Bandits Abduct 24 Students Of Federal University, Zamfara

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September 22, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

An early morning invasion of a University community in Zamfara State on Friday by suspected bandits has led to abduction of more than 24 students.

The bandits reportedly struck at the Federal University of Gusau, Sabon-Gida community of the Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Report monitored on Channels Television indicated that those whisked away during the invasion are mostly ladies.

It quoted a resident of Sabon-Gida identified as Nazeer Sabon-Gida as saying that the gunmen invaded the community around 3 am and started shooting indiscriminately.

According to him, three students’ hostels were attacked and all the students in the hostels were taken away by the bandits.

“They entered the town around 3 am and started shooting indiscriminately.

“We have yet to confirm the number of students kidnapped because the bandits entered three hostels and kidnapped all the students there. It is difficult to ascertain their numbers now.”

Another source said that the bandits were engaged with troops of the Nigerian Army in a fierce gun battle but that did not stop the bandits from escaping with the kidnapped victims.

“They were seriously engaged with the army troops but the way these bandits operate, they will divide themselves into two, one group will move with the kidnapped victims while the other will stay behind to protect the first group.

“The first group had left with the students while the second group engaged the army in a gun duel.”

In June, some students of the university protested the spate of abductions involving their schoolmates in Sabon-Gida and Damba.

Sabon-Gida village is a community opposite the main campus of the Federal University of Gusau that is about 20 km to the state capital, Gusau.

Super Eagles Drop To 40th Spot In Latest FIFA Ranking

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Akinwale Kasali

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September 22, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

Despite recording a 6-0 win over the Falcons and Parrots of São Tomé and Principe in its 2024 African Cup of Nations qualifiers at the Godswill Obot Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, this has not translated into a leap for the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the latest FIFA Ranking.

The three-time AFCON winners have dropped in the latest FIFA Ranking by One spot to 40th position as against its 39 Position it has maintained over the past month.

With the drop, the Super Eagles is now Sixth in Africa behind Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria.

Expectedly, Morocco who finished as semifinalist at the last World Cup in Qatar continued to maintain her top spot in the continent and 14th globally.

Cameroon, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso make up the other countries in the Top 10 in Africa.

Argentina’s 1-0 triumph over Ecuador and a 3-0 defeat of Bolivia in the CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers strengthened the Albiceleste hold at the top. France is second while Brazil, England and Belgium make up the Top 5.

Croatia (6th), the Netherlands (7th) and Portugal (8th), Italy (9th) and Spain complete the Top 10 teams for the month of September.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles now face the prospect of facing defending champions Senegal, hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, Algeria and Egypt in the group stage of AFCON 2024.

Eagles are joined in Pot 2 by perennial rivals, Ghana and Cameroon.

Mali, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burkina Faso are the other teams in Pot 2. In Pot 3 are; South Africa, Cape Verde, Guinea, Zambia, Equatorial Guinea and Mauritania while Pot 4 has Guinea Bissau, Namibia, Mozambique, Angola, Gambia and Tanzania.

The draw for the AFCON 2023 will be staged in Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday October 12. The competition proper is to run from January 13 to February 11, 2024 to decide the next champion league of the continental showpiece.

MURIC Warns Governor Makinde Over Choice Of Alaafin, Urge Him To Follow Due Process

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Akinwale Kasali

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September 22, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

Islamic Group, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has raised alarm over alleged plot by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to manipulate the process and choice of the Kingmakers (Oyomesi) over who becomes the new Alaafin of Oyo.

The Executive Director of MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola said that it was necessary to reveal the plot and make sure that the choice of the Kingmakers is made the Alaafin, as any form of manipulation would not be accepted.

The controversial MURIC ED said that the Group is using this medium to appeal with Governor Makinde to follow due process and not tamper with the choice of the Oyomesi.

In a Statement by Akintola, he said the appeal was necessary due to the controversies surrounding the selection of the next Alaafin of Oyo, especially since it involves announcing Lukman Gbadegesin, the candidate picked by the Oyomesi, as indicated in a document signed by the seven Oyomesi authorities.

He challenged the Governor to prove those labelling him as the governor who likes to install Christians only as Yoruba kings wrong.

