Category: News

Five residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have sued the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) over the declaration of Senator Bola Tinubu as the nation’s president-elect.

The plaintiffs in the suit filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on April 28, 2023 aver that Senator Tinubu failed to secure at least 25 percent of votes cast in the FCT.

The plaintiffs, Anyaegbunam Okoye, David Adzer, Jeffrey Ucheh Osang Paul, and Chibuike Nwanchukwu, who sued for themselves and on behalf of other residents and registered voters in the FCT, are asking the court to determine “whether or not the person who is to be elected president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and consequently administrator of the FCT through the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority, on the first ballot, is required by section 134(2)(b) of the Constitution to obtain at least 25% of the votes cast in the FCT”.

Tinubu, who was the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared the winner of the February 25, 3023 presidential poll with eight million, seven hundred and ninety-four thousand, seven hundred and twenty-six votes.

The plaintiffs also want a declaration extending President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure pending when a successor is determined in accordance with the Constitution.

They want the court to set aside the certificate of return issued to Senator Tinubu and restrain the CJN and any other judicial officer from swearing in any candidate in the presidential election as president or vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria pending the determination of the suit.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), however, insists that a candidate must not secure 25 percent of the votes in the FCT to be declared winner because the FCT was not accorded any special status in the constitution as being “erroneously” portrayed.

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…It’s no longer going to be business as usual as health workers, others must justify their salaries – Mbah

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed its preparedness to partner with the administration of Dr. Peter Mbah as soon as he takes over office as the governor of Enugu State on May 29 on the areas of provision of safe and clean water, access to healthcare for women and children, primary education, and sanitation in the state.

This was disclosed during the week in Enugu when the UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms Christian Munduate, led a delegation of top officials of the multilateral agency to the governor-elect at the Old Government Lodge, Enugu..

This was even as the incoming administration warned that it would no longer tolerate unprofessional conduct, unauthorized absence from duties and other forms of misconducts from health workers including other public servants who are on the payroll of the government especially in rural communities.

The soon-to-be inaugurated administration expressed disappointment in the attitude of some workers on government pay, stressing that their unscheduled visits to some of the healthcare facilities in rural areas revealed that staff were frequently absconding from their duty posts for as long as they wish and promised that the new government would bring such attitude to an end with reward and sanction mechanisms.

While conveying Dr. Mbah’s goodwill message to Ms. Munduate and her team, the Deputy Governor-elect, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, who represented him, appreciated the world body for its years of dedicated selfless service in the state, Nigeria and Africa at large, saying the uncommon gesture, which has been transforming the continent, would never be taken for granted.

He said Mbah’s administration would focus its priority on the empowerment of women and children in order to have a stable and responsible society.

According to him, Mbah has strong and robust programmes for children and adolescents whose welfare and training are fundamental to nation-building through the inculcation of the right values, skills and education.

Ossai pointed at the well-spelt out policies and programmes contained in their manifesto deliberately committed to children and young ones to deal with the disturbing issues of maternal and infant mortalities, school dropouts, corruption in the system and skills impartation.

He further stated that the “Cross cutting programme” which includes the cut off point agenda contained in the Social Charter was designed to catch those children at the ages of 3, 4 and above and equip them with the right moral values and skills that would engender a healthy and balance society with an urgent reform in the education curriculum.

The incoming administration appealed to the international organization to assist the government with the facilities, technical expertise, support, and fund to ensure women and children have access to safe and clean water, education, infrastructure, sanitation and quality healthcare facilities.

While further briefing the delegation on their avowal to invest less on soft issues such as conferences and seminars and look at the critical sectors that were in dire need of intervention, Ossai maintained that the recently constituted transition committee had been given the mandate to revisit reports of past conferences and seminars on women and children and “unearth practical steps on how to ensure reduction in maternity and infant mortality rate, how to revive access to health and maternal healthcare for women and children, ensure there’s water both in the urban and rural communities, engage women association and form them into cooperatives to reorient them on healthcare system.”

Reacting to Mbah’s address, Munduate commended the people for electing young and energetic team that would lead the state by providing good governance in the coming years, adding that Mbah had marshalled clear pathway to catering for the welfare of children and adolescents.

