Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Vivian Michael

  • Plateau guber: S/Court reserves judgement on Gov Mutfwang’s appeal

    Plateau guber: S/Court reserves judgement on Gov Mutfwang’s appeal

    The Supreme Court of Nigeria, Tuesday, reserved its judgement on appeal instituted by the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, challenging the nullification of his election by the Court of Appeal.

    A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, adjourned the appeal for judgement, after all the parties argued their case and adopted their processes.

    In his argument, Governor Mutfwang, through his counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, prayed the court dismiss the judgement of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which sacked him from office.

    Agabi, SAN, argued that after the tribunal properly evaluated both documentary and oral evidence that were adduced by the parties, dismissed as lacking in merit, the petition that was lodged against the outcome of the governorship election by candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC)Mr. Nentawe Goshwe.

    He further submitted that the onus of conducting a primary election to select candidates to be sponsored in an election, rests on the National Executive organ of the party.

    “A number of exhibits were tendered to prove that valid Congress was conducted and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

    “A video was played before the tribunal showing that congresses held and the person that instituted the court action was see in the video, participating in the process.”

    Concluding, he posited that the sponsorship and nomination of a candidate in an election, being a pre-election issue, was of jurisdiction of both the tribunal and the appellate court.

    On his part, the APC candidate, through Prof. Joseph Olatoke, SAN, asked the court to uphold the Court of Appeal judgement that ordered the INEC to issue Certificate of Return.

    He insisted that his is the candidate that garnered the highest number of valid votes in the governorship poll.

    According to him, PDP’ is structureless in the state, as it refuses to elect its State Executives as ordered by the court, hence, not capable of presenting a valid candidate in the governorship election.

    In the same vern, counsel to the APC, Mr. Omosanya Popoola, asked the court to uphold the judgement that sacked the Appellant from office.

  • Unlawful detention: Court orders EFCC to pay Emefiele N100m

    Unlawful detention: Court orders EFCC to pay Emefiele N100m

    The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Monday, declared the prolonged detention of the former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emfiele without trial as a flagrant violation of his fundamental right.

    Consequently, Justice Kayode Adeniyi ordered the payment of N100million as fine against the Federal Government and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

    The judgment was given in a fundamental human rights suit filed by the former CBN governor following his prolonged detention in the custody of the Department of State Services.

    In his argument, the embattled former CBN governor prayed the court for an order to mandate the respondents to pay N1billion damages to him and to restrain the prosecutor from further arresting and or detaining him.

    Recall that the ex-CBN was arrested on June 10, shortly after his suspension by President Bola Tinubu.

    The Federal Government, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and its chairman were mentioned as the respondents in the matter.

    Delivering the judgment on Monday, Justice Kayode Adeniyi also restrained the FG and its agents from re-arresting or detaining Emefiele without an order of court.

    He said,” It is hereby declared that the actions of the first and fourth respondents and its agents in incarcerating the applicants from June 13, 2023, to October 26, 2023, when he was transferred to the custody of the fourth respondent and his further detention by the third and fourth respondents without arraignment in the court of law for the commission of any offence up until November 8, 2023, when by the order of this court when the applicant was released on bail to his senior learned counsel constitutes a flagrant violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights to personal liberty preserved by the provision of section 35 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1979 and Article 6 of the African charter on human and peoples right.

    “Also, a sum of 100m only is hereby awarded in favour of the applicant against the first and fourth respondents jointly as damages for the unlawful violation of his fundamental right to his personal liberty.

    “Without prejudice to the powers of the court with respect to the criminal trial, the applicant is currently facing at the High Court of the FCT, the respondents are hereby restrained either by themselves, their officers, agents, or any person acting on their behalf from further re-arresting or detaining the applicants without an order of a court of competent jurisdiction,” Justice Adeniyi ruled.

  • EFCC Summons Betta Edu, Hours After Suspension Over N585m Scandal

    EFCC Summons Betta Edu, Hours After Suspension Over N585m Scandal

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) has summoned the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, to its headquarters located in Jabi, Abuja over an alleged N585million scandal.

    This is coming few hours after President Bola Tinubu announced her suspension from office with immediate effect.

    The suspension, according to the statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale was in line with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians.

    The suspended Minister, came under harsh criticism after a leaked memo on December 20, revealed that she directed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer N585million to a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget, who the ministry claimed currently serves as the Project Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

    The statement said, “The President further directs the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as one or more agencies thereunder.

    “The suspended Minister is hereby directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and she is further directed by the President to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation.

    “Furthermore, the President has tasked a panel that is headed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to, among other functions, conduct a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes with a view to conclusively reforming the relevant institutions and programmes in a determined bid to eliminate all institutional frailties for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and win back lost public confidence in the initiative.

    “These directives of the President take immediate effect.”

  • Dr Better Edu defends transfer of N585m into private account

    Dr Better Edu defends transfer of N585m into private account

    The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has said that the disbursed N585,198,500.00 into a personal account is legal and in line with extant civil service rules.
    This is made known by Rasheed Zubair, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the minister.

