The Orlu High Court complex in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State has been razed down by yet-to-be-identified persons. This is happening a few days after the INEC headquarters in Owerri the capital of Imo State was attacked.   According to Tribune, the complex housing both the Magistrate Court and the High Court as well as all the files got burnt. One of the Judiciary workers met at the scene that gave her name Mrs Igwe condemned the action pointing out that the incident automatically crippled legal practice in Orlu as the Lawyers would have no court to do their matters. The incident occurred very close to an army checkpoint. The Imo State Police Command Public Relations Officer CSP Michael Abattam confirmed the incident to Nigerian Tribune in Owerri Saturday. When contacted by the Nigerian Bar Association, Orlu branch, Barr. Barnabas Munonye also confirmed the incident to Nigerian Tribune in Owerri Saturday. He said that before the incident he received a call from the Registrar and the administrative secretary of NBA Orlu about the presence of unknown faces and unusual movement of people. Munonye said that at that time there was nothing they could do than to believe that nothing would happen. He said that in the early hours of this morning, he received a call that the Orlu High Court has being burnt down. The NBA chairman said that already they have made entries about the incident to the police for action. Credit: Tribune Nigeria

  The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, recently bemoaned how the Supreme Court is grappling with 6,884 delayed cases. There is a shortfall of justices in the Supreme Court, with only 13 left on the bench despite that the constitution provided 21, which has widened the gap in the ratio of judges to litigants in Nigeria. According to the National Judicial Council (NJC), the judiciary’s regulatory body, only 1,179 judges are available for the courts across the country with an estimated population of 218 million people. As a result, many cases drag in the courts with some files being called up for the first time after 10 years. A staff of the Supreme Court confided in Daily Trust Saturday under the condition of anonymity that many appeals filed in 2006 were being heard for the first time this year. He said recommendations of committees in the past for special courts to expeditiously handle some cases, like criminal and corruption cases, had not been implemented.   CJN speaks on backlog Speaking at the investiture of 62 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria in Abuja on November 28, Justice Ariwoola said that out of the 6,884 cases at the apex court, there were 4,741 appeals in the court’s docket, with 1,495 of them having briefs filed and exchanged for hearing, leaving only 751 as moribund appeals. The CJN said there were 3,246 remaining appeals having about 10,000 motions, with some being contentious and others innocuous in nature. He added that within the window offered by the 2021/2022 legal year, the Supreme Court handled a total number of 1,764 cases, comprising of motions and appeals. He commended the efforts of the Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO) under the leadership of retired Justice Suleiman Galadima, which has worked towards fast-tracking the trial of corruption and financial-related crimes in the country. He said that between October 2021 and September 2022, a total number of 3,563 convictions were made through the collaborative effort of the committee, while there were equally a large number of forfeited cash and non-cash recoveries made within the period. Besides, the shortfall in the number of justices compared to the number of cases, the CJN also bemoaned the “litigious” nature of Nigerians as accounting for the huge ratio of cases and judges. “We don’t need to rush to court after every little disagreement. We have various alternative dispute resolution mechanisms across the country we can conveniently leverage on, with a view to freeing the courts of this incessant case overload. In every little disagreement, we rush to court, and in every lost case, we rush to appeal, even up to the Supreme Court, no matter how little the issue might be. That has obviously accounted for the several appeals pending in the Supreme Court,” he said. Ariwoola noted that although the apex court receives scathing criticisms from members of the public over our over-blotted docket, the justices are “neither in any position to regulate case inflow to the court nor have the supernatural power to attend to all in one fell swoop.”   