“I am impressed with your clarity of thought for women and children, and indeed, your subjects in general. We find this as an opportunity to share ideas where children and adolescents are being prioritized,” the Country Representative added.

She pledged that UNICEF would provide the needed robust structure and technical capacity to ensure the state works in its full capacity in the areas already highlighted by the administration.

“Our best asset is our technical capacity. We’ll work with you with our robust structure and technical department. We’ll provide you with the data on health and nutrition, birth and date rate, and other human resource and technical support,” she said.

On water, the Country Representative reiterated the importance of having sustainable safe and clean water for the state even as she acknowledged that most sources of water were contaminated due to open defecation and poor sanitation.

She said UNICEF specialized technical support would be deployed to assist the government in the area of harvesting quality water, adding that enough water supply could engender the declaration of this year an open defecation free year.

She equally maintained that the organization is open to hit the ground running once the administration is inaugurated by partnering with it on key needs that would facilitate and ensure cover for children, adolescents and young people.

The Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing of the suit filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), to September 14.

Kanu had approached the court to appeal the verdict of the appeal court stopping his release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

During Thursday’s proceedings, the apex court granted the application of the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to file additional processes in response to Kanu’s filing, which was done on Tuesday.

The apex court said even if it proceeds to hear the appeal, there is no space within its calendar to write and deliver the verdict within the 90-day deadline.

The case was therefore adjourned to September 14.

The Court of Appeal had earlier granted a stay of execution on its verdict which discharged Kanu of terrorism charges filed against him by the Federal Government.

In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, the appeal court granted the application filed by the Federal Government pending the hearing and determination of the appeal before the Supreme Court.

Kanu has been in detention since he was brought back from Kenya on June 19, 2021.

The IPOB leader was subsequently re-arraigned on an amended 15-count charge.

On April 8 2022, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja struck out eight of the 15 counts in the charge.

The remaining seven counts were later quashed by the court of appeal on October 13.

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The Nigerian Army High Command has directed immediate investigation into the audio-visual footage of men clad in military uniform maltreating civilians at 2Seasons Hotel and Resorts Kaduna to ascertain its veracity, with a view to identifying the culprits.

A statement by the director Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu said pending the outcome of the investigation, the persons clad in military camouflage who perpetrated the dastardly acts, if found to be NA personnel, would be treated in accordance with extant provisions of the Armed Forces Acts.

He said the condemnable incident is an aberration of the values and ethics of professionalism, courage, selflessness and service to humanity which the NA represents.

“As a disciplined and regimented force committed to the supremacy of the constitution, defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation as well as aid to civil authorities, the Nigerian Army has zero tolerance for any act inimical to the rights and wellbeing of the citizenry.

“Consequently, authorities of the Nigerian Army have directed immediate investigation into the audio-visual footage to ascertain its veracity, with a view to identifying the culprits.

“Outcome of the investigation and sanctions against the persons clad in military camouflage, who perpetrated the dastardly acts, if found to be Nigerian Army personnel, would be treated in accordance with extant provisions of the Armed Forces Acts,” he said.

The statement while appreciating the general public for their continued support, urged all law-abiding citizens to go about their legitimate businesses without any fear of molestation or intimidation from any quarter and to report any untoward conduct by troops to Nigerian Army Human Rights Desks at the Headquarters Nigerian Army or at the Divisions Headquarters.

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A Federal High Court Abuja, on Wednesday, gave an order of perpetual injunction restraining the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from imposing fines, henceforth, on broadcast stations in the country.

Justice James Omotosho, in a judgement, also set aside the N500,000 fines imposed, on March 1, 2019, on each of the 45 broadcast stations.

Justice Omotosho held that the NBC, not being a court of law, had no power to impose sanctions as punishment on broadcast stations.

He further held that the NBC Code, which gives the commission the power to impose sanction, is in conflict with Section 6 of the Constitution that vested judicial power in the court of law.

He said the court would not sit idle and watch a body imposing fine arbitrarily without recourse to the law.

He said the commission did not comply with the law when it sat as a complainant and at the same time, the court and the judge on its own matter.

The judge agreed that the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, being a subsidiary legislation that empowers an administrative body such as the NBC to.enforce its provisions cannot confer judicial powers on the commission to impose criminal sanctions or penalties such as fines.

