The Minister of Interior, Hon. (Dr.) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said the Federal Government is ready to expel officers abusing their powers by locking up people without a detention warrant. The Minister disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during his presentation at the International Donor Round Table on Correctional Service Reform organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC.   While speaking on the abuse of power by correctional facility controllers, which has in recent years become a commonplace practice, the Minister who frowned at such development noted that the Renewed Hope agenda of the President was set to crack down and expel anyone caught in the act. “Any controller caught taking money from a big man to lock up a poor man without a detention warrant will be expelled from the service. “We are here to fill in the gap for the weakest in the society. We are here, as a government, to be the voice of the voiceless, and the strength of the weakest. Never again should the freedom of anybody be taken away on the basis of his weakness,” Tunji-Ojo was quoted as saying in a statement by his media aide Alao Babatunde on Wednesday. The Minister assured the United Nations team that the current administration is key to doing things differently in order to earn the trust of its citizens and the international communities. “Trust is something you don’t ask for – you earn it. This government wants to work to earn your trust and loyalty. We are doing things differently, and ready to deliver on the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu where Nigerians can have a better life, and brighter future,” the Minister said. The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Matthias Schmale, commended the Minister for his proactive measures since taking over the helm of affairs of the Ministry. “I want to commend you for the good job you are doing. I am aware of the great things you have done.” Held in the UN House in Abuja, the round table saw the participation of top officials from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, UNODC, UNFPA, concerned NGOs, diplomats, and international communities including the Italian Ambassador, and representatives of the governments of Germany, Qatar and the USA.

  The Federal Government on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to grant an extension of time for old naira notes to remain in circulation as a legal tender. The government also wants the court to lift its March 3 order that the old naira notes should remain alongside the new notes till December 31. In March, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had said old N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes would remain legal tender till December 31, 2023. It said the extension of time is necessary and it has not been able to print the volume of new notes that would enable it to phase out old currency before the December 31 order. In the fresh application by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, the Federal Government is seeking the following reliefs: An order of the court reviewing its consequential order contained in the judgment of 3rd March, 2023 to the effect that the old 200, 500 and 1,000 naira notes should be legal tender until the 31st of December, 2023. The Federal Government further explained that should the Supreme Court decline its request to extend the period of circulation of old notes, the country stands the risk of descending into another national, economic and financial crisis as witnessed in the first quarter of the year when the naira redesign policy was being implemented under the former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele. It asked the court to allow the old notes to be in use with the new notes until after it consults with stakeholders, pointing out that the economy may be in jeopardy once again because some Nigerians have started hoarding the old and new naira notes ahead of the December 31st timeline. The government said it has been engaging the 10 plaintiff states in their capacities as members of the National Council of State and the National Economic Council. The 10 plaintiffs headed for the Supreme Court in the interest of the public, leading to judgment by the apex court extending the circulation of the old notes till December 31. The government was said to have realised that unless there is a fresh order from the Supreme Court, the old notes can no longer be in circulation after December 31. The Supreme Court has fixed November 30 for a hearing.