The statement reads, “There has been prolonged controversy over the right candidate to become the next Alaafin of Oyo since the demise of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi on 22nd April 2022 at the age of 83.

“The authentic kingmakers of Oyo who are known as Oyomesi have kicked against the nomination of Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu who is 85 years old for lack of due process.

“A document published in various newspapers two days ago and signed by the seven Oyomesi revealed that the candidate duly selected by the rightful kingmakers of the ancient town is Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin.

“The Oyomesi group affirmed that they had forwarded the name of Prince Gbadegesin to the governor since 4th October 2022.

“According to them, the Bashorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Akinade Ayoola, wrongfully picked another candidate, Ayo Ladigbolu, and filed a suit against them in court but he lost the case.”

Akintola urged Makinde to announce the name of the candidate picked by the Oyomesi and backed by the court’s pronouncement.

“Archbishop Ladigbolu’s attempt to come through the backdoor to the throne of the Alaafin of Oyo is illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional.

“Tongues are wagging, not only in Oyo town, but in the whole State as well as in the South West. This time around, Governor Makinde has to prove that the label given to him as the governor who likes to install Christians only as Yoruba kings is unsuitable for him.

“This year alone, it happened in Ogbomosho where a Redeemed Church Pastor, Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, was crowned as king and in Iseyin where another Pastor, David Olawale Oyebola, has emerged the Aseyin.

“As a peace-loving and dialogue-inclined human rights organization, MURIC urges the state governor to allow the choice of the authentic kingmakers of Oyo town to prevail by announcing Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin as the next Alaafin of Oyo without any delay,” Akintola said.

Abuja: Wike Seizes Obi, Imoke Lands In FCT

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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September 22, 2023

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Finally, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCT, Nyesom Wike has made good his threat to revoke undeveloped land in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

From his first day in office, the former Rivers state governor warned that unused land will be taken from the owners, without considering their status in the society.

Wike also vowed to demolish buildings and structures illegally built in the FCT.

Among prominent Nigerians whose lands titles have now been revoked, is Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and former governor of Anambra state.

The total land titles revoked, according to checks by the magazine are 167 plots.

Other peoples who land tilte have been revoked include a former Senate Chief Whip, Udoma Udoma, former Cross River Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, the first Minister of Niger Delta, Ufot Ekaette and the late publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah, among others.

In a notice issued Thursday night, the FTC Administration said the plots were revoked due to the failure of their allottees to develop them.

“The Federal Capital Territory Administration hereby informs the general public that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has, in the exercise of the powers conferred on him under Section 28(5)(a) & (b) of the Land Use Act 1978, revoked the under-listed plots with names and titles as reflected in our records for continued contravention of the terms of development of the Right of Occupancy, to wit non-development,” the notice signed by the Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, stated.

Following his threat to revoke illegally acquired, undeveloped lands, and structures built against Abuja Master Plan, a spokesman for the People’s Democratic Party, Daniel Bwala had chided Wike, saying Presidential Villa, Aso Rock was not part of the original plan .

The question is whether the FCT Minister has the courage to also demolish the Villa.

NIMASA To Reopen Lokoja Office

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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September 22, 2023

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The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh, has disclosed that the Agency is set to reopen the Lokoja office, as part of efforts towards harnessing the Blue Economy, enhancing collaboration, while also promoting Research and Development.

The DG who made this known when he played host to the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, KADSEMA, Mal. Usman Hayatu Mazadu at the head office of the Agency in Lagos, noted that investment in research would play a major role in ensuring the harnessing of Nigeria’s maritime potentials.

“The key cardinal principle of opening the NIMASA Lokoja office is to improve on Research and Development. Our goal is to establish the nexus in maximizing the use of available resources in the nation’s inland waterways and the deep blue waters within 28 states, spanning over 4000 kilometers of inland waters and over 200 nautical miles of ocean resources; with the coming of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

He said, “Now, the Blue Economy has come to stay and very soon you will see the impact of what we have; in terms of the gains and benefits to grow our Gross Domestic Product, while improving the well-being of our own Economy”.

Earlier in his remarks, Mallam Usman of KADSEMA lauded the Agency for the feat achieved so far, which cuts across the entire Nigeria. While seeking for cooperation with the Agency in possible areas, he expressed the readiness of KADSEMA to support the Agency in areas that may be deemed possible.

