Tuesday 13 December 2022 Withdrawal limits: PoS operators, Falana head for court, Gbajabiamila faults Emefiele I won’t support Atiku, ex-SGF Lawal insists Buhari has good intentions but hired dubious officials – Senator La’ah Why court may reverse Ekiti Speaker’s impeachment – Aribisala Be optimistic about 2023 elections, IGP tells Nigerians Why I can’t function in Senate, House of Reps – El-Rufai Nnamdi Kanu sad over attacks, killings in S’East – IPOB leader’s lawyer, Ejimakor 2023: INEC commences nationwide distribution of PVCs FG says pre, post-arrival covid-19 tests unnecessary for travellers NIS opens passport desks at airports for diasporans FG lifts COVID-19 restrictions Don’t wait till last day before collecting your PVC – INEC advises Nigerians Tinubu’s men accuse Arise TV of bullying APC candidate Politicians inducing voters with money, buying PVCs — INEC Air Force kills bandits, destroys camps in Kaduna forests Uzodimma links INEC’s office attack to politicians, says ‘God ‘ll prevail’ Tinubu Visits Birnin Gwari In Kaduna, Vows To Wipe Out Banditry Sit-At-Home: Gunmen Disrupt Activities In Abakaliki, Ebonyi State CBN’s Cash Withdrawal Limits Is ‘Illegal’ – Falana Fire Guts Defence Headquarters In Abuja 2023: Don’t Create Enemies Over Temporary Political Offices, Zulum Tells Supporters Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has called on the supporters of All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state to eschew violence and play politics according to the rules. He also charged politicians across the state to be peaceful, law-abiding and act in conformity with the electoral act. The governor stated this on Monday during the flagg-off of the governorship campaign rally at Ramat Square in Maiduguri. He said, “Yes, we have differences in political affiliation, we are all together and all people of Borno State. “We cannot afford to create permanent enmity among ourselves for the sake of temporary offices, political positions and the life itself, are opportunities we must all forfeit some days. We must therefore respect our shared human values. Zulum also said his administration embarked on the fight against thuggary to ensure docorum in the political system of the state.   “We are also fighting thuggery and street begging through outright prohibition, social reforms, social protection and job creation,” he said. Highlighting his achievements, Zulum said through the cooperation of APC supporters and people in the state, he was able to deliver numerous capital projects for the development of the state. “We delivered 120 capital projects in our first 100 days, 326 capital projects in our first year, 556 projects in our second year and over 600 cluster projects in our third year. “However, for me, our greatest achievement as an administration is the fact that today, by Allah’s grace, Borno is tremendously gaining peace and security,” he said. He said before the end of January 2023, his administration will make available its continuity plan for another four years of working toward Borno Accelerated Recovery Growth and Development. “InSha’Allah, we plan to spread our developmental projects to all the three geopolitical zones on fair and equal distribution. “There are areas we couldn’t do much in the first term, but will be addressed in the second term. “We plan to sustain and improve our focus on reconstruction and resettlement, on healthcare, water supply, western and Islamic education, agriculture, road infrastructure and above all security of life and property. “I remind the people of Borno State and urge you in the APC to remember that we all go to work but our strength lies with our unity, and by unity I mean unity of purpose. We should work and ensure that we sweep all the political offices from president to members of state assembly, we cannot afford to lose a single ward,” he said. Also speaking, the former governor of Borno, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, described governor Zulum as an exceptional achiever, saying his three years performance had superseded what 5 of them achieved during their tenure in office. He said, “His performance has superseded that of five of us: Marina Maaji Lawan l, Mala Kachalla, myself and the vice presidential candidate, Sen Kashim Shettima. “For that reason, I will personally go round the 27 LGAs to campaign for him to return.” The Deputy APC National Chairman, North, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who represented the National Chairman of the party, Sen Abdullahi Adamu, said the developmental projects executed by the governor speaks volumes and will give the party easy sail not only in the state but the country as a whole. “Borno people are very lucky to have him as governor, and they should thank God by voting him and the APC to continue with the good job they are doing,” he added. Also speaking, the former Chief of Army Staff Lt-General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, called on the people in the state to come out en masse and vote for the governor. “With his exceptional performance, he deserved a second term.”

