Catholic Bishops with the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma at the episcopal ordination of the auxiliary Bishop of Orlu Diocese in Imo State The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to use his good office to explore all civil remedies to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in the best interest of the South-East. The call comes barely 24 hours after the IPOB leader’s bail application was rejected by a Federal High Court in Abuja. The President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Most Reverend Lucius Ugorji, said this during the episcopal ordination of the Auxiliary Bishop of Orlu Diocese in Imo State on Wednesday. According to Most Rev. Ugorji, the release of Kanu will pave the way to economic prosperity and security in the south east. He added that his continued detention has been the major cause of insecurity in the South East, and the Monday sit-at-home has paralysed the economy of the South-East and by making many businesses lose billions of naira on a weekly basis. Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja denied bail to Kanu on Tuesday. The court, however, ordered an accelerated hearing of the case involving the embattled IPOB leader, who is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony. Kanu, who was present at the court on Tuesday, has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his arrest in June 2021. Delivering the ruling, Justice Nyako held that the court would only grant an accelerated hearing in the matter and ordered the prosecution to call its first witness. However, counsel for Kanu, Aloy Ejimakor, expressed his displeasure over the ruling, saying the IPOB leader’s legal team cannot go on with the proceedings if they are not allowed to speak with their client. Ejimakor added that it has been difficult to have a meeting with Kanu in the custody of the DSS, as their conversations were always monitored and Kanu is still wearing the same outfit that the court ordered to be changed. He alleged unfair treatment of his client, which he said contravened the Nigerian Constitution.

  Justice James Kolawole Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit instituted against the Federal Government seeking the prohibition of the conduct of elections and examinations on Saturdays in Nigeria.   The suit instituted by the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Nigeria was thrown out by the Judge on Wednesday on the ground of being frivolous and baseless. The church had claimed that Saturday is its Sabbath day of worship and that the fundamental rights of its members are being breached by the conduct of elections and examinations on Saturdays. The plaintiff then sought an order of the Court to prohibit the Federal Government from further conducting elections and examinations on the Sabbath day.   In a judgement, however, Justice Omotoso held that the fundamental rights being claimed by the church were not at large and could be curtailed by government policy. The judge also held that the church is in the minority in Nigeria and cannot impose its doctrine on the majority of other religious denominations in the country. Counsel for the Church said it would be appealing the judgment.

  The House of Representatives has passed a bill for an Act for upward review of the salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of judicial office holders in the country, with a total monthly package of N5.39m for the Chief Justice of Nigeria. In the executive bill submitted to the Green Chamber on Tuesday by President Bola Tinubu, other justices of the Supreme Court are to earn a total package of N4.21m, while the President of the Court of Appeal is to earn a total monthly package of N4.48m. Similarly, justices of the Court of Appeal are to earn a total monthly package of N3.73m while the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court, Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Grand Khadi, FCT Sharia Court of Appeal, President of Customary Court of Appeal, Chief Judge state High Court and Grand Khadi of State Sharia Court of Appeal and President of state Customary Court of Appeal will earn a total monthly package of N3.53m. The monthly package comprises basic salaries and all regular allowances, including car fueling and maintenance, personal assistance, hardship, entertainment, utilities, security, outfit, journal subscription, medicals, service allowances, restricted or forced lifestyle, dual responsibility, and legal researchers. Similarly, the House also approved other job regular allowances that are not embedded in the total monthly package to include leave allowances estacode per night of $2,000 where applicable, duty tour allowances where applicable, severance gratuity of N80, 78m at the completion of a tenure. There is also an option of a motor vehicle loan due for repayment before the expiration of the tenure of the officer concerned. Details soon…

  Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Wednesday convicted and sentenced a man, Ojo Oladeji, to life imprisonment for defiling an 11-year-old minor three times, in an uncompleted building. The judge held that the prosecution was able to prove the charge of defilement beyond reasonable doubt against Ojo. Oshodi said that the confessional statement of the convict, the medical report and the direct evidence from the survivor showed that he committed the offence. He said, “The prosecutrix (survivor), in her evidence, said that the defendant was a bricklayer to her neighbour and that he had lured her to an uncompleted building three times, gave her beer and had sex with her. “I believe the prosecutrix’s direct witness testimony, her going to the police and the hospital and the role her mother played, supported her evidence. “Moreover, the defendant confessed to the crime, corroborating her evidence and that of the medical report. “I am satisfied that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant had sex with prosecutrix as she is a child who can not give consent to sexual activities.” Consequently, the judge convicted Ojo of the charge and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Oshodi said, ”Mr Ojo Oladeji, I have convicted you of defilement and I have listened to your plea for mercy but the evidence shows that you had sex with an 11-year-old girl, who was to your knowledge, a child. “You also gave her alcohol and she told her mother she wanted to marry you after her primary 6 but her mother had to persuade her and play along for her to identify you. “The psychological harm you have caused this victim may last for decades and ruin her life and those close to her. “Additionally, you confessed to your crime but during your trial which lasted for over a year, you made a reversal by telling lies.” He said that defilement was a grave offence punishable by mandatory life imprisonment. “The law was created to demonstrate that it is not acceptable. “Therefore, the sentence I pass upon you is one of life imprisonment,” the judge said. The state counsel, led by Mr Babajide Boye, called three witnesses while the defendant also called three witnesses during the trial. The prosecutor submitted that the convict unlawfully had sex with the survivor sometime on July 20, 2021, at an uncompleted building on Agberuba Street, Meiran, Lagos. According to the prosecution, the offence contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015

  The Senate has passed the Student Loan, Access to Higher Education, Bill 2024. The senate’s resolution followed its consideration of the report of the senate committee on tertiary institutions and TETFUND. The chairman of the committee, Senator Muntari Dandutse presented the report during plenary. Last week, President Bola Tinubu transmitted the Bill to the National Assembly for its consideration and passage. The Upper Legislative chamber had given the Bill an accelerated hearing by suspending relevant sections of its standing rules and referred the Bill to the Committee of the Whole for consideration. After debate on the Bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the Bill to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative work and to report back in one week. The Bill seeks to provide easy access to higher education for indigent Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund established in the Act to provide education for all Nigerians. The senate’s resolution followed its consideration of the report of the senate committee on tertiary institutions and TETFUND. The chairman of the committee, Senator Muntari Dandutse presented the report during plenary. Last week, President Bola Tinubu had transmitted the Bill to the National Assembly for its consideration and passage. The Upper Legislative chamber had given the Bill an accelerated hearing by suspending relevant sections of its standing rules and referred the Bill to the Committee of the Whole for consideration. After debate on the Bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the Bill to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative work and to report back in one week. The Bill seeks to provide easy access to higher education for indigent Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund established in the Act to provide education for all Nigerians.

  Wednesday 20 March 2024 FG names 15 terrorism financiers, BDCs, plans sanctions Parties’ infighting, parallel primaries wasting INEC resources – Yakubu N30tn loans: Senate uncovers fresh infractions, summons Cardoso Subsidy removal: FG, states, LGs allocations hit N10.14tn Power station collapses, blackout hits Abuja, Kogi Delta bloodbath: Gov meets Tinubu, N’Assembly demand thorough probe Killers Of Soldiers In Delta May Be Mercenaries, Says Akpabio Zenith Bank Appoints Adaora Umeoji As Its First Female GMD/CEO Court Sentences Man To Life Imprisonment For Defiling Neighbour’s Under-Age Daughter Court Denies Nnamdi Kanu Bail, Orders Accelerated Hearing Senate Asks FG To Compensate Families Of Slain Soldiers Govt Officials Profiting From South-East Insecurity, I’ll Restore Peace If Freed — Nnamdi Kanu Reps Tell Ministry To Stop UK Lawyers From Practicing In Nigeria SSANU, NASU’s Strike Enters Second Day, FG Faults Hard-Line Stance Abia Assembly Passes Bill Revoking Pensions For Govs, Deputies Shaibu Loses Bid To Stop Impeachment Move Delta killings: 3 suspects nabbed, moved to Army HQ in Asaba Dele Alake to firms: No more mining licences without plans for local refining Sexual assault’: Ex-UNICAL dean asks court to quash case, says ICPC lawyer not qualified CBN lifts restrictions on FX access for importation of dairy products 605 Drug Users Arrested, 81 Convicted In Ogun 42,000mt of grains being shared to states, says Agriculture minister Tinubu writes Reps, seek passage of Bill to improve judicial officers welfare Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…