He also agreed that the commission, not being Nigerian police, had no power to conduct criminal investigation that would lead to criminal trial and imposition of sanctions.

“This will go against the doctrine of separation of powers,” he said.

Omotosho held that what the doctrine sought to achieve was to prevent tyranny by concentrating too much powers in one organ.

“The action of the respondent qualifies as excessiveness” as it had ascribed to itself the judicial and executive powers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NBC had, on March 1, 2019, imposed the sum of N500, 000 each on 45 broadcast stations in the country over alleged violation of its code.

However, the Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda had, in an originating motions marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1386/2021, sued the NBC as sole respondent in the suit.

In the motion dated Nov. 9, 2021 by its lawyer, Noah Ajare, the group sought a declaration that the sanctions procedure applied by the NBC in imposing N500,00Q fines on each of the 45 broadcast stations on March 1, 2019 was a violation of the rules of natural justice.

The lawyer also said that the fines were in violation of the right to fair hearing under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Articles 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap AQ) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The group argued that this was so because the code, which created the alleged offences of which the broadcast stations were accused was written and adopted by the NBC, “and also gives powers to the said commission to receive complaints of alleged breaches, investigate and adjudicate the complaints, impose sanctions, including fines, and ultimately collect the fines, which the commission uses for its own purposes.”

They, therefore, sought an order setting aside the N500,000 fines purportedly imposed by the NBC on each of the 45 broadcast stations on Friday, March 1, 2019.

They also sought “an order of perpetual Injunction restraining the respondent, its servants, agents, privies, representatives or anyone acting for or on its behalf, from imposing fines on any of the broadcast stations or any other broadcast station in Nigeria for any alleged offence committed under the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.”

Delivering the judgment, Justice Omotosho decsribed the NBC’s act as being ultra vires.

He held that the fines imposed by the NBC as punishment for commission of various offences under its code were contrary to the law and hereby declared as unconstitutional, null and void.

The judge also made an order of perpetual injunction restraining the commission from further imposing fines on broadcast stations in the country.

NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari, has on Wednesday written to the Senate, asking the honorable house to approve a new loan request of $800million.

In a letter read by the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, President Buhari who noted that the loan would be utilized to scale up the National Social Safety Net Programme, said that the loan would be sourced from the World Bank.

This follows the Federal Government’s April announcement of an $800 million World Bank grant targeting 50 million vulnerable Nigerians or 10 million households, as part of its subsidy palliatives measures.

According to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, the disbursement of the grant is in light of the planned subsidy removal in June 2023.

Ahmed underscored that engagements are ongoing with the newly established Presidential Transition Council (PTC) and the incoming administration, to drive the palliative program, which includes the need for buses among various considerations.

President-elect, Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, left Nigeria for Europe on a working visit.

A statement from the office of the president-elect signed by Tunde Rahman on Wednesday said Mr Tinubu, during the visit, will engage with investors and other key allies with the goal of marketing investment opportunities in the country and his administration’s readiness to enable a business-friendly climate through policies and regulations.

This is the second time Mr Tinubu will be travelling out of the country after he was declared president-elect on 1 March. He returned to Nigeria on 24 April after a four-week vacation in France.

The statement said the president-elect will use the opportunity of the trip to fine-tune the transition plans and programmes, and his policy options with some of his key aides without unnecessary pressures and distractions.

Already, meetings with multi-sectoral actors in Europe’s business community, including manufacturing, agriculture, tech and energy have been lined up, a part of the statement noted.

The statement also said that Mr Tinubu hopes to convince them of Nigeria’s readiness to do business under his leadership through mutually-beneficial partnerships premised on job creation and skills acquisition.

“Reviving the country’s economy forms a major plank of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda and the meeting is part of his efforts to re-establish Nigeria’s importance in the global economic chain and create empowering opportunities for the country’s huge youth population,” the statement said.

The president-elect has hitherto promised to hit the ground running and the visit is reflective of his commitment to the promise as he has already begun talks with global actors in the important areas of the economy and security.

The statement said he is scheduled to return shortly for preparations towards his official swearing-in as the 16th president of the country on 29 May.

Before he left the country, the president-elect met with the House of Representatives candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker endorsed by his party, the All Progressives Congress, Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu, who were presented to him by the Joint Task Team of the House.