Kano: Kwakwanso Responsible For NNPP Loss

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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September 22, 2023

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Rabiu Kwakwanso, presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, is responsible for the loss of Governor Yusuf Abba at the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, Akande Onilewura, a chieftain of the party, has said.

The Source magazine reported that the Kano’ state governor election was, on Wednesday, invalidated by the tribunal which declared Nasir Gawuna, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, winner of the governorship election.

One of the reasons for sacking the governor, according to the tribunal is that he was not validly nominated to contest the election.

The party has been factionalized recently, with a faction expelling Kwakwanso from the party.

Onilewura is a member of the faction.

According to the Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay-led tribunal, Gawuna scored the highest valid votes to win the election, after over 160,000 invalid votes were deducted from that of Abba.

The votes were deducted because they were not stamped or signed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in line with the Electoral Act.

The judgment has elicited angry reactions from some NNPP chieftains, who blamed Kwakwanso for the loss.

Some members of the party has accused the former governor of selling out the party to the ruling APC.

In his reaction, Onilewura, a chieftain of the party from the south west blamed Kwakwanso for his anti-party activity, saying that’s responsible for the loss at the tribunal.

He said the former governor selfishness gave the APC the ammunitions they used against his party at the tribunal.

According to him, “This loss is a big one for us at NNPP and it only happened because of the selfishness of Kwankwaso, who sold the party to the highest bidder.

“While we are still waiting for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the tribunal judgment, it is important for the world to know that this would not have happened if Kwankwaso had followed due process and given the ticket to the most qualified candidate, but his in-law.

“It is unfortunate that some of us sweat to get the party to where it is today, only for someone like Kwankwaso to make all our efforts a waste. We are happy that someone like that has been expelled from this great party.”

“We also want to use the avenue to warn him to steer clear of NNPP; we don’t want a betrayal in our party and we would do anything humanly possible to secure our party from hijackers, who are more concerned about personal gain,” he added.

Kano state is the only state won by the NNPP in the last governorship election.

Why We Are Investigating Deputy Governor; Ondo Assembly

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Ayodele Oni

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September 21, 2023

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Lucky Aiyedatiwa - Deputy Governor of Ondo State

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State House of Assembly has shed light on the alleged move to impeach the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, saying allegation letter does not amount to removal.

The House had on Wednesday confirmed receipt of a petition accusing the Deputy Governor of some unconstitutional moves.

The petition, which has been purportedly sent to Aiyedatiwa has been signed by a sizeable number of Legislators.

This is coming after the return of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu from overseas trip where he had been for three months, receiving medical treatment

The Legislature on Thursday clarified that “We find it necessary to address some misconceptions regarding the allegation letter served on the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.”

A statement signed by the Spokesman of the Assembly, Olatunji Oshati, stated that “It is crucial that our people understand that an allegation letter does not equate to an impeachment verdict.

“Indeed, the allegation letter served to the Deputy Governor marks the initiation of the impeachment proceedings.

“However, it’s essential to remember that this is a procedure rooted in due process, not a hastily conducted impeachment.

“We are conscious of the integrity of our present Assembly and will not falter in our constitutional responsibilities to our constituents.

“We wish to declare, unequivocally, that the entire process remains within the realm of allegations. We are committed to examining these allegations objectively.

“Our primary responsibility is to uphold the integrity of our beloved state and foster accountability and transparency, even at the highest levels of government.

“Consequently, we urge our constituents to refrain from making premature judgments. Neither the Deputy Governor nor the Governor are immune to legislative actions.

“The allegation letter has been served, and Mr. Deputy Governor has the full right to defend himself. Rest assured, we are committed to following due process and will do so diligently.”

Mr President, Don’t Let Nigeria Kill Me – David Hundeyin

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The Source

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September 21, 2023

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Controversial International Journalist, alleges plans to kill him in Nigeria, and appeals To Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Adodo, to save his life

“I fled Nigeria in 2020 and I applied for asylum in Ghana in early 2021. In May 2022, I was granted refugee status in Ghana and subsequently I was also issued a Ghanaian refugee passport, which I have subsequently used extensively to travel across Africa and around the world.

“Last month, when there was the ongoing back and forth between those who wanted to go to war within the ECOWAS bloc against the coup regime in Niger something happened.

