding that journalists who wished to cover the election must endeavour to be accredited.

Aluko, Deputy Director, Voter Education at INEC said since the February 16 and March 2, 2019 general elections were fast approaching, the media should intensify citizen’s awareness campaign, adding that it was a civic responsibility of citizens of voting age to participate in the process.

He said this would enable the largest possible numbers to participate in the process.

Aluko also said the task was more now with the astronomical increase in the number of registered political parties participating and fielding candidates.

He reiterated that phone use at the polling cubicle remains highly prohibited and urged the media to highlight the rule including the restriction of non- accredited persons during elections.

(NAN)

BREAKING: Patience Jonathan loses in court, forfeits N1.0004bn to FG

Former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, has forfeited temporarily N1.0004 billion to the Federal Government.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the interim forfeiture followed a court order secured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The money was lodged in three deposits with Fidelity Bank Plc on 20th and 25th May 2015.

The forfeiture order by the Federal High Court sitting in Kano and presided over by Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa is consequent upon a motion ex parte filed by the Commission seeking for the interim forfeiture of the money.

The money was found in the account of Magel Resort Limited, a company linked to the former First Lady.

The Commission had information that a bank account domiciled in Fidelity Bank, had a huge sum of money that was not being used by anybody.

Upon receipt of the intelligence, the EFCC swung into action by conducting a preliminary investigation, which revealed that Patience and some relatives of former president, Goodluck Jonathan were directors of the Company.

Others named as directors are Oba Oba Tamunotonye, Goodluck Jonathan Aruera, Goodluck Jonathan Ariwabai and Esther Fynface.

In trying to trace the origin of the money, it was discovered that N500,000 was deposited on the 20th of May, 2015 by Fynface, who is alleged to be in charge of the Company, while N1 billion (One Billion Naira Only) was transferred in two tranches on the 25th May, 2015 from PAGMAT OIL AND GAS NIGERIA LIMITED, a company that was not incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa held that: “An interim forfeiture order is granted to the Federal Government in the sum of N1,000,494,000 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand Naira Only) in the Bank account of the 1st respondent Magel Resort Limited 4011019546 which is maintained with 2nd respondent Fidelity Bank Plc”.

The court further ordered that the forfeited sum be deposited in the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government.

Onnoghen: El-Rufai attacks suspended CJN, points out why he is ‘no longer fit to continue in office’

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, has lambasted the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen.

El-Rufai described the suspended CJN as a “shameless judge who has demonstrated that he is no longer fit to continue in office.”

He said this while addressing hundreds of protesters that stormed the state’s Government House in Kaduna on Friday, demanding the resignation of Onnoghen.

El-Rufai also stated that it was time for every well-meaning Nigerian to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption.

He stated that corruption in the judiciary was the worst, adding that no society can survive a corrupt judiciary.

According to El-Rufai: “In Kaduna State, we do not support injustice. In Kaduna State, we are 100 per cent behind the integrity of our President.

“I can assure you that the message you have given to me will be delivered to the President today. The worst form of corruption you can find in any public servant is judicial corruption because when the president is corrupt or the governor is corrupt, it is to the judge that ordinary people can take their case to.

“When the judge himself is corrupt, it is the highest form of corruption and must never be condoned.

“Mr President did not remove Onnoghen from office. He said in honour of the judiciary, he should step aside so that the charges against him can be investigated and prosecuted. The President did the right thing by asking him to step aside pending investigation. It is what is done in every organised and civilised society.

“Unfortunately, some people in Nigeria are trying to make white black and black. They are using technicalities to delay bringing this man to justice. The man (Onnoghen) is shameless; he does not want to go, but it is time for Nigerians to come all out and tell him he must go. Our judiciary must be clean. Our judiciary must consist of judges who cannot be bought.

“The case of Justice Onnoghen is the case in which somebody who has worked in government for the past 20 years, [and] suddenly, he has millions of dollars in his account. He has admitted, but said he has forgotten about them, which means he has more money than Aliko Dangote because I do not think Dangote will forget $1million in his account.”

2019: 250 police trained on crowd mgt

Two hundred and fifty personnel of the Nigerian Police Force have been trained on how to effectively ensure public order and manage crowds during the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

Speaking during the training yesterday in Kaduna, the Commandant, Nigerian Police College, Kaduna, C.P Lawan Ado, said the training was aimed at ensuring high display of professionalism amongst the police officers during the forthcoming general elections.