Mr Tinubu’s victory is being challenged at the presidential election petition tribunal which started hearing on Monday.

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Former governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, has accepted defeat and acceded to Tuesday’s ruling of the Supreme Court that upheld the election of Senator Ademola Adeleke as the governor of the state.

In a statement signed by the ex-governor, he noted that although the judgment by the Supreme Court did not favour either him, his supporters or party members, he accepts the verdict in the interest of the people of the state.

Oyetola further appealed to members of his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), his supporters and those who voted for him during the July 16, 2022, governorship election, to accept the judgment as the will of God.

He said, “We strongly believe we presented a good case before the Supreme Court but the Court thought otherwise and has given its verdict. While the outcome is against our wish and that of our party members and supporters, we are all bound to accept it as law-abiding citizens.

“To our members and supporters across the state, I urge you all to accept the verdict of the Court and move on. The present situation is a win-win for us. It’s both a loss and victory rolled into one. While we lost Osun technically, we gained Nigeria.”

He further prayed for the incumbent governor, Adeleke, wishing that his tenure be prosperous for the people and the state. The former governor said, “I remain committed to the growth and development of Osun. I will therefore continue to work with well-meaning citizens of Osun, associations and institutions to facilitate the development of our dear State. Similarly, I urge all citizens of Osun to continue to exhibit the Omoluabi ethos and uphold the dreams of our forebears for the State, irrespective of party affiliations.

“To the Osun Governor, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your victory at the Supreme Court. While I pray for your tenure to be prosperous for our people and the state, I urge you to focus on the delivery of good governance.

“Politics aside, the time has come to let you know that the interest of the masses must be most paramount without any restriction or discrimination whether based on political persuasion, creed or religion. Whatever personal differences we have must give way to the advancement of our great State. The security of the Osun people must be guaranteed regardless of their religious and political affiliations. I pray for peace and progress in your tenure.”

The Action Peoples Party, APP, on Wednesday, withdrew the petition it filed to nullify the declaration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, as winner of the 2023 presidential election.

The party, at the resumed proceedings before the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, sitting in Abuja, announced its decision to terminate further hearing on its petition marked: CA/PEPC/02/23.

Counsel to the party, Mr. Obed Agu, told a five-member panel of the court that was set to hear the matter, that the withdrawal notice, which was filed on May 9, was predicated on Paragraph 29(1)(2) and (3) of the Schedule for Election Petitions.

“My Lords, we are seeking an order of this court for leave to withdraw this petition filed on March 19.

“As well as an order striking out or dismissing the petition, same having been withdrawn,” Agu stated.

Counsel to the APP says the withdrawal of the petition against Tinubu is based on his client’s instruction.

On his part, the President-elect, Tinubu, through his lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipenkun, SAN, said he was not opposed to APP’s application to withdraw the petition.

“We want to commend them, with the hope that more will still come. My Lords, we are not asking for cost,” Olanipenkun, SAN, added.

Similarly, lead counsel for the APC, Prince Lateef Fagemi, SAN, who did not also oppose the application, urged those whose petitions against the outcome of the presidential election are still pending before the court to emulate the APP.

He said: “We commend the petitioners for doing the right thing. Let those who have not done so, do so immediately.

“The flight is moving. We want to let them know that we commend them and we are not asking for cost,” Fagbemi, SAN, added.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, equally did not oppose the application.

INEC’s lawyer, Mr. A. B. Mahmood, SAN, said the application was served on him on Tuesday.

After it had listened to all the parties, the Justice Haruna Tsammani led panel dismissed the petition.

“Having listened to all the parties, we are satisfied that there is no collusion. The petition having been withdrawn, it is hereby dismissed,” the court held.

The APP had among other things, alleged that results of the presidential election was manipulated to favour Tinubu in 11 states of the federation.

It alleged that the President-elect “corruptly induced” electoral officers to falsify results at local government and state collation centres in Rivers and 10 other states.

It will be recalled that another political party, the Action Alliance, AA, also withdrew its own petition last Monday.

Both APP and AA failed to adduce any reason behind their sudden decisions to terminate further proceedings on the case they brought against Tinubu’s election victory.

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