“The Nigerian president, Bola Tinubu made a move to deploy Nigerian Special Forces illegally into Nigerian territories to enforce a no fly zone which is a euphemism for essentially staging an unprovoked military attack against an independent sovereign nation and the friendly country to Nigeria.

“As was expected, most people in the Nigerian government and Nigerian military and in the citizenry at large, weren’t at all on board with this. But Tinubu was clearly desperate to start this war with Niger, the war that nobody wanted.

“Subsequently a secret document was leaked to me, a document which contained basically, attack instructions. Basically, I staging plans for this illegal invasion of Niger. And I knew that by putting these documents out, I could potentially stop the catastrophic invasion which would lead to an immense and unnecessary loss of West African life. So that’s exactly what I did.

“Early August, I put out these documents and it had the desired effect. It did in fact stop the invasion. Subsequently, Tinubu then tried to seek permission from Nigeria’s Senate to deploy the Nigerian military to Niger. The Senate knocked this back and to all intents and purposes, the invasion essentially became a stillbirth, it didn’t happen.

“It would have been something that would have been catastrophic and would have benefited nobody except the President himself.

“Now, after I leaked this document, I was made aware from several sources that the Nigerian military establishment and Nigerian intelligence establishments became essentially particularly enraged with me. I’ve been a person of interest for a long time. But with that, I became designated as something of an enemy of states.

“As fortune or bad luck would have it, just the month before this happened…The fact that I do travel with the Ghanaian passport that I do travel with, I had become exposed to the public, through no fault of my own, following a very unfortunate event in Zimbabwe, after which the permanent secretary at the Zimbabwean Ministry of Information, probably thinking that he was scoring a point against some sort of foreign journalists, following issues with foreign journalists decided to tweet to a global audience the fact that I did claim asylum in Ghana, and that I travel with the Ghanaian travel documents. As a result of this, the Nigerian establishment knew who to speak to, if they wanted to get a hold.

“So I was informed that the Nigerian intelligence agency, I’m not sure whether it was the National Intelligence Agency or the Defense Intelligence Agency. But one of these foreign intelligence institutions dispatched a jet to Accra to basically have me illegally rendered to Nigeria.

“Apparently, they wrote a letter to the Ghanaian government accusing me of apparently aiding terrorism by supposedly revealing the locations of soldiers and apparently, I was also guilty of treason.

“It seemed as if the matter was going to end there. More recently, I’ve come to find out that the Tinubu government is still trying very hard to to enact some sort of illegal rendition. The latest tactic apparently is to lean on the Ghanaian government, and accused me of having apparently sabotage that ECOWAS mission and in so doing, basically compromised the bloc security of the ECOWAS region, in which case Ghana, being itself an ECOWAS member is then obligated to cancel my asylum to revoke my refugee status and to revoke my Ghanaian passport.

“The Nigerian documents hope is that in revoking my passports, whatever travel privileges or visa or residency privileges, I enjoy anywhere in the world will be will be compromised. And as a result, it will then be more possible for them using the various avenues that are available to obviously a nation state to have somebody extradited or somebody illegally rendered.

“I want to urge the Ghanaian president to resist the temptation to allow an illegitimate Nigerian president to push Ghana into breaking international law.

There is a law that forbids the illegal repatriation of political refugees back to the country that they fled from where they are going to face persecution.

“It’s very well known that if for whatever reason I were to be returned to Nigeria, I would not survive it. This is not a secret.”

My Governor, My Brother, My Friend, I Miss You, Please Forgive Me, I Miss You”, Edo Deputy Governor In Viral Video To Gov Obaseki

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Ayodele Oni

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September 21, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, may have kissed the dust with his decision to drop arm and embrace peace with Governor Godwin Obaseki.

In a video, where Shaibu was sighted granting interview with journalists, he asked the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to forgive whatever wrong he might have done against him (governor).

It was gathered that the former office of the Deputy Governor located inside government house has been re-allocated to a Group.

In a memo, the Governor asked the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, to “immediately” allocate the Deputy Governor’s office building to the Trustees of Alaghodaro summit as their Secretariat.

