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Breaking: #EndSARS Panel: Falz, Mr. Macaroni Reject Sanwo-Olu’s Invitation To Peace Walk

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Lagos EndSARS Protesters

By Akinwale Kasali

Folarin Falana, Son of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana and Debo Adebayo, popularly known as Mr. Macaroni have rejected the invitation for a peace walk with Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu of Lagos State.

The duo are major stakeholders in the #EndSARS protest last year, which was instrumental to the disbandment of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, over the inhuman treatment and extra judicial killings and extortion of Nigerians

Governor Sanwo-Olu had earlier Tuesday, in a state broadcast,  called for a peace walk for “the healing of Lagos” in December and herald the healing of our land.

The Governor had invited Falana, Adebayo, Dele Farotimi, Temitope Majekodunmi, Segun Awosanya (Segalink), Adedotun (Just Detoun), Seun Kuti; Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu; and Commander of Rapid Response Squad CSP Yinka Egbeyemi and others to join him in the “historic march for our dear Lagos.”

Though, Falz and Macaroni rejected the invitation, but Awosanya, popularly known as Segalinks applauded Sanwo-Olu for his “leadership”.

@segalink tweeted, “@jidesanwoolu has shown leadership with this matured response and we hope the WhitePaper will mirror his sentiment. We all want closure, Justice and healing for our society. The experience of 20th October 2020 must never be repeated.”

On the part of Falz, he tweeted via @falzthebahdguy, described the peace walk as a “joke”, insisting that justice must be served for all victims of police brutality.

In the same vein, Adebayo also tweeted via @mrmacaronii, said he was not ready for any walk, adding that the last “walk” he had, he was stripped naked and dehumanised.

“I humbly decline the Invitation of Mr Governor. The Government itself set up a panel. The panel has made recommendations. I believe that genuine peacemaking will begin by first implementing the recommendations of the panel. Then, we can begin to trust the government.

“Finally, I’m not at war with anyone. Not with the government, police or politicians. All we are asking is that our leaders place value on our lives as citizens and lead us with love, fairness, truth and justice, to enable all Nigerians live a better life in peace and unity,” he wrote.

Appeal Court Strips Orji Kalu of Degree Certificate

By
The Source
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By Charles Igbo

Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has lost his degree certificate.

The Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, stripped Kalu of the certificate on Tuesday, in a judgment that is likely to jolt him.

Kalu acquired the degree certificate from Abia State University when he was the Governor of the State, as well as the Visitor to the University.

Not a few people at the time poked fun at him when a photograph of the Governor, taking examination alone in a big hall, surfaced in the media. The questions were which lecturer would dare fail the University’s Visitor? And what time did the Governor have to attend lectures?

However, he was awarded the degree which was described as controversial. But in the heat of his serious disagreement with his successor, Senator Theodore Orji, the University withdrew the degree certificate after a Panel submitted a report on it.

The impression Kalu had was that the withdrawal was influenced by then Governor Theodore Orji. He, therefore, proceeded to an Isikwuato, Abia State High Court to challenge the withdrawal. The Court restored it to him. But the University appealed the Judgement.

In a judgment on Tuesday, November 30, read by the Hon. Justice Adefope Okojie of the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, Senator Orji Kalu’s certificate was again withdrawn.

Justice Okojie said that the Isikwuato High Court lacked any jurisdiction over the case. A source close to Kalu said he is likely to approach the Supreme Court. But another source said the initial stripping by the University was politically motivated. He insisted that Senator Kalu does not need the certificate as it does not validate who he is.

“He is already an accomplished man”, he emphasised.

#EndSARS Panel Report: An Unauthorised Version Was Released – Governor Sanwo-Olu

By
The Source
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The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has described the circulating version of the report of the Judicial Panel  on the #EndSARS which he set up as unauthorised.

He also emphasized that his Government never, at a time, put pressure on any member of the Panel, or the Panel itself.

In a broadcast to Lagosians, the Governor said the Whitepaper will be released later Tuesday. To restore peace in the State, he said he would embark on a Peace Walk in the State, and invited some activists and celebrities, including musician, FALZ, and comedian, MACRON, to join him in the Peace Walk.

Following, the full text of the Governor to the State on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.

GOVERNOR BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU’S SPEECH TO THE PEOPLE OF LAGOS STATE ON THE LEKKI TOLLGATE INCIDENT – DELIVERED ON TUESDAY 30 NOVEMBER, 2021.