A former governor of Bauchi State, Major-General Chris Garuba (rtd), said the 250 police officers were drawn from different commands for the training including Kaduna, Plateau, Katsina and Kano states.

He said the training for personnel in Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo Commands will hold in Lagos and would later be extended to other parts of the country.

Kwara South: Group promises 70,000 votes for Sen. Ibrahim to retain seat

Few days to the forthcoming general elections, a political group, Kwara South G70 has promised to mobilise minimum of 70,000 votes for the sitting senator, Dr Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim of the of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to retain seat at the red chamber.

To this end, the group has asked its members numbering about 700 to garner 10,000 votes from the each of seven local government areas of Kwara South Senatorial District for the realisation of the target.

The Coordinator, Kwara South G70, Ambassador Salahudeen Adeyemi Lukman, stated this in Ajase-Ipo, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State on the sidelines of the inauguration of G70 Neighbour 2 Neighbour Campaign Volunteers.

Lukman disclosed that the team was specifically set up to mobilise support for the reelection bid of the sitting Senator, Kwara South, Dr Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim saying the senator had performed better than his predecessors.

He said the group had taken stock of the representation of the legislator in the upper chamber of the National Assembly with a verdict that failure to return him in the February 16, 2019 election may retard the progress already recorded.

The Kwara South G70 Coordinator, who addressed Journalists alongside other leaders of the group, said young people of the senatorial district deemed it fit to canvass votes for Dr Rafiu Ibrahim because his representation had changed the political narrative of the area.

Abducted APC chairman, Donatus Nwankpa finally regains freedom

The abducted chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abia State, Chief Donatus Nwankpa, has regained his freedom.

Nwankpa was reportedly kidnapped together with one of his aides on Monday night on his way to Aba, the commercial hub of the state, few hours to the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the state.

His abductors later released his aide who sustained some injuries.

His party men had pleaded with his abductors to also release him unconditionally, saying he is a good man that is loved by all and sundry in the state.

However, the Publicity Secretary of the Party in the state Mr. Benedict Godson, told our correspondent on Friday that Nwankpa was released from the kidnappers’ den unconditionally during late hours of Thursday.

He said no ransom was paid for his release, adding that he was in good health when he came out.

He said, “We thank God for his safe return and we appreciate all those who in one way or the other contributed to his safe return.

“ We also want to thank our governorship candidate and other leaders of the party in the state for standing with us since he was kidnapped.”

When contacted, the Commissioner of Police in the state Mr. Chris Ezike, confirmed that Nwankpa was released unhurt by his abductors.

Onnoghen: Oshiomhole fires back at EU, US, UK over comment on suspension

The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, has condemned the comment by the governments of the United Kingdom, UK, United States, US, and the European Union, EU, over the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Oshiomhole said Nigeria won’t accept any foreign interference in its politics because judges get dismissed in Europe and the United States without interference.

He spoke at the Presidential Villa after the APC Senate caucus and the party’s senatorial candidates met with Buhari, yesterday.

According to Oshiomhole “Nigeria is not a colony. We will not accept any foreign interference in the internal affairs of Nigeria.”

“They (judges) have been dismissed across the world when they are found guilty of corruption and the western world cannot, on the one hand when it suits them, describe Nigeria as fantastically corrupt and when a corrupt judicial officer is being charged, people want to interfere.

“I think we all have to be careful. We must defend the sovereignty of our country.

“We welcome collaboration, we welcome peer review; we can compare notes.

”We welcome people who are interested in sharing experiences with us wherever the need arises whether it is capacity building or making useful suggestions on how we can improve on our electoral process. Those are very valuable contributions that we appreciate.”

BREAKING: NGF, NSA, IGP meet in Abuja

Members of the Nigeria Governors Forum are currently meeting with the National Security Adviser, Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.) and the Acting  Inspector of Police, Mohammed Adamu.

Details of the agenda of the meeting are still sketchy, but our correspondent gathered it could be on the forthcoming general elections.

A communiqué is expected after the meeting.

Details soon…

My children talked me into running for Lagos governorship —Sanwo-Olu

The All Progressives Congress candidate for Lagos State governorship election, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that he started considering running as governor after his children convinced him that he has all it takes to occupy the office.

Speaking on a radio programme, Morning Digest, hosted by Mr. Jimi Disu on Tuesday in Lagos, Sanwo-Olu, who disclosed that his children are in their 20s, said the ambition started during an informal discussion with his children

He said that his children drew his attention to the fact that he had been a seasoned administrator, with about 17 years’ service in government, a period during which, he said, he had served in various capacities that had exposed him to the intricacies of governance and economic policy-making.

