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Hardship: Reps Agree On Salary Cut By 50 Percent For Six Months

July 18, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

In tandem with economic realities confronting Nigeria, Members of the House of Representatives have agreed to release N108 million monthly from their salaries.

The amount is expected to be sourced from the 50 percent salary cut agreed upon by the 360 lawmakers for six months.

They described the gesture as part of their solidarity and sacrifice to support the economic hardship and hunger Nigerians are going through at the moment.

This followed the adoption of an amendment to a motion’s prayer moved by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, on the need for lawmakers to sacrifice 50 percent of their N600,000 monthly salaries to support Nigerians in view of the hardship in the land.

Kalu’s amended prayer was to a motion by Isiaka Ayokunle calling on proponents of the planned nationwide protests to jettison the idea and engage the government in dialogue.

The Deputy Speaker said the salary cut is to be used to support federal government’s efforts to address rising cost of food stuffs in the country with the view to ameliorating the hardship Nigerians are going through.

The motion was adopted and referred to the committees on Humanitarian Affairs, Finance and Budget for compliance.

Kano Creates Anti-Phone Snatching Taskforce

Suleiman Anyalewechi

July 18, 2024

Abba Yusuf - Governor of Kano State — Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Kano State Government has approved the creation of Anti-Phone snatching Taskforce to combat growing cases of phone snatching by criminal elements in the State

The Executive Council of the State has, subsequently, approved the sum of over N26 million for the conversion and renovation of office spaces for the Taskforce at the Coronation Hall ,Government House.

This is even as the Council approved the sum of over N29 billion for the completion of ongoing capital projects across the State.

A press statement issued on Thursday, July 18 2024, by Governor Abba Yusuf’s Media Aide, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, said the approvals were made at the state’s executive meeting held on Wednesday ,July 17.

The projects to be covered by the sum include those in agriculture, roads construction, as well as payments of inherited arrears of Public Servants’ allowances among other things.

“Council approved the release of N7,761,681, 22 for the continuation of 5 km of dualized road projects across the 44 local councils of the State .

“Also the Council approved the sum of N239,536,859,21 for the construction of three rural roads at Ja’en Makera – Salanta Gudduba- Unguwar Baizango Guliya and Fagoge-Kwanar Zuwo in Gwale Ajingi and Kiru/Madobi LGAs .

“Approval for the procurement of 500 relief Transformers to be distributed to various communities across the 44 local government areas in the state at the sum of N 7 ,123,750,000,00 was also given .

“State Constituency projects for the year 2024 have been allocated the sum of over N 6.billion.

“Part of the Council’s resolutions include approval for the construction of 2-coat surface dressed road from Kwanar Gammawa in Gezawa LGA at cost of N 343 ,363,068,78 . Approval for the procurement of 20 Toyota Hilux vans and one Toyota Bus for the state ministries MDAs was also given at the sum of N819,500,00 .

“Approval for additional expansion of the scope of works on crashed barriers and street curbs and painting were also given among others.”

“My Son Not Arrested Anywhere For Any Crime” – Governor Zulum Threatens Legal Action

Suleiman Anyalewechi

July 18, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Media Team of the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has described as untrue, malicious and baseless, the rumours circulating that the son of the Governor was arrested over the alleged murder of an Indian citizen.

In a statement issued late on Wednesday, July 17, the Governor’s Media Team said the misinformation as carried by an online media blog, captioned “Son of Borno state Governor Murders Someone in India”, was deliberately aimed at embarrassing and maligning the Governor and his family.

“The blog claimed that the Governor traveled to India, attempting to use diplomatic status to resolve the matter.

“It is on record that Governor Babagana Zulum was on a one-month vacation in Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Hajj and later traveled to Egypt to attend the annual ASUEAN forum conference in Cairo.

“The Media Unit would like to clarify and set the record straight that Nairaland and other online blogs have mischievously spread defamatory content without any speck of truth.

“We hereby warn Nairaland and all those who have spread the false information to pull down the misinformation from its website and platforms within the next 24 hours and offer an unreserved apology to Governor Zulum ,his son and the entire family or risk legal action .

“The Governor shall also not hesitate to take legal action against any media outlet that continues to publicise this defamatory information on its platform .

“We would like to inform the general public that none of Governor Zulum’s sons was either arrested or charged with any crime or involved in any unlawful activities anywhere .

