Osun State Government has said the governor, Ademola Adeleke, has not appointed anyone as acting Chief Judge of the state, noting that he only forwarded the resolution of the State House of Assembly that asked the Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo to step aside to the National Judicial Commission. Ojo was last Thursday asked to step aside by the State House of Assembly to allow for an investigation into the petitions written against her. Also, the same day, spokesperson to the governor, Olawale Rasheed, in a statement sent to journalists in Osogbo, said Adeleke had approved the appointment of Justice Olayinka David Afolabi The statement read, “Governor Ademola Adeleke has appointed Justice Olayinka David Afolabi as the acting Chief Judge of Osun state with immediate effect following the approval of the resolution of the House of Assembly.” In another statement, Rasheed said the deputy governor, Kola Adewusi, would perform the swearing-in ceremony of Afolabi, who is next on the order of seniority, the following day, Friday. But the swearing-in did not hold with the government citing a decision to follow necessary procedures as the reason. A fresh twist into the matter however emerged Sunday, when the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said Adeleke has not appointed anyone as acting Chief Judge. Alimi said the governor in his communication to the Chief Judge of Nigeria only notified him of the current investigation of the Osun Chief Judge and made a recommendation to the National Judicial Council for the appointment of an acting Chief Judge. The statement read in parts, “The government of Osun state has denied news reports that Governor Ademola Adeleke has removed the Chief Judge and appointed an acting Chief Judge, clarifying that the Governor had only forwarded the resolution of the House of Assembly and recommendation for an acting appointment to the Chief Justice of the Federation for decision and action. “With all sense of responsibility, it is important to set the records straight that Governor Adeleke has only duly notified the Chief Justice as the Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) in writing about the resolutions of the House of Assembly following a series of petitions made against the sitting Chief Judge of Osun State. “In the communication, Mr Governor intimated the CJN of the recommendation of the House that the Chief Judge should step aside and include his own submission for an acting appointment to fill the vacuum while the NJC reviews and decides on the petition. “To that end, the Governor in the same letter recommended to the CJN, the appointment of the most senior judicial officer, Hon.Justice Olayinka David Afolabi for thorough consideration and further processing by the same NJC through the CJN.” Urging the public to note that, while the House of Assembly recommended the appointment of a replacement to the governor in its resolution, Alimi stressed that Adeleke toed the line of law by writing the CJN on the entire development and submitting materials to the NJC as a mandated national agency. “We therefore wish to state categorically that Governor Adeleke has not appointed any judicial official as Acting Chief Judge and nobody has been sworn in as Acting Chief Judge of Osun state. “Governor Adeleke is a man of due process and rule of law with a deep level of respect for the bar and the bench, the NJC and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “We assure the public that Mr Governor is fully aware of the limit of his powers as well as the responsibilities of the various agencies of government and will therefore not act in any way to violate the constitution and rule of law,” the statement added.

  Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), BudgIT and 34 concerned Nigerians have filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over “the appointment of at least four members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and allies of high-ranking politicians as new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).” The Senate has confirmed the appointment of seven out of 10 newly appointed RECs for INEC. The alleged APC members appointed as RECs include those from Akwa Ibom, Edo, Lagos and Rivers states. In the suit number FHC/L/CS/2353/2023 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, the Plaintiffs are seeking: “an order setting aside the nomination, confirmation and appointment of the alleged APC members as RECs for INEC, for being unconstitutional, unlawful, null, void and of no effect.”   The Plaintiffs are also seeking: “an order of mandamus to compel President Tinubu and Senate President Mr Godswill Akpabio to remove the alleged APC members as RECs for INEC, in line with Section 157 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].” The Plaintiffs are also seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Tinubu to appoint qualified Nigerians who are persons of unquestionable integrity and a non-member of a political party or loyalist to the positions of RECs for INEC, in line with Paragraph 14(3)(b)(c), Third Schedule and Section 156 of the Nigerian Constitution.” In the suit, the Plaintiffs are arguing that: “The status, powers, independence of INEC, and the impartiality with which it acts and is seen to be allowed to act, are fundamental to the integrity of Nigeria’s elections and effectiveness of citizens’ democratic rights.” The Plaintiffs are also arguing that, “INEC ought to be the primary guarantor of the integrity and purity of the electoral process. President Tinubu and the Senate have the constitutional responsibilities to ensure both the appearance and the actual independence and impartiality in the nomination and confirmation of INEC top officials.” According to the Plaintiffs, “The credibility and legitimacy of elections depend mostly on the independence and impartiality of those appointed to manage the process. Without an independent and impartial INEC, the democratic rights of Nigerians would remain illusory.” The Plaintiffs are arguing that, “Anyone to be appointed as RECs for INEC must clearly be non-partisan, independent, impartial and neutral. INEC officials ought to be able to discharge their legal duties and implement the Electoral Act without fear or favour.” The Plaintiffs are also arguing that, “Nigeria’s electoral body must enjoy the independence from direction or control, whether from the government or any other quarter. It must be accountable to the electorate, and act accordingly.” The suit filed on behalf of the Plaintiffs by their lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Andrew Nwankwo, read