Over 149 suspected thugs and other criminal elements have been arrested by the Kano State Police authorities.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Salman Dogo Garba, said the suspected criminals were smoked out from various hot spots across the state during raids in the last ten days .
CP Garba who spoke on Thursday July 4, 2024, at a Press briefing at Command’s Bompai Kano Headquarters said the arrests also cut across suspected armed robbers , kidnappers, drug dealers, vehicles and other automobiles thieves.
Some of the items recovered during the raids include arms and ammunitions, two vehicles suspected to have been snatched, hard substances and assorted types of dangerous weapons.
“Let me emphasise on the zero-tolerance stance of the police command towards criminal activities, particularly thuggery (Daba) which have not only posed a threat to the security and safety of the affected communities where lives and properties were lost and injuries inflicted on innocent residents, but also affecting the over all development of the State.
The Command will continue to conduct awareness campaigns and sensitization through its public relations unit to educate people on the dangers of crimes, as well as the importance of reporting any suspicious or criminal activities promptly to the nearest authority.
The Kano State Police Command remains resolute in its commitment to combating thuggery ( Daba) and other criminal activities and will not spare any efforts in ensuring the safety and security of Kano residents
However, we must appreciate law abiding residents of the state for their continuous support, understanding, cooperation and prayers.” CP Garba stated.
The Police boss who recently, took over the command ,expressed the optimism that with increased patrols, collaboration from relevant stakeholders, and commitment the state will be purged of thuggery ,and other criminal activities.
Martin Amaewhule, has returned as speaker of Rivers House of Assembly as the Court of Appeal, Abuja nullified his expulsion and 24 others from the Assembly by the State High Court.
A three-member panel of the appellate court held on Thursday that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to grant the exparte order.
The court held that Section 272(3) of the Constitution gives the Federal High Court powers to determine whether the seat of a House of Assembly member has become vacant.
It held that the Federal High Court has the exclusive jurisdiction to determine if the seats have become vacant.
The 24 lawmakers are perceived loyalists of the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesome Wike.
The court declared that “Only the Federal High Court and no other court has the jurisdiction to determine cases of tenures and vacancies of the House of Assembly, Governors and President and not the State High Courts (Rivers State High Inclusive).
“From the foregoing, it is of the view of the learned judges that there was no contention on the speakership of Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewule from the records, and therefore, remains the speaker.”
The court said the express mention of the Federal High Court in Section 272 (3) of the Constitution automatically excludes all state high courts from having the jurisdiction.
Since its creation in 1976, Ondo state has just taken a leap forward in the administration of justice by increasing the number of Judges from 24 to 35.
A bill to give legal backing to the increase was signed into law on Thursday by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in Akure.
Described as a historic move to strengthen the judiciary for more efficient dispensation of justice in Governor Aiyedatiwa added eleven to the number of judges in the State.
In his address, Governor said: “Today, we make history with the signing into Law of this Amendment Bill. We mark a significant milestone in the annals of our great State.
“For the first time ever, since the creation of our State, we are increasing the number of judges in our Judiciary by 11! This invariably brings the total number of Judges in the Ondo State Judiciary to 35.
“It is indeed a momentous occasion that demonstrates our unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and the Rule of Law.
“This achievement is a testament to our administration’s dedication to strengthening the fabric of our society.
“We recognize that the judiciary is the backbone of our democracy, and by enhancing its capacity, we empower our citizens, foster a more just and equitable society and enhance the administration of justice in our dear State.”
The governor lauded efforts of the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, other members of the Ondo State House of Assembly, the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Segun Ayedun Odusola and his associate Judges, the Attorney General and other stakeholders for their efforts to make this vision a reality.
“Your patriotism, doggedness and expertise have yielded a triumph for our Sunshine State and its good people.”
Governor Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to support the judiciary, including the recent approval and mobilization of contractors for the construction of a new ultra-modern judiciary complex and ongoing training for judges both locally and internationally.
“As I sign this Bill into Law today, we not only expand access to justice, but also fortify the foundation of our democracy.
