My Blog

Category: Governance

  • Unlawful arrest, detention: Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer loses appeal against police, DSS

    Unlawful arrest, detention: Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer loses appeal against police, DSS

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja, Monday, dismissed the appeal by Felix Okonkwo, one of the lawyers of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu over his unlawful arrest and detention by the Police and the State Security Services (SSS).

    Dismissing the appeal for want of merit and substance, the lead judge, justice
    Abang held that the appellant failed to establish miscarriage of justice in the judgment of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in the matter.

    Felix Okonkwo, Ikenna Chibuike, and Okafor Ugochukwu had dragged the Nigeria Police Force and the SSS before the high court for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights.

    They specifically accused the two security agencies of violating their fundamental rights by their unlawful arrest and detention on September 27, 2021, during which they claimed that they were tortured, harassed and intimidated while in the custody of the Police.

    Justice Samaila Bature had, in his judgment delivered on March 24, 2022 found Police liable for the unlawful arrest and detention of the the appellants and subsequently imposed a fine of N2 million against Police to be paid to the appellants.

    Justice Bature, however, did not make any order against the SSS because the Appellants, then plaintiffs, did not disclose any cause of action against SSS.

    Not satisfied with the findings and decisions of the high court, the three plaintiffs approached the Court of Appeal praying for an order to hold that SSS was also culpable in their arrest and detention.

    They claimed that the N2 million imposed on Police as fine to be paid to them was paltry and ridiculously low and asked the appellate court to jerk up the fine as compensation for their unlawful arrest and detention.

    In his judgment, Justice Abang held that from the video footage tendered as exhibit by the appellants at the trial court, there was no where the operatives of the SSS were found at the scene of their arrest in the house of Ifeanyi Ejiofor in Anambra state.

    The appellate court Justice disagreed with the appellants in their claims that the N2 million compensatory damages was grossly insufficient.

    According to Justice Abang, the decision to award compensatory damages is at the discretion of a judge and can not be dictated by any plaintiff or appellant.

    In the instant case, Justice Abang agreed with Justice Bature that peculiar facts and circumstances of the unlawful arrest and detention of the appellants were carefully considered at the trial court before arriving at the amount.

    Besides, Justice Abang said that the appellants did not point out irrelevant facts in the judgment of the high court and did not also disclose their status in the society, their their monthly or yearly income and also what they lost in the course of their detention.

    “In my opinion and going by the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case, the N2 million compensation to the appellants was properly awarded.

    “I can not fault the award because the appellant did not give any good reason for them to have been awarded a much higher amount.

    “In the final analysis, the appeal lacks merit, and it is accordingly dismissed. The decision of the trial court is hereby affirmed. There is order as to cost, “Justice Abang held.

    Justices Joseph Olubunmi Kayode Oyewole and Abba Bello Mohammed endorsed the unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Abang.

  • Ex-husband losses joint property ownership to Nigeria’s former envoy to Argentina

    Ex-husband losses joint property ownership to Nigeria’s former envoy to Argentina

    The Court of Appeal, Abuja, Monday, dismissed an appeal by Jude Chidiebere, a former husband to Nigeria’s envoy to Argentina, Chikerenwa Cordelia Anyatonwu over joint ownership of a property in Abuja.

    In a unanimous judgment delivered by the lead judge, Justice
    Okon Abang, the appellate court, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.

    At the federal capital territory high court,
    Chidiebere had sued his former wife, Chikerenwa Cordelia Anyatonwu, Nigeria’s former envoy to Argentina, claiming that a property at Kubwa, in Abuja jointly belong to their matrimonial family.

    He prayed the court to issue an order compelling his former wife to compute the amount generated as rent from the house since 2013 and share the same with him.

    However, the high court Judge, Justice A.A Kutigi dismissed the claim of the joint ownership of the property by the plaintiff.

    The high court held that the former husband to the Ex-envoy didn’t lead any credible evidence to establish his assertion that the property jointly belongs to him and his former wife.

    Not satisfied with the decision of the high court, Chidiebere approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja, praying that the judgment of the high court be voided and set aside on the ground of miscarriage of justice.

    However, in the Court of Appeal Judgmentent Justice, Okon Abang held that the appellant failed to convince the appellate court that there is injustice in the judgment of the lower court.

    Among others, Justice Abang said that the allocation paper and the certificate of occupancy issued by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) bear only the name of Chikerenwa Cordelia Anyatonwu.

    Justice Abang also held that all receipts for payments for the property to the FCDA were issued in the name of the former envoy.

