My Blog

Category: Breaking News

  • Supreme Court Insists Nnamdi Kanu Must Face Trial

    The Supreme Court, Friday, ordered that the self acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, must continue his trial at the Federal High Court.

    Delivering judgment on an appeal by the Federal Government, Justice Emmanuel Agim, who read the judgement as prepared by Justice Garba Lawal Mohammed, held that the Court of Appeal was wrong to hold that Kanu could not be tried again based on the illegality and I’ll treatment meted him by the Federal Government, following the invasion of his home.

    “In as much as we condemn the act of the prosecution (FG) in attacking the home of the defendant (Kanu) while on trial, we decided not to go with the decision of the Court of Appeal that his trial should be stopped, Justice Garba held.

    Therefore, the apex court allowed the appeal of the Federal Government and dismissed the cross appeal filed by Kanu.

    The Attorney General of the Federation was represented in court by D. E Kaswe, Chief State Counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi SAN, leading Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN and Ifeanyi Ejiofor announced appearance for Nnamdi Kanu.

    Nnamdi Kanu had been in the custody of the Federal Government since June 29, 2021, following his forceful rendition from Kenya.

    Justice Binta Murtala Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja, had on April 8, 2022, quashed 8 out of the 15 count charges preferred against Kanu by the Federal Government.

    However, Justice Nyako held that Kanu had questions to answer on the remaining 7 counts.

    Dissatisfied with the judgement, Kanu’s team of lawyers led by Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN, headed to the Court of Appeal, Abuja to seek the dismissal of the remaining 7-count charge.

    In a judgement on October 13, 2022, the appellate court dismissed all the 7 count criminal charges against Kanu.

    The Court of Appeal while upholding all the arguments and submissions of Prof Ozekhome, quashed the entire 15 count criminal charges.

    The Court below agreed with Ozekhome that the Federal Government violated rules of engagement in the ways and manners Kanu was arrested in Kenya and brought to Nigeria.

    Specifically, the Court of Appeal held that the Nigerian government broke international laws and resorted to self help in its failure to file extradition charge against the IPOB leader in Kenya instead of resorting to unlawful abduction, and forceful rendition.

  • Just In: Edo Deputy Gov, Philip Shaibu Declares Governorship Bid

    Amid mounting speculations, Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu has formally announced his bid to succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki as the Governor of Edo State in the upcoming 2024 election.

    In a televised address on Monday, Shaibu expressed his firm resolve, stating, “With great conviction and dedication, I declare my intention to contest for the office of Governor of Edo State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming 2024 election. Together, with your support, we can steer Edo State to unprecedented progress.”

    Shaibu outlined a comprehensive vision centered on five key pillars crucial for the advancement and prosperity of Edo State during his campaign.

    Following his announcement, Shaibu inaugurated his campaign headquarters in Benin City, the state capital, signaling the commencement of his gubernatorial campaign.

    Last week, the Philip Shaibu Campaign Organisation issued invitations, inviting dignitaries to witness Shaibu’s formal declaration to serve as the Chief Servant (Governor) of Edo State.

    Shaibu’s candidacy sets the stage for a potential political battle against Governor Obaseki, who is reportedly supporting an alternative candidate for the state’s leadership. 

    Recent months have witnessed escalating tensions between Shaibu and Obaseki, hinting at a fierce electoral contest in the run-up to the 2024 elections.

  • N5.6bn Scam: Former NIRSAL Boss, Abdulhameed Arrested After 5-Month Hunt

    A former Managing Director of the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Aliyu Abdulhameed, has been arrested almost a year after he was sacked.

    NIGERIAN ANCHOR understands that NIRSAL is a $500m non-bank financial institution, which was created by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    It was created to manage agribusiness-related credit risks in Nigeria.

    Recall that Abdulhameed was relieved of his duties following allegations of corruption, including a 2018 N5.6 billion wheat project meant for farmers in Kano and Jigawa States.

    The Board of the CBN endorsed his sack, following approval from the Presidency in December last year.

    Daily Trust, in January last year, investigated how a multi-billion-naira loan guaranteed by NIRSAL for three investor companies for the cultivation of 20,000 hectares of dry season wheat in Kano and Jigawa States was allegedly diverted by the companies in connivance with NIRSAL officials.

    In the course of the investigation, the platform revealed that it visited the affected communities in the two states where farmers said they were deceived.

    Community leaders there said they were told the project was aimed at changing the lives of 20,000 smallholder farmers.

    They said after making farms available, affected farmers were promised fertiliser and other inputs for the wheat plantation, but never saw any of these thereafter.

    Both Abdulhameed and the three investor companies had denied wrongdoing.

    However, when the Special Investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu and his support team to probe the activities of the apex bank and related entities swung into action in September this year, there was panic and apprehension within the top hierarchy of the CBN and the NIRSAL.

    The Special Investigator, Jim Obazee and his team, led by DCP Eloho, were said to have beamed their searchlight on the NIRSAL and the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme which have, over the years, been at the centre of investigations.