He said he decided to take the plunge when it became obvious that their party would not be supporting the incumbent, Akinwunmi Ambode.

The governorship hopeful also alleged that he and his running mate, Obafemi Hamzat, have had to depend on private financial support, as opposed to the insinuation that their campaigns are being funded by the Lagos State Government.

Ambode did not give us a kobo,”, Sanwo-Olu said.

He also denied the allegation that APC National National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has Lagos in his grips and that governance in the state is how he wants it.

“There is no truth in the allegation that Lagos is not free. No one is under any bondage to any godfather.

“If you must know, since last September and up until now, Asiwaju has not engaged me and Hamzat in any conversation.

“He has never been a part of our campaign so far. Rather, as a campaign coordinator for Mr. President’s re-election, he has been at the centre.

“I and Hamzat have been left alone to make the best of our campaign efforts, and we are doing that already.

“Lagos is not under the jackboot of any godfather,” Sanwo-Olu explained.

While suggesting that he could offer consultancy job to his closest challenger, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, if elected governor, Sanwo-Olu said he could not understand why Agbaje keeps putting himself up for election “every four years.”

Reacting to Mr. Disu’s insistence that he speak on Oba Rilwanu Akiolu’s statement that only APC is allowed to govern Lagos, Sanwo-Olu said in order not to be seen as partisan, traditional rulers must stay out of politics and be seen to be father to all.

Lagos Assembly summons Ambode over budget

The Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday urged Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to appear before it within one week on the controversy concerning this year’s budget.

The year’s Appropriation Bill has not been presented to the lawmakers, causing hot disagreement between the Executive and the Legislature.

Last month, the governor sent the budget to the Assembly against the tradition of laying it before the Assembly.

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa told his colleagues at yesterday’s plenary that it was important to give the governor a fair hearing on the budget.

The Speaker recalled that there had been violations of the Constitution and alleged infractions by the governor.

He said: “The Attorney General, the Finance Commissioner and Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, who ought to have advised the governor did not do so.

“The most important thing is that we should let the people know that a budget that was yet to be approved was being spent. This was why we could not attend to the governor on the budget on January 21.

“We must give them a fair hearing to come and explain what happened. The point has been made that there must be something before the Assembly before you can commence expenditure. We want to call on the governor to come within a week to explain himself along with the other officials.

“We can start gathering signatures for impeachment. We can exercise patience and wait till another time.”

The lawmakers were reacting to a report presented by Deputy Speaker Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni as the Chairman of the committee set up to examine issues surrounding the 2019 budget at a parliamentary meeting of the lawmakers.

Members of the Committee included the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts (State), Moshood Oshun; the Chairman of the House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, Gbolahan Yishawu; the Chairman of the House Committee on the Environment, Dayo Saka-Fafunmi and the Chairman of the House Committee on Works and Infrastructure, Abiodun Tobun.

Eshinlokun said the committee met with relevant commissioners and heads of agencies, including the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Segun Banjo, who said no money had been spent in this year’s budget.

The lawmaker said the Accountant General told the committee that a warrant had been issued that they could spend up to 25 per cent of the preceding year’s budget before the approval of the new year’s appropriation.

He said they would liaise with the Assembly if they wanted to spend up to N200 million.

Eshinlokun said: “We pointed out that the governor ought to lay the budget of the New Year before December 31, but that so far the budget was yet to be laid.

“We asked them to bring out the law that allows them to spend up to 25 per cent of the budget of the preceding year. They could not bring out such a law and we said what they did was wrong.

“We discovered that people had started receiving alerts and this has a grave implication for the Executive.

“It is our finding that for smooth running of the government, there must be a strict adherent to the constitution, and it must not be violated.

“We decided to bring the report before the lawmakers for us to take action.”

Yishawu said the Committee on Budget discovered during the budget review that there was specific expenditure that should have been approved by the Assembly on which funds were expended.

The lawmaker averred that these were misnomers, and that the Assembly noticed variation in the expenditure and budget approved.

“We had issues of virement and funds being spent without approval. We had cases of items that were not budgeted for being carried out. It shows the executive rewrite the budget at will.

“The Constitution states that the House of Assembly must approve all expenditures,” he added.

Most of the lawmakers expressed surprise and worry about the development.

They stressed that the governor and members of the State Executive Council (Exco) were committing glaring constitutional breaches which might lead to serious consequences.

