Crime Facts

Rivers Reps caucus