Judiciary challenges Another reason for the congestion of the courts is that the few justices in the Nigerian judiciary mainly write in long hand during proceedings, which makes it difficult to accelerate proceedings. To accelerate justice delivery, the NJC has begun an elaborate installation of an electronic court system through its technology-leveraged courts (TLCs), which are expected to eliminate papers with cases filed under the case management system, and lawyers can reach the court in real-time from anywhere. This is besides the general condition of service of judicial officers, especially at the highest level. The Nigerian judiciary is also beset with other challenges, such as poor funding, political interference, corruption, delays due to inadequate manpower, technology, unwieldy structure, low quality of judicial officers due to flawed recruitment process, poor welfare for judges, absence of a fair and transparent system, political interference and lack of independence. Analysts suggest that proof of the lack of independence of the judiciary is the poor funding as provided in the low share of the judiciary in the country’s overall budget, which is a threat to rule of law, democracy and development. Although the judiciary budget has been on the increase in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, there has been a decline in the percentage of the total budgetary figures to less than 1 per cent. For instance, the budgetary allocations to the judiciary have been declining in percentage share of the nation’s budget. One of this is the N70 billion budgeted for the judiciary in 2016 out of the N6.08 trillion total proposals, which is 1.1 per cent. Also, the 2023 budget proposes a sum of N150 billion out of the N20.51 trillion, which is a 0.74 per cent. In the 2022 budget, out of the N17.126 trillion overall budget, the judiciary got N120 billion, which is 0.7 9 per cent. Many recruitment exercises of judges in the country have been challenged in courts on allegations of nepotism, political interference and non-compliance with the NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules. In the last exercise for the FCT High Court in May 2020, the Open Bar Initiative led by Prof Chidi Odinkalu accused the NJC of appointing certain persons based on “connection” and “family affiliation”. Reacting, Dr Chudi Chukwuani, a contractor, who has battled for many years in the courts to recover his funds for work done, said the heavy caseload on judges is killing quick justice delivery, especially in the FCT. “If the entire cases filed in court is one per cent of the country’s population of over 200 million, that comes to two million cases filed nationwide every year. Now, what percentage do you think would come to the federal capital? “You find out that most people believe that they won’t get justice in their respective states, so most of the disputes, especially the political ones, everybody brings his to FCT High Court. So, the FCT

  The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday received another batch of 266 stranded Nigerians from Niger Republic. The Director General NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed-Habib, made the disclosure while receiving the returnees at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. Ahmed-Habib, represented by NEMA Coordinator, Kano Territorial Office, Dr Nuradeen Abdullahi, said the returnees arrived and were received at the international wing of the airport. ” The 130 returnees arrived late on Thursday night while 136 arrived on Friday at about 3:50 a.m. with SKY MALI Airlines, operated by Ethiopian airlines FML5001 with registration number VR-CQX.” He noted that the returnees were brought back to Kano under the care of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) from Niger Republic (Niamey) through a voluntary repatriation programme. “The Programme was meant for the distressed Nigerians who had left the country to seek greener pastures in various European countries and could not afford to return when their journey became frustrated.” The returnees comprised 144 males, 56 females and 66 children. “The returnees are from different parts of the country; some from Katsina, Kaduna, Bauchi, Sokoto and Kano States, among others,” he said. The DG further explained that the returnees would undergo a four-day training on how to achieve self sustainability and provided with seed capital to enable them to engage in productive activities to be self reliant. “We want you to serve as ambassadors, who would be sensitising other Nigerians against irregular migration.” He advised the general public to avoid endangering their lives by travelling to seek for greener pastures in other countries, adding that no country was better than Nigeria. According to him, the agency, from April to Dec.13, received 723 stranded Nigerians repatriated from Agadas, Niger Republic, Khartoum Sudan, Chad and were trained in various skills acquisition. He enjoined them to learn from their experiences and be law abiding citizens. Recounting their ordeals, Hajiya Salamatu Muhammad, from Kano State, said she travelled to Niger with her 6-year old granddaughter to seek for greener pastures. “Initially