The federal government has suspended Air Nigeria Airline project indefinitely. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo announced this at the Ministerial briefing to mark the first year of the Tinubu administration. He said the airline was never a Nigerian airline but an attempt to use a foreign airline to pose as a Nigerian national airline. More to follow….
Please note that this explainer was first published on 27 May, 2024. By Pascal Ibe The order from a Federal High court to halt the reinstatement of Sanusi Muhammadu Sanusi as Emir of Kano, has continued to generate reactions from the public. On 23 May, 2024, Justice Liman of the Federal High Court in Kano issued an ex-parte order preventing Kano governor from reinstating Sanusi as Emir of Kano. Despite this order, Sanusi Muhammadu Sanusi ll on Friday received appointment letter as the 16th Emir of Kano from Governor Abba Yusuf at a grand event that took place at the Government House in Kano. Kano governor, Abba Yusuf vowed to petition the judge for allegedly delivering a ruling while in the US. In a feature by DailyTrust’s John Chuks Azu, disclosed how the same justice Liman had on July 8, 2023, restrained the Kano Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission and other security agencies from harassing, arresting, inviting or detaining Ganduje. The order followed the move by the state government to investigate the governor following a 2018 video which allegedly captured Ganduje stuffing bundles of dollar notes from a contractor into his B Babanriga. This piece explains why court order halting the reinstatement of Sanusi as Kano Emir, cannot stand. According to city lawyers magazine, an article by Sylvester Udemezue queried whether if the lawsuit not an abuse of the process of Court, considering that the subject matter is a chieftaincy dispute over which the Federal High Court does not, under any circumstances, have jurisdiction. The article stated that the suit is most likely an abuse of the process of Court by the Plaintiff. The Federal High Court does not seem to have jurisdiction in the matter; there is hardly any way one would frame the relief to succeed in bringing the suit within the jurisdictional competence of the Federal High Court of Nigeria. It’s a chieftaincy dispute, pure and simple, over which the Federal High Court is incompetent to adjudicate. On whether it does not amount to professional misconduct for the Plaintiff’s lawyers to have filed this case in the Federal High Court, considering the subject matter and the cause of action as reported, the writer submitted that the lawyers who filed the case may be considered to have committed an act of professional misconduct in view of the provisions of Rule 15 of the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC), 2023. What’s the business of the Federal High Court in a chieftaincy dispute in Kano State? The lawyers knew/know or ought to know that under the Constitution the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court is both EXCLUSIVE (meaning that it doesn’t share its jurisdiction with any other Court) and LIMITED, meaning that the Federal High Court is competent to hear ONLY disputes arising from or connected to the matters/items expressly listed in SECTION 251(1) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999. Chieftaincy disputes are clearly outside of it, every lawyer ought reasonably to know. Filing the suit at the Federal High Court is a form of disloyalty to the extant law, which is forbidden by *RULE 15(3)(a),* which provides that “a lawyer must not give service to the client which the lawyer knows or ought reasonably to know is capable of causing disloyalty to the law or bringing disrespect to the holder of any public office”. Also, by virtue of *RULE 15(1)(a)&(b),* a lawyer ought to keep strictly within the law notwithstanding any contrary instructions by his client and must use his best endeavours to prevent his client from causing a breach of the law”. Finally, *RULE 15(3)(b)&(c), RPC* provides that “a lawyer shall not file a suit or knowingly advance a Claim that is unwarranted under existing law”. In my opinion, the lawyers who filed the case at the FHC could be caught under the web of Rule 15 (1),(2)&(3) of the RPC, and as such may be qualified as candidates for professional legal disciplinary processes pursuant to Rule 74(1) RPC, 2023 which provides: “A lawyer who acts in contravention of the provisions of Chapter 1 of these Rules or fails to perform any of the duties imposed by that Chapter, commits professional misconduct and is liable to punishment as provided in the Legal Practitioners Act”. Types of professional misconduct in the legal profession and punishment for professional misconduct are provided for under SECTIONS 12 AND 13 OF THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS ACT, CAP L11, LDN, 2004 On whether the presiding judge was not equally guilty of unprofessionalism in having granted this application after having raised issues of jurisdiction, and