The Chairman of Alaghodaro, through its Secretary, had written to Obaseki for a permanent secretariat building to aid planning and logistics for the 2023 summit holding in the second week of November.

According to Edo Governor’s leaked memo, the office space closest to the venue of the summit, the New Festival Hall of Government House, which until few days ago, was occupied by Shaibu, should be allocated to the board of trustees of the Alaghodaro summit, expected to attract potential investors from different parts of Nigeria.

Shaibu was asked out of Government House, and allocated new office at No. 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, GRA, Benin with a bold inscription “Office of the Deputy Governor, No. 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, GRA, Benin City,” at a location not far from the Government House.

Shaibu’s aides and civil servants attached to his office moved to the new location two weeks ago in line with the directive of Edo Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa.

On September 5, Shaibu withdrew his anti-impeachment suit with reference number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1027/2023 but remains determined to succeed Obaseki on November 12, 2024.

In his plea for forgiveness in the latest video while addressing the press in Benin City, the embattled deputy governor said, “We have resumed, no problem about it. The governor has asked us to go there, so we have resumed. Like I always say, I am a loyal servant.

“I can only wish and pray that, that relationship that we have, in the next few days and weeks, it will come back. I am missing my governor really, but I know that God will touch his heart, and the heart of everybody, even the hearts of those standing between the governor and myself, to know that I mean well.

“If I have made any mistake as human, it’s just human, not out of wickedness, because I am not wicked, I will like to use this medium to appeal to the governor if there is anything I have done that I don’t know please forgive me so that we can move our state forward. We have only one year to go.”

Message To Fmr Student; Retiring SC Justice Charges Senate President Akpabio To Ensure Amendment Of 1999 Constitution

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Ayodele Oni

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September 21, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

Retiring Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Amina Adamu Augie, has a request for the 10th National Assembly: a wholistic amendment to the 1999 Constitution for effective functioning of Courts in the country.

Justice Augie, who is sixth on line of Justices of the Apex Court, expressed the hope that this is the right time to make the request as the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, was once her student.

Augie formally bowed out on Thursday with a call on the Godswill Akpabio-led 10th National Assembly to make it a point of duty to amend the Constitution so as to free courts from undue hardships hindering their effective performance.

Justice Augie spoke in Abuja at a valedictory court session held in her honour as she bowed out of the Supreme Court Bench after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years for judicial officers.

According to her, the Supreme Court, as the Apex Court of the land and has its final decisions to shape society’s social order, adding that Justices of the court should be able to focus on what truly matters, issuing directives for formulating specific policies or amend existing ones to better serve their intended purposes.

“But how can they do that when they are drowning in an overwhelming caseload. The only way forward, as highlighted by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola during the special session marking the commencement of the 2022/2023 legal year, is to amend the Constitution to restrict the circumstances under which appeals can reach this Supreme Court.

“This marks the final instance where my voice will be heard in any court and I wish to use this opportunity to directly address the 10th National Assembly, through distinguished Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who was once my student at the Law School.

“I had the privilege of teaching him evidence and I trust that he learnt well. Hence, it should be evident to him that swift action is needed from the 10th National Assembly to accomplish what others could not – amending the Constitution to enhance the functioning of our courts in Nigeria.”

Justice Augie implored the National Assembly to undertake the necessary constitutional amendments so that the Supreme Court and its Justices can be freed from the constraints that impede their ability to fulfill their mandate of upholding the rule of law, justice and democracy.

In his remark, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) promised that the Federal Government is prepared and ready to strengthen the Apex Court to attain the required number of Justices as required by the Constitution.

Fagbemi emphasized that the Federal Government acknowledged the sacrifices and the working conditions of the current Justices of the Supreme Court and other Judges in Nigeria.

“President Bola Tinubu’s led government shall guarantee excellent conditions of service and renumerations good enough to appreciate the onerous duties of judicial officers at all level.

“While we appreciate the urgency in reviewing the remuneration of judicial officers which had not been done for over a decade as an integral component of our judicial reforms, we are also appreciative of the greater goal of achieving a true independence for the judiciary which can only be achieved through a comprehensive and sustainable reform process which requires attention and details.”

He said the federal government has commenced a painstaking effort at revisiting and reviewing all necessary instruments towards strengthening the judiciary, rule of law and improving the living conditions of all judicial officers.