According to them, things are shutting down in the state through the action of the Executive.

Other lawmakers who contributed to the issue included Tunde Braimoh, Rotimi Olowo, Moshood Oshun, Richard Kasunmu, Rasheed Makinde, Yinka Ogundimu, Sola Giwa and Victor Akande.

Others are: Fatai Mojeed, Jude Idimogu, Noheem Raheem, Fatai Oluwa, Oladele Adekanye, Sabur Olayiwola, Akeem Shokunle and Mosunmola Sangodara.

Funmilayo Tejuosho, Setonji David, Dayo Saka-Fafunmi, Mojisola Miranda, Dayo Famakinwa, Saka Solaja, Lanre Ogunyemi and Folajinmi Mohammed expressed dismay at the development.

Omotayo Oduntan (Deputy Whip) “Today is a sad day. The executive just moved money from one ministry to another without recourse to the Assembly. When all these happen, it shows a total disregard to the budget being passed by the House. We should get across to the Governor to explain himself or else we should begin an impeachment process.

But Majority Leader Sanai Agunbiade said: “There are three arms of government of which the Executive is one. Our government is still running and not shut down. What we want to do is to ensure that the infraction from one arm of government does not affect another.

“It is clear that the budget has not been presented before the Assembly. My colleagues have addressed all the issues. We should let the public know that we do not have the budget before the Assembly.”

The lawmakers made three suggestions.

The first is that the commissioners, who were approved by the Assembly and are working with the governor would have a vote of no confidence passed on them because they have allegedly failed in their responsibilities.

The next is for the governor to resign or the Assembly should begin an impeachment process against him.

“We can communicate to him to reign or failure to do that is for us to start collecting signatures of lawmakers so that we can be seeing to have done our job,” Agunbiade said.

Chief Whip Rotimi Abiru said: “I want to adopt what has been done without wasting much time. There have been some infractions on the part of the governor and the position of the law is clear.”

Deputy Majority Leader Wahab Jimoh said: “I saw this coming like an ocean surge. The Attorney General wrote the House to withdraw the private member bills before the House. I had been noticing that there would be a crisis. The report I saw with the Deputy Speaker shows that the 2019 budget is being implemented.

Onnoghen: Group Backs Buhari On Suspension

A political group, the Buhari Osinbajo Hope Movement (BOHM), on Monday threw its weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari over his decision to suspend Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), saying the president acted in good faith to safeguard the nation’s democracy and Judicial system.

National Coordinator of BOHM, Mr Seyi Bamigbade, stated this while speaking with journalists in Lagos, noting that the Justice Onnoghen subjected himself to ridicule by not resigning after he was exposed by the petition written against him.

According to Bamigbade, the CJN having lost the confidence of Nigerians cannot be allowed cling to Judicial office.

“For crying out loud, the former CJN by the alleged corrupt practices has seriously tarnished the image of the judiciary. There is no way Buhari led government known to be fighting corruption can retain him at the helm of the nation’s judicial system. That is a taboo in itself.

“Mind you we are approaching a general election, it is not so proper to leave the judicial system in the hands of a man alleged to be benefiting from corrupt practices.

“We have looked at the situation critically and, therefore, decided to commend the president for taking such a brave and courageous decision. We are by this statement giving his suspension our full backing because come to think of it the president acted in the interest of Nigeria and to preserve the good name of the judiciary,” National Coordinator of BOHM said.

Speaking further, Bamigbade wondered why some people had left the offence committed and started ascribing ethnicity or religious sentiments to it.

“What are you talking about? Did he declare the millions of foreign currencies in his account? No. The former CJN is the head of the National Judicial Council and you cannot say you are fighting corruption when a man that ought to be a custodian of Justice is smeared by his own conduct. Let’s be reasonable,” he fumed.

“For us in BOHM, President Buhari made the right decision on Onnoghen embroiled in non-asset declaration scandal and besides nobody is above the law,” he concluded.

Mining sector will take Nigeria out of doldrums – Miners association

The Solid Minerals Miners, Traders, Quarry Operators and Sand Dredgers Association says mining can take Nigeria out of the doldrums.

The association, in conjunction with Miners for Buhari/Osinbajo (M4BO) spoke through its chairman and former governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji  Isa Yuguda, at a press conference held in Abuja Friday.

Yuguda said as a result of the enabling policies/reforms that were brought in by this administration in the mining sector, over 5 million miners are in the field and taking mining as a profession.