  Many bandits have been killed and their camps destroyed in the latest round of operations by the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, across Kaduna State. Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, yesterday, disclosed that the feedback sent to the state government indicated that the aerial patrols identified and attacked an active location in Kasarami general area in Chikun LGA of the state. According to him, “bandits’ camp was similarly struck with rockets and destroyed at Kofita and Kuyanbana forests in Birnin Gwari LGA. Camps were also targeted and destroyed at Kuduru and Gonan Baturiya, and terrorists were neutralised about 4km west of Nabango. “While conducting armed surveillance around Karshi, Kerawa and Walawa axes of Igabi and Giwa LGAs, bandits were sighted nearly 6km southwest of Kerawa and promptly neutralized. “Close air support was provided to troops conducting clearance operations around Ligarma, Igabi LGA. During this mission, the house of a notorious bandit leader, Alhaji Lawan, was attacked and destroyed with rockets. The crew maintained a presence overhead as the ground troops cleared terrorists’ enclaves in the area. “Armed reconnaissance was conducted along the Kaduna-Abuja road and rail lines, with no suspicious activity, observed.

  Femi Falana, human rights advocate, has faulted the new cash withdrawal policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). On December 6, the CBN directed deposit money banks and other financial institutions to ensure that weekly over-the-counter cash withdrawals by individuals and corporate entities do not exceed N100,000 and N500,000, respectively. The policy, which is expected to take effect nationwide from January 9, 2023, has elicited varied reactions among Nigerians. Reacting to the policy, Falana, in a statement on Monday, said the apex bank’s new cash withdrawal limit was “illegal and null” and contravenes provisions of section 2 of the money laundering act, 2022. The human rights advocate said section 2 of the act, limits cash withdrawals by individuals and corporate entities to N5 million and N10 million, respectively. He argued that since the act has not been amended, the new CBN policy is “null and void”. “Since the money laundering act, 2022 (which has fixed maximum cash withdrawal to N5 million) has not been amended, the limitation of cash withdrawal of not more than N20,000 per day and N100,000 per week fixed by the Central Bank of Nigeria is illegal, null and void in every material,” Falana said. “We urge the Nigerian people to ignore the illegal announcement. “However, we are compelled to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the management of the CBN to withdraw the illegal guideline and stop announcing more policies that are designed to sentence poor citizens to more excruciating economic hardship.” Meanwhile, section 2 of the money laundering act 2022 states thus: “(1) No person or body corporate shall, except in a transaction through a financial institution, make or accept cash payment of a sum exceeding— (a) N5,000,000 or its equivalent, in the case of an individual; or (b) N10,000,000 or its equivalent, in the case of a body corporate. “(2) A person shall not conduct two or more transactions separately with one or more financial institutions or designated non-financial businesses and professions with intent to — (a) avoid the duty to report a transaction which should be reported under this act; and (b) breach the duty to disclose information under this act by any other means.”

  Passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna Train station on Monday were left stranded as a result of the inactiveness of the National Identification Management Commission server. The PUNCH reports that the train services resumed operations on December 5, 2022, after eight months of suspension on the rail lines as a result of the terrorists’ attack on the train. According to media reports, train passengers scheduled for 9:45am trip could not board the train as a result of the breakdown of the server. The report further stated that passengers were left with no other choice than to travel to Kaduna by road. When contacted, the Station Superintendent, Idu, Peter Osazuwa, said, “We had small network issues concerning the National Identification Number, not our own server. It was later rectified and we used it for the other train that left by 3pm today.” Responding to a question on what happened to the passengers, he said, ”The instruction is from the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, and our Managing Director, Fidet Ohkiri, that if you do not have the NIN, you can not board the train, so when there is no NIN, there is no way they can board the train.” The Regional Manager, NRC, Pascal Nnoli, could not be reached as calls to his telephone were not answered as of the time of filling this report. The PUNCH reports that as part of the security measures being put in place by the FG, the NIN is mandatory before you can board on the train.