    The appellate court held that the appellant did not establish any source of income to be able to buy a property other than been a driver, driving the former envoy around in Argentina and that the court cannot speculate for him.

    Justice Abang upheld the claim of the former envoy that she divorced her former husband due to irreconcilable differences occasioned by beating while they were together.

    The Court of Appeal disagreed with the claim of the appellant that he was responsible for letting out the property to a tenant adding that, mere letting out the property to a tenant was not sufficient to confer joint ownership on the appellant.

    “In my opinion, the first respondent in this matter, Chikerenwa Cordelia Anyatonwu, made a better case for her sole ownership of the property, block 145, Flat 1, in Kubwa, Abuja. There is no where the appellant made a better case for joint ownership, as he claims in this matter.

    “In all, this appeal lacks merit and is hereby accordingly dismissed. The judgment of the FCT High Court delivered on December 11, 2019 , in favour of the first respondent’s soul ownership of the property, is hereby affirmed, “the Justice Abang held.

  • Terrorists Abduct 87 Persons In Kaduna

    Terrorists Abduct 87 Persons In Kaduna

    Suspected terrorists have abducted about 87 people in a fresh attack on the Kajuru-Station community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The latest attack was confirmed by a member of the Kajuru-Station Youths, Harisu Dari, on Monday.

    Harisu, said the terrorists stormed the village around 10 pm, breaking into some shops and stealing food items and other valuables.

    He explained that no contact has been established yet with the 87 locals abducted on Sunday night.

    “As of the time I visited the community this morning, security operatives have not been drafted to help restore the confidence of the villagers.

    “The villagers are traumatized by the sad development. The government needs to re-strategise in tackling these terrorists,” he said.

    The attack came barely two days after 15 women and a man were abducted in the Dogon-Noma community of the same local government.

    Kajuru and Chikun LGs had in the past two weeks become the hotbed of kidnapping, causing tension in the state.

    Recall that the terrorists had in two weeks kidnapped over 172 villagers in the area.

    However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan is yet to respond as of the time of filing this report.

  • Federal Government Seeks fresh World Bank loan

    Federal Government Seeks fresh World Bank loan

    The federal government of Nigeria is seeking to obtain a fresh $1 billion loan from the world bank.

    According to reports, the loan will be used address the challenges facing Internally Displaced Persons and their host communities, as well as bolster rural access and agricultural marketing in the country.

    This was contained in a recent World Bank document titled, ‘Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project’ and ‘Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project – Scale Up.’

    According to the loan breakdown, while the IDPs’ loan is put at $500m, the rural access and agricultural marketing project loan is estimated at $550m.

    The fund is expected to provide help to communities in Nigeria badly affected by insecurity.

    “The proposed project will utilise a three-pronged approach to develop sustainable solutions for IDPs and host communities in Northern Nigeria.

    “First, the proposed project aims to provide tailored solutions for each of the targeted states and communities, recognizing that each internal displacement situation is specific and localised, with conflict, violence and/or climate challenges presenting a different level and set of vulnerabilities for host communities.

    “Gender, age, and special needs of individuals also play a role, as well as the length of displacement, number of times displaced and other factors.

    “Thus, responses will be adapted to address the specific needs of vulnerable populations within displacement-affected states and communities. Second, the proposed project will follow a ‘People-in-Place’ approach, integrating the needs of the people and the impacts on the place where they settle,” the document stated.

    According to a review by a World Bank team, Northern Nigeria, especially Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, has experienced the highest numbers of internally displaced persons.

    This is primarily due to the ongoing conflict involving Boko Haram, as well as other factors such as banditry and conflicts between farmers and herders, leading to the displacement of over 3.5 million people.

    Since 2009, Boko Haram has continued to carry out heinous crimes on Nigerians, This is primarily due to the ongoing conflict involving Boko Haram, as well as other factors such as banditry and conflicts between farmers and herders, leading to the displacement of over 3.5 million people.

    Since 2009, Boko Haram has continued to carry out heinous crimes on Nigerians, while banditry has been described as a variant of Boko Haram.

  • NJC raises alarm over alleged bid to defraud retired Judicial officers

    NJC raises alarm over alleged bid to defraud retired Judicial officers

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) has raised an alarm over alleged incessant bids by a group of fraudsters to defraud retired Judicial officers across the country.

    According to the NJC, the alleged fraudsters have been bombarding its retired Judicial officers with phone calls demanding for various sums of money to help them fast track payment of their retirement benefits.

    In a statement signed in Abuja on Sunday, by its Director of Information, Barrister Soji Oye, thr council dissociated itself from the actions of the alleged fraudsters and pleaded with retired Judicial officers not to fall victims of the unscrupulous people.