He stated that due to more activities in the sector, revenue generation improved from N2.08 billion in 2015 to N3.92 billion in 2017, adding that this government has established the Artisanal and Small Scaling Financing Support Fund of N5 billion for artisanal miners.

“Miners in Nigeria have come together to support the programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari and to succeed in his reelection bid in the forthcoming general elections to enable them continue with the very good works they have been carrying out in the mining industry,” Yuguda said.

The president, Quarry Owners Association, Alhaji Nasir Ibrahim, said the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has helped develop the mining sector, hence should be returned for another term in office.

Oshiomhole: Why Buhari Hosted APC Senators In Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari played host to senators and senatorial candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja on Monday night.

Also present at the meeting was Adams Oshiomhole, the APC National Chairman.

Speaking to newsmen after the event on why the APC senators and senatorial candidates contesting on the APC platform met the president, Oshiomhole said: “Basically, the meeting was for the President to meet with the caucus of the Senate and the APC senatorial candidates.

“The whole idea is for the president to have a direct interaction with the senators and the senatorial candidates of the APC.”

ECOWAS 2020 single currency target not realistic, says analyst

A former Chief Economist/Group Head, Research and Economic Intelligence Group of Zenith Bank, Marcel Okeke, has said the plan by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to achieve a single currency for the region by 2020 is no longer realistic.

Okeke spoke at the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) 2018 Economic Review and 2019 outlook held in Lagos at the weekend.

Okeke, who is now the Lead Consultant, Mascot Consult Limited, said a single currency for the region came with some challenges and criteria that many of the member countries would not be able to meet.

He said the ECOWAS common currency had been on for many years and needed the member countries to attain key milestones for its successful takeoff.

Onnoghen: Buhari, AGF, CCT, acting CJN dragged to court

A Lagos-based constitutional lawyer, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo, has asked a Federal High Court, Abuja, to decide whether due process was observed in the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

On 25th of January, 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari, pursuant to an ex parte order of the Code of the Conduct Tribunal suspended Onnoghen and appointed Justice Tanko Muhammed as the Acting CJN.

NAN reports that the lawyer, suing through Registered Trustees of Malcom Omirhobo Foundation, urged the court to declare the said suspension of Onnoghen as unlawful and unconstitutional.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/109/2019, the plaintiff joined as defendant: The Attorney General of the Federation, the Senate, National Judicial Council (NJC), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Justice Mohammed Tanko and Onnoghen.

The plaintiff asked the court to decide whether the 1999 Constitution being the Supreme Law of Nigeria, and regulating the three arms of government had been suspended.

He also wanted the court to decide whether in interpreting Sections 153(1) (i) (2), 158 , 231(1)(4), 292(1) (a)(i) and part I (I) of the third schedule of the 1999 constitution, the suspension and removal of the CJN was in compliance with due process of the law.

He sought for the court’s decision on whether the appointment of an acting CJN to replace Onnoghen was in compliance with due process of law, and whether it was proper, lawful, legal, constitutional and democratic.

The plaintiff, therefore, wanted the court to declare that the 1999 Constitution was the Supreme Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that the defendants have no powers under the constitution to suspend the CJN.

He also asked for a declaration that the CJN can only be removed from office, on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate, adding that the removal from office of Onnoghen, is without due process of law.

The plaintiff, therefore, sought for an order revoking or setting aside the appointment and swearing in of the acting CJN.

Besides, he wanted an order, compelling the defendants to comply with the principle of Separation of Powers, Judicial independence and the Rule of law.

No date has been fixed for hearing of the new suit.

BREAKING: Buhari, Mbaka in closed-door meeting

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The controversial cleric who had predicted that President Buhari would defeat the then President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 election, arrived the forecourt of the president’s office.

Upon alighting from a BMW car, maroon colour he made straight to the president’s office complex through the security gate.

After sometime, former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani also arrived and went straight to the President’s office.

The details of their meeting with President Buhari is yet unknown.

Meanwhile, Mbaka was recently criticized over his outburst in a video where he chastised the Peoples Democratic Party’s vice presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, for not donating money to his congregation.

Although he later apologized to Mr. Obi who had remained calm at the adoration ground despite what was viewed as unwarranted attack from the cleric who had wanted the former Anambra State governor to openly announce his donation to the ministry.

Onnoghen: Nigerian government explains why it suspended CJN

The Nigerian government on Monday said the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen has nothing to do with the forthcoming general elections.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said Buhari suspended Onnoghen over his admittance of failing to declare his assets as stipulated by the law and not due to the forthcoming elections, as being insinuated.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Mohammed disclosed that the embattled CJN was suspended for refusing to take responsibility for his actions, instead opted to put the entire judiciary on trial.

