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PSC Appoints Lawal DIG, Representing South West

By
Ayodele Oni
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DIG Banji Lawal

By Ayodele Oni

The Police Service Commission, (PSC) has approved the appointment of Banji Lawal as a substantive Deputy Inspector General of Police, (DIG) representing the South West Geopolitical Zone.

Lawal was formerly Assistant Inspector General of Police, (AIG) in charge of border patrol.

A statement signed by the commission’s Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, said Lawal was appointed at an extraordinary meeting held on Friday.

Lawal takes over from DIG Sylvester Alabi who represented the zone and retired on December 31, 2024. Alabi was the DIG in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department.

The new DIG was a former Commandant Police Training College, Ikeja, Lagos; Assistant Commissioner Operations, Ekiti State Command; Abia State Command and Edo State Command.

He later became Area Commander Uyo, Deputy Commissioner Operations, Nasarawa State; Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Akwa Ibom State and Deputy Commissioner Finance and Admin ICT Force Headquarters Abuja.

He was also Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Registrar, Central Criminal Registry (CCR) Force Headquarters Annex, Alagbon close, Ikoyi; DCP Finance and Administration, Benue state; Deputy Commandant, Police Academy, Wudil Kano and CP General Investigation, Force CID.

The statement added, “The new DIG Lawal appeared before the Commission in Plenary.

“Present were the Chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu Rtd mni, Justice Paul Adamu Galumje, retired Justice of the Supreme Court and DIG Taiwo Lakanu Rtd, FDC.

“He went through written and oral examinations where he particularly commended the Community Policing programme of the Nigeria Police Force which he said is succeeding and has achieved a lot so far.”

The PSC Chairman congratulated him on his elevation and charged him to make himself relevant in the Police Management Team.

JUSUN Presses For Judicial Autonomy In Ondo, Gives 21 Days Ultimatum

By
Ayodele Oni
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Judiciary and Court

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Branch of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN),  has written to the State Government about financial autonomy to the third arm with 21days ultimatum to comply with a court’s Judgment on the issue in line with the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The letter dated 16th January, 2024 was signed by Afolabi Oluwafemi, the Chairman of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Ondo State Branch and the Union’s Secretary,  Alade Kehinde.

In a copy of the letter sighted by newsmen, the JUSUN leadership said “we urge Your Excellency to comply with the constitutional provisions within the stipulated 21-day period, following the receipt of this letter. Failure to do so will leave us with no alternative but to consider industrial action to assert our rights and uphold the integrity of the judiciary

“We write to formally address the urgent matter concerning the compliance with the judgment delivered on the 7th day of October, 2024, in respect of the financial autonomy of the Ondo State Judiciary, as outlined in suit No. A16/18M/2024. This judgment was rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction following an application for Judicial Review by way of mandamus.

“As you are aware, Section 121 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), guarantees the financial independence of the Ondo State Judiciary.

“This provision mandates that any amount earmarked for the Judiciary and standing to its credit in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State shall be paid directly to the head of the Court. It is crucial to note that any law inconsistent with this constitutional provision is null and void.

“The court’s judgment is clear and unambiguous, compelling the following actions: Compliance by the Ondo State Governor, Attorney General, and Accountant General: We urge you to ensure compliance with the provisions of Section 121 (3) of the Constitution.

“Timely Implementation We request that the aforementioned officials commence compliance within twenty-one (21) days from the date of this judgment.

“Direct Payments to the Judiciary: We mandate that the Accountant General of Ondo State pay into the Ondo State Judiciary account the statutory allocations for recurrent and capital expenditures in monthly installments, in accordance with Section 121 (3B) of the fifth alteration to the 1999 Constitution.

“The position of the Constitution is not negotiable, and our call for compliance after a favorable judgment from the courts reflects the pressing need for adherence to the rule of law in our society.

“We remain hopeful that your administration will take the necessary steps to rectify this situation, thereby enhancing your legacy.

“We trust that you will treat this matter with the urgency and seriousness it deserves,” said the union.”

Ekiti: Vigilant Youths Arrest Suspected Electric Cable Thief

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ekiti Cable Thief

By Ayodele Oni

A suspected electric cable thief posing as a scavenger, was unlucky as he was caught by vigilant youths in Ekiti State.

The incident happened at Odo Ayedun, country home of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye.

The Speaker had replaced some of the stolen cables before Yuletide to ensure that the people did not celebrate in darkness.

Reacting to the incident, Aribasoye, advised residents of the state to complement the efforts of security agencies with community vigilance and intelligence gathering.

