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Category: Governance

  • Online Affidavit Application: Federal High Court Launches Portal

    Online Affidavit Application: Federal High Court Launches Portal

    The Federal High Court (FHC) in Lagos has embraced the digital world by inaugurating an online platform that enables the public to obtain affidavits directly from the court.
    This initiative, spearheaded by FHC Chief Judge Justice John Tsoho, aligns the court with contemporary digital best practices on a global scale.
    During a Friday visit to the Lagos division of the court, the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar, Godwin Long, facilitated a tour of the newly established ICT department, which Agwu Charles oversees.
    Agwu provided an explanation of how the general public can utilize this new innovation.
    “It is now a norm that the Affidavit for loss of items, age declaration, change of name, etc can now be done via portal.fhc.gov.ng and following the instructions.
    “What you just need to do is to login to the site: portal.fhc.gov.ng,” Agwu explained.
    DCR Longe further explained that, at the moment, the portal can only process Affidavits that are non-cases related.
    “Affidavits filed to support a case are still done manually because of the peculiar disposition in such Affidavits.
    He reiterated the need for people to be aware that henceforth, “they don’t necessarily have to be physically present to procure the type of Affidavits mentioned above,” he noted.
  • 2027: Atiku, Peter Obi, Kwankwaso Resume Merger Dialogue 

    2027: Atiku, Peter Obi, Kwankwaso Resume Merger Dialogue 

    The three prominent opposition leaders in Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, are reportedly currently engaged in discussions regarding a potential merger ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
    The trio aim to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC) incumbent administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
    This move follows the hunger and widespread insecurity in the country, as stated by a spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday.
    The deputy national spokesman for the PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi, made this announcement while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme.
    He indicated that the three opposition candidates from the previous elections—Atiku of the PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), – are prepared to set aside personal ambitions to create a strong coalition capable of challenging the ruling APC in 2027, with the goal of “rescuing Nigerians from hunger.”
    Abdullahi further remarked that had the previous leadership of the party effectively managed internal disputes and conflicts, prominent figures such as former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, Kwankwaso, and Obi would likely still be active members of the PDP, which could have led to a victory over Tinubu of the APC in the last election.
    He said, “We’ve lost Kwankwaso, we’ve lost Peter Obi, all of these people, imagine if they are in the party, we will have gone to win the elections.
    “This APC said they defeated us with one million plus (votes), just one of these names that I mentioned would have covered that gap for us and we would have been in power today and certainly Nigerians would not have been confronted with this despair and despondency in the land.”
    When asked if the PDP is trying to get Obi, Kwankwaso, Wike and others back into the party, Abdullahi said, “Sure, discussion is ongoing. You will see Peter Obi discussing with Atiku, you will see Peter Obi meeting with (Nasir) El-Rufai. Party management is a very difficult thing and we are doing the best in the quagmire that we have found ourselves. Rest assured, there would light at the end of the tunnel. We have learnt our lessons in a bitter way.”
    When inquired further about the potential outcomes of Obi and the others rejoining the PDP, Abdullahi stated, “One of them would yield to the other, thereby providing us with a clear direction.
    “Our concern as a party and to these people that I have mentioned is to ensure that we salvage Nigerians from this despair and despondency, between maladies of hunger and frightening insecurity in the land. You could see cluelessness and ineptitude on the part of these people managing this country.”
    The PDP chieftain said salvaging Nigerians out of the present hardship is more important than the individual ambitions of the trio.
    He said, “Atiku is saying if it is better for him to get Nigeria out of this hopelessness, he would do so.
    “He (Atiku) must not be in the race. Atiku is saying that it is an entitlement to him as a democrat; the constitution provides for him that he could contest at any time.
    “What he is trying to say is that (there) is no ceiling stopping him from contesting. That is his fundamental democratic right but he is not saying that he will force it on the throat of the party or the country.
    “I am telling you clearly: Peter Obi is suitably qualified; he can aspire and we will support him if he gets the ticket. Atiku is suitably qualified and if he gets the ticket, we will rally behind him and give him the desired support to salvage Nigerians out of this situation.”
  • Police summons Ajaero again

    Police summons Ajaero again

    A little over 24 hours after his return from an earlier invite, the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero has again been summoned by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for questioning.

    This time he is to report in company of Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja the General Secretary of NLC.

    Both leaders of the Congress are scheduled to turn up at Force Headquarters on September 5, 2024.

    Recall that on August 29, the NLC President complied with a previous summons to appear before the police on allegations of criminal conspiracy, financing of terrorism, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.

    In the latest summons, the police is demanding that the NLC President and the General Secretary answer to questions on allegations bordering on criminal intimidation, conducts likely to cause a breach of the public peace and malicious damage to properties.