    The statement read in part “The attention of the National Judicial Council has been drawn to the incessant phone calls being made to retired Judicial Officers by some unscrupulous individuals demanding payments to fast track the processing of their retirement benefits.

    “The National Judicial Council by this medium, informs retired Judicial Officers and members of the public to disregard such phone calls as NJC would never demand money from any Judicial Officer to fast track the payment of his retirement benefit.

    “The public is hereby advised to be wary of and report such calls to the Pension Department of the Council for appropriate action”, the statement said.

  • More Attacks Imminent Unless Nigerian Government Negotiates With Bandits – Sheikh Gumi

    More Attacks Imminent Unless Nigerian Government Negotiates With Bandits – Sheikh Gumi

    Kaduna based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has re-emphasized the need for the Nigerian government to dialogue with bandits in order to stop incessant attacks on innocent citizens. 

    The cleric stated that there is no military solution to end the insecurity problems Nigeria is currently facing. 
     
    Speaking during an interview session with AriseNews TV on Friday morning, the Islamic scholar insisted that persistent military attacks on the terrorists were responsible for their latest lack of sympathy on Nigerians they abducted. 
     
    He admonished the Nigerian government should emulate how the United States’ government negotiated with the Taliban terrorists by also having a dialogue with the bandits to prevent the insurgence in the country. 
     
    “This thing (banditry) is turning into something else. We are turning them into monsters, more monsters as what they are. They are ignorant, they don’t have direction, they don’t have leadership, they don’t have empathy now because of the way we treat them too, we don’t care when we burn them,” he said 
     
    “When we burn their children and women, in fact this very recent incident is just a tip of an iceberg; what has been happening in the bush, until we change our tactics and allow people who know, these politicians, I am tired of them. 
     
    “I was a military man myself, but I don’t think there is a military solution, in fact I think it is humiliating military to think that the military should take care of civilian insurgency, what we need is a very good detective work, very good policing, very good social programme. We should leave our military off these issues. Our military knows fire for fire and these people do not have the fire power, they hide behind the civilians and do whatever they do. So don’t let us humiliate and disgrace our military. This is not their job, this is the job of politicians. This is the job of the police, this is the job of intelligence.  
     
    “In fact I believe no ransom should be paid, I believe that but engage, engage these people. Give them hope. But not only in these children’s cases, be holistic. I heard when one military man said it is turning into a war, I am so sad to see that they are now realising that it is turning into a war. It has been war since, it has been ethnic war, it’s been class war, it is not just more than criminality. We have to accept that. 
     
    “If we can see Israel and Hamas exchanging prisoners, I don’t see why we can’t negotiate. If Americans can negotiate with the Taliban, I don’t see why we can’t. They (foreign governments) can’t impose on us their own ideas when behind the door, they also negotiate with these terrorists.”

  • Kogi: Supreme Court sets aside Appeal court’s ruling on inspection order

    Kogi: Supreme Court sets aside Appeal court’s ruling on inspection order

    The Supreme Court has dismissed the Court of Appeal ruling which set aside the inspection Order granted the Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) by the Governorship election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.

    The Governorship election petition Tribunal had, on November 25, 2023, granted an Exparte Order, allowing the SDP and its candidate in the 11th November, 2023 Governorship election to carry out forensic examination of all the Bimordal Voters Accreditation system (BVAS) used in the Governorship election, among other sundry reliefs.

    A three-man panel of justices of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice J.O.K. Oyewole, sets aside the inspection order, on the grounds that it has gone outside the province of the Electoral Act.

    The Court of Appeal ordered that, while inspection is allowed under the Electoral Act, it must be jointly carried out with the respondent and the scope of the inspection should be within the strict limit allowed under the Electoral Act.

    However, the Supreme Court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, on Thursday, allowed the appeal of the Appellants, saying that the order of inspection made by the trial tribunal were within its power.

    The Court also held that the Respondents were duly served.

  • Bayelsa guber: Gov Diri, PDP close defence, fixes April 22 for adoption

    The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, on Thursday, fixed April 22 for parties to adopt their final briefs of argument in the petition the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, filed to challenge the outcome of the governorship poll that held in the state on November 11, 2023.

    The Justice Adekunle Adeleye-led three-member tribunal okayed the matter for adoption of addresses, after Governor Douye Diri, his deputy, Lawrence Awhrujakpo and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who were cited as respondents in the matter, closed their defence.

    Each of the respondents produced a witness that testified before the tribunal, even as they tendered several electoral documents in evidence.

    Governor Diri’s witness, Mr. Gesiye Isowo, identified himself as the Secretary of thw PDP in Bayelsa State.