Aribasoye applauded the residents of the area for keeping a keen watch over their immediate vicinity, noting that security agencies alone could not sufficiently secure all areas.

The suspect, who was publicly paraded through the town carrying the stolen cables on his head before being taken into custody by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, identified himself as Oseni.

During his visit to his constituency in December, the Speaker had charged the youths and residents of the area to intensify community security efforts following cases of theft of transformer cables, transformer oil, and other items, which had led to a blackout in the area.

The Speaker, who found the condition of the people unpleasant during the festive period, ordered the purchase of some transformer cables after earlier replacing the stolen transformer oil, both gestures costing millions of naira.

Members of the community said the suspect, who is not of Southwest ethnic background, had been living in the community for close to five years, masking his criminal activities by claiming to be a metal scraper and scavenger.

Special Adviser (Media) to the Speaker, Babajide Agbeyo in a statement disclosed that the state House of Assembly Ad-hoc Committee regulating the activities of scrappers met with their relevant associations late last year, with a view to reach a consensus on laws to be made to check criminal elements hiding under the practice.

The Assembly Speaker assured that the legislative arm would continue to make and amend laws to ensure local security initiatives are strengthened and conventional security outfits supported.

TikTok Can Be Banned In US- Supreme Court Rules

By
James Orji
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Joe Biden - US President

The Supreme Court ruled Friday that a controversial ban on TikTok may take effect this weekend, rejecting an appeal from the popular app’s owners that claimed the ban violated the First Amendment.

The court handed down an unsigned opinion and there were no noted dissents.

The decision, which followed warnings from the Biden administration that the app posed a “grave” national security threat because of its ties to China, will allow the ban to start Sunday. But there are a lot of lingering questions about how the ban would work in practice because there’s no precedent for the US government blocking a major social media platform. And how exactly the government would enforce it remains unclear.

In its opinion, the Supreme Court acknowledged that for 170 million Americans TikTok offers “a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community.”

But the court said, Congress was focused on national security concerns and that, the court said, was a deciding factor in how it weighed the case.

“Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary,” the court wrote.

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Spotlight on Trump

The ruling also puts the spotlight on President-elect on Donald Trump.

In the runup to the ban’s effective date, President Joe Biden’s administration signaled it would leave enforcement of the ban to Trump, who will be inaugurated on Monday. Despite that, TikTok has said it may “go dark” when the ban takes effect.

A Biden administration official told CNN Thursday that the outgoing president plans to leave it to Trump to enforce any ban.

“Our position on this has been clear: TikTok should continue to operate under American ownership,” a Biden administration official said. “Given the timing of when it goes into effect over a holiday weekend a day before inauguration, it will be up to the next administration to implement.”

TikTok CEO Shou Chew is set to be seated on the dais, alongside other leading tech CEOs, at Trump’s inauguration — perhaps a sign of just how serious the incoming president is about trying to save the app.

And with some in Congress now suggesting that TikTok might need more time to find a buyer, Trump could find support in trying to push off the ban to a later date.

The law gives the president the option to extend the ban by 90 days, but triggering the extension requires evidence that parties working on purchasing have made significant progress, including binding legal agreements for such a deal — and TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, hasn’t publicly updated its stance that the app is not for sale.

CNN

“Desperate PDP Bent On Influencing Tribunal Outcome In Edo” – APC Alleges

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Edo Governorship Tribunal

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The All Progressive Congress,,  APC, has  alleged plans by its main rival, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, and its Gubernatorial candidate in the September 2024 off circle election in Edo State, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, to manipulate the ongoing proceedings at the Election Petition Tribunal.

To this end, the Edo State Chapter Chairman of the Party, Jarret Tenebe,  on Friday, January 17, 2025, called party faithful across the State to remain vigilant and monitor closely the activities of the PDP at the Tribunal.

The Party’s position is coming on the heels of the disruption of proceedings at the Tribunal on Wednesday, January 15, by suspected hired hoodlums.

The Source reports that since the ousting of the PDP, in the September 21, 2024 Governorship polls, by APC, the two bitter rival political platforms have been engaged in a  battle of attrition.

The bout of accusations and counter- accusations that emanated from the outcome of the elections were escalated on December 15, 2024 following  the controversial suspension of the 18 PDP elected Local Council Chairmen, by the APC led state  Government.

The festering battle of wits ,

between the two sworn bitter rivals  took its toll on the State’s Election Tribunal, following the eruption of sporadic  gunshots that led to the disruption of proceedings.