in part: “As public officers, President Tinubu and Mr Godswill Akpabio are required to act in conformity with their oath of office and the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].” “Treating INEC as a line department accountable to bureaucratic higher-ups and high-ranking politicians rather than as an independent and impartial body is antithetical to constitutional and international standards and the notion of the rule of law.” “The use of the word ‘non-partisan’ means that those to be appointed to conduct credible elections must not be people who openly identify as belonging to a political party, whose occupation is politics or who are perceived by ordinary Nigerians as having political biases.” “Section 153(1) (f) of the Nigerian Constitution provides that ‘There shall be established for the Federation the following bodies, namely – (f) Independent National Electoral Commission.’” “Section 156(1) of the Nigerian Constitution provides among others that, ‘in the case of the Independent National Electoral Commission, he[she] [the person to be appointed as a REC] shall not be a member of a political party.’” “Paragraph 14 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution provides among others that ‘2. A member [of INEC] shall –a. be non-partisan and a person of unquestionable integrity… 3. a Resident Electoral Commissioner shall –b. be a person of unquestionable integrity and shall not be a member of any political party.’” “Under Section 6(4) of the Electoral Act 2022, ‘The appointment of a Resident Electoral Commissioner shall be in compliance with section 14 (3) of the Nigerian Constitution.’” “The nomination, confirmation and appointment of the alleged APC members as RECs for INEC is a breach of Section 6(4) of the Electoral Act 2022 and Section 156(1)(a) and Paragraph 14 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution.” “The United Nations Human Rights Committee has stated that states including Nigeria should establish independent electoral authorities to supervise the electoral process and to ensure that elections are conducted fairly, impartially and in accordance with established laws and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.” “The African Union’s African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance to which Nigeria is a state party also calls upon state parties to establish and strengthen independent and impartial national electoral bodies responsible for the management of elections.” “Those recently appointed as RECs and confirmed by the Senate include an individual who was formerly a member of the PDP before allegedly ‘decamping’ to the APC and who served as the Chief of Staff to Mr Godswill Akpabio when he was Governor of Akwa Ibom State.” “The alleged APC members or loyalists also include individuals who reportedly campaigned on social media for the election of President Tinubu and who was appointed as chairman of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board in 2001 when Mr Tinubu governed the state.” Joined in the suit as Defendants are: INEC; Mr Godswill Akpabio, for himself and on behalf of the Senate; and Messrs Etekamba Umoren; Isah Shaka Ehimeakne; Anugbum Onuoha; and Bunmi Omoseyindemi. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

  The Federal Government has said it will not name and shame identified financiers of terrorism in the country. The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who disclosed this yesterday in an interview on the sidelines of the 27th Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) Ministerial Committee Meeting in Abuja, had earlier stated that the Federal Government has identified terrorism financiers in the country. This was even as the government has flagged off the release of 4,068 prisoners in various correctional centres across the country. Fagbemi said the government would not go into name and shame because it may jeopardise further investigation or apprehension of other people involved. Earlier in his speech, Fagbemi, while commending the good work GIABA is doing in the effort to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in West Africa, noted that it is incumbent on member states to provide all the support that is necessary for the group to conduct its work in a more effective and efficient manner. “As a capable and technically confident organisation, GIABA can and should put before the rest of the global Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism financing (AML/CFT) network, the aspirations and peculiarities of our region. “I also believe we need to take some time for introspection and an assessment of where we have fallen short. In particular, looking at the effectiveness of our AML/CFT/CPF frameworks, it is clear that across the region there is significant room for improvement,” Fagbemi said. He called on all the member states to recommit themselves to becoming champions for truly effective national AML/CFT/CPF systems; “to become leaders who push our national institutions to perform to the highest of their capabilities; to recognise that the FATF Standards are not punitive measures but tools to help us assure the safety, security and prosperity of our countries, our region, our continent and indeed the global community.” The Minister of Interior, Mr. Tunji Ojo, who disclosed the release of the inmates in an interview, said the inmates are the non-violent offenders and those that are remanded in prison because they are unable to pay some fines. He said he had earlier promised to raise N585 million through CSR from corporate bodies to help clear the fines. “We have been able to raise the money and we have been able to offset those fines. That is to show you that when we give our word, we want to keep it,” he said. The minister noted that the correctional centre is transformatory. “It is a place that is meant to ensure that the fundamental rights of the inmates are protected and that they are rehabilitated to be reintegrated into the society. The target of the judicial system is not just to punish people but also to remodel and rehabilitate them so as to reintegrate them,” Ojo said. The Director General of GIABA, Mr. Edwin Harris, commended the member states for their commitment to the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing in West Africa. He, however, said there was a need to improve the effectiveness of their strategies. “The low level of effectiveness is a major challenge in our fight against transnational crimes. This is a call to action by all and the need to defer same could be cataclysmic in implementing sound measures that deter and prevent unlawful activities,” Harris said.

  Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has identified corruption as the greatest challenge confronting the growth and development of Nigeria. Magu made this statement at the investiture of Fellows and graduate members of the Institute for Governance and Leadership Studies in Africa (IGLSA) held at the Africa University of Science and Technology, Abuja, on Saturday. Giving his acceptance speech on behalf of eight other awardees, Magu restated his belief in the fight against corruption even as he left the system unceremoniously. He said, “Today as we celebrate this honour, I therefore reemphasize the importance of eradicating corruption for our nations progress. When you fight corruption, it is certain that the future is assured for all” Other awardees of fellows of the institute include the executive governor of Yobe state, His Excellency, Alh. Mai Malla Buni, who was represented by the deputy governor of the state, Hon. Idi Barde Gubawa, Wazirin Fune, the National Coordinator of Presidential Executive Order 5, Engr. Ibiam Oguejiofo and Sir Folu Olamiti, publisher of Newspot and member of Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, GOCOP. In his welcome address, the Director General of the Institute, Dr. Lanre Adebayo, appreciated the important roles all the awardees have played in nation building, noting that the recognition, though academic, was to identify those Nigerians that have impacted positively in the development of the country but are rarely in the public domain.

  The Labour Party in Imo has raised alarm over what they could describe as the frustration and denial by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to have access to certified true copies of documents used for the state’s November 11 governorship election. This is contained in a statement signed by the Director, Media and Publicity, of the Athan Achonu Campaign Organisation, Mr Chibuikem Diala, on Saturday. Diala said that the official request already made by the party’s solicitors to the INEC for the copies was duly acknowledged and received on November 15, and wondered why the release of the documents had been delayed. He urged the National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to prevail on the commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo, Prof. Sylvia Agu to release the documents, adding that “time is of the essence.” He said: “INEC was so efficient to announce the results of 27 LGAs of Imo in less than 12 hours after the election, one wonders why the commission is taking over 144 hours to release the documents backing their pronouncements.” According to him, one would expect a better and more efficient approach from the electoral body.   He said: ” We sincerely hope that this delay is not a decoy by INEC in Imo and agents of the APC led government to tamper with sensitive materials in INEC’s possession.” He called on security agencies to remain vigilant and do all they can to ensure that the certified true copies are released as requested and in good time. He, however, thanked LP supporters for their unalloyed steadfastness and assured them of the commitment of the party’s candidate, Sen. Athan Achonu to retrieving the mandate through due process

  Sunday 19 November 2023 Osun CJ’s removal, replacement illegal, says NJC, SANs knock gov Knowledge hurdles: Ordeals of Nigerians studying abroad amidst elusive Eldorado Police launch manhunt for carpenter over apprentice murder Police probe killing of Kwara Poly student Kano: NNPP Rejects Verdict As Gov Yusuf Heads To Supreme Court Suspected Boko Haram Insurgents Kill Two Policemen On Gov Buni’s Convoy Lagos Govt Begins Demolition Of Distressed Buildings In Ebute-Metta Hamas Health Ministry Says More Than 80 Dead In Strikes On Refugee Camp Tinubu Celebrates Boakai’s Poll Victory In Liberia, Hails Weah For Conceding Defeat How We Arrested Internet Fraud Suspects, Resisted NAF Officers’ Invasion – EFCC Lieutenant Colonel Emerges As First Army Professor At NDA Suspected Cultists Hack Poly Student, One Other To Death In Kwara State Tinubu Departs Nigeria For G20 Compact With Africa Conference In Berlin Inside Abuja’s Murky Commercial Sex Trade Setback For Counterterrorism As Niger Pulls Out Of MNJTF Over 80 Dead In Israel Strikes On Refugee Camp – Hamas Election manipulation fears: ‘Partisan’ RECs spark firestorm FG will not name, shame terrorism financiers, says AGF Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  The Federal Government has flagged off the release of 4,068 inmates sentenced to various terms of imprisonment with the option of a fine and compensation in custodial centres nationwide. Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who performed the symbolic release of the inmates at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, Abuja, on Saturday, said this was in a bid to decongest custodial centres across the country and make them humane for proper reformation and rehabilitation of offenders to take place. He lamented that as of Friday, November 17, 2023, there were about 80,804 inmates in 253 custodial facilities nationwide, and the total installed capacity for the 253 custodial centres adds up to less than 50,000. Tunji-Ojo called for reform in the criminal justice administration to allow for speedy dispensation of justice, pointing out that a large number of inmates in custodial centres are awaiting trial. According to him, the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, where 37 of the beneficiary inmates were released, has the installed capacity to hold 560 inmates, but currently, a total of 730 inmates are being held in the Custodial Centre. He added that out of the 730 inmates, 565 of them are awaiting trial. “This shows that our custodial facilities are overcrowded, necessitating this initiative we are flagging off today, which is targeted towards addressing the overcrowding conundrum bedevilling our custodial centres and their reformatory functions. “Today, we flag off the release of a total of 4,068 inmates who are serving different terms of imprisonment in lieu of fines and/or compensation,” he stated. Tunji-Ojo explained that most of the inmates being granted freedom are indigents who could not afford to pay their fines and have been languishing in custody. The Minister disclosed that the sum of N585,000,000.00 was raised by philanthropic individuals, groups, and corporate bodies as part of their corporate social responsibility for the purpose of releasing the inmates. “Hence, all inmates in custodial centres who have fines and/or compensation not exceeding one million naira (N1,000,000.00) are qualified and would benefit from this gesture. “In addition, we are also providing each of them a stipend to enable them to return to their communities,” he added. Tunji-Ojo charged the benefiting inmates to see their freedom as a second chance to make things right again, advising them to stay off crime and criminality, saying all must join hands with President Tinubu to make Nigeria a great nation He disclosed that the Federal Government ensured that the beneficiary inmates were given requisite training aimed at impacting their lives functionally and equipping them with the knowledge for their self-reliance upon discharge, stressing that the government was not just releasing them to their fates. He noted that the training also covers their civic duties and responsibilities as citizens and strategies for refraining from reoffending. “In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mantra of renewed hope, the benefiting inmates have been given a second opportunity to get back on track and contribute to the ongoing development of our dear nation,” he said. While reiterating the commitment of the current administration to the welfare of inmates, the Minister said the Federal Government is poised to transform custodial and non-custodial facilities to ensure compliance with international human rights standards and good correctional practices. He added that the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has contributed to national security by ensuring the custody of deviants, thereby protecting society, and promised that the government would support the service in ensuring that it functions effectively and efficiently, especially in the area of upscaling staff and inmates’ welfare. He warned against stigmatising the inmates being released while calling on the larger community to receive these returning citizens with open arms and refrain from stigmatising them as it could drive them back to offending the law, which would further endanger society. He further urged the inmates to abide by the instructions and training they had received while in custody and to be good ambassadors in their communities. He said, “It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its custodial facilities,” while commending all stakeholders who facilitated the noble gesture as their corporate social responsibility. He added that they all have a stake in ensuring that offenders are properly reformed, rehabilitated, and reintegrated back into their communities. The Controller General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa, said the release of the inmates was in line with the commitment of the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to sustain the ongoing reforms in the paramilitary services in the country. He noted that overcrowding of inmates has been a perennial challenge faced by the NCoS, saying the federal government gesture would go a long way to decongest the custodial centres across the country. Nababa listed plumbing, building construction, soap-making, artwork, carpentry, fishery, poultry, and tailoring, among others, as some of the skills acquired by the inmates while in the facility, saying this would enable them to reintegrate effectively into society. One of the beneficiary inmates, who gave his name simply as Sunday from Anambra State, said he has been incarcerated for about 15 months since he was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of a N500,000 fine. Sunday, just like other inmates, was thankful to the Minister of Interior for coming to their aid in securing their release from custody. “My name is Sunday from Anambra. I have been here for 15 months. I was sentenced to two years of imprisonment with the option of a $5,000 fine. I’m from a poor family, and there is no way they could raise such money. “I thank the Minister for what he has done to free us. I can assure him and the President that we will not go back to committing crimes any more. All of us are happy today,” Sunday said.