According to Muhammed: “Today, I have called this press conference to set the records straight and redirect the discourse. Contrary to what the opposition and their ilk have been saying, this is not about the forthcoming elections, neither does the suspension of the CJN signal the beginning of dictatorship. President Buhari is an avowed democrat, and this he has proven time and time again. This Administration stands firm on the rule of law!

“This whole issue is about the country’s highest judicial officer, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, being accused of a breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, and the legal and moral conundrum surrounding that. It is about the suspicious transactions running into millions of dollars to the suspended CJN’s personal accounts, all undeclared or improperly declared as required by law. It is about the Hon. Justice Onnoghen himself admitting to the charges that he indeed failed to follow the spirit and letter of the law in declaring his assets, calling it a ‘mistake’.

“And it is about him refusing to take responsibility, instead opting to put the entire judiciary on trial. Please remember that Justice Onnoghen has been given the opportunity of fair hearing, but he has been abusing his position and the judicial process by filing frivolous applications and even dodging service of process.”

Imo electorate task INEC on credible poll

Registered voters in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State under the aegis of Ohaji-Egbema Elites on Monday protested the continued manipulation of election results in the Council Area by politicians in connivance with Staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The group lamented that elections in the area have never reflected the will of the people, a situation they said is responsible for the indifference of those that represent the people in government to the plight of the people.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Francis Ezeonu, leader of the group, Francis Ugochukwu, stated that the electorate in Ohaji-Egbema are demanding that their votes should be made to count in the forthcoming election.

He said, “We are worried that in INEC records, our Local Government Area is marked with red and we are poised to change that by collaborating with INEC to ensure that for the first time in our history that we have a free and fair election that will reflect the will of the people”.

Ugochukwu continued that, “the most painful aspect of it is that our people are not as volatile as they are thought to be but the problem of election in our place is complicity of INEC Staff who manipulate the results by manufacturing figures that don’t exist for politicians and this is the cause of the poor representation we are suffering. But we have decided that enough is enough, we want our votes to count this time around. So we are appealing to the Commission to find solution to this problem, we are peace loving and we want to participate in the election. We are not supporting any politician; all we want is a free and fair exercise”.

In his response, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (Francis Ezeonu), stated that the Commission is aware of the challenges in the area, assuring that it will do everything possible to ensure a free and fair polls across the state.

He said, “this election is the most deliberately planned election and INEC has put in place strong strategy that will ensure credible poll but I will advise that you stay back after voting to ensure that your votes count”.

Meanwhile, scores of youths from the Council Area staged a peaceful protest outside INEC office to further buttress the demand.

They displayed placards with various inscriptions such as, ‘INEC let our votes count’, ‘one man one vote is our demand’, ‘voting is our right’ and ‘we say no to rigging’, among others.

Two in court for allegedly slapping policeman, tearing uniform

Two men — Ifeanyi Uzoma, 33; and Chukwendu Njoku, 33; — charged with tearing a policeman’s uniform, were on Monday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

Uzoma, a businessman, resident in Oshodi, and Njoku, a civil servant, who resides in Mushin, Lagos State, appeared before the Magistrate, Mrs M.O. Tanimola, on a two-count of obstruction of duty and conspiracy.

Both men, however, pleaded not guilty and were admitted to a bail of N80,000 each with one surety each, who should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The prosecutor, Inspector Aondohemba Koti told the court that the accused committed the offences on January 21, at Papa-Ajao Street, Mushin, Lagos State.

He said that the accused obstructed the complainant, Inspector Tunde Ikuomola, from performing his lawful duty and also tore his uniform.

Koti said that the complainant was assaulted when he tried to question the accused, who parked a car on the road.

“The complainant and his team saw a Mercedes Benz parked on the road, in a suspicious way.

“When asked of their mission in that place at that time, they could not give a satisfactory answer.

“The accused were asked to open the vehicle for searching, but they refused.

“When the complainant insisted on searching the vehicle, the accused came down from the car; after slapping the complainant, he held his uniform and tore it.

“The accused were taken to the station,” the prosecutor said.

According to the prosecutor, the offences violate Sections 174 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Section 174 stipulates three years imprisonment for serious assault while Section 411 prescribes two years for conspiracy.

Tanimola adjourned the case until February 13, for mention.

(NAN)