Chieftains of the two parties have since been engaged in a blame game over the unfortunate incident that has served to heighten tensions in the State.

The APC Chairman, in a  statement, accused the PDP, and Chief Ighodalo of being desperate and bent on influencing the outcome of the Tribunal sitting.

“As chairman of the APC in Edo State, I am deeply concerned about the ongoing Governorship Tribunal case.

“This case has significant implications for the democratic process, the rule of law and the rights of our citizens.

“We urge all members of our party, as well as the general public to remain vigilant and closely monitor development in this case.

“We must ensure that the opposition PDP and its desperate candidate, Asue Ighodalo, do not manipulate the process”, part of the APC statement reads.

The APC ,also, reinstated its position accusing the PDP of being responsible for Wednesday’s disruption of proceedings at the Tribunal, using hired thugs and other miscreants.

According to the APC Chairman, the deliberate disruption of the Tribunal sitting is part of the wider orchestrated plans to manipulate the the system.

” We call upon the Judiciary to act with impartiality and fairness and to ensure that all parties involved are treated equitably.

“We also urge all parties involved in the case to conduct themselves with respect and dignity and refrain from any actions that may undermine the judicial process”, Tenebe emphasized.

Abia Goes After Unwholesome Activities Of Property Owners In The State

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Alex Otti - Abia State Governor

By Suleiman Anyalewdchi

The Abia State Government on Friday, January 17, 2025, vowed to visit the full weight of the law on residents indulging in indiscriminate disposal of sewage into public drainages and facilities.

This is even as the Management of the Greater Aba Development Authority GADA, informed that stringent penalties, including prosecution, and fines have been lined  up as punishments for those channeling waste products into drainages on major roads across the cities of the State

At a media briefing after conducting journalists round a mini high rise property on the popular PortHarcourt-Aba Road sealed for channeling sewages into the drainage, the Head of Environmental Health, Aba metropolitan  Council, Elder Ndibe Ugochukwu, warned that the authorities will not sit by and watch some unscrupulous elements expose Aba residents to avoidable health hazards .

If left unchecked, the unwholesome activities,of property and business premises owners ,according to him, have the very high potentials ,of leading to the outbreak of epidemics in the commercial hub of the State.

Elder  Ugochukwu regretted that over 70 percent of property  owners, hoteliers, business premises owners, and developers in Aba, are channeling waste products from their properties  into public drainages,and infrastructural facilities.

He noted that such unhealthy activities are the most well- known purveyors of epidemics and other communicable diseases in the system.

“Look the developer of the building at number 47 Port Harcourt road Aba ,( a three story building) after spending millions of naira ,in constructing the property, refused or neglected to build simple soakaway pits  and other waste disposal facilities .

“He rather chose to channel the sewages into the drainages still  under construction along  the all important  Port Harcourt road by Julius Berger .

“When we discovered the development ,we ( Environmental officials ) approached him ,and requested him to  abandon the unwholesome and illegal move .

“But you can’t believe that he blatantly refused and insisted on going ahead with the project, including breaking part of the drainages under construction .

“He was given seven days notice to construct a soakawy pit to re- channel all the waste .We served him an abate notice on December 31,2024 ,urging him to stop work .

“After ,the expiry of the notice ,he still refused to do the needful ,and was bent on breaking Government drainage to channel waste.

“Well ,we are using his matter as a test case. to many because he must have to comply.About  70 % of landlords and business premises owners in Aba channeled sewages into public drainages and we will not allow such to continue.

“At this point ,we had to apply the law by having the building sealed in conjunction with our sister agency the Greater Aba Development Authority, GADA .

:We have taken him to court ,for willfully exposing residents to serious health hazards and destruction of public property.

“However, our concern is that we are being made to understand that some GADA officials have gone ahead to unseal the property without reference to us .

“That notwithstanding, we are determined to apply the full weight of the law to serve as a deterrent to others in the habit of making public drainages their waste disposal facilities”, the Environmental head stated .

Further speaking ,Elder Ugochukwu, insisted that all property owners in the city must have sizable septic tanks and soakaway pits in line with the provisions of the  “Public Health Law CAP 103 ,Vol 6 of 2005”.

Arch Uche Ukeje, Director General GADA, stated that  the agency has taken measures to deter landlords and business premises from the unwholesome activities of channeling waste into public drainages.

While denying the allegation that his agency unsealed the Port Harcourt road controversial property, Ukeje, reaffirmed GADA’s readiness to work collaboratively with other bodies to halt illegal channeling of waste products into drainages .