My dear good people of Lagos State,

It is with great sense of responsibility that I address you today on the reactions that have trailed the release of the #EndSARS Judicial Panel of Inquiry Report submitted to me two weeks ago, and how it has played out in public discourse since then.

I believe — and have always been vocal about this — that we owe it to you, the people of Lagos, to constantly speak and engage with you. In easy times, in difficult circumstances, we will never shy away from making our case to you, while also ensuring that we listen to you.

I will start by saying that we, as an administration, are determined that the next steps that will be taken in this process of coming to terms with the events of October 2020, must bring closure to a painful episode in the history of our State, with the release of the White Paper later today.

This, in my view, is a moment that beckons us to define who and what we are as a people.

To be a Centre of Excellence, we must be a Centre of Truth. To be a smart city, we first must be a just one. To be a prosperous state, we must establish ourselves as a peaceful entity. And to achieve the Greater Lagos of our dreams we must learn to live in harmony, even amidst inevitable disagreement.

In times like these, with anger and animosity too quick and fast at hand, it is easy to hide behind our own prejudices, treating them as deeper truths instead of the superficial lies they are.

It is far too easy to take sides and choose emotion over fact, even when the truth is to be found in shades of nuance. It is easy to choose darkness over light; to take perverse delight in playing unhelpful games of cynicism and suspicion; to cling to beliefs that do not carry the weight of verifiable evidence.

To become a champion of prejudice is to own a fleeting and false victory. It is a victory of rancor over reason, of vengeance over justice, of anger over compassion.

Today, I stand before you to declare that I reject this path; and I invite you all to do same.

The choice confronting us today is between restoring greater harmony or doing greater harm. I choose harmony over harm. As your Governor, it is my task to explain why all Lagosians should join me on this path that promises a more beneficial future.

Fellow Lagosians, let me at this point bring to the fore some very important context that we must never lose sight of. You will recall that the Judicial Panel of Inquiry was originally inaugurated to investigate allegations of police brutality committed by the disbanded SARS in Lagos state.

In the aftermath of what happened on October 20, 2020, I decided to expand the mandate of the Panel to include investigating what really happened at the Lekki Tollgate that night.

As a matter of good faith and a sincere commitment to uncovering the truth, we constituted a panel of individuals that we believed were independent, credible, and representative of the various stakeholder community interested in the movement against police brutality.

Apart from the Chairman of the panel being a respected retired jurist, various stakeholders including the youths, #EndSars protesters, the police and civil society groups were represented on the panel.

I am sure no member of the panel can claim that the state government made any attempt to influence them in any way throughout the duration of its sitting.

While I commend the panel for undertaking its task to the best of its abilities, it is however regrettable that the panel’s work and the leakage of an unauthorized version of the report have generated much tension. Sadly, a deep wound has been reopened.

The heated exchanges among various shades of opinion on the report have unfortunately put us all at the risk of missing the larger picture; the fact that what we all seek in common is a land in which we are all safe and secure, law enforcement agents are trusted, and justice is guaranteed for all.

As I have stated earlier, we have no intention to engage in histrionics or further inflame passion on a matter that has generated intense interest and controversy nationally and internationally. Our decisions and actions will be based entirely on the law, the weight of evidence and an unblemished respect for the truth.

Let me at this juncture say that I have never been in any doubt as to the sincerity, patriotism and noble motivations of both organizers of and participants in the movement to see an end to the human rights abuses by the now disbanded Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS).

It is also on record that the Federal Government accepted all the demands of the protesters, including the immediate scrapping of SARS. The National Economic Council (NEC) also recommended the establishment of State Panels of Inquiry into cases of police brutality. And the Lagos State Government was the first to set up its own panel.

I can boldly say that no State took the advocacy for police reforms and justice in the face of documented brutality more seriously than we did in Lagos. We have so far paid N420million in compensation to victims of police brutality, in line with the recommendations of the panel.

My good people of Lagos State, you will also recall that, in solidarity with the protesters, I joined our youths at various points during the demonstrations, particularly at the Lekki Tollgate and Alausa.

I received the charter of demands of the protesters and promised to pass them on to the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari.

I kept my word and passed on the demands to the President, who promised to act promptly on the issues raised.