    Among exhibits he tendered before the tribunal included his his party membership card and his Permanent Voters Card.

    Governor Diri, through the witness, also tendered in evidence, the official result of the election as well as the final declaration of the result, which were contained in INEC’s forms EC8D and EC8E.

    The governor equally tendered INEC’s forms EC8B and EC8C.

    While being cross examined by counsel to the petitioners, Mr. Sylvester Elema, SAN, the witness told the tribunal that he registered and voted at Unit 9, Ward 10 in Kolokuma/Okpokuma LGA.

    “There was restriction of movement on the day of the election. I did not go to Nembe, Ogbia and Southern Ijaw because of the restriction, but I had agents in all the polling units. I was in constant touch with my agents in all the LGAs,” he stated.

    Asked if it was true that the National and State Assembly elections held in the state in February and March 2023, the witness said he was in court only with respect to the governorship election.

    “I am not INEC. If you ask about my party’s primary, then I should know,” he added.

    The petitioners had contended that voters registers that were tendered in evidence and marked as Exhibit R1- R19 by the tribunal, which was generated on January 25, 2023, were only used for the National Assembly election and not governorship poll.

    However, in his evidence, the witness insisted that the registers were used for the governorship poll.

    He identified his name as No. 179 in the voters register that was used at his polling unit.

    The petitioners opposed the tendering and admissibility of the register which they said was not furnished to them before hand as directed by the tribunal.

    On their part, the respondents urged the tribunal to disregard the objection and admit the exhibit as relevant to the case, saying it would help to confirm if the witness actually voted during the election or not.

    Continuing his testimony under cross examination, the witness, told the tribunal that some of the voters register were not ticked because election did not hold in those areas.

    Asked if he knew one Commissioner of Police named Tolani Alausa, the witness, said: “My lord, he was a very notorious police commissioner in Bayelsa State.”

    The witness insisted that INEC discharged its function creditably by conducting the election in compliance with provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and Electoral Act 2022, adding however that there was wilful resistance of the use of BVAS by the APC and its agents.

    He told the tribunal that in various Wards in Nembe LGA, no vote was recorded, indicating that election did not hold there.

    The witness said results of the election that were tendered by the petitioners, were manufactured by the APC.

    “In fact, looking at the results that were tendered, the writing looked similar, as if it was written by one person. And looking at it closely, it looks like that was the writing of my brother, Dr. Dennis Otiotio.”

    The statement of the witness irked Mr. Otiotio who not only testified before the tribunal earlier, but also the Chairman of the APC in Bayelsa State and a member of the party’s legal team.

    According to the witness, contrary to what the petitioners produced before the tribunal, pink copies of results of the election were not given to agents of political parties or security agencies.

    “Pink copies are only for INEC,” he insisted.

    He further told the court that voters register for areas where the APC produced election results from, were not ticked and no vote was recorded there.

    In his own defence, the deputy governor produced a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Bayelsa State, Mr. Gowon Toruyouyei as his witness.

    The witness said he retired in January and was subpoenaed to appear before this tribunal.

    While being cross examined, the witness confirmed that the deputy governor is a legal practitioner whose Call to Bar certificate was listed in INEC’s form.

    Asked if in all his interactions with the 3rd respondent, he could be described as an illiterate, the witness, said: “He could not have been an illiterate. He is very educated.

    “I will describe him as someone that has the requisite experience and qualification to be elected into any office in the country.”

    In its own defence, the PDP, brought a former Attorney General of Bayelsa State, Rt. Hon. Talford Ongolo, as its witness.

    He maintained that Sylva could not have been validly sponsored for the election by the APC, having already been elected as governor twice.

    “I worked as the DG of his campaign at one time, so all these facts are within my knowledge,” he added

    The witness said he was not physically present at Ogbia and Nembe LGAs on the election day, “but virtually, I was there.”

    Said he served as the State Collation Agent of the PDP during the election and also voted at his polling unit at Southern Ijaw.

    The witness identified his picture on the voters register.

    He told the tribunal that those whose names were not ticked on the register, did not vote on the election day.

    “It is a standard procedure that once you vote, your name is ticked,” the witness added.

    Despite objection by the petitioners, a certified copy of the voters register containing the name of the witness was admitted in evidence by the tribunal.

    Meanwhile, the matter is adjourned to April 19 for adoption of final addresses by the parties.