He informed that the agency has resolved to prosecute and  impose fines ranging  from N200,000 to N500,000 on landlords who engage in channeling waste into public facilities .

“When the matter of the building on Port Harcourt road came up,bI sent a team there on January 2,.

“The team worked in synergy with the health officials and eventually the place was sealed. It wasn’t hidden because we put up an official announcement to that effect.

“As usual , you will not seal somebody’s property forever .The reason you seal is for the proper things to be done and not to demolish.

“He (developer) was instructed to construct a septic tank to channel his waste properly, and there is no way he can do that without gaining access to the property.

In real terms ,the property is still sealed .But ,we only allowed the developer to go in and effect the corrections demanded of him.

“When a building is under seal ,no work will go on there unless the barrier is removed ,and that is what we have done to remove the red tape ,and allow the developer to go and do the corrections.  Officially, we cannot unseal when the corrective work has not been done”,  the GADA DG stated

Supreme Court Says Sacked Speaker Obasa Not Solicitor, Advocate Of The Apex Court

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Mudashiru Obasa and the Supreme Court Letter

By Akinwale Kasali

Controversy has continued to trail the claim by impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru  Obasa, that he is a Legal Practitioner, Solicitor and  advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The issue has been at the front burner of discourse when he was still in the saddle as Speaker of LAHA. It began when  a petition was written to the Supreme Court to confirm Obasa’s alleged claim.

In a letter dated 24th July, 2020, signed by Gertrude B. Karenton-Mordi for the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, titled; “RE: VERIFICATION OF MUDASHIRU AJAYI OBASA AS A SOLICITOR AND ADVOCATE OF THE SUPREME COURT”, it was clearly stated that Obasa’s name was not on the Roll Call of Legal Practitioners kept in the Honourable Court. It urged Obasa to come to the Honourable Court with his Call to Bar and Qualifying Certificates for Enrolment.

It further stated that if Obasa had done a Change of Name, he should come forward with proof of evidence.

The issue was, however, swept under the carpet, but has resurfaced days after his impeachment.

The Supreme Court has however debunked Obasa’s claim of being a Legal Practitioner. The Court said his name was never in the Roll Call.

Not a few people say if true, this has brought to fore “the insincerity, impersonation and deceit depicted by the former Speaker, which were part of his many sins that led to his unceremonious exit from the saddle as Speaker.”

Freed Of Terrorism Charges, Court Jails Nwajagu For Parading As Chief In Lagos

By
The Source
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Fred Nwajagu - Eze Ndigbo

By Charles Igbo

Counsel says Nwajagu will appeal the conviction

The joy which radiated the face of Fred Nwajagu, Eze Ndigbo, Ajao Estate, Lagos, was short-lived. Freed by a Lagos Court of terrorism charges, Nwajagu was jailed for parading himself as, allegedly, a certified Chief in Lagos. But it is a charge he strongly denies, and so, has decided to appeal his conviction by the Court.

Nwajagu’s ordeal started in 2023 when he made a viral video  which didn’t go down well with the Lagos State Government. The video was in response to threats against the Igbo by MC Oluomo and others of his ilk.

In the video, Nwajagu warned Oluomo and others to stop the persecution of the  Igbo in Lagos and allegedly, setting on fire markets in Lagos, mostly dominated by the Igbo. To stem a situation where the markets are, allegedly, deliberately set on fire, and looted in pretence of saving some goods,  Nwajagu in the viral video, said he would be forced to invite some members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, to the Lagos markets to keep watch and repel mischief makers.

That was what earned him an arrest on the orders of the Lagos State Government, charges of terrorism, and parade of himself as a Traditional Ruler in Lagos, no thanks to his title as Eze Ndigbo Ajao Estate, a title very common in Lagos Communities  and elsewhere.

For two years, he was thrown into jail and refused bail while his prosecution in Court progressed.

However, on January 15, 2025, the long drawn case ended. The Honourable

Justice J. Adesanya of a Lagos High Court discharged and acquitted Nwajagu of terrorism charges as brought against him by the Lagos State Government. The Judge said there was no proof to link Nwajagu to such serious charge. But the Judge added a dampener which wiped the joy off Nwajagu and family and friends.

He found Nwajagu guilty of illegally parading himself as a certified Chief in Lagos State contrary to the Oba and Chiefs Law of Lagos State.

That earned him a 12-month jail term. But having been kept in jail for about two years, the Judge said Nwajagu already served the jail time.