“By increasing the number of Judges, we are not only reducing the workload of the existing Judges, but also enabling the Judiciary to tackle backlog of cases.
“We equally ensure timely and faster administration of justice, thereby reducing congestion in our courts. We demonstrate that our State is a beacon of progress, where the rights and dignity of all citizens are cherished and protected.”
In his welcome address, the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Odusola stated that the signing into law of the amendment bill to increase the number of judges is a testament to the Governor’s commitment to enhancing the efficiency of court matters.
He added that this increase will help reduce the workload of the current judges.
Also, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Oladiji, remarked that in accordance with the legislative authority of the House, its Committee meticulously reviewed and deliberated on the amendment bill.
He praised members of the committee for their comprehensive and diligent efforts, which ultimately led to the successful passage of the bill into law.
To halt any further misinterpretation of her pronouncements by the press in the ongoing Emirship legal tussle in Kano, Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu, of the Kano State High Court has barred lawyers from speaking to the press forthwith.
All lawyers directly and remotely involved in the Kano Royal Stool legal face- off between Emirs Aminu Ado Bayero and Muhammad Sanusi are not to grant interviews to the Media before, during, after her pronouncements .
Justice Aliyu regretted that her rulings on the matter have been subjected to different interpretations within the Media circle,.
She is of the belief that the divergent Media interpretations have largely stemmed from the interviews granted by both Respondents and Applicants legal representatives .
The Judge is presently presiding over the application filed by the Kano State Government seeking to stop Emir Bayero from further parading himself as the 15th Emir of Kano, having been deposed along side four others from Gaya, Rano,Karaye and Bichi on May 23,2024 .
The motion on notice is also praying the court to evict the Kano State Government- deposed Emir Bayero from the mini-Palace in the Nasarawa area of the state .
Emir Bayero has since May 25, 2024 two days after his purported dethronement ,been occupying the Mini- Nasarawa Palace (the place is the traditional final resting place for Kano Emirs),.
His counterpart in the royal rumble ,Emir Sanusi, is holding out at the City Palace.
Justice Aliyu, during the resumed hearing of the motion on Thursday ,July 4 ,said the gagging of the lawyers have become the last resort since she can not stop the press from performing their constitutional duty.
” It is my order for you, lawyers, not to grant any interview to the press before ,and even after my rulings on the arguments on the pending appeal on stay of proceedings filed by the first respondent.
Even if I can not stop journalists from doing their jobs, I have the power to stop you ( lawyers ) and that is my order”, Justice Aliyu said.
The People’s Democratic party (PDP) has declared that Asue Ighodalo’s candidacy remains intact, despite Court’s ruling to the contrary.
The Party made the declaration while reacting to a Court ruling that nullified the February 22 PDP governorship primary election that produced Ighodalo as party’s candidate.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja, on Thursday, held that the Governorship primary failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022; the guidelines for the conduct of the poll and the Party’s constitution.
Reacting to the development, Edo State PDP chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, said the judgment does not impact Dr. Ighodalo’s status as the party’s flag bearer.
“The PDP is aware that certain elements who are scared of the soaring popularity of our candidate Dr Asue Ighodalo are going about peddling rumors that the candidature of Dr Asue Ighodalo has been nullified.
“Let it be on record that the candidature of Dr Asue Ighodalo as the flag bearer of the party for the 2024 elections remains intact and that the judgement of the Federal High court in Abuja did not in any way affect the candidature of Dr Asue Ighodalo
“We urge our teaming loyal supporters to remain calm and resolute as there is no cause for alarm.”
The University of Benin (UNIBEN) in Edo State has been closed down. The Management announced suspension of academic activities indefinitely following intense students’ protest which entered its second day on Thursday.
The decision was announced on Thursday by the University’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Dr. Benedicta Ehanire, following students’ refusal to back down on their demands.
The unrest began on Wednesday when students blocked the Benin City-Ore Highway, a major thoroughfare, protesting weeks of power outages on campus.
With just two weeks remaining until their first semester examinations, students expressed frustration over the disruptions affecting their study preparations.