  A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has declared the appointment of the Federal Character Commission Chairperson, Muheeba Dankaka, and Secretary, Bello Tukur, by former President Muhammadu Buhari as unlawful. Buhari had in April 2020 appointed 38 people, including the chairperson and secretary, to the board of the FCC. One Festus Onifade had sued the former President and Attorney-General of the Federation to challenge the appointment of Dankaka and Tukur. FCC, Dankaka, and Tukur were joined as third, fourth, and fifth defendants, respectively, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/709/2021 . Onifade argued that the former President’s appointment of Dankaka and Tukur, both from the North Central, was in violation of the 1999 Constitution as amended and the Act of National Assembly. He said, “The appointment by first respondent of the fourth and fifth respondents is unlawful, unconstitutional null and void ab nitio for non-compliance with Section 7 and 8 (1) & (2) a,b,c of the third Schedule, Part 1 of 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (Amended), Section 4(1) of the Subsidiary Legislation (Guiding principles and formulae for the distribution of all cadres of posts) 1997 of the Federal Character Commission (Establishment, Act 1995.” He sought a declaration that the president (1st defendant) is bound to observe and comply with the provision of Sectons 7 and 8 (1), (2) (a) (b) (c) of the Third Schedule, part 1 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) in the appointment of persons to the office of the chairman and Secretary of FCC. He sought an order directing the president to immediately dissolve and reconstitute the FCC’s board in accordance with the laws. Delivering judgment on the matter on Wednesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the former President did not comply with the provisions of the Constitution and the FCC Act in the appointment of Tukur and Dankaka. He said, “Therefore, I find that there has been failure of the 1st defendant to comply with the provision of Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Section 4 (1) (a) of the FCC Establishment Act, 2004 and Section 4 of the Guiding Principles and Formulae for the Distribution of all Cadres of Posts,1997 made pursuant to Section 4 (1) (a) of the FCCE Act, 2004.”

  The Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, on Wednesday, shared a total sum of N906.955 billion to the three tiers of government as federation allocation for the month of October. This is according to a communique issued on Wednesday after the FAAC retreat and meeting in Asaba, Delta State. The communique indicated that the N906.955 billion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N305.070 billion, distributable Value Added Tax, VAT, revenue of N323.446 billion and Electronic Money Transfer Levy, EMTL, revenue of N15.552 billion. It also comprised Exchange Difference revenue of N202.887 billion and Augmentation of N60.000 billion. According to the communique, total revenue of N1,346.519 trillion was available in the month of October 2023. “Total deductions for cost of collection was N53.483 billion; total transfers, interventions and refunds was N386.081 billion. “Gross statutory revenue of N 660.090 billion was received for the month of October 2023. This was lower than the N1,014.953 billion received in the month of September 2023 by N354.863 billion. “The gross revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) was N347.343 billion. This was higher than the N303.550 billion available in the month of September 2023 by N43.793 billion,” the communique said. It further said that from the N906.955 billion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received a total of N323.355 billion, the state governments received N307.717 billion and the Local Government Councils (LGCs) received N225.209 billion. “A total sum of N50.674 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the relevant states as derivation revenue. “From the N305.070 billion distributable statutory revenue, the Federal Government received N147.574 billion, the state governments received N74.852 billion and the LGCs received N57.707 billion. ” The sum of N24.937 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the relevant states as derivation revenue. “The Federal Government received N48.517 billion, the state governments received N161.723 billion and the LGCs received N113.206 billion from the N323.446 billion distributable VAT revenue. “The N15.552 billion EMTL was shared as follows: “The Federal Government received N2.333 billion, the state governments received N7.776 billion and the LGCs received N5.443 billion,” It said. It said that the Federal Government received N93.323 billion from the N202.887 billion Exchange Difference revenue, while the state governments received N47.334 billion, and the LGCs received N36.493 billion. “The sum of N25.737 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) went to the relevant states as derivation revenue,” it said. It explained that the augmentation of N60.000 billion was shared as follows: “Federal Government received N31.608, the state governments received N16.032 billion and the LGCs received N 12.360 billion,” it said. The communique said that Import Duty, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT VAT, CET Levies and EMTL increased significantly while Excise Duties and Companies Income Tax (CIT) recorded considerable decreases. “Oil and Gas Royalties decreased marginally,” it said.