    The ex-NIRSAL boss, who is said to be in the custody of the DSS, is being quizzed on multiple allegations of corruption during his tenure.

    A source at the NIRSAL revealed that the investigators put in place by President Bola Tinubu were also seeking answers based on findings contained in an investigation earlier conducted by a team from the CBN following a petition against the NIRSAL on alleged fraud, money laundering and criminal conspiracy.

    It was gathered that following the investigation, the Banking Supervision Department of the CBN wrote to the ex-NIRSAL boss seeking an explanation for “observed breaches of internal policies and procedures of the organisation, relevant regulations and laws, especially the Public Procurement Act 2007.”

    According to the platform, the query on the breaches was conveyed in a letter referenced: BSD/SPG/CON/NIR/13/083 titled: ‘On a spot check on the operation of NIRSAL conducted between August 27, 2020 and September 11, 2020.’

  • Nasarawa Guber: Appeal Court Overturns Tribunal Verdict, Reinstates Abdullahi Sule

    The Abuja Division of the Appeal Court on Thursday reversed the sack of the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule by the State Election Petitions Tribunal in its judgment delivered on October 2.

    Declaring the tribunal verdict a nullity, the court held that the Ezekiel Ajayi-led tribunal acted in grave error in using witness statements on oath and not front-loaded as required by law to arrive at the unjust conclusion of nullifying the election of the governor.

    The appellate court, in its judgment delivered by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, said that the Tribunal was legally bound to act on witness statements filed along with the petition or front loaded within 21 days stipulated by law.

    The Court held that no petition can lawfully be amended outside the 21 days allowed by law as wrongly done by the Tribunal.

    Since the statements used by the Tribunal to sack the Governor were not front loaded in compliance with law, the statements were product of illegality with no probate value tor a law Court to act upon.

    The Court also dismissed the over voting issues also used to annul the election adding that allegations to that were not established by law.

    Justice Onyemenam held that the petition by the Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP was a nullity and invalid on the ground that the jurisdictional issues raised by the governor was unlawfully ignored by the Tribunal.

    According to the Court of Appeal, the Tribunal denied the governor fair hearing by not considering and making findings on the issues of jurisdiction raised at the hearing of the petition.

    Justice Onyemenam agreed that denial of fair hearing against the governor was fatal and tendered all decisions of the Tribunal invalid.

    In all, the Court of Appeal reversed all orders made against the governor and the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and affirmed Sule as the lawfully elected governor of the state.

    INEC had declared Sule winner of the governorship election on the ground that he polled a total of 347,209 votes to defeat his closest opponent David Emmanuel Ombugadu who secured 283,016 votes.

    In a split decision on October 2, the tribunal nullified Sule’s election and upheld Ombugadu as the winner.

  • Court Grants Emefiele N300m Bail

    Former Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who is facing charges of financial impropriety and corruption, has been granted bail by Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja. 

    This recent bail, set at N300 million with two sureties in like sum, requires the sureties to possess certificates of occupancy within Abuja’s upscale Maitama District.

    Moreover, Emefiele must surrender his travel documents to the court registrar and remain within the Abuja Municipal Council as part of the bail conditions.

    This development follows a previous bail grant of N20 million by the Federal High Court in Lagos four months ago.

    The charges against Emefiele are linked to alleged irregularities and misconduct during his tenure as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    More details later…

  • Plateau Guber: Appeal Court Sacks Muftwang, Enthrones Goshwe As Governor 

    Plateau Guber: Appeal Court Sacks Muftwang, Enthrones Goshwe As Governor 

    The Court of Appeal, Abuja on Sunday sacked Governor Muftwang Manasseh of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as governor of Plateau Sate.

    The Appallate Court, therefore ordered that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to  recognize Nentawe Goshwe of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the validly elected governor of Plateau state in the March 18 governorship election. 

    Consequently, on the strength of section 136 of the electoral act, the court order INEC to retrieve the certificate of return issued to Governor Manasseh and issue a fresh certificate of return to the Goshwe.

    A three-man panel headed by Justice Elfrieda Williams- Dawodu,  delivering the lead judgment, cited section 177 of the Constitution, noting that Manasseh was not a validly sponsored by the PDP during the election.

    The panel held that the party violated the court order that a valid Congress be conducted in the 17 local government areas of that state, by conducting Congress in only 5 local government areas of the state, and as such is a nullity.

    Dismissing the decision of Plateau state tribunal, the Appeal Court held that the issue of qualification is both a pre-election and a post-election matter contrary to the findings of tribunal which held that the appellant lacked the locus to contest the validity of the respondent.

    The court also noted that under section 134 of the electoral act it is the sole right of a political party to sponsor its candidate having met the necessary requirements to do so.

  • Kano Guber: Appeal Court Affirms Abba Yusuf’s Sack 

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld the judgment of the Kano State Governorship Tribunal that sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as the governor of the state.

    The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, as the winner of the state’s governorship poll held on March 18.

    The Independent National Electronic Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced Yusuf as the winner of the March 18, 2023 election, saying he garnered 1,019,602 votes to defeat Gawuna who got 890,705 of the votes cast.