“We urge the public to exercise caution when consuming and sharing information ,particularly when it comes from unverified sources and blogs instead of credible media outlets” part of the statement reads

The statement which was signed by the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Abdulrrahman Ahmed Bundi, enjoined all media organizations to always be guided by the ethics of journalism profession.

Why We Did Not Create Bichi Emirate Council – Kano State Govt

Suleiman Anyalewechi

July 18, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Kano State Government has said that Bichi could not make it as one of the newly created three second class Emirates in the State because it has no recorded antecedent as an ancient traditional enclave.

The Source reports that the State Government on Tuesday July 16, carved out Gaya ,Rano and Karaye as second class Emirates.

The three newly created second class Emirates were among the five, including Kano and Bichi, whose first class Emirs were on May 23,2024 deposed based on the strength of the 2024 Emirates Bill that was passed by the House of Assembly and assented to by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf same Thursday May 23,2024.

The dethronement of the five Emirs and the abolition of their Emirates paved the way for the reinstatement of Muhammad Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano, four years after he was first deposed by the immediate past Government of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, based on the now amended 2019 Emirates law.

The 2019 Emirates Law was also instrumental to the balkanization of the, otherwise, behemouth Kano Emirate into five.

The creation of the three new second class Emirates from the ashes of the abolished Gaya ,Rano and Karaye First Class Emirates was sequel to the passage on Tuesday July 16 by the state lawmakers of the 2024 Emirates Establishment Bill,which was also signed into law same day by Governor Yusuf.

The State Government, on Wednesday, July 17, proceeded to appoint Emirs for the three second class Emirates.

Instructively, the deposed first class Emir of Gaya, Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir, was returned as the new second class Emir of the Emirate.

Alhaji Muhammad Mahraz Karaye was appointed the second class Emir of Karaye. Before now, he was the District Head of Rogo.

The newly created second class Emirate of Rano has Alhaji Muhammad Isah Umar as the Emir. He was the District Head of Bunkure .

A statement from the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, said all the newly appointed Emirs are to serve as second class Traditional Rulers.

Speaking on why the Bichi Emirates was not given the same treatment as Gaya ,Rano and Karaye which were dissolved together with it as First Class Emirates, Haruna Dederi, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice noted that it is a well known fact that Bichi is not among Emirate Councils in the history of Kano .

According to him, Bichi Emirate was the creation of former Governor Gandunje for his political gains.

He said much as some people may not be happy that the area was excluded from among the newly created second class Emirates, they should also be aware that Bichi has never been part of existing Emirates in Kano .

However, The Source findings have revealed that there may be more to the exclusion of Bichi than the Commissioner for Justice offered.

Impeccable sources revealed that the entire scenario revolves around pay back time for Governor Yusuf. It was gathered that the Governor, during his campaign visits to two of the deposed Emirs was accorded less than a friendly reception.

One of the deposed Emirs was said to have openly told Governor Yusuf campaign train that they were not welcomed and will never be supported for his ambition to become the Governor of the State.

“It was as a result of the shabby treatment meted out to him that he vowed to deal with them should he eventually became the Governor.

Besides, initially when the Emir of Bichi, Nasir Ado Bayero was deposed, he never posed any problems .But somewhere along the line he was persuaded by his elder brother Aminu Ado Bayero, the deposed Emir of Kano, to join in the legal challenge of the dethronement.

So, his involvement in the court battles, may have also cost him the chance of having a second class Emirate created for him in Bichi”, a source who craved anonymity volunteered.

Governor Yusuf, The Source has authoritatively gathered, was more goaded in the Emirates creation exercise, by the need to compensate the deposed Emir of Gaya for the uncommon equanimity he exhibited during, and after the early days of his dethronement.

” If you can recall, when all the five Emirs were deposed, it was only the Emir of Gaya that came out openly to accept the decision in good faith.

“He never posed any threat. That informed the fact that he was the only one among the dethroned Emirs that returned back, though at a lower level.”

Stakeholders Kick As FG Warns JAMB, Tertiary Institutions Against Admitting Students Below 18 Years

Ayodele Oni

July 18, 2024

Prof Tahir Mamman - Minister of Education

By Akinwale Kasali & Ayodele Oni

Perturbed by the influx of the under aged into Tertiary Institutions, the Federal Government through the has directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB and Nigerian tertiary institutions to give admission only to candidates who are 18 years and above into the various Tertiary Institutions in the country.