  • BudgIT Confirms Senator Ningi’s Concerns Over N3.7 Trillion Budget Padding

    BudgIT Confirms Senator Ningi’s Concerns Over N3.7 Trillion Budget Padding

    Sen Abdul Ningi’s observation that there was lack of a detailed breakdown for approximately N3.7 trillion of the N28.78 trillion 2024 budget has been confirmed as valid, and the senate may have erred by suspending the senator.

    BudgIT co-founder, Mr. Seun Onigbinde affirmed the validity of the claim by the senator representing Bauchi Central via a TV interview monitored by Nigerian Anchor news in Abuja.

    During an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday, Onigbinde emphasized that Senator Ningi’s assertions align with BudgIT’s findings, shedding light on discrepancies within the budgetary allocations.

    Senator Ningi’s initial remarks, made in an interview with BBC Hausa over the weekend, sparked controversy as he alleged a disparity between the budget passed by the National Assembly and the one implemented by the Presidency. He claimed that while the National Assembly approved a budget of N25 trillion, the Presidency was executing a budget totaling N28.7 trillion.

    In subsequent statements to the press in Abuja on Monday, Senator Ningi reiterated his stance, expressing readiness to face any consequences for his disclosures. He stood firm on his assertion that N3.7 trillion lacked proper documentation regarding project allocation within the 2024 budget.

    Addressing the issue, Senator Ningi stated, “We have established beyond reasonable doubt that N25 trillion so far has nexus in the budget. That means that there is money, there is a project, and there is a location. But we are yet to ascertain N3 trillion of that budget.”

    Furthermore, Onigbinde highlighted that certain “statutory elements” within the budget lacked comprehensive analysis. Specifically, allocations for bodies such as the National Assembly, National Judicial Council (NJC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) were noted to lack detailed breakdowns.

    “On that point, Senator Ningi is right,” Onigbinde affirmed. “There are components of the budget where there is no breakdown.”

    He emphasized the importance of transparency, advocating for detailed public disclosure of expenditures by these entities. BudgIT’s analysis revealed transparency issues amounting to approximately N3.5 trillion to N3.7 trillion, corroborating Senator Ningi’s concerns.

    In light of these revelations, there is a growing call for increased accountability and transparency within budgetary allocations, particularly in sectors where detailed breakdowns are lacking. Senator Ningi’s bold stance has ignited discussions surrounding fiscal responsibility and transparency in governance.

  • Alleged terrorism: Fubara’s loyalists trial adjourns to March 19

    Alleged terrorism: Fubara’s loyalists trial adjourns to March 19

    The Federal High Court Abuja, has adjourned the trial of five loyalists of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara on terrorism charges has been adjourned to March 19.

    The adjournment was on the instances of Lukman Fagbemi, SAN, that the Inspector General of Police(IGP) filed a counter affidavit that raised more issues against the defendants.

    The five men charged with terrorism offences by the IGP, are Chime Eguma Ezebalike; Prince Lukman Oladele; Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa; Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.

    At resumed proceedings, Fagbemi told the court that he had filed a motion on notice challenging the competence of the terrorism charges and the territorial jurisdiction of the court to entertain the charge.

    He however, said that the Inspector General of Police responded to his motion through a counter affidavit that raised grievous allegations against his clients.

    He submitted that the counter affidavit was served on him during the proceedings and that he needed time to study the affidavit and respond to it appropriately.

    The Inspector General of Police, who was represented at the proceedings by Aliyu Garba, admitted that he served the counter affidavit opposing the application of Fagbemi in the court room.

    Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon after checking the case file found that the copy of the counter affidavit had not been served on the court.

    Based on the request of Fagbemi, Justice Olajuwon shifted the trial till March 19 with an order on parties to file and exchange processes before the date to ensure unhindered proceeding.

    The Inspector General of Police IGP had on January 25 slammed the terrorism charges on them for allegedly invading, vandalizing and burning down Rivers State House of Assembly last year.

    They were accused of committing the alleged terrorism offences during the wake of political upheaval that rocked Port Harcourt in October last year.

    In the charges against them marked FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024, police alleged that
    apart from burning down the State House of Assembly, some of them were said to have killed a Superintendent of Police, (SP) Bako Agbashim and five police informants at Ahoada community of the state.

    The police informants said to have been killed by the defendants are Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu and Saturday Edi.

    They are also accused of using various cult groups, namely- Supreme Viking Confraternity, Degbam, Iceland and Greenland to unleash mayhem on the people of the state and their commercial activities.

    Specifically, they are alleged to have on October 29, 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt conspired to commit acts of terrorism by wilful destruction of public properties by invading, attacking, destroying and burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly, an offence punishable under section 26 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.

    The defendants have since been at Kuje Prison in Abuja on remand having been denied bail by the court on account of gravity of charges against them.