    Consequently, the APC headed the Tribunal, citing alleged electoral malpractice.

    The Tribunal in it ruling nullified Yusuf’s election, adding that over 160,000 ballot papers “were not signed or stamped by INEC”.

    The three-man panel of the Tribunal led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan Osadebay sacked Yusuf on September 20, 2023, after deducting 165,663 of his votes.

    Yusuf’s votes were subsequently reduced to 853,939 while Ganuwa’s 890,705 votes were not affected.

    Not satisfied, Yusuf proceeded to the appeal court which held that it can be seen that the Tribunal acted in the overall interest of justice when it allowed APC’s tendering of documents during trial.

    The court held that INEC released documents to the APC piecemeal in order to defeat the petition of the petitioner.

    The judgement further posited 

    the the Petitioner’s insistence that APC ought to have joined its candidate, Ganuwa, as a party at the Tribunal proceedings, was not backed by the 1999 Constitution.

    It maintained that a candidate is entitled to be represented by his political party during litigation, adding that every political party shall maintain the register of its voters.

    The court said the appellant to his own detriment did not submit his NNPP membership registrar or even tendered his statement on oath regarding his membership of the party.

    The court added that the name of Abba is not the NNPP membership registrar.

    “As rightfully found, Yusuf Abba was not a member of the NNPP at the time he was purportedly sponsored by his party and he was not qualified to contest the March Governorship Election,” the court while affirming the judgment of the Tribunal.

    “If you claim to be a member of a political party, is it not logical for you to say so by yourself and not by proxy?

    “Even though membership of a political party is an internal affair, a political party cannot be permitted to circumvent or breach the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

    “The Tribunal was wrong not to have disqualified the appellant.

    “Therefore, the failure of the appellant and the NNPP to comply with the 1999 Constitution is fatal to their election.

    “All issues in this appeal are dismissed and the judgment of the Tribunal is affirmed,” the court held.

  • Updated: Again, Court Remands Former CBN Gov, Emefiele in Kuje Prison

    Updated: Again, Court Remands Former CBN Gov, Emefiele in Kuje Prison

    *Trial Commences November 28

    Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Maitama on Friday, remanded a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele, in Kuje Prison. 

    Emefiele will be at the correctional facility till November 22, pending the court’s determination of his bail application.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned the Ex-CBN Boss on a six-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and abuse of office.

    When the charges were read to him, Emefiele pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

    Sequel to his not guilty plea, his counsel, Matthew Burkaa (SAN) prayed the court to grant his client bail because he has suffered unduly, asking the court to use its discretion to grant him bail.

    “We have placed evidence before your Lordship that the defendant will not jump bail. But the plaintiff has not given sufficient evidence that he would jump bail. We urge your Lordship to grant him bail,” he argued. 

    Responding, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court to refuse him bail as he would jump bail.

    In his ruling, Justice Muazu said the ex-CBN Governor should be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre till  November 22 for the determination of his application for bail.

    Meanwhile, November 28 has been fixed for the commencement of his trial.

    Emefiele will also appear before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the same FCT High Court for a  fundamental human rights enforcement suit, having been illegally detained for 151 days. 

  • Court Declares Zamfara Guber Election Inconclusive, Mandates Rerun in 3 LGAs

    Court Declares Zamfara Guber Election Inconclusive, Mandates Rerun in 3 LGAs

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, declared as inconclusive, the governorship election that held in Zamfara State on March 18.

    The court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices, nullified the return of Governor Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) as the winner of the gubernatorial contest.

    It ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct a fresh election in three Local Government Areas, LGAs, of the state.

    The court however, did not award any cost to the respondents. 

    The court agreed with All Progressive Congress APC candidate that elections did not hold previously or where results from various polling units were not counted in the three LGAs.

    In the lead judgement that was read by Justice Sybil Nwaka, the court held that it was wrong for INEC to rely on information it obtained from its IReV portal, to collate the final result of the governorship election.

    The judgement followed an appeal that was lodged before the court by the immediate past governor of the state, Bello Matawalle, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the election.

    More details later…

  • Just In: NLC, TUC Suspend Nationwide Strike

    Just In: NLC, TUC Suspend Nationwide Strike

    The National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress on Wednesday night suspended the ongoing strike.

    The unions said the suspension followed the intervention of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

    Our correspondent gathered that the meeting which commenced at a few minutes past 7 pm lasted for close to one hour during which various affiliates and state chapters reviewed the outcome of the meeting held between the leaders of the organised labour and Ribadu.

    The National Deputy Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, made this known in an interview in Abuja.

    “The NEC of the NLC and the TUC have suspended the strike. We did this based on our trust for the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who gave us his words,” he said.

    The labour leaders met with Ribadu alongside the Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong, at the Office of the NSA on Wednesday afternoon.

    The NSA had announced that the individuals responsible for the brutalisation of Ajaero had been arrested.

    The organised labour is protesting against the alleged brutalisation of its National President, Joe Ajaero, and the failure of the government to implement some of the agreements reached on October 2, 2023 effectively.