However, perhaps as a result of entrenched lack of trust between the government and the governed over the years, the protesters responded to the government’s concessions with skepticism, and the demonstrations continued, even growing in intensity.

Regrettably, what had been very well organized and peaceful protests were subsequently hijacked in different parts of the country, particularly in Lagos.

In the ensuing descent into anarchy, many of our compatriots were caught up in the violence. Several policemen were killed. Public and private property, including critical infrastructure, were set on fire, leading to losses estimated at several billions of naira.

At that point, I imposed a curfew to restore normalcy in Lagos. We had only one goal in mind: the maintenance of law and order, and protection of citizens going about their daily lives. This is more than a legal duty. It is a sacred obligation under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which I swore to uphold.

In my inaugural speech on May 29, 2019, I said:

“Let us explore how we can establish a harmony of interests and avoid the growing tendency to focus on those things that differentiate and divide one Lagosian from another. By dint of providence, this small tract of land intersected and surrounded by waterways and lagoons has become home to roughly twenty-two million people, with their various dreams and aspirations.”

It is my earnest desire that all of us — the government, the youth, protesters, the police, and other security agencies — learn the appropriate lessons from the #EndSars protests, particularly the Lekki Tollgate incident, with a view to averting any recurrence to the detriment of our dear state.

It is a testimony to our strength and resilience as a people that, despite the huge losses incurred because of these terrible incidents, we have bounced back, with our economy as vibrant and virile as ever. I have no doubt whatsoever that our prospects are as bright as ever and the best lies ahead of Lagos State and Nigeria.

My Dear Lagosians, let me remind you of our collective strength as a people. We are that social collective who through the resilience of our Spirit confronted an unseen enemy called Covid- 19. In our common resolve, we overcame the worst of the pandemic.

We are the great people who triumphed over the terrible explosion at Ado-Soba, an incident in which many lives and property were lost. Just a month ago, we rose above the differences in our tribes and tongues; we rallied our inner strength to rescue survivors of the collapsed Ikoyi building and console those who lost their loved ones.

THE TESTAMENT TO THE RESILIENCE OF OUR SPIRIT RESTS IN HOW WE RISE AFTER EVERY ADVERSITY. THIS IS WHO WE ARE. THIS IS THE TRUE SPIRIT OF LAGOS.

Our resilient and irrepressible spirit also propels us to show our empathetic nature in the face of tribulations has long defined us as a people; and is also at the root of the just clamor for an end to Police brutality.

Going forward, dear Lagosians, we shall facilitate better communication between our youths and the state’s security machinery to resolve issues before they become intractable. We will make it easier for our young people to initiate formal complaints on human rights violations through the Ministry of Justice.

We will also improve the coordination between the state government and the security agencies, including the police and the military. In this vein, we are studying how to improve security policy formulation, information sharing, and clarifying rules of engagement in times of social unrest.

Just as we have established a mechanism to compensate all those who lost homes, businesses, and livelihoods to the violent destruction of October 2020, we shall also establish a detailed procedure for the just compensation of citizens with verified claims of police brutality committed during the protests.

In December, I will be leading A WALK FOR PEACE to herald the healing of our land. Let me use this occasion to extend an open invitation to our youths, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society groups, students and the media as well as other stakeholders to join me.

FOLARIN FALANA (FALZ). DEBO ADEBAYO (MR. MARCARONI). DELE FAROTIMI. TEMITOPE MAJEKODUNMI. SEGUN AWOSANYA(SEGALINKS). ADETOUN (JUST DETOUN). SEUN KUTI. CP HAKEEM ODUMOSU. CSP YINKA EGBEYEMI.

JOIN ME ON THIS HISTORIC MARCH FOR OUR DEAR LAGOS. NOBODY WILL BUILD THIS CITY FOR US. LET US SHOW THE WORLD WHO WE ARE. WE ARE LAGOSIANS. A PEOPLE OF GREAT RENOWN, DRIVEN BY THE IRREPRESSIBLE SPIRIT OF LAGOS.

God bless Lagos State

God bless Federal Republic of Nigeria.

BABAJIDE OLUSOLA SANWO-OLU

GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE

NOVEMBER 29, 2021.

Anambra Governorship: Soludo Knows Fate Wednesday

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0

By Adesina Soyooye

Will Professor Charles Soludo, Anambra State Governor-elect, retain his electoral victory or be disqualified over an inexplicable mistake he made on his INEC form which he submitted?