i intended to travel to Algeria but on our way, the driver dropped us in a town called Asamaka in Niger Republic. ” My husband is old and his shop has been seized so I had no option than to travel to seek for greener pasture. “Before I left Nigeria, I was into making Fura (millet dough ball). “We spent six months in Asamaka; we surffered, in the process my granddaughter fell sick, as a result, she could not eat and was given medical drip to survive.” Usman Kabir, another returnee from Zaria, said he sold his plot of land to travel to Libiya to seek for greener pasture. “I was a phone repairer before I left Zaria, I saw one of my friends sending money to his parents from Libya, that was why I decided to seek for greener pasture. “My parents are poor and I am the first born so I decided to travel, to enable me to cater for my parents and siblings, but unfortunately I was stranded in the Sahara. “My dream of becoming rich has ended, I feel shy to go back to my family because I came back with nothing.” NAN reports that the returnees were received by NEMA, along with other sister security agencies, including SEMA, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs and Nigeria Red Cross and DSS.(NAN)

  To say that many people, especially the inhabitants of Ihiagwa, Eziobodo, Obinze and the adjoining communities, are already in a jubilant mood, is merely stating the obvious. They are happy because their long suffering, occasioned by the extremely deplorable Naze-Nekede-Ihiagwa-Obinze road, will soon be over! What villagers from any of the communities will readily tell any sincere inquirer, about the Naze-Nekede-Ihiagwa-Obinze road, are principally, four-fold. One is that villagers and commuters on this hopeless road, have suffered untold hardship and deprivation, for years. Secondly, the road leads to the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, the Nigeria Police Training School, Nekede and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO. Next is the fact that this 14.7 kilometer road was last paved by the late Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe administration, during the second republic and was subsequently ignored and/or sadly allowed to degenerate to a grotesque level, by successive federal and state administrations. The next point that will readily hit your ear is that the Senator Hope Uzodimma administration opted to continue the reconstruction of the road, from where his predecessor, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, left it. The first phase of this road project, which was completed by the present administration and commissioned in 2021, by President Muhammadu Buhari, when he visited Imo State, ended a few metres away from the Polytechnic gate. The good thing is that the contracting firm handling the project, has since been mobilized, to commence work on the second phase of this all important road. It is heartwarming and worthy of commendation that the collapsed bridge, linking Obinze with Ihiagwa, on this critical road, was successfully pulled down completely, while the construction of a brand new bridge has commenced! A staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, said: “Work on this road is a salutary watershed in the development of Imo state, by the Governor Hope Uzodimma administration. It is, for me, a thing of joy that he decided to construct the Naze-Nekede-Ihiagwa-Obinze road, for the good of the various communities and the two Federal institutions within the area.” Reacting also, an obviously overjoyed Paulson Okere said: “The Naze-Ihiagwa-Nekede-Obinze link road, had been abandoned for more than two decades, by all the previous administrations in Imo State. “It is instructive that this particular road leads to two foremost tertiary institutions in the state, namely, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and Federal Polytechnic, Nekede. There is also a Police Training School at Nekede. “It also links four large communities, spanning two local government areas of Owerri North and Owerri West. The realization of this particular project is a dream come true for the communities, as well as the staff and students of these institutions, who had suffered greatly before now.” The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, CPS, and Media Adviser, Mr. Oguwike Nwachuku, reacted this way: “The popular Uzii na Abushi bridge connecting residents of Ihiagwa and Obinze communities, is one of the critical projects the action and performing Governor of our state, identified as slowing down and impacting negatively on the socio-economic activities of the communities bordering the area and visitors alike. “The bridge was among the numerous projects abandoned by previous administrations, and in the case of the Uzii na Aboshi bridge, which collapsed since 2018, had made life miserable for those living on that corridor. “I recall, during