  The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Monday, said the Federal Government would soon resume the mass prosecution of Boko Haram suspects being held in selected military formations in Nigeria. The PUNCH reported that a similar exercise had been conducted some years ago when such trial was conducted in military facilities in Niger and Borno states. According to him, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has approved funds for the exercise. The AGF, represented by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Beatrice Jedy-Agba, dropped the information in Abuja during a special court session to mark the new legal year (2022/2023) for the Federal High Court. He said, “I would like to use this opportunity to appreciate the recent special intervention granted by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, for the provision of funds and other logistics for the commencement of the second phase of prosecutions of Boko Haram suspects. “It is my considered advisory that the fast-track innovations that were introduced in the electoral cases should also be extended to certain cases which are of high economic or commercial importance in view of the ripple effects of delay in the conclusion of such cases.” The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho faulted the National Assembly for amending the Electoral Act without inputs from the Judiciary. He expressed reservation that other arms of government were increasing the workload of the Judiciary without a commensurate increase in funding. Justice Tsoho said, “By virtue of Sections 29 (5) and 84(14), of the Act (Electoral Act 2022), exclusive jurisdiction is foisted on the Federal High Court in the hearing and determination of pre-election complaints. “Linked to that jurisdiction is Section 285(10) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which provides that such pre-election cases must be concluded within 180 days from the date of filing of the suit. “This is notwithstanding the judges’ existing ‘high-volume’ dockets that present enormous challenges. “It is necessary to place on record that the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2022 was enacted without any consultation with the court. “Also, no support whatsoever was provided to address the increased responsibility. This weighed heavily on the operations of the court.” The Chief Judge, who called for an increase in the number of judges of the Federal High Court, said poor funding was a major constraint to the court’s effective operation. “The budget of the court this year, unfortunately, makes it impracticable to effectively achieve its normal running. It is in reality, not different from that of last year, considering the raging inflationary trend. “This brings to fore, the need for the Judiciary to exercise control over its administrative, financial, and operational matters, to have the capacity to implement the necessary reforms within the system.” He said despite the additional burden that the new Electoral Act has placed on the Federal High Court, the court has performed appreciably well in promptly dealing with the total 1838 pre-election cases filed before the court. “As of today, a total of 1,838 pre-election cases were filed in the court, out of which 1,285 cases have been disposed of, leaving a total of 556 cases pending,” he said. Speaking on the court’s performance in relation to other cases in the last legal year, Justice Tsoho said, “The 2020/2021 legal year officially closed in July 2021, with a total number of 131,821 cases pending at end of that legal year and carried over to the 2021/2022 legal year, (i.e. September 2021 – June 2022). “Within that legal year, a total of 17,677 cases were filed, while the total number of cases disposed of was 13,906. “When this is added to the total number of cases carried over from the previous year which is 131,821, we have a total of 135,592 cases pending at the end of the legal year. “This comprises 41,788 civil cases; 31,832 criminal cases; 39,799 motions and 22,173 fundamental rights enforcement applications pending at the end of the legal year,” Justice Tsoho said. The representative of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), expressed concern that election cases were consuming the courts’ time to the detriment of other cases. He suggested the creation of a special court to deal with elections and related cases. He said such a court was provided for under Section 250 of the 1995 Construction proposed by the Sani Abacha military government. He said, “Normal cases inevitably had to suffer adjournments thereby frustrating good and urgent causes. “With all humility, we have reached a stage when very urgently, the Parliament, Judiciary and stakeholders in the administration of justice should consider the establishment of the National Constitutional Court of Nigeria. “The Constitutional Court is one that will handle all constitutional, political and election matters. It will be a federal court, of the status of a High court with divisions in all the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. “The court will have unlimited jurisdiction to determine all causes relating to or connected with the interpretation of the Constitution, enforcement of fundamental rights of the citizens, determination as to whether any person has been lawfully elected into any office from the President to the State Governors and members of all the Legislative houses. “The court will be like the National Industrial Court of Nigeria that exercises jurisdiction on matters related to employment and other industry-related matters. “All the decisions of the court will be appealable to the Court of Appeal and all appeals end at the Court of Appeal. “There will no longer be the need to take away about 500 judges from their normal court responsibilities to sit on election tribunals all over the country. “We have enough human resources to serve the Court in all capacities.” Awomolo said that such courts exist and function effectively in countries like India, South Africa, South Korea, Egypt, Zambia, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Germany. He said, “In