  The Court of Appeal has insisted that its judgment on the dispute over the last Governorship election in Kano State is as pronounced in the open court. The appellate court insisted that the judgment dismissed the appeal by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and candidate Kabir Yusuf, adding that it upheld the judgment of the trial tribunal. The Chief Registrar, Court of Appeal, Umar Mohammed Bangari, said there nothing to the controversies generated by the typographical errors notices on the certified true copies (CTCs) of the judgment obtained by parties. Bangari explained that what discrepancies notice in the body of the judgment were as a result clerical error that did not, in anyway invalidate or change the findings and conclusion of the court. He said the errors would be rectified once parties in the case file a formal application to that effect. Bangari said the court is empowered under Order 23 Rule 4 of the Court of Appeal Handbook to correct any clerical error once detected by the court or any of the parties in a case. The Chief Registrar stated that contrary to insinuations being peddled, the judgment of the court, as pronounced in the open court, remains valid. He said: “What happened in the part of the judgment being complained about is just a mere clerical error that ought not to draw any issue. “The court is empowered to correct such clerical error and would be done as appropriate.” The discrepancies noticed in the concluding part of the CTC of judgment released to parties have continued to generate reactions, with the NNPP claiming, among others, that the judgement was in its favour. A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal had, in a unanimous judgment on November 17 dismissed the appeal filed by Yusuf and the NNPP. In the lead judgment by Justice Moore Adumein the court further held that evidence supplied by the parties before the tribunal, established that Yusuf was not a member of the NNPP at the time the election was held. He noted that under Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution, Yusuf was not qualified to contest the governorship election since he was not validly sponsored by the NNPP. Justice Adumein said: “A person must be a member of a political party before he can be sponsored for an election. Sponsorship without membership is like putting something on nothing.” He noted that it was the position of the law that every political party shall maintain the register of its voters, adding that Yusuf, to his own detriment did not submit his NNPP membership register or even tendered his statement on oath regarding his membership of the party during hearing at the trial. Justice Adumein said the Constitution made it mandatory for a political party to have a membership register, which should submit to INEC and the election tribunal when required. He added: “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 18 Governorship Election. “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.” Justice Adumein further held that the trial tribunal acted in the overall interest of justice when it allowed the APC to tender documents during trial, because INEC released documents to the party in piecemeal in order to defeat the petition of the petitioner. He also held that the insistence of the respondents (at the tribunal) that APC ought to have joined its candidate (Gawuna) as a party in the proceedings, was not backed supported by the Constitution. The judge said a candidate is entitled to be represented by his political party during litigation. He upheld the findings of the tribunal in relation to faulting result sheets which were not duly stamped by INEC. Justice Adumein, while affirming the judgment of the tribunal, said: “All issues in this appeal are dismissed and the judgment of the tribunal is affirmed.”   Dissatisfied with INEC’s return of Yusuf as winner of the election, the APC had lodged a petition before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, seeking to void the outcome of the election. The petitioner argued that the election was conducted in gross violation of the constitution and the electoral law and malpractices in the conduct of the March 18 governorship election in Kano State. In its judgment on September 20 the tribunal agreed with the petitioners that over 160,000 ballot papers “were not signed or stamped by INEC.” The tribunal led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan Osadebay proceeded to reduce Yusuf’s scores to 853,939 by deducting 165,663 votes but left Gawuna’s scores at 890,705, a decision that Yusuf appealed at the Court of Appeal.

  Pope Francis says the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, has morphed from war to terrorism. The pope spoke on Wednesday while delivering his remarks at St. Peter’s Square, a plaza located directly in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City, the papal enclave in Rome. Francis said he met separately with relatives of Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel and heard directly how “both sides are suffering” in the conflict. He begged for peace so that both sides would not be consumed with “passions, which in the end, kill everyone”. “This is what wars do. But here we have gone beyond wars. This is not war. This is terrorism,” he added. Francis, however, did not mention the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas which was concluded hours before his speech. A statement from the Israeli government said at least 50 hostages — women and children — will be released in Gaza over four days and hinted that the ceasefire could be extended.   A Hamas statement, on the other hand, said 150 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women and children, held in Israeli jails will also be released as part of the deal. The truce would also allow the entry of “a larger number of humanitarian convoys and relief aid,” the statement said, adding that the start time of the pause in fighting would be announced within the next 24 hours. The agreement marks a major diplomatic breakthrough nearly seven weeks after the start of a conflict that has spiralled into a grave humanitarian crisis in the enclave.