But that was no consolation to Nwajagu as the tag of an ex-convict has been added to his profile.

Fabian Onwughalu, a defence Counsel to Nwajagu said the judgment is at once painful and a victory for Ndigbo in Lagos, especially. He disclosed Nwajagu would go on appeal to quash the conviction.

He said: “We shall strive to set aside the conviction on parading himself as a Chief in Lagos State on appeal as the prosecution did not prove the offence to warrant the conviction.

“Moreover, the Eze Ndigbo institution is not recognised by the law of Lagos State, and so has nothing to do with the Oba and Chiefs Law.

“Also the conviction offends the fundamental rights of freedom of association of Ndigbo in Lagos State.

“I am happy to be among the Counsels in the defence team, who diligently offered their services pro bono.”

Unless the appeal is granted, Nwajagu remains an ex-convict, for according to a loyalist of his, “doing nothing wrong.”

First Bank: My Hands Are Clean- Otudeko

By
James Orji
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Oba Otudeko

“In light of recent news reports, Dr. Oba Otudeko categorically refutes the claims concerning his role in FBN Holdings and will aggressively defend his reputation.

“Dr Oba Otudeko is a builder and one of Nigeria’s foremost investors and industrialists. He has built directly from scratch and has worked with others to build many of Nigeria’s most successful companies. This includes FBN Holdings, where he served as a director (then Chairman) from 1997 to 2021 and was instrumental in supporting the transformation of the bank from an old-generation bank to its current leadership role as a pan-African financial services holding company.

“With regards to the reported claims, Dr Oba Otudeko would like to clarify that he has never served in an executive capacity within FBN Holdings and its banking subsidiary, First Bank of Nigeria Limited and as such has had no operational responsibility in the organisation.

“As of this moment, he has received no official summons, neither has his legal team received any official invitation from relevant authorities. As he has done in the past, Dr Oba Otudeko is always ready and available to assist any government agency with appropriate oversight in the execution of their duties, with the expectation that these affairs will be conducted with the highest standard of professionalism.

“While we respect the role of the press in keeping the public informed, we urge journalists to verify such sensitive information before publication to ensure accuracy and fairness.

“At 81, after 5 decades of contributions to the growth of Nigeria’s economy, Dr Oba Otudeko is now focused on mentoring the next generation of business leaders and contributing to the positive development of society through enterprise.

“He is not interested in serving in an executive capacity in any organization in Nigeria or elsewhere, neither is he interested in serving in a non-executive capacity on any board asides those he currently sits on. This includes any possibility of returning to the board of FBN Holdings Plc, which appears to be the focus of the recent unfortunate news barrage. FBN Holdings, a legacy institution built over 130 years, holds a special place in Dr. Otudeko’s heart. He trusts this strong foundation to guide the institution into the next era of success.

“Dr. Oba Otudeko is confident that the truth will prevail in due course and looks forward to addressing these claims in the appropriate forum.”

Signed
Olasumbo Abolaji General Counsel

Third Mainland Bridge: No Shaking, FG Assures

By
James Orji
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Third Mainland Bridge

The Minister of Works David Umahi has urged the public to discountenance reports that the Third Mainland Bridge is shaking and defective. The reports are far from the truth , the minister assured Nigerians and other users of the safety of TMB in Lagos.

The minister made the assurance in a statement signed by his media aide Orji Uchenna Orji on Thursday, accusing naysayers of trying to destroy the good works of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Following the reports, according to Umahi, he dispatched a team from the ministry to inspect the bridge, which came back with a clean bill that the bridge is safe for use.

The TMB is ‘hale and hearty’ Umahi declared, saying all the major roads in the country have received the attention of the current administration, which is putting in more efforts to ensure that the roads in the country are motorable.

He said, “The rumour, for all intents and purposes, is nothing but an untactful falsehood by the fifth columnists whose mission is to undermine the confidence and solidarity reposed on the works sector of the Renewed Hope administration by Nigerians.

“The report is the same; that the bridge is hale and hearty, and its integrity is undoubtedly intact.

“The 3rd Mainland Bridge, including other iconic bridges in Lagos, has received priority intervention by Mr. President, knowing their vitality to the road communications and transportation ecosystem in Lagos and beyond. That is why the superstructure, the substructure, and other underwater elements of the 3rd Mainland Bridge are receiving profound repairs by the Renewed Hope administration.”

Checks indicate that  the routine repair of the Third Mainland Bridge infrastructure has cost the Federal Government at least N15.6 billion in the last six years

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