His fate will be decided on Wednesday, December 1, by the Hon. Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Soludo and the Deputy Governor-elect, Onyeka Ibezim,  had been dragged to Court by Adindu Valentine and Egwudike Chukwuebuka who  alleged that he committed perjury by giving false information in the affidavit as contained in  Form EC9 which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The plaintiffs say that Soludo, in the affidavit, indicated he was contesting the seat for Aguata 2 Constituency instead of the seat of the Governor of the State.

Sued along with Soludo and his Deputy are INEC and Soludo’s party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

The judgement was scheduled to be delivered on Tuesday, November 30, but was shifted to Wednesday. No reason was given, but an apology was extended to the Counsels involved in the case.

Tension is already high in the State. Anxiety has, also, gripped the many supporters of Soludo who  converged in Abuja and were disappointed when they stormed the Court, and saw the notice that judgement has been shifted by 24 hours.

Ihedioha’s Associate Commends Uzodimma On Recovery of Stolen Property

By
The Source
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0

The National Coordinator of Ihedioha Solidarity Group, Prince Mike Akubueze has commended Governor Hope Uzodimma for his efforts in ensuring that property belonging to Imo people which were forcefully taken from them by a former Imo State government were restored to the original owners.

Last week, the Chairman of the Imo State Government White Paper Implementation Committee on Lands and Related Matters, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, made public the property, names of individuals and organisations whose property were forcefully taken by the Government of Rochas Okorocha, indicating that such property had been returned to their original owners.

Prof. Awuzie spoke at a town hall meeting that attracted Imo indigenes (men, women, traditional rulers, church leaders etc) and organisations, and the position of government received instant applause from not only those whose property were forcefully taken by the Okorocha administration, but from all men detest injusice.

Prince Akubueze who hails from Mbaise and popularly known as Asaigbo, said that Governor Uzodimma not only deserve commendation for such people–oriented achievement in the State, but has qualified for induction into the Igbo Hall of Fame Award usually organized by the Abuja-based  Asaigbo Foundation.

“With the recovery of more than 1500 properties from Rocahas Okorocha and his cronies by His Excellency, Sen. Hope Uzodimma and subsequently returned them to their original owners, H.E Distinguished Sen. Hope Uzodimma  deserves commendation,” Prince Akubueze wrote in a message he forwarded to the Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to the Governor, Oguwike Nwachuku.

Prince Akubueze who explained that his Group has, therefore, found Governor Uzodimma worthy for reward noted that the Governor had been nominated to receive the 2022 Edition of Igbo Merit Awards at a date to be communicated to him later.

Prince Akubueze wrote: “The essence of the Merit Award is to identify, appreciate and encourage individuals and corporate organizations who have contributed in one way or the other to the development of Igboland in particular.

“We don’t need a soothsayer to tell us what these 1500 properties will do to the original owners whose properties were forcefully taken from them by Rochas. The funniest part of it is that these properties were taken away from the poor and given to the rich.

“With this award, Governor Hope Uzodimma would be inducted into the Igbo Hall of Fame thereby joining other great sons and daughters of Igboland who have been bestowed with Igbo Merit Awards in the past.”

Prince Akubueze, an Abuja-based businessman and politician and one of the staunch supporters of former Governor Emeka Ihedioha believes that his conscience will prick him forever if he fails to appreciate the good things which Governor Uzodimma has done, noting that the mark of progressive politics is calling a spade by the name.

This magazine recalls that the Judicial Panel on Land and Other Related Matters was set up by former Governor Emeka Ihedioha. It was, to the applause of discerning Imolites, sustained by Senator Hope Uzodimma when he was sworn-in as the duly elected Governor of the State, thus replacing Ihedioha.

Uzodimma resisted all pressures to disband the Judicial Panels and Commissions, insisting they were for the good of Imo people, and as an Imo son, he is interested in knowing what happened to the People’s common patrimony  under the eight-year administration of Senator Rochas Okorocha.

Orji Kalu: Nnamdi Kanu’s Counsel Protests Visit, Wants Investigation

By
The Source
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Orji Uzor Kalu and Nnamdi Kanu

By Gideon Njoku

The visit, on Saturday, by Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, on Monday, November 29, has turned awry. It has become a subject of allegations and suspicion and protest.

Senator Kalu had visited Kanu at the Headquarters of the Department of State Services where an FCT High Court ordered that he be kept in custody as his trial proceeds.

After the visit, Kalu had issued a statement which he personally signed, where he noted that the IPOB leader was healthy, and in good care, at the DSS facility.

He also said he had a brotherly discussion with him where he asked him to think of the implications of his actions and utterances for what Kalu described as Nnamdi Kanu’s “insane amount” of followership.

But the visit has not gone down well with one of  Nnamdi Kanu’s Counsels – his lead Counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor.

In a statement he released Sunday, after their visit to Kanu, Ejiofor alleged there is more to the visit than meets the eye. He says that not only did the visit go against the Court order that at least, one of Kanu’s Counsels must be  present during any visit to him by anybody, an order which the DSS had carried out to the letter until the Kalu “breach”, he feared that the visit could put pressure on his Client, intimidate him, and give him the wrong impression of things outside  his detention facility.

Ejiofor has, therefore, called for an investigation into the visit to his client by Orji Kalu.

Definitely, Kalu’s assertion that Nnamdi Kalu was healthy and being well cared for contradicted the impression his Counsels gave a couple of weeks ago that he was not good, health wise, was not being cared for, has been denied change of clothes since his re-arrest, and is in solitary confinement 23 hours out of the 24 hours in a day.

During Kalu’s visit, he wore a “new” dress, not the Fendi outfit he wore on arrest and in Court.

Following is the full text of Barrister Ejiofor’s statement.

It reads in part:

“Our yesterday’s routine visit to our Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was hugely insightful, following the successful twist in our introduced methodology. Though it may appear complex before some observers, but very extant in the circumstance of this case.

“Meaningful interventions were reviewed, and legal steps we are exploring to continue to checkmate the aggressors within the ambits of legal inhibitions were thoroughly x-rayed.

“Kudos were given to deserving members of our Legal team who have remained outstanding in the discharge of their professional duties, as well as every one of us who have remained relentless and resolute.

“Our Client continues to admonish for peaceful co-existence of UmuChineke, unflinching support and unshaken loyalty. You may wish to note, and be very much assured that our Client’s eyes are always on the ball, as he has remained ever resolute and unperturbed despite being gravely disappointed by those he hitherto trusted.

“We can at best describe what transpired yesterday between a visitor whom the detaining authority ostensibly aided to violate the court-ordered guideline for visiting our Client as bizarre and unusual. The DSS is not oblivious of the terms of the court’s guideline which they have consistently maintained in the past that it must be obeyed to the letter, and through which position they had denied many friends and Attorneys of our Client, access to him.

“However, caution was thrown to the wind yesterday and instead of insisting on this full compliance with the existing guideline, the DSS for reasons best known to them allowed a visitor access to our Client even before the time scheduled for the formal visit, and without his lawyers being present during the visit.

“It is of serious concern that the visit was conducted without strict adherence to the court-ordered guideline, but more condescending that the visit later became a subject of political gimmicks.

“If we, Our Client’s Attorneys, his flesh and blood brothers, and his wife will visit him in due compliance with the court-ordered guideline, how can the DSS authorize a visit from any other person in gross violation of this guideline?

“There is more to it than meets the eyes, which the DSS is now under a compelling duty to explain to us. Granted that his name appeared among the list submitted at the 11th hour alongside the names of the lawyers scheduled for the visit, but hurriedly proceeding to conduct the visit without us being present in line with the requirement of the guideline left us with many unanswered questions.

“We have initiated a formal process towards ensuring a thorough investigation of what transpired yesterday, and we shall not hesitate to formally address the world on this subject if there is an attempt to sweep our petition under the carpet.

“The Order of the court and terms as laid down guideline, to regulate visits to our Client is to ensure his maximum protection from persons who may wish to secretly seize the opportunity to hurt or intimidate him into accepting a false narrative outside the dungeon where he is being illegally detained, and they could achieve this through threats and/or coercion. Hence, the need for the presence of his lawyers before granting any audience.

“We may not wish to speak further on this subject or even discuss our Client’s position on this visit pending the outcome of the investigation on the DSS authorized violation of the court-ordered guideline.