     

     

  • Hunger Protests: Court strikes out suit against protesters, IGP, DSS, others

    Hunger Protests: Court strikes out suit against protesters, IGP, DSS, others

    Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Thursday, struck out a suit instituted against the anti-hunger protesters and Attorney General of the Federation, (AGF) for want of diligent prosecution.

     

    The court action followed the absence of the 17 plaintiffs and 26 defendants in court and without legal representation from the two parties.

     

    Other Respondents in the suit instituted by 17 Nigerians are Inspector General of Police, Department of the State Service, DSS, and the Chiefs of Army and Defence Staff.

     

    Although the suit was fixed for hearing, Justice Lifu was however shocked that none of the 17 plaintiffs showed up neither were they represented by any legal practitioner.

     

    To worsen the matter, the defendants comprising Take it back movement, Nigerians against hunger, DSS, IGP, Chiefs of Army and Defence Staff had no legal representation while no excuses or explanations were offered for boycott of the proceedings.

     

    Justice Lifu concluded that it had become apparent that the plaintiffs were no longer interested in the matter and subsequently struck it out.

     

    The plaintiffs drawn from the six geo political zones of the country had approached the court seeking order to terminate the protest on the ground that their fundamental rights to freedom of movement, human dignity, right to own property, economic, social and cultural development and right to national peace and security were been breached.

     

    They asked the court to compel the Director General of the DSS, Inspector General of Police, Chiefs of Army and Defence Staff as well as the AGF to enforce their fundamental rights for them by bringing the protesters to order.

     

    The plaintiffs cited Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa among others where great destructions were allegedly done to public and private properties.

     

    The suit was however terminated by Justice Lifu as a result of lack of diligent prosecution on the part of the plaintiffs.

     

    Some of the plaintiffs are Danladi Goje, Buky Abayomi, Adiza Abbo, Ocholi Aduku, Francis John, Nnamdi Eze, Chibuzor Ifeanyi, Fesco Olatunde and Ishaya Istifanus among others.

    Also, Omoyele Somore, AGF, National Security Adviser IGP Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Staff among others

  • Kidnapped Corps Members Regain Freedom

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has confirmed that eight corps members who were kidnapped earlier by unidentified gunmen while travelling from Uyo in Akwa Ibom State to Sokoto State have regained their freedom.

     

    The Director-General of NYSC, Yushahu Ahmed, confirmed this to newsmen on Friday, cautioning Corps Members to avoid nighttime travels.

     

    Ahmed emphasized that the welfare and security of all members will remain the foremost concern of the organization.

     

    “You will remember when these four members were travelling from Uyo in Akwa Ibom to Sokoto.

     

    “They were kidnapped on 17 August 2024 on Funtua Bisau Road in Zamfara State.

     

    “While in Zambara, we collaborated with the Army, Police, DSS and traditional rulers.

     

    “We also had a meeting with the governor of Zambara State regarding the kidnapping of the prospective corps members.

     

    “Consequently, through the combined effort of the security agencies, especially the Nigerian army and the NYSC, the mission started yielding results with the rescue of the first set of prospective four members,” Ahmed stated in a statement issued today.

     

  • Imo Guber: S/Court affirms Gov, Hope Uzodinma election 

    Imo Guber: S/Court affirms Gov, Hope Uzodinma election 

    In furtherance of what the critical public now calls “Judiocracy” the Supreme Court of Nigeria pronounced three major judgements today, Friday, August 23, 2024 all, affirming the electoral victory of state Governors.

    The beneficiaries of these judgements were Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo state governors.

    In the case of Governor Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressive Congress APC, just as the other two cases, the Supreme Court affirmed his election.

     

    The court had in a judgement declared by Justice Mohammed Baba Idris, dismissed the two separate appeals brought to it by the Labour Party LP and the People’s Democratic Party PDP against the declaration of Hope Uzodinma.

     

    The supreme court held that the appeals of the LP governorship candidate, Athan Achonu and that of PDP Samuel Anyawu were was lacking in merit.

     

    According to the judgement, the LP and PDP gubernatorial candidates were said to have failed to establish allegations of over voting and other malpractices against the November 11,2023 poll.

  • Bayelsa Guber: Supreme court authenticates Gov Diri’s election

    The Supreme Court, Friday, declared that Duoye Diri, remains the authentic governor of Bayelsa State.

    The Apex court affirmed the re-election of Diri after dismissing the appeal of the candidate of All Progressive Congress(APC) Timipre Sylva, in the November 11 off-cycle election.

    The five-man panel of the supreme court lead by Justice Lawal Garba, affirmed the Court of Appeal decision of 15 July, that declared Sylva’s appeal an abuse of court process for filing two notices of appeal.

    Citing a part of section 246(1) of the 1999 Constitution, the Apex Court panel held that the APC Governorship candidate has only one right to appeal the judgment of the Tribunal and not multiple.