The Minister for Education, Dr Mamman Tahir, SAN, gave this directive in his address at the ongoing 2024 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions in Abuja on Thursday. But the directive was met with strong protests from various Stakeholders present.

The Policy meeting is a forum of critical stakeholders in the admission processes into tertiary institutions in the country including University Vice Chancellors, Registrars, Rectors, Provosts, JAMB Registrar and other officials of the examination body, among other Principal Officers of Monotechnics.

Mamman said: “JAMB is hereby instructed from admission this year to admit only eligible students. That is those who have attained 18 years by our laws”.

The Minister reiterated that the decision was backed by Nigeria’s law guiding admissions into Tertiary Institutions, and stressed that it shouldn’t require a statement from him for that to be taken seriously by Admission Bodies.

“Our laws require students to be in school from six years —Yes, there are those who do that from five — and remain in primary school for six years, basic education for three years, and secondary school for three years. It doesn’t require a statement of the Minister. We are only restating what is in the law,” he added.

But the Minister’s declaration was met with instant resistance from the packed hall of stakeholders representing tertiary institutions nationwide, forcing him to pause his address.

The session turned rowdy, with the Minister asking: “Are we together?” only to be met with a resounding “No!” from the crowd.

Unperturbed, the Minister continued his explanation for the new benchmark, but the uproar persisted.

It took the intervention of JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, to restore order with his plea, “Please attention please!”

The annual policy meeting is held to authorize the commencement of admission into tertiary institutions in the country and adopt certain admission benchmarks.

Ebenezer Alabi, Former Ondo Chairman Of PDP Resigns From Party

Ayodele Oni

July 18, 2024

Ebenezer Alabi - Former Ondo PDP Chairman

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), has suffered a loss. A former State Chairman of the Party, Ebenezer Alabi, has resigned from the Party. He submitted his resignation letter to his Ward.

In the letter dated July 18, 2024, and made available to Newsmen on Thursday, Alabi said he took the decision after wide consultations with his family members, political associates, friends and followers.

The letter was addressed to the Ward 11 chairman of the PDP in Akure North Local Government Area of the state.

He said, “I write to inform you of my resignation from the party with effect from today 18th July, 2024.

“I came to this conclusion after wide consultations with my family members, political associates, friends and followers on the pariah state of affairs of the party in the state.

“I cannot, in good conscience, further continue to co-habit with some political leaders whose aim is to make financial fortunes at every cycle of election.

“The large chunk of money sent for mobilization during the past general elections ended up in the private pockets of these leaders at the detriment of the party’s victory.

“Some of them found it easy to extort money from many aspirants during primary elections and ended up allocating delegates’ votes to them in the proportion of amounts coerced to cough out.

“The overall success of the party is none of their concern, in as much as their personal aggrandizement is satisfied.

“Unfortunately, the depressing reality is that I am yet to notice any radical departure from this ugly trend, hence my decision to quit in order not to be part of further political misfortunes.

“As I take a final bow today, let me use this medium to express my deep appreciation to you and all other party members for their support, respect and cooperation accorded me for the past 21 years.”

The letter is however silent on his next line of action.

OPINION: In This Difficult Marriage, Democrats Must Love Biden

The Source

July 18, 2024

By Azu Ishiekwene

The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13 at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania has sucked the oxygen from the debate on President Joe Biden’s fitness for a second term. The discussion will resurface, but Democrats should forget it. The party is stuck with Biden.

The odds are daunting. It must feel like a difficult marriage heading for a shipwreck. However, with only four months to the election, facing the odds is the only way to overcome them. Expectedly, Biden doubled down on his decision to run after the presidential debate with Trump left the president looking like the victim of a car crash.

He has tried to redeem himself several times and has snagged on his speeches every time. Yet, despite his frail health, stumbling speeches, and the mocking caricatures in the media, Biden insists he would stay in the race.

“I know I’m not a young man,” Biden said after the debate with Trump. “I don’t walk as easy as I used to. I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know — I know how to tell the truth!”

Stuck on him

As doubts about his fitness persist, one truth that he weighs is whether it’s in his party’s best interest to run. With a heavy heart, it’s fair to say that the answer is yes. Democrats are stuck with Biden. However worrying the prospects of a defeat – particularly a defeat to Trump – might seem, Biden’s candidacy still gives the party the best chance to win or rebuild.