one of the Governor’s inspection tours of the then ongoing Nekede-Ihiagwa-Obinze road and he was asked by the media, to comment on the collapsed bridge and the hardship it was causing the residents. “His response was simple: ‘We are going to build a befitting bridge, connecting the roads and making movement easy for the people living here and more importantly, to ensure that sanity is restored on the FUTO premises that is now a thoroughfare for all with its security implications’. “What Governor Hope Uzodimma is demonstrating with the many signature projects dotting the Imo landscape, is nothing but governance with human face. “Nothing can be as gladdening as when a government endears itself in the heart of the people, with projects that touch them dearly and go a long way in alleviating their hardship. “It is no longer in doubt that Governor Uzodimma’s 3R mantra, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Recovery, is catching up positively on the people, both those who belong to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the opposition elements. Under the able and focused leadership of Governor Uzodimma, Imo State has become one big construction site and that explains why the Governor and well meaning Imo sons and daughters, are clamouring for peace because they know it is sine qua non for progress and development of any society.” Our Correspondent’s last check before going to press, showed that already, asphalting of the road had reached the Divisional Police Headquarters at Nekede. A staff of the construction company handling the project, confided in our Correspondent that “the completion of the bridge, which links the two sister communities of Ihiagwa and Obinze, is expected to be realized soon, and would pave the way for the final lap between Ihiagwa and terminating at Obinze, on the Owerri-Port Harcourt express road. “I will not be surprised if this 14.7 kilometre road, is regarded as one of the signature projects of Governor Hope Uzodimma within the Owerri Capital Territory. “While this is ongoing, work is also fully being executed along the Mbaise-Umuahia federal highway, at a break neck speed, with asphalt being laid.”

  The Independent National Electoral Commission has so far recorded 50 attacks on its facilities across 15 states in the last four years. This was contained in a data made available to our correspondent on Friday. The breakdown showed that in 2019, the commission recorded eight attacks; 2020, 22 attacks; 2021, 12 attacks and in 2022, eight attacks. The incidents happened in Osun, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Bayelsa, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Enugu, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Borno, and Taraba States. In 2019, its facilities were attacked in Osun, Bayelsa, Imo, and Akwa-Ibom. In 2020, its offices in Osun, Ondo, Lagos, Imo, Abia, Cross River, Anambra, Borno, and Taraba were affected. In 2021, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, and Akwa-Ibom States were not spared. In 2022; its facilities in Ogun, Osun, Ebonyi, Imo, and Enugu states were attacked. The analysis showed that Imo had the highest attacks on INEC facilities with 11 incidents, followed by Osun, seven; Akwa-Ibom, five; Enugu, five; Ebonyi, four; Cross River, four; Abia, four; Anambra, two; Taraba, two; Borno, one; Ogun, one; Lagos, one; Bayelsa, one; Ondo, one; and Kaduna, one. The nature of the incidents include arson, 20; vandalisation, 26; and arson and vandalisation, four. The data further revealed that 20 of the attacks were caused by gunmen and hoodlums; EndSARS protest trigged 18 attacks; thuggery during elections, six; post-election violence, four; bandit attack, one; and Boko Haram attack, one.

  That’s the thing about awards – it’s for the people who do all the hard work behind the scenes. An award is just a clap at them. Awards are an encouragement. An award is not something we aim at while making a film. On Friday, an NGO, Center For Innovative And Pragmatic Development Initiative, CiPDI honoured a serving Assistant Commissioner of Police, AC Temitope Fasugba with aTrailblazer Award. CIPDI Trailblazer award is given to someone who had shown great leadership and innovation. The award was presented to Fasugba by members of the organization at Police Area Command in Otuocha, Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State on Friday. According to CiPDI’s president, Ifeanyi Nwanuro said the award is for someone who had gone above and beyond their call of duty to serve humanity. Nwanuro said, “ACP Fasugba embodies all these qualities, and more. He is an officer and a gentleman. He had set a standard for others to follow. Speaking further, “We congratulate you sir on a well deserved award, and we wish you great success ahead. Reacting on the award, AC Fasugba was delighted. He promised to continue in the good work for humanity.