Additionally, they demanded a reduction in the recently increased transport fares of the UNIBEN shuttle bus services, which took effect from July
The power outages were attributed to a standoff between the university and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) over a contentious electricity billing issue.
The monthly bill reportedly surged from approximately N80 million to between N200 million and N280 million, leading the University to rely on generators and power rationing across its two campuses and hostels.
Despite heavy rainfall, the protesting students were resolute in their stance, insisting on a resolution before ending their demonstrations. They demanded a 24-hour electricity supply, which the University administration said it was impractical.
In a notice of closure, Dr. Ehanire explained that “Following the insistence of students of the University of Benin not to shift grounds on their demands for twenty-four hours supply of electricity and more, considered unrealistic by the University Senate, the University has shut down academic activities indefinitely.
“Students are to vacate the hostels immediately, while all the relevant units of the university are to take note and comply.”
Ehanire clarified that non-teaching staff and essential duty personnel would not be affected by the shutdown.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the federal high court in Abuja has nullified the election of Asue Ighodalo as the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP candidate for the Edo state governorship election slated for September this year.
The ruling followed a suit filed by some aggrieved PDP delegates challenging the election of Ighodalo, an ally of the governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki.
The three aggrieved delegates loyal to Philip Shaibu, a former Deputy Governor of the state had filed the suit challenging the emergence of Ighodalo, citing irregularities.
For instance, the delegates had claimed that the list of the delegates upon which the primary election was conducted at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was manufactured by the governor and his team.
Ruling on the suit on Thursday, Justice Ekwo held that both the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the PDP Guidelines were violated in the conduct of the primary election.
“I found that the case of the plaintiffs succeeds on merit,” the judge ruled today.
Providing details of his judgment, Justice Ekwo said that Exhibit PDP 1 tendered by the party was bereft of evidence, that the plaintiffs, through the exhibits tendered, were able to establish their case against the defendants.
The judge said that from the exhibit presented by the PDP, he found that the returning officers who prepared the result sheets only sat down in a place to manufacture the outcome of the poll.
He said the exclusion of the 381 delegates, including the plaintiffs, was against the provisions of the law.
Justice Ekwo held that, though the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the 1st defendant, filed a memorandum of appearance in the suit, it was unfortunate that the commission did not file any process in the case.
According to the judge, the 1st defendant’s counsel only said it would be bound by the decision of the court.
The three aggrieved ad-hoc delegates, on behalf of the 378 others, had sued INEC, the PDP, its national secretary, and the vice chairman, South-South as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.
In the suit, the plaintiffs sought two orders.
These include an order for the defendants or their agents not to act but to show cause why the reliefs of the plaintiffs in their originating summons should not be granted concerning the plan of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th defendants to exclude them and 378 other delegates, whose names and election results are contained in “Exhibits BID 8A to 8L,” from participating in the primaries of Feb. 22 in Edo.
The plaintiffs, which include Kelvin Mohammed, Gabriel Okoduwa, and Mr Ederaho Osagie, on behalf of others in 12 local government areas and 127 wards, averred that it would be in the interest of justice for their reliefs to be granted.
Meanwhile, those watching the politics of the state insist that though the ruling is a win for Shaibu, yet they posit that the end has not been seen of this case, considering that the PDP candidate and governor Obaseki still have the opportunity to challenge the ruling in the appellate courts.
The Ebonyi State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has assured that its sojourn in the political wilderness of the State, will not last for long.
It has set 2027, as the dateline for its return to the main stage of the State’s power equation.
To this end, the Caretaker Committee of the Party said all machineries have been activated to rally members, woo new entrants and reposition for the battle ahead.
Steve Oruruo, Chairman of the PDP interim leadership, who spoke when he led members of the State Working Committee, SWC. on a visit to the state Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCD in Abakilki ,on Wednesday July ,5 ,added that consultations are ongoing to reconcile and bring back all aggrieved individuals and groups to the PDP fold.
He informed that, the Party in the State is guided and encouraged in its reconciliatory moves ,by the wider resolve of the National Working Committee NWC to reclaim the lost fortunes of the party.
This is even as he insisted that former Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim remains a member of the Party.
The leadership of the ruling All Progressive Congress APC, in the state had on Tuesday July 2, hinted on the imminent defection of the former Senate President to the APC.
The Party said that Senator Anyim will be received in the APC on July 14..
“Much as I am aware that in politics, people reserve the right to leave and join any party of their choices ,I can also announce to you that ,as of today, Anyim Pius has not joined APC. So, I want to operate from the point of the known to the unknown ” Oruruo submitted.
The Ebonyi PDP interim Chairman noted that the party at all levels have resolved to come together, reposition,and reclaim the leadership of the county in the over all interest of the now pauperized majority of Nigerians .
“The leadership of the country requires closer reassessment .If you are looking for the best practices ,best leadership and qualitative governance that will beget productivity in politics ,it requires quality human beings as personnel.
“So in the Peoples Democratic Party PDP,from the National body ,there is a sense of reasoning ; there is a sense of rebirth that is encapsulated in the mood of the party .
“They want to revive the party ,and Ebonyi state is a case study .We have had issues of disagreement among the stakeholders of the party .The party is some how balkanized .
“It is fractionalized and that is the essence of creating this particular leadership to resolve all the issues and strengthen the party.
“Such discords ,skirmishes and other identified problems are what we want to resolve .We are determined ,focused and prepared .
“We want to create an enabling environment for the enthronement of fairness,rule of law and adherence to the dictates of the party” the PDP interim Chairman asserted.
For the records, in the 2023 Governorship Election, the former SGF, Senator Pius Anyim, worked for the APC Governorship Candidate, now the Governor, against his Party’s Governorship Candidate.
The federal government has refuted reports that the recent trade agreement it signed with the European Union, EU, has some conditions attached to it promoting LGBTQ rights.
The Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration said the $150 billion Samoa Agreement, signed on July 1 in Abuja, the nation’s capital was purely an economic agreement.
LGBTQ which means Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer has been outlawed in Nigeria.
Since the report of the agreement broke, not a few Nigerians have condemned the adminstration for allegdly entering an agreement which is against the country’s extant laws.
The government’s rebuttal was made by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, the Ministry which signed the agreement, according to reports.
Reacting to the issue, Bolaji Adebiyi, the spokesman to the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu disclosed that the documents signed with the EU were strictly for economic development of the country.
Adebiyi said there was no place that LGBTQ righst were mentioned in the agreement, saying it would be wrong for anyone to imply that Nigeria had accepted those tendencies.
According to him, “The article does not represent the content of the Samoa Agreement signed by Nigeria.
The Articles 2.5 and 29.5 cited made no mention of LGBT rights but rather 29.5 guarantees ‘support [for] universal access to sexual and reproductive health commodities and health care services, including family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes.
“Article 2.5 states that: ‘The parties shall systematically promote a gender perspective and ensure that gender equality is mainstreamed across all policies’.
“I fail to see how these articles imply the protection of LGBT rights. Please, note that this is a negotiated agreement among the 27 EU countries and 79 OACPS, which is subject to domestic laws. All 27 EU countries and 74 of the 79 OACPS have signed. Nigeria was the 73rd to sign last Friday, 28th June, in Brussels.
“Following the controversy around the agreement, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning organised a stakeholders meeting in March in Abuja, comprising NGOs and religious bodies during which concerns were addressed.”
In January 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan signed the bill that outlwed LGBTQ rights after it has been passd by the National Assembly.
Similarly, Kamarudeen Ogundele, who is the spokesman of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN), said he had no details of the signed agreement
Agboola Ajayi, governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the November election in Ondo State and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa share some common traits in their political career.
Both served as Deputy to late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu at different times. Ajayi served first during Akeredolu’s first term while Aiyedatiwa became his substitute when he lost face with late Akeredolu.
Both of them also survived impeachment plots spearheaded by the late Governor and executed by the State House of Assembly. This sent Ajayi out of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while Aiyedatiwa survived and emerged as late Akeredolu’s successor.
Now, fate has pitched these two political actors against each other as candidates of different political parties in the forthcoming Ondo governorship election. With ban on campaigns lifted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the camps of these two candidates are leaving now stone untouched to outsmart each.
First it was the issue of some members leaving APC for PDP that unfold what to expect from supporters of the two candidates as they proceed on their campaigns.
Ajayi again fired the salvo on Wednesday when he accused Aiyedatiwa’s administration of non performance and misgovernance. It was during his presentation by PDP leaders to the people as alternative to Aiyedatiwa.
Ajayi declared that “This is Ondo State and it belongs to all of us. So, if it is well governed, we will be safe. If it is not governed as expected, all of us will become the casualty of the bad government. That is exactly what we are experiencing in Ondo state now.
Agboola Ajayi
“I know in Ondo State, I know in Kiribo, Arogbo, Igbekebo, Oke-Agbe that our people aren’t having meals the way they should. Most of the communities that used to be economically vibrant cities have become dead.
“I am embarking on a journey that will transform Ondo State totally, a journey that will give us a state to be proud of. We will not give our people fish but we will teach them how to catch fish.
“I started politics at a very tender age as a ward chairman. I was one of those who went for Abiola’s convention in Jos. So, you should know that I started long ago. From there, I became secretary of the party, I became a councilor, I was also elected as a supporting chairman.
“From there, people elected me to represent Ilaje/Ese-Odo in the House of Representatives and with due respect to all members who must have represented that local government in that capacity, they have not been able to beat my record.
“So, the people of the state know us very well, they are going to choose wisely, I can assure you, they have already chosen me to lead the state in the coming election.
“I am going to make sure that we transform Ondo State to economic base where everybody will be busy in terms of commerce, economic activities and everything.”
As if waiting for opportunity to attack the PDP candidate, the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers Independent Council (LACO-FSIC) described the statement credited to the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is incompetent, as the output of an empty mind.
Ajayi reportedly called the governor “incompetent” on Wednesday while speaking with newsmen at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Akure, where he revisited the nullification of the 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) by an Akure High Court.
But in a swift response, the Campaign Council through its State Director of Information, Mr. Kayode Fasua, stated that “Agboola Ajayi in saying that Governor Aiyedatiwa is incompetent, by not running around communities begging them not to go to court over the newly created LCDAs, presents Ajayi himself as an empty mind.”
According to the Council, Ajayi’s line of argument that Aiyedatiwa should have persuaded the litigants in the LCDAs’ suit not to seek redress in court presented him as too pedestrian to seek the office of Governor.
“Otherwise, why should Mr. Ajayi keep harping on the need for Governor Aiyedatiwa to have prevented aggrieved communities from going to court when an envisioned court verdict would never stop the state government from creating new LCDAs?
“What the court said in its judgement, in clear terms, is that the local councils were approved in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, and not within Ondo State territory, as required by law.
“Therefore, the state government can from there review the process, and come up with a decision that will appease all interests regarding the creation of new LCDAs.
“As such, Ajayi and his team are thus advised to desist from flocking media houses to make emotional outbursts on topics about which they lack adequate knowledge,” the LACO-FSIC appealed.
Besides, the Campaign Council expressed dismay at what it described as “the culture of brigandage which the PDP is bringing to the emerging governorship campaigns, especially in Akure, the state capital, where some leaders of the party have been breeding political thugs, harassing peace-loving APC supporters.
“They are herein reminded of the sad event of 1983, when senses took flight for evil to prevail, and many years after, Ondo State and indeed the entire country have been struggling to get out of the trauma caused by that political crisis.
“So, the Ondo State PDP should be guided, as there is a government in power, to maintain law and order, and will never allow miscreants to take over the state.
“Government will act within its powers to deal with such ugly situations as nobody will be allowed to put the state on fire.
“Again, the PDP candidate should mind his statements; being the candidate of a party does not give you the licence to keep insulting the executive governor of a state.
“Let Ajayi be reminded that nobody is above the law,” the Campaign Council warned.