“In as much as we have unequivocally demanded an immediate investigation, we are not by any means insinuating that visitors of our Client’s choice are not permitted or restrained from visiting him henceforth, but our position is that every visit to our Client must conform with the already set out guideline by the court.

“We shall keep you all updated as we navigate through this turbulent path, but just note that victory and nothing less than victory is our goal, and it shall surely end in VICTORY.

“UmuChineke. Please note that our Client is profoundly grateful for your dexterity and peaceful conduct so far. This too will soon come to pass. Continue to pray ceaselessly and without season that we shall overcome, UmuChineke. Thank you all and remain blessed.

Signed: Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Esq. Lead Counsel to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu/IPOB 30th November 2021.”

Kalu’s visit was seen by some people as part of efforts to get Nnamdi Kanu’s case resolved politically instead of going through the Court. Two weeks ago, a group of Igbo elders led by 93-year old Mbazulike Amaechi visited President Muhammadu Buhari to specifically appeal to him  that the Government discontinues Kanu’s prosecution in Court and release him unconditionally through a political solution.

Buhari told them their request was an extremely difficult one, but promised to look into it.

Kano: Deposed Emir Sanusi’s Banishment Nullified

By
Bayo Bernard
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0

By James Orji

Dethroned Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has received a boost to his legal action against the Kano state government, more than 20 months after he was removed from office and banished.

A federal high court in Abuja, has nullified his banishment and awarded N10 million against the Kano state government for banishing the former emir from the state. The court also directed the state government to issue a public apology to the deposed emir.

Sanusi, a former Central bank Governor was dethroned and banished on March 9, 2020 by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, over what the state government described as insubordination to constituted authority and violation of extant laws.

While announcing Sanusi’s dethronement, in March 2020, the Secretary to the State Government, SSG Usman Alhaji, said the former Emir had no respect for the governor of the state, and disregards his instructions.

According to Alhaji “Kano State Executive Council, under the chairmanship of the incumbent governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has unanimously approved the immediate removal/dethronement of the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II.

“The Emir of Kano is in total disrespect of lawful instructions from the office of the state governor and other lawful authorities, including his refusal to attend official meetings and programmes organised by the government without any justification which amounts to total insubordination.

“It is on record and in so many instances, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II has been found breaching part 3 section 13 (a-e) of the Kano State Emirate Law 2019 and which if left unchecked, will destroy the good and established image of the Kano Emirate.

“This removal is made after due consultation with the relevant stakeholders and in compliance with part 3 section 13 of the Kano State Emirate law and other reasons stated above.

“The removal is reached in order to safeguard the sanctity, culture, tradition, religion and prestige of Kano Emirate built over a thousand years

But on Tuesday, the court presided by Justice Anwuli Chikere declared as unlawful and a violation of Sanusi’s fundamental human rights, his banishment from Kano and forceful relocation to Awe in Nasarawa State.

Justice Chikere said the manner Sanusi was removed and later banished to Nasarawa state, against his will was wrong. He held that the former emir did not commit any offence to warrant such treatment, and the state government’s action a violation of his rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement.

The judge, declared as a nullity, the Emirate Council Law 2019 under which the Kano State government claimed to have banished the former emir, adding that Sanusi had not committed any offence to warrant his movement from being restricted. He said Sanusi was entitled to reside in any part of the country.

NIJ To Become A University, Marks Golden Jubilee; Graduates 922

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
NIJ Convocation

By Akinwale Kasali

Nigeria’s Premier Monotechnic, the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, NIJ, is working on becoming a University soon. The Provost of the Institution, Gbenga Adefaye, disclosed that his administration is working tirelessly in achieving this feat.

Adefaye made this disclosure at the Golden Jubilee and Sixth Convocation Ceremony of the Institution held at the its premises at Ogba, Lagos State.

The Provost also stressed that the Institution is still bent on producing disciplined, matured and well trained professionals who will bring about a paradigm shift in journalism practice in the world.

He added that strengthening and retraining  of Journalists to be effective and functional in all aspects of mass communication has been the core value of his reign.

A total of 922 students with National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma certificates graduated.

Also, students who engaged in Photojournalism and Effective Writing and Communication Programmes were awarded certificates.

Dignitaries who attended the event include veteran Journalist and the Vice Chairman of the NIJ Governing Council,  Ray Ekpu, former NIJ Provost, Elizabeth Ikem, former NIJ Students and Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, Wife of former Lagos State Governor, Mrs Jakande among others.