without resolving the jurisdictional issues raised, the writer noted that the action of the presiding judge who reportedly made this order (that is, if the order was really made), may be viewed as a display of unprofessionalism and may also be seen to amount to a breach of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers. Rule 1(1.2) &(1.3) of the REVISED CODE OF CONDUCT FOR JUDICIAL OFFICERS OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA provides that “1.2. A Judge shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all of the Judge’s activities both in his professional and private life. 1.3 A Judicial Officer should respect and comply with the laws of the land and should conduct himself at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the Judiciary”. Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Code dealing with APPLICATION OF THE CODE provides that “The Code applies to all categories of Judicial Officers throughout the Federation as defined in this Code. 2. Violation of any of the Rules contained in this Code shall constitute judicial misconduct and or, misbehavior and shall attract disciplinary action” When contacted a lawyer at Equity Chambers in Owerri, Barr. Destiny Alozie simply noted that no Federal high court has jurisdiction over Chieftaincy Disputes. Listen to the audio here 👇
The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has called for the scrapping of State Electoral Commissions. Fagbemi stated that the existence of the commissions is the main impediment to the development of local governments. He made this at a one-day ‘Discourse on National Nigeria’s Security Challenges and Good Governance at the Local Government Levels” in Abuja on Monday. The programme, themed “Nigeria’s Security Challenges and Good Governance at the Local Government Levels,” was organized by the House of Representatives. Fagbemi highlighted that governors have exploited the shortcomings and gaps in certain sections of the 1999 Constitution to weaken and make local governments ineffective. The Minister of Justice pointed out that the most prevalent form of abuse in local government is the use of state electoral commissions for sham elections and governors’ preference for appointing caretaker leaders in local governments. He therefore called for the elimination of State Electoral Commissions to foster true democratic practices within local governments. His words: “To achieve this, many experts have proposed that there is need for the scrapping of the state independent electoral commission. “Their functions and powers should be transferred to the independent national electoral commission because the state independent electoral commission remain an appendage to every incumbent governor. This is perceived as the root cause of the problem of local government administration in Nigeria.”
The Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, on Monday, affirmed Usman Ododo as the Governor of Kogi State. In upholding the election of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the tribunal dismissed the petition of Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). More to follow…
The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, on Monday, upheld the election that produced Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State. A three-man panel led by Justice Adekunle Adeleye dismissed the petition filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Timipre Sylva, and the party for lacking in merit. In a unanimous decision, the tribunal held that the petitioners failed to prove any credible evidence to back up any of the allegations they raised against the re-election victory of Diri. Details shortly…
A 17-year-old student, Emmanuela Ilok, has reportedly been awarded full scholarships to study Software Engineering by some of the world’s prestigious universities, including Stanford, MIT, Yale, UPenn, Princeton, and Columbia. Education activist and CEO of Educare, Alex Onyia, shared Ilok’s accomplishments in a post on his X page on Sunday. “This is Emmanuela Ilok, the brilliant 17-year-old who received full scholarships to study Software Engineering at Stanford, MIT, Yale, UPenn, Princeton, and Columbia University,” Onyia wrote. According to him, Ilok’s academic prowess has already garnered national recognition, as she was awarded the country’s best in the International General Certificate of Secondary Education in Nigeria by the British Council. Onyia also noted that Ilok developed software that uses Machine Learning to detect breast cancer in women, with an impressive 91% detection accuracy. He wrote, “She built a software that uses Machine Learning to detect breast cancer in women and so far it has 91% detection accuracy.” Onyia, who hosted a virtual meeting for Ilok to speak with Nigerian students and guide them on how to prepare for and access such opportunities on Sunday, was left awestruck by her potential. “I spent over an hour listening to her today, and I can tell you that we have a superstar in her,” he said. Onyia further emphasised the need to identify and nurture such exceptional talents, stating, “We have many hidden Emmanuelas in Nigeria, and we need to discover and support them. It’s time for Nigeria to shine.” Earlier, a young mathematics prodigy, Ugwoezuonu Ogechi Zara, was reportedly awarded an N21 million scholarship after scoring a perfect score of 100% in the primary category of the National Mathematics Competition organised by the Mathematics Association of Nigeria