Some think Biden should let Vice President Kamala Harris run. She has received support from members of Congress, especially from her state of California, women organisations, progressive activists, and sections of the Asian American community.

Her supporters have given reasons, from her relatively younger age to the likelihood that, given her background as a prosecutor and Attorney General, she would pay more attention to issues like criminal justice reform, immigration and healthcare. Others have added that her ethnic nationality would bring diversity to the ticket and energise Latinos, Asians and Blacks, who are increasingly important demographics among voters.

Others, like Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Michigan governors, have also been mentioned as possible Biden replacements, but none would appear as viable as Harris. Yet, for all the promises she offers, there are many reasons Biden, instead of Harris, remains the Democrats’ best card.

Remember Hilary?

Hilary Clinton, former First Lady and Secretary of State, apart from being a senator, a white woman and one of the best-kept secrets of the deep state, could not defeat Trump in 2016 because America was not ready. It was unprepared to discard the bogey of an “evil” Clinton dynasty. It was – and still is – unprepared for a female president.

Sure, more women are serving in the US Congress today, and voters’ attitudes toward having a female president have slightly improved. But not so fast when a woman of colour is on the ballot.

We never know what might have happened if Hilary challenged Trump again in 2020. But she declined not only because the previous contest had left her with deep emotional scars but because the Democratic party had also come to the inevitable conclusion that in what was supposed to be a post-modern society, gender – and the elephant in the room, race – remained a big issue.

It’s unlikely that Harris would succeed where Clinton failed, a hint that may also be responsible for Michelle Obama staying out of the race despite her popularity in the opinion polls.

Harris’ bonafide

Harris’ slim chance against Trump has little to do with her credentials. She was a former Attorney General and senator from California who formed a bipartisan coalition to enact a $1 trillion investment in infrastructure to remove every lead pipe in the US. She has also been on the frontline to reform the healthcare system, especially among the vulnerable, and reduce gun violence, among other things.

On a typical day, Harris is an asset to the Democratic party and might still be for some time. But this November election is an unusual one. America is deeply divided, and trust in politics is so severely broken that a Wall Street Journal poll indicated that even though this is the first presidential rematch in five decades, nearly 10 per cent of voters are still undecided.

That shouldn’t be because voters have records to judge the contestants: Trump, the demagogue, cut taxes for the middle class and massively removed regulations, among other things; Biden, on the other hand, has recorded two crucial years of job growth in a long time and managed to keep the economy steady, despite the supply chain disruptions of COVID-19. Inflation has taken a significant toll on families but could have been worse.

The jury is out on voters’ feelings, especially where it matters most: their pockets. Although the demographics of the undecided population – less educated, less wealthy, less politically aware and engaged, less interested in politics, but definitely more diverse – should favour Harris, the “silent voters” or “hidden Trump voters” who blindsided pollsters and torpedoed Clinton eight years ago are still alive and well.

Teflon Trump thrives in scandals. Today’s Feeble Joe is not the same Biden who faced Trump four years ago and got away by the skin of his teeth. While he is weaker, frailer and poorer even at sharing his accomplishments in the last four years, his opponent, Trump, has been emboldened by his worst excesses. The race for the US presidency is a match-up between horror and uncertainty.

Strength in weakness

Yet, Biden’s weaknesses, especially his common touch – not Harris’ strengths – are the Democrats’ most potent weapon against a candidate who would lie, cheat, inflate, incite and routinely invent stories to get by. It’s a hard thing to say, but Biden, with all his frailties, is the medicine for Trump’s demagoguery.

Biden stepping down at this time will further weaken and divide the Democrats, giving them very little time to rally before the election. And if the worst, a Trump victory happens – which I think is improbable – then the party would have the chance to rebuild from its potentially less fragmented ruins.

What’s in it for Africa? Heads or tails, not a lot. Trump made clear that it was America first and last and the rest of the world, especially Africa, was shithole. Some still romanticise the Biden Senate years, when he spoke against apartheid, railed against injustice in the Middle East and pursued global peace through multilateralism.

A new Biden

That was then. The Biden of the last four years has massively funded Ukraine’s senseless war with Russia, a meat grinder if ever there was one, and paid scant attention to Africa. He has also proved utterly ineffective in getting Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the killings in Gaza.