  Saturday 17 December 2022 Arewa Consultative Forum Faults CBN’s Cash Withdrawal Limits Secret Abortion Claims: Military Ready For NHRC Investigation – CDS Irabor Gunmen Murder Imo Labour Party House Of Assembly Candidate FG Declares Public Holidays For Christmas, New Year Festivities Drama As Reps Committee Meet Over Attacks On INEC Offices Buhari Confident Of Credible Polls Despite Attacks On INEC Offices Obi Condemns ‘Targeted Killing’ Of Imo LP Candidate, Wants Culprits Uncovered Currency hawkers, partygoers, VIPs mop up new notes Politicians, others behind attacks on INEC offices – IGP Imo tops in attacks on INEC offices – Data Tinubu: APC PCC defends Yahaya Bello’s absence from rallies 2023 elections threatened — Yakubu Cultists on rampage in Rivers community Tears as slain fashion designer, Bamise is buried in Lagos Cultists kill ex-Osun park revenue collector, burnt corpse Igbo town unions in 19 Northern states pledge to work for Tinubu Why NJC must flush judiciary of ‘cash and carry judges’ — Catholic Bishops President We’ve intercepted IPoB drone, IEDs in Imo/Anambra border — Security agencies Hope rises as Uzodimma begins work on Otamiri bridge to link  natives Umahi orders arrest of caterer for serving ‘poor quality food’ at Christmas party 6,884 Cases Gather Dust In Supreme Court Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  By Mary Noel-Berje Leadership is significant in so many ways as it inspires the Citizens to pursue their dreams and also defines the values and attitudes that promote respect for human life while knowledge, wealth, fame, and humility are what everyone needs to succeed. All these values and principles of success found some harmony in the life of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello. These have also endeared him to be more successful in life and do not allow success to get to his head. Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has remained humble amidst plenty, especially because of his socio-cultural and family background This is the reputation of ABUBAKAR SANI BELLO, THE GOVERNOR OF NIGER STATE.” The story of a 55-year-old economist and entrepreneur, Abubakar Sani Bello who has had the privilege of supporting the public thrust out of the shared personal will and in adherence to the precept of his religion, is the story of the love a man has for the citizens of his State, having been inspired by their plight. This is why Governor Abubakar Sani Bello an economist, intelligent and creative personality sees himself as a change agent whose primary vision is to chart an effective and sustainable development for the state, restore the faith of residents of the State and its political leaders, assure them of good governance and rekindle their faith in the State. But as a realist, he never made commitments and promises he cannot fulfill. This principle has given him the leeway and latitude to fulfill the yearnings and aspirations of the electorate without reflecting, too much, on the covenant he has with them. His enthusiasm to excel even within the broad constraints of financial resources has spurred him to look at the state within the purview of opportunity and enterprise. Governor Sani Bello can be said to be a person of integrity, unassuming humility, visionary, smart, honest and of unblemished character, hence he has made a tremendous difference in building a virile society. As a government, his administration has done its best in addressing the infrastructure deficit and knows that prosperity will place them where they rightly belong, even though it is not how big the projects are but how impactful it is on the people. I know and believe that his simplicity and warmness to issues as presented especially as it concerns insecurity, a major challenge his administration is faced with, the Governor deserves big applause because, he followed up on the people with concern and passion, ensuring that the welfare of the people was attended to. In all, we have our amiable and peace-loving Governor to appreciate for his quality leadership, going by the efforts made by his government on keeping tabs on issues as it affects governance and humanity, he has achieved success in building bridges in the home front, party and the country at large My office is proud to be associated with you. As you clock fifty -five years, may your daily endeavors be accompanied by the boundless blessings of Allah. We celebrate you today and always the MAN AT THE CENTER OF THE NORTH CENTRAL STATES!!! Once again, HAPPY 55TH BIRTH-DAY TO A CALM AND WELL-CALCULATED MAN OF THE YEAR !!! Noel-Berje is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello