Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Vivian Michael

Social Media Reports On Justices Nomination List, ‘Mischief-Making’, Says NJC

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has disowned reports credited to it in the social media that it was not aware or did not receive nomination list for Supreme Court vacancies from the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).

The Director of Information, Barrister Soji Oye, on Sunday, said that he never had discussion with anybody regarding receiving or not receiving the list of Justices nominees from the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).

He described the social media reports on the matter as deliberate handiwork of mischief -makers, insisting that reports on such matters are always by official press statement from the Council through his office.

The NJC Spokesperson cautioned against unverified reports circulating on social media regarding Supreme Court nominations and the process being followed to fill vacancies on the bench.

It will be recalled that there were reports stating that the FJSC released 22 names for NJC’s consideration to fill vacancies at the Apex Court bench.

The nomination reportedly includes regional distribution of candidates across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.

According to the report, the nomination of Justices for the bench followed complaints in

September that the Supreme Court was operating with only 10 out of its constitutional strength of 21 Justices.

Based on the depletions of Justices due to retirement and deaths, it was reported that the FJSC subsequently submitted a shortlist to address the vacant positions.

Oye warned the media, especially social media operators to always get their information from rightful sources so as not to mis-inform the general public on Supreme Court nominations and the process being followed to fill vacancies on the bench.

11/19/2023
CJN Ariwoola Inaugurates 58 New SANs November 27

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Olukayode Ariwoola will swear-in 58 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria on Monday, November 27, 2023, at the main Courtroom of the Supreme Court, as part of the programme lined up for the 2023/2024 legal year of the Court.

In line with the age-long tradition, the CJN will during the special court session, deliver a state-of-the Judiciary address that would highlight the performance of the Supreme Court in particular and the Nigerian Judiciary in general in the 2022/2023 legal year.

The Director of Press and Information of the Apex Court, Dr Akande Festus made this known in a press statement he issued on Sunday in Abuja.

According to him, other leading stakeholders in the Justice Sector will present speeches bordering on the state of the justice sector of the country at the occasion.

They include the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chairman of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) amongst others.

It will be recalled that 114 applications were received by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) for the award of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2023.

Out of the number, 101 are advocates while 13 are academics.

The total number of qualified applicants shortlisted after the Advocates 1st and 2nd Filtration Stages, Academic Pre-qualification, Academic 2nd Filtration Exercise, the Independent Appeals Hearing and Chambers Inspection Exercises was 69 comprising 57 advocates and 12 academics.

After conducting the specified screening and filtration exercises which include a number of appearances in superior courts, recommendations by Justices of the Supreme Court and Judges of superior courts, Chamber inspections; approval on eligibility and integrity of the candidates from the Nigerian Bar Association, Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria and the general public, amongst others, the LPPC came up with 58 successful candidates.

Out of the figure, 57 are advocates while one is an academic.

The Supreme Court commenced its annual vacation on Monday, 24th July, 2023.

Though the Court had started sitting since Monday, 18th September, 2023, the new legal year ceremony is to be formally held in accordance with its tradition.

All the programmes outlined to mark the formal commencement of the new legal year will start at 10 am in the main Courtroom of the Supreme Court.

11/19/2023
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.

11/19/2023
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.

11/17/2023
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.

11/17/2023
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…

11/16/2023
Motorcycle Riders Union Cautions Nigerians Against Activities Of Impostors

The motorcycle riders union has called on Nigerians to be mindful of the activities of some impostors in their midst, while warning the Federal Government and even the general public to desist from dealing with them in whatever capacity.

The National President of the union, Comrade Julius Ogenewevgba Bobi, FCPAN who stated this in a press statement made available to NIGERIAN ANCHOR, however stated that all those involved in trying to destabilize the union through their illegal action have all been suspended.

He therefore pleaded with the Nigerian Government and the general public to desist from dealing with them in whatever ways that relate to the motorcycle riders union. He declared that all those involved in the palace coup are considered as impersonators, and have all been notified of their suspension from the union.

He appealed to those concerned to desist from parading themselves as officials of the union, while threatening that failure to harcken to the appeal the union would be forced to take legal action against them.

Throwing more light on the issue, Comrade Bobi maintained that having previously given approval to the Special National Delegates Conference to be held, his attention was drawn to the fact that such was in clear violation of the constitution of their Union.

“In resorting to the constitution of the union to which I swore an oath of allegiance under penalty of perjury as was insisted by some members who wrote to draw my attention to it, I discovered that the supposedly fixed Special National Delegates Conference is in clear deviance to our constitution hence we do not have any provision for the appellation “Special Delegates Congress” as was tagged; in clear terms of which I wrote a letter suspending it until further notice pursuant to the power vested on me as the National President with reference to Rule 8 subsection 1 of our constitution which states that “a Special National Delegates Conference shall be held at such time and venue as the National Executive Council may decide on the receipt of a request from the National President or a resolution adopted by a two-third (2/3) majority of the State Councils calling for such a conference.

The resolution shall be forwarded to the General Secretary and National President of the Union”.

“To my greatest surprise, the “Special National Delegates Congress” still held with the firm support of the Assistant General Secretary of NLC, Comrade Denja Yaqub who, prior to the meeting and receipt of the notification for the cancellation of the meeting, staged an unwarranted argument with me, vehemently opposing its cancellation on grounds of late notification,”

MOUN national President explained the effort he made to manage the situation but maintained that from everything that happened it was obvious that the situation was premeditated.

“I must of necessity state very poignantly that I made all necessary efforts to settle the differences between us to no avail. Relentlessly too, I sent people who are aware of the feud to mediate between us, but they bluntly refused to grant them audience nor were available to meet with them; all because they have a clearly premeditated agenda of truncating the newly birthed union so they might be able to have their way as rebels,” he concluded.

11/16/2023
Alleged N27m Fraud: Developer Uche Okoli, Firm Face 17-Count Charge

An Estate Developer, Mr Uche Okoli and his firm, MultiShelter Nigeria Limited, have been dragged to court over an allegation of N27million fraud by the federal government.

The duo are to be arraigned before Justice Peter Kekemeke of the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory on December 4, 2023.

Okoli was said to have collected money illegally from one of the subscribers to the estate at various times.

In charge number CR/721/2023, dated September 15 and filed on October 10, 2023, the respondents were accused of collecting N27m from one Kelechi Anuebunwa, at various times under the pretence of selling to her a terrace apartment House Number 25, Silver spoon Court located at Plot 713, Cadastral Zone B14 Dutse District, Abuja, which property was presented to her as that of the Defendants which pretense they knew was false having earlier alienated their title to the said property and they thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) of the Advance Fee and Other Fraud Related Offences Ac 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act

In the charge, he was said to have forged the title documents relating to the property and presented it as genuine to defraud the subscriber.

Parts of the 17-count charge bread, “That you Uche Okoli being the Chief Executive Officer and the managing director of Multi shelter Nigeria Limited and you Multi Shelter Nigeria Limited on or about the 22nd day of May 2018 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Five Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira (5,100,000) from one Kelechi C Kingsley Anuebunwa under ihe pretence of selling to her a terrace apartment House Number 25, Silver spoon Court located at Plot 713, Cadastral Zone B14 Dutse District, Abuja which property you presented to her as your own which pretense you knew was false having earlier alienated your title to the said property and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) of the Advance Fee and Other Fraud Related Offences Ac 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

That you, Uche Okoli being the Chief Executive Officer and the Monaging Director of Multi shelfer Nigeria Limited and you MultiShelter Nigeria Limited on or about the 20th day of September 2018 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000} from one Kelechi C. Kingsley Anuebunwa under the pretence of selling to him a terrace apartment House Number 25, Silver Spoon Court located at >of 13 Cadastral Zone B14 Dutse District, Abuja which Property you prresented to her as your own which pretense you KNEW was false having earlier alienated your title to the said property and you thereby conmitted an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.

That you Uche Okoli being the Chief Executive Officer and the Managing Director of Multi shelter Nigeria Limited and you Multi Shelter Nigeria Limited on or about the 3rd day of July 2018 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) from one Kelechi C Kingsley Anuebunwa under the pretence of selling to her a terrace apartment House Number 25, Silver Sooon Court located at Plot 713, Cadastral Zone B14 Dutse District, Abuja -which property you represented to her as your own which pretense you knew was false having earlier alienated your title to the said property and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee ond Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

That you, Uche Okoli being the Chief Executive Officer and th Managing Director of Multi Shelter Nigeria Limited and you, MultiShelter Nigeria Limited sometime in 2018 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, forged an agreement dated 17th May 2012 purportedly signed by Mr Kingsley Anuegbunwa as the purchaser of Plot 23 in an estate called Silver Sooon Co located at Plot 713, Cadastral Zone B14 Dutse District, Abuja and Mul? Shelter limited as the Developer of the said property and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 363 of the Penal Code Act and punishable under section 364 of the same Act.

That you Uche Okoli being the Chief Executive Officer and the Managing Director of Multi Shelter Nigeria Limited and you, Multi Shelter Nigeria Limited sometime in 2018 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, used as genuine a document titled agreement dated 17! May 2012 purportedly signed by Mr Kingsley Anuegbunwa as the purchaser of Plot 23 in an eg called Silver Sooon Court located at Plot 713, Cadastrat lone rid Dutse District, Abuja and Multi shelter limited‘as the Developer Of the said property and thereby committed an offence Contrary to section 356 of the Penal Code Act and punishable under section 364 of the some Act.

11/15/2023
Nasarawa Guber: Appeal Court Reserves Judgement On Sule’s Petition

The Abuja division of the Court of Appeal, has reserved judgment in an appeal instituted by Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Sule was at the appellate court, contesting against the majority decision by a tribunal nullifying his election, in favour of David Ombugadu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

A three-member panel of justices headed by Justice U. Onyemenam told parties involved that the date for judgment will be communicated to them.

In the actual proceedings, Wole Olanipekun, counsel to Sule who filed five processes to challenge the appeal urged the Court to dismiss the judgment of the Tribunal and allow the appeal of his client.

Olanipekun argued that the Tribunal refused to take the submissions of their witnesses during the Tribunal hearing and that data from the BVAS tendered to the Tribunal were merely dumped and without been considered as evidence.

In his response, counsel to Ombugadu, Kanu Agabi SAN, and the PDP urged the court to dismiss the appeal stating that their evidence are merely documentary.

On the issue of BVAS, Agabi argued that it was sufficiently demonstrated in the Tribunal as demanded by law, with the print out from the machine shown, against the argument that they were merely dumped without being analysed.

Agabi who referred the court to the judgment of the Tribunal argued that in delivering judgment, the lower court painstakingly gave a breakdown of how it arrived at its decision.

11/15/2023
Appoint Only Qualified Judges To Supreme, Appeal Court Benches, Tinubu Charges NJC

President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, has called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to rely on qualified, experienced and diligent private legal practitioners in both the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court appointments.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the All-Nigerian Judges Conference of the Superior Courts, held at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), in Abuja, the president held that the move will strengthen the nation’s judiciary.

Tinubu expressed that the judiciary had over the years, performed excellently to creditably retain the status of the last hope of the common man, adding that his administration was determined to improve the welfare of judicial officers in the country.

Tinubu was represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

He said: “While the Nigerian judiciary is not immune from certain challenges, it has, however, surmounted these limitations to creditably retain the status of both the last hope of the common man and the bastion of rule of law and democracy.

“The Nigerian judiciary has indeed evolved from the colonial days, through the rich history of contemporary worthy status today. While there may be misgivings here and there, we cannot begin to imagine what our country would have been subjected to if there was no judiciary.

“Through a gamut of landmark judgments, the judiciary has continued to maintain the cause of the rule of law in Nigeria and strengthens our democratic processes and institutions.

“I wish to observe that in the cause of demonstrating this commitment to the advancement of the rule of law and democracy, especially in political and electoral cases, the judiciary has come under myopic criticism and attacks.

Concluding, he reiterated his confidence in the accomplishment of the judiciary in the cause of nation-building, both locally and on the global scene.

11/13/2023