The election in November is not about Africa. It’s about whether an exceptional country that lost its way in 2016 – with horrific consequences for the rest of the world – is determined to lose it yet again.

Ishiekwene is the Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP

Ganduje Preaches Against Corruption, After Allegedly Embezzling Billions In Kano

Tosin Olatokunbo

July 18, 2024

Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, has described weak institutions to be inimical to the war against corruption in the country.

The ruling party chairman said the fight against graft would only succeed when democratic institutions are strengthened.

The former Kano state governor spoke on Wednesday during the High Level Meeting with national executives of political parties and other stakeholders, organised by The Kukah Centre ,in collaboration with the European Union, EU, in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Not a few Nigerians watching the polity said his remark contradicts his perception as a very corrupt public official, saying he’s not qualified to speak on the issue.

The magazine reported that the APC Chairman has been dragged to court by the Kano state government, alongside his wife and six other government officials, who served in his administration for allegedly mismanaging funds belonging to the state.

Last week, Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu, the judge presiding over the corruption case against Ganduje refused to issue a bench warrant against the former governor, citing the political tension in the state.

Speaking yesterday during the event organised by the Kukah Centre and EU, said corruption must be fought serioulsy to prevent it from destroying the nation’s democracy.

Part of what Ganduje said, “I think that the major problems we have is that of weak institutions, because we are just going on a vicious circle of weak institutions and unless we break that vicious circle to make our institutions strong ,we are just leaving the politicians to do anything.

“Political parties are weak and because of the weak institutions, corruption thrives

“Let us stop blaming the politicians.do they win elections free? Even the security that oversees election at the polling booth,are they free?” He asked.

The politician said voters must also be blamed for their actions which he noted,encourge corruption in offices.

“Some voters carry their voters card and insist that unless they are paid,they won’t cast their votes.That is vote buying.

“Yes,the politicians embezzle public funds but did you ask them how much they spent to get to that office? Did you ask them how much they spent to come in and how much they spend for the sustainability of that office?

“Unless you x-ray all these institutions,we may not get to the root issue. So we have to develop strong instructions.

“A minister is jailed for embezzling money but did we follow the system how he got the money? Where is the due process? Did he follow the due process? Where is the accountant? Is the person who wrote the memo jailed,too?”

The Kana state government had on Tuesday filed fresh charges against the former governor, accusing him of financial miscondcut involving a substantial amount of money while he presided over the affairs of the state between 2015 and 2023.

In the charge sheet with case No. K/143c/24, filed two days ago, the state government accused Ganduje and former Commissioner for Justice, Musa Lawan, of criminal conspiracy and misappropriation contrary to Section 308, and punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code (as amended) CAP 105, Vol. 2, the Laws of Kano State of Nigeria.

According to the charge sheet, Ganduje and Lawan were accused of conspiring to misappropriate, divert, and convert ₦240m for personal use.

The charge sheet states, “The duo are standing trial for dishonestly, fraudulently, and without reasonable justification, in the abuse of your respective offices, conspired between yourselves, misappropriated, diverted, and converted the sum of Two Hundred and Forty Million Naira (N240,000,000.00) to finance purely personal and private cases for your own personal and private benefit, thereby causing wrongful gain to yourselves and wrongful loss to the Government and people of Kano State.”

Minimum Wage: Tension As NLC, TUC Await Tinubu’s Announcement

Tosin Olatokunbo

July 18, 2024

There is serious tension in the camp of the organised labour following reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will announce the new minimum wage after meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC, on Thursday.

The development comes after the president sent a bill to the National Assembly to amend the 2024 Budge, with an addition of over N6 trillion.

The Budget has now been increased to N34. 9 trillion from N28.77 trillion earlier proposed by his government, which analysts insists have now been adjusted to accommodate the new wage to be paid to workers.

The magazine also reported that the opposition Peoples Democratic Governors, had met yesterday in Enugu where they declared support for the Organised Labour on the minimum wage issue.

Their position comes after the 36 state governors in the country, under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, rejected the N62,000 proposed by the federal government to pay Nigerian workers.

The governors said they should be allowed to determine what they pay their workers in their states. NLC and TUC have rejected the position, threatening to go on strike if this was allowed to happen.

The NLC and TUC have demanded N250, 000 as new minimum wage for their members.

Recall that the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris had earlier in the week disclosed that the president will sent the New Wage Bill to NASS for legislations.

Idris who spoke with state House correspondents after the weekly federal Executive Council Meeting, FEC, said the federal government was making frantic efforts to resolve the new wage issue following the meeting Tinubu had with the leadership of NLC and TUC on July 11.

The Miniter said, “Now, you are also aware that last week, the Nigeria Labour Congress met the president. This, of course, was part of the consultation to which the president has agreed,” he said.

“Recall that he had met organised sector; he had also met sub-nationals after the tripartite committee on labour had submitted its report to ensure that there is a thorough analysis of the situation so that the government would come up with a minimum wage that works for all Nigerians, the federal government, the sub-nationals, and the organised private sector.

“That was also discussed today. And the government has also directed the ministry of budgets to come up with additional support for the 2024 budget so that any differential or any gaps that will exist in terms of what existed before the 2024 budget were approved, a supplementary budget, and also what the requirement is for now.

“So, the government is working around the clock to ensure that it comes up with a minimum wage, like I said, that works for all Nigerians.

“At the end of the day, this, of course, will be submitted to the national assembly so that you can have legislative backing.

“Let me also say that the president is also open to meeting the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, and all the affiliates. We expect that meeting to hold this coming Thursday.

“Recall that this was already what the labour unions requested during their meeting with Mr President last week.

“So, the president is in agreement, he knows that the labour wants to quickly find a lasting solution to the issue of minimum wage, and the government is also assured to put the issue of minimum wage behind it.

“So’ it is expected that the NLC, TUC, and all the affiliates, as requested by them last week, will meet the president on Thursday, after which the president will now transmit whatever the final agreement or what his views are on the tripartite committee report to the national assembly for legislation,” Idris said.

According to those watching what is going on concerning the issue, they insist that there is currently an uneasy calm in the camp of the Labour which is awaiting the outcome of the meeting between the president and their leaders today.

“The president will determine what happens next. Our members are seriously agitated, the outcome of the meeting today will give an indication of what workers will do. We believe that the issue will be a win-win, anything contrary will not be acceptable,” one of the uinons’ leaders told the magazine on Thursday.

The magazine reported that President Tinubu had after the meeting with the presidents of the NLC and TUC on July 11, promised to resolve the wage issue before the end of this week.

NBA Strips Former Abia Attorney General And Commissioner For Justice Of SAN Title

Suleiman Anyalewechi

July 18, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The immediate pasr Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abia State , Uche Ihediwa, has been temporarily stripped of the rank of “Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations of professional misconducts leveled against him by the Nigerian Bar Association NBA.

This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, by the Secretary of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee LPPC, Sarki Bello .

The suspension order was reached at the 163rd General meeting of the Council held on July 1, 2024, where a petition written against Ihediwa ,by NBA was said to have been extensively deliberated upon.

According to the statement ,the National President of NBA ,Yakubu Maikyau, had, in December 2023, petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, and the LPPC, concerning alleged professional misconduct by Ihediwa.

In the petition, the NBA president complained that the former Abia Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice ,in the immediate past administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu had, at the International Bar Association Conference in Paris, in 2023 conducted himself in a manner unbefitting of his status as a SAN.

Specifically, the petition alleged that Ihediwa, at the said Conference, openly admitted that individuals used to bribe their ways through in the appointments of Judges in Abia State, during his tenure as the State Attorney General.

Ihediwa was said to have revealed that during his time as a member of the State Judicial Service Commission ,legal practitioners were offering bribes to the tune of N10 million to influence the appointments of Judges.

For choosing the international Conference, instead of reporting to the appropriate authorities, to announce such a heist ,the NBA insisted Ihediwa acted unprofessionally, and in such a way not in tandem with his status as SAN.

The NBA, also, complained that such professional misconduct as exhibited by Ihediwa adversely affected the administration of Justice in Nigeria,as the open pronouncement tended to ridicule the system before the global audience.

In the petition, the NBA ,emphasised that it is the duty of every legal practitioner to report any perceived breach of the extant rules to the appropriate authorities for necessary disciplinary actions .

Of particular concern to the NBA was the fact that all efforts made to get the cooperation of Ihediwa, with a view to investigating and possibly prosecuting the culprits were all rebuffed by Ihediwa.

The LPPC in the statement said Ihediwa has been suspended from enjoying the use of the title of SAN, as well as its privileges until the conclusion of the work of an investigation committee.

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