Anti-Corruption: Govt Contractors Abandon N300bn Projects

By
Bayo Bernard
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0

By James Orji

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC, Bolaji Owasanoy has revealed how government contractors collected a whopping N310 billion for various projects and later abandoned sites. The projects, scattered across the country have now been completed due to the efforts of the anti-graft agency.

Recalled that the agency, last month, revealed it had recovered 301 houses from two public servants in the nation’s capital, Abuja as part of its ongoing efforts in fighting graft in the country.

Owasanoye, who spoke at an anti-corruption event in Abuja, the nation’s capital, also disclosed that federal government ministries and parastatals duplicated over 250 projects amounting to N20 billion in the 2021 budget.

According to him, the commission tracked 1083 projects across 34 states in the country and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

He explained that the ICPC forced 67 contractors back to site and ensured completion of 966 projects worth N310 billion some of which were hitherto abandoned.

Owasanoye said the commission’s “findings indicate that the same malady of corruption afflicts executive as well as zip projects thus undermining government projections, escalating the cost of governance and denying Nigeria value for money.

“These maladies include poor needs assessment that disconnects projects from beneficiaries; false certification of uncompleted contracts as completed, deliberate underperformance of contracts, incessant criminal diversion and conversion of public property by civil servants, to name just a few.

“Other challenges relate to duplication of projects in the budget. ICPC review found that 257 projects amounting to N20.138bn were duplicated in the 2021 budget leading us to submit an advisory to the Honourable minister of finance which was promptly actioned by the minister to prevent abuse.”

Speaking last month on how public servants have acquired massive estate with illicit funds stolen from the government, the agency said “public officers acquire estates in pseudonyms to conceal the illegal origin of funds.

“This is made possible by the absence of proper documentation, the registration of titles to land and estates in the country and the non-enforcement of beneficial ownership standards.

“A tour round Abuja, especially the metropolis and the Central Area, would show a lot of estates that are built up but empty. If they had been constructed with funds that were borrowed at market rates, I don’t think any investor would leave such proprieties empty.

“One way or the other they would put them to use. So, it is suspected that some of those estates have been used to launder ill-gotten public funds.”

Ondo: Assembly Halts Screening Of Commissioner-Nominees As EFCC Arraigns Speaker

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Bamidele Oleyelogun

By Ayodele Oni

The ongoing screening of Commissioner-nominees whose names were sent to Ondo State House of Assembly a few days ago was stalled at the Assembly on Tuesday.

The screening exercise, which started on Monday could not hold due to the absence of the Speaker, Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun.

Information made available  explained that the Speaker was indisposed which necessitated his absence.

However, Mr Oleyelogun was later sighted at the premises of the Correctional centre along Ondo road where he was to be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) for fraud.

The arraignment of the Speaker was stalled on Tuesday at the Ondo State High Court sitting at the Olokuta Correctional centre, Akure due to the absence of the Counsels to the anti-graft agency.

The EFCC had, in March, detained the Speaker for questioning over an allegation of fraud that allegedly rocked the Assembly.

Also detained by the EFCC were the Clerk of the House of Assembly, Mr. Bode Adeyelu and three other staff members for alleged N2.4 million seminar fraud.

The Lawmaker representing Akoko South West 1, in the House, Felemu Bankole, was among those that were locked up by the agency as well as two civil servants attached to the Assembly; Olusegun Kayode and Afolabi O. J.

They were said to have been kept at the detention facility of the EFCC in Lagos, while investigation continues on the alleged fraud.

On Tuesday, the Speaker arrived the premises of the correctional centre Olokuta at around 8.30am in a tinted black Prado Jeep with a pilot vehicle and another gold Kia Jeep with number plate 95 ODHA belonging to one of the House of Assembly members.

Speaking with newsmen on phone, counsel to EFCC Dibang Frederick said next date of adjournment had been picked for the arraignment of Oleyelogun for the legal team to be fully prepared.

Dibang said the charges against the Speaker would be made available during the next adjournment date.

Journalists who were at the Correctional Centre to cover the Court proceeding were, however, barred from entering the premises by officials of the Correctional Service.

The Correctional officer who addressed the Journalists said they were acting on the instruction of the State Government not to allow any Journalists to cover the arraignment.

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