    Edu in a viral document personally signed by her and directed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, instructed the disbursement of the funds to one Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola.

    The document also showed that the payment of the N585.198 million grant, meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos states, was made into Oniyelu’s account.

    This has elicited mixed reactions from Nigerians on social media, with many calling for the minister’s sacking.

    But reacting to the leaked document, Zubair in a statement on Friday, said the payment for the vulnerable group followed due process.

    According to Zubair, the payment of the grant to the account of Bridget was because the fellow currently serves as the Project Accountant of Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

    He said, “It is glaring that the same sponsored disgruntled elements in the past few days have been trying to smear the Honourable Minister, Dr Betta Edu, and stain her integrity because she alerted the Federal Government attention to the ongoing N44.8 Billion Fraud in NSIPA.

    “These elements have been trying to link her to a phantom fraud and are behind this latest misadventure. However, this latest vile effort of theirs is another infantile blackmail doomed for evisceration.

    “For the avoidance, the said N585m was approved, and it is meant to implement grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states.

    “We must note that GVG was first launched in Kogi State, where recipients testified. Akwa Ibom and Cross River were launched in December 2023. Kogi already happened in November, and others will be launched in the coming weeks.

    “The general public is invited to note that the Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups is one of the social intervention schemes of the Federal Government, which the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation is implementing.

    “Oniyelu Bridget is the Project Accountant for GVG from the Department of Finance, and it is legal in civil service for a staff, the project accountant, to be paid and use the same funds legally and retire the same with all receipts and evidence after the project or programme is completed.”

  • Fagbemi will bring desired reforms to Justice sector

    Fagbemi will bring desired reforms to Justice sector

    The Emir of Ilorin, Dr Ibrahim Sulu Gambari has expressed confidence in the ability of the current Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) to bring desired reforms to the justice sector.

    In a statement by Kamarudeen Ogundele, Special Assistant to the AGF on Communication and Publicity, the former Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal expressed the optimism while Prince Fagbemi paid a courtesy visit in his palace on Tuesday in Ilorin, Kwara State.

    Dr Gambari, who described the AGF as the pride of Kwara, hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing him as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, insisted that he is capable of rejuvenating the justice sector.

    The monarch said he had known Fagbemi for over 30 years since his days on the bench and was confident that he would uphold the tenets of justice and the fight against corruption.

    He also described Fagbemi as a philanthropist and legal icon who had contributed greatly to legal jurisprudence.

    The Emir called on stakeholders in the justice sector to work as a team with the AGF to bring the desired development to the justice sector in the overall interest of the nation.

  • EFCC arrests ex-NSIPA CEO, Halima Shehu – hours after suspension

    EFCC arrests ex-NSIPA CEO, Halima Shehu – hours after suspension

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested Hajia Halima Shehu, the suspended National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, NSIPA, for alleged financial malpractices, hours after her suspension from office.
    Recall that Shehu was suspended from office by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday.
    Shehu was said to have been interrogated for hours by operatives of the EFCC in her office located at Maitama, Abuja before her arrest on Tuesday.
    But, as of the time of filing this report, the Presidency, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation have yet to make any official statement about the alleged suspension of the NSIPA National Coordinator.
    Shehu was expected to handover starter packs to victims of the kidney harvest at Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on Tuesday.
    The event was suspended following an alleged directive to that effect through a letter purportedly signed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu.
    Men of the anti-graft agency later stormed her office at Taraba Crescent in Maitama, to engage her in certain interrogations.
    According to reports, the secret meeting between Shehu and the EFCC operatives, which began at 9 a.m.,ended around 4:30 p.m. with the former accompanying the EFCC officials to an unknown location.
    Recall that before her recent confirmation by the Senate, Hajia Shehu was the National Programme Coordinator of the National Conditional Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

  • FG suspends accreditation of degree certificates from Benin Republic, Togo

    FG suspends accreditation of degree certificates from Benin Republic, Togo

    Sequel to a report detailing how a degree was acquired from a university in Benin Republic in under two months, the Federal Government has suspended the accreditation and evaluation of degree certificates from the Country and Togo.
    “This report lends credence to suspicions that some Nigerians deploy nefarious means and unconscionable methods to get a Degree with the end objective of getting graduate job opportunities for which they are not qualified,” the spokesperson for the Ministry of Education Augustina Obilor-Duru said in a Tuesday statement.
    “The Federal Ministry of Education vehemently decries such acts and with effect from 2nd January 2024 is suspending evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from Benin and Togo Republics pending the outcome of an investigation that would involve the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and the two countries, the ministries responsible for Education in the two countries as well the Department of State Security Services (DSSS), and the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).”
    The ministry is also calling on Nigerians to assist in providing information to help the committee as it seeks lasting solutions to prevent future occurrences.
    “FME has been contending with the problem including illegal institutions located abroad or at home preying on unsuspecting, innocent Nigerians and some desperate Nigerians who deliberately patronize such outlets,” the statement added.
    “Periodically, warnings have been issued by the Ministry and NUC against the resort to such institutions and in some instances, reports made to security agencies to clamp down on the perpetrators. The ministry will continue to review its strategy to plug any loopholes, processes, and procedures and deal decisively with any conniving officials.”