    Consequently, it faulted the APC appellant who filed two notices of appeal to the Appellate Court.

    In a unanimous judgment, the appeal was therefore dismissed by the Supreme Court for lacking merit.

    The Electoral body, INEC had declared that governor Diri of the PDP garnered a total of 175,196 votes to defeat his closest rival, Sylva of the APC who polled 110,108 votes.

    The unanimous decision of the apex court upheld the earlier decision of the Court of Appeal and the Election Petition Tribunal.

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja had on July 18 in a unanimous judgment affirmed the decision of the Bayelsa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which upheld the November 11, 2023, re-election of Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State.

    A 3-man panel of the appellate court had dismissed an appeal brought before the Court by Timipre Sylva and APC seeking to set aside the decision of the Tribunal.

    The Justice Adekunle Adeleye-led three-member tribunal had on May 27, dismissed the petition filed against Governor Diri’s re-election by the APC and its candidate for lacking in merit.

    The tribunal had held that both Sylva and APC failed to adduce any credible evidence to substantiate any of the allegations they raised against the outcome of the governorship poll.

  • #EndBadGovernance: Over 2,000 protesters languish in Police detention

    #EndBadGovernance: Over 2,000 protesters languish in Police detention

    Following a merciless clampdown, some of the protesters during 10-day #Endbadgovernance protest were killed, while others were arrested and clamped into police detention.
    According to Femi Falana, SAN, human rights activist, and the Chair, Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond, ASCAB, no fewer than 2,111 protesters were arrested in connection with the 10-day #Endbadgovernance action across the country that was held from August 1st to 10th.
    He added that 1,403 were brought to court, and then sent to prison custody.
    Below are the number of protesters arrested in states across the country, and the Federal Capital Territory.
    1. Kano — 873
    2. Jigawa — 403
    3. Katsina–120
    4. Gombe — 111
    5. Sokoto — 110
    6. Borno — 99
    7. Yobe — 90
    8. Bauchi-60
    9. Plateau — 51
    10. Kaduna — 50
    11. FCT — 50
    12. Nasarawa — 40
    13. Niger — 25
    14. Zamfara — 19
    15. Cross Rivers — 10
  • Olukayode Ariwoola retires as CJN

    Olukayode Ariwoola retires as CJN

    Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the 22nd Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), has officially retired from service upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.

    Born on August 22, 1954, Justice Ariwoola’s retirement marks the end of a distinguished judicial career.

    Justice Ariwoola was appointed to the Supreme Court bench on November 22, 2011, and later became the substantive CJN on June 27, 2022, following the resignation of his predecessor, Justice Tanko Muhammad.

    His appointment as CJN was formally confirmed by the Nigerian Senate on September 21, 2022.

    As events marking his retirement unfold at the Supreme Court, there are strong indications that Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun may be named as his successor, making her the new Chief Justice of Nigeria.

  • Council of State didn’t pass vote of confidence in Tinubu

    Council of State didn’t pass vote of confidence in Tinubu

    A fresh revelation has emerged, contradicting earlier claims by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq that the National Council of State (NCS) passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu at its inaugural meeting last week.
    It has been uncovered that no such confidence vote was taken.
    Recall that according to Governor AbdulRazaq, who also serves as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the Council and the NGF jointly passed a vote of confidence in President Tinubu.
    “The high note of the (Council) meeting was a unanimous passage of a vote of confidence on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, Commander in Chief of the Nigerian armed forces,” the Kwara governor said.
    However, a high-ranking official present at the meeting has come forward to dispute this claim, describing it as “a dummy sold to reporters.”
    The official said the Council of State is a serious advisory body, comprising esteemed members, including former Presidents, Heads of State, and top judiciary and legislative officials. The meeting, the source said therefore cannot be likened to a town hall gathering, where such votes are commonly taken.
    “The meeting is a very serious one that has a list of to-do things which we call agenda or agendum. There was nowhere a motion for a debate on whether or not to pass vote of confidence was on the agenda of the meeting. In any case, I know that such votes are passed in a Parliamentary system of government, and Nigeria runs a presidential system,” the Authority Newspaper quoted the official as saying.
    According to him, “after the end of the Council meeting, Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, suggested that, in the light of the #endbadgovernance protests, it would be good for the Council to show solidarity with President Tinubu,” offered the official.
    “No sooner had the AGF made the proposal than Senate President Godswill Akpabio rose to, in his words, second the motion for Council to pass a vote of confidence on President Bola Ahmed TinubuTinubu,” adding, “to be fair, no former Presidents/Heads of State, nor governors present at the meeting commented on the motion by Fagbemi and Akpabio,” he narrated, adding, “I’m sure the former leaders at the meeting must have been thoroughly embarrassed by Governor AbdulRazaq’s claim.
    Former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari were physically in attendance at the meeting.