Bandits operating in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State have killed one Pastor Joshua Musa after they collected ransom for his freedom. Musa who hails from Nasarawa State was a Pastor of the Evangelical Church of West Africa ECWA at the Sarkin Pawa Community of the local government before his death. The pastor’s death was confirmed by some members of ECWA who went on social media to condole with the family. A member, Sunny Danbaba wrote, “This pastor and his wife were kidnapped at Shiroro DCC. After payment to release them, on their way coming out of the bush, they killed him.” The bandits were said to have released Musa and the other victims after collecting the ransom but as they were leaving the forest, they dragged the Pastor back and killed him. Musa’s wife and the other victims were however spared and allowed to return to their homes. PUNCH Online learnt that the Pastor was kidnapped alongside his wife and others seven days ago. The bandits decided to take his life even after the ransom had been paid for his release. The Niger State Police Command Spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun when contacted on Monday said he would find out and get back to this correspondent. “I will find out,” he said.
Israeli air strikes killed at least 35 Palestinians and wounded dozens in an area in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah designated for the displaced, Palestinian health and civil emergency service officials said. The Israeli military said its air force struck a Hamas compound in Rafah and that the strike was carried out with “precise ammunition and on the basis of precise intelligence.” It took out Hamas’ chief of staff for the West Bank and another senior official behind deadly attacks on Israelis, it said. The IDF is aware of reports indicating that as a result of the strike and fire that was ignited, several civilians in the area were harmed. The incident is under review,” it continued. The spokesperson for Gaza’s Health Ministry, Ashraf Al-Qidra, said 35 people were killed and dozens others, most of them women and children, were wounded in the attack. The strike took place in the Tel Al-Sultan neighborhood in western Rafah, where thousands of people were taking shelter after many fled the eastern areas of the city where Israeli forces began a ground offensive over two weeks ago. The International Committee of the Red Cross said its field hospital in Rafah was receiving an influx of casualties, and that other hospitals also were taking in a large number of patients. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri described the attack in Rafah as a “massacre,” holding the United States responsible for aiding Israel with weapons and money. “The airstrikes burnt the tents, the tents are melting and the people’s bodies are also melting,” said one of the residents who arrived at the Kuwaiti Hospital in Rafah. Earlier Sunday, the Israeli military said eight projectiles were identified crossing from the area of Rafah, the southern tip of the Gaza Strip where Israel kept up operations despite a ruling by the top UN court on Friday ordering it to stop attacking the city. A number of the projectiles were intercepted, it said. There were no reports of casualties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was convening his war cabinet later Sunday to discuss continued operations in Rafah. Israel argues that the UN court’s ruling allows room for some military action there. In a statement on its Telegram channel, the Hamas al-Qassam Brigades said the rockets were launched in response to “Zionist massacres against civilians.” Rafah is located about 100 kilometers south of Tel Aviv. Israel says it wants to root out Hamas fighters holed up in Rafah and rescue hostages it says are being held in the area, but its assault has worsened the plight of civilians and caused an international outcry. On Sunday, Israeli strikes killed at least five Palestinians in Rafah, according to local medical services. The Gaza Health Ministry identified the dead as civilians. Israeli tanks have probed around the edges of Rafah, near the crossing point from Gaza into Egypt, and have entered some of its eastern districts, residents say, but have not yet entered the city in force since the start of operations in the city earlier this month. Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz said the rockets fired from Rafah “prove that the (Israel Defense Forces) must operate in every place Hamas still operates from.” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant held an operational assessment in Rafah where he was briefed on “troops’ operations above and below the ground, as well as the deepening of operations in additional areas with the aim of dismantling Hamas battalions,” his office said in a statement. Itamar Ben Gvir, a hard-line public security minister who is not part of Israel’s war cabinet, urged the army to hit Rafah harder. “Rafah with full force,” he posted on social platform X. Nearly 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive, Gaza’s Health Ministry says. Israel launched the operation after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Fighting also continued in the northern Gaza area of Jabaliya, the scene of intense combat earlier in the war. During one raid, the military said it found a weapons storage site with dozens of rocket parts and weapons at a school. It denied Hamas statements that Palestinian fighters had abducted an Israeli soldier. Hamas media said an Israeli airstrike on a house in a neighborhood near Jabaliya killed 10 people and wounded others. Efforts to agree a halt to the fighting and return more than 120 hostages have been blocked for weeks but there were some signs of movement this weekend following meetings between Israeli and US intelligence officials and Qatar’s prime minister. An official with knowledge of the matter said a decision had been taken to resume the talks this week based on new proposals from Egyptian and Qatari mediators, and with “active US involvement.” However, a Hamas official played down the report, telling Reuters: “It is not true.” Netanyahu’s war cabinet would discuss the new proposals, his office said. A second Hamas official, Izzat El-Reshiq, said the group had not received anything from the mediators on new dates for resuming talks as had been reported by Israeli media. Reshiq restated Hamas’s demands, which include: “Ending the aggression completely and permanently, in all of Gaza Strip, not only Rafah.” While Israel is seeking the return of hostages, Netanyahu has repeatedly said the war will not end until Hamas, which is sworn to Israel’s destruction, is eliminated. (Reuters)
Amid the Emirship tussle in Kano State, the police have uncovered plans to unleash mayhem in the North-West state. The Police Commissioner in the state, Husaini Gumel, stated this in a press briefing at the Government House late on Sunday. According to him, the police and other security agencies have mobilized to take down anyone trying to cause terror in the state. “We have uncovered criminal intelligence by some group of people who are considered as enemies of the state, miscreants who are trying to unleash terror in the state by embarking on targeted attacks on locations particularly the House of Assembly as well as some privileged locations within the state capital,” he said. The police commissioner said the plot “has been verified by so many sources.” “Anybody who wants to test the ground, the security has the capacity to deal with the miscreants. We have perfected plans to embark on serious patrols and detection on locations where we are informed the miscreants are hiding,” he added. “We are going to embark on a house-to-house search; anybody who feels he is stronger than the law should try it. Kano will remain safe and nobody can override the decision. “The issue of chieftaincy affairs has been perfected by the executive arm of government. We are standing by the law and we are strictly going to enforce the existing law,” he added. Governor Abba Kabir had on Thursday dethroned Aminu Ado Bayero and replaced him with Muhammadu Sanusi II, a development that has been met with protests.
The national disaster centre in Papua New Guinea says more than 2,000 people were buried alive in a massive landslide on Friday. Papua New Guinea is an island nation in Oceania. It lies in the south-western Pacific and includes the eastern half of New Guinea and several offshore islands. The landslide crashed through Yambali village around 3am on Friday while most of the community was asleep. More than 150 houses were reportedly buried beneath debris almost two stories high. Survivors rummaged through tonnes of earth and rubble for missing relatives, as a first emergency convoy delivered food and other supplies on Saturday. In a letter to the UN released on Monday, Luseta Laso Mana, acting director of the agency, said the landslide “buried more than 2,000 people alive” and caused “major destruction” at Yambali village in the Enga province. The UN International Organisation for Migration (IOM) had estimated that 670 people had been killed as of Sunday morning. Heavy equipment and aid has been slow to arrive due to difficulty in reaching the location. Papua New Guinea has a population of around 10 million people. It is the most populous South Pacific nation after Australia. The country sits on the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’ — the arc of seismic faults where much of the world’s volcanic activity occurs.