  • Priotise security, peace, economy of your people – Kogi CJ tasks Leaders

    Priotise security, peace, economy of your people – Kogi CJ tasks Leaders

    Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Josiah Majebi has implored leaders not to toy with issues of peace, security and economic improvement of their followers but should make them paramount in their agenda.

    Majebi made the appeal when he received traditional, community and religious leaders on Christmas felicitations visit at his residence in Ageva, Okene.

    He said that issues of peace, security and economy are interwoven and must be tackled holistically rather than be toyed with.

    Majebi enjoined the leaders to constantly drum into their followers, the benefits of peace, saying that the value of a peaceful environment translates to development enjoyable by the youth who are the workforce of the society.

    He urged the leaders to continue to place emphasis on proper upbringing of children to pave way for the emergence of a productive, peaceful and rancour free environment devoid of criminalities.

    The Chief Judge bemoaned the present unemployment level in the country which he described as seeming intractable.

    Majebi said that though the state Judiciary presently lacks resources to undertake employment, it would do so once the resources improved.

    He assured that as an interested person in the growth of youths, he would personally ensure that as soon as there is improvement in the fortune of the Judiciary the State Judicial Service Commission will open its employment portal.

    The Chief Judge had earlier expressed appreciation to the traditional, religious and community leaders that thronged his residence on the visit saying he would do everything within his power to address and assuage the suffering of the people.

    The visitors had earlier said that their visit was in both their official and personal capacities as representatives of their respective groups.

    They commended the Chief Judge for the noticeable improvement in the state’s Justice Delivery System since the assumption of office of Justice Majebi particularly in the area of bringing justice closer to the people through establishment of courts.

    The visiting leaders from Ageva, Obehira and Ozuma communities also thanked and commended the CJ for his participatory leadership style.

    They particularly recalled his swift response and timely intervention in restoration of their water supply when it broke down some time ago.
    The visitors also appealed to the Chief Judge to provide employment opportunities for their children and wards into the Judiciary.

  • Governor Bassy Otu Signs N296bn Budget, Economy Tops

    Governor Bassy Otu Signs N296bn Budget, Economy Tops

    Governor Bassey Otu of Cross Rivers State, Friday, signed the ‘Peoples First’ Budget of N296, 985, 631, 978.1k into law.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary, of the governor, Emmanuel Ogbeche, stated that the event has the economic sector topping with N104, 986, 870, 898.59 billion.

    Presenting the estimates to the State House of Assembly on October 26, Gov. Otu said, “We have prioritized a higher capital expenditure over recurrent expenditure in our public expenditure structure, a

    “As a deliberate principle, we have maintained a higher capital–recurrent expenditure of 61.6% to 38.4%.

    “This not only emphasizes the importance of structural development but also a demonstration of the State’s commitment to the provision of the much-needed infrastructural facilities in our rural and urban centres.”

    Though the Governor had proposed a budget size of N250 billion with N154 billion as capital expenditure and N96 billion for recurrent expenditure, the Assembly jerked it up by N46 billion to N296 billion.

    The new budget bucket has capital expenditure of N180 billion and recurrent expenditure of N116 billion.

    Speaking at the budget signing, Governor Otu said, “the increase is predicated on the need to provide adequate financial support to our people living with disabilities which I requested for, after laying the Budget proposal before the State House of Assembly.

    “The increase in the budget allocation for this community is not just a necessity but a moral imperative: to erase social imbalance of this special demographics as they are a vulnerable group. They require specialized care, adaptive equipment, and access to resources that accommodate their unique needs.

    “This increase will facilitate better access to healthcare, assistive technologies, education, and employment opportunities tailored to their capabilities. Therefore, it is not just a fiscal decision but a statement of our values as a society which is espoused by my administration.

    “In addition, there is an upscale budgetary provision for payment of gratuity, debt services, counterpart funds, nutrition activities, social protection, climate change and gender responsive budget.”

    He further assured that, “This Administration is committed to prudent spending, effective governance, and unwavering dedication to the welfare of our people.

    “Towards this end, I have directed that efforts be made to ensure the earlier submission of the 2024-2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper.
    “To achieve the laudable objectives of the 2024 Budget, we will further intensify our revenue mobilization efforts.”

    Aware of dwindling revenue inflow, the Governor noted that, “I am optimistic about our ability to finance the budget with creative funding options. We hope to surpass our revenue targets, therefore, revenue-generating agencies, and indeed all MDAs must ensure prompt and full remittances of collected revenues.”

    Highlights of the budget include; economic sector – N104, 986, 870, 898.59 billion; general administration – N95, 815, 641, 732.54 billion; law and justice – N7, 947, 139, 687.33 billion; regional sector – N1, 262, 390, 126.52 billion, and social sector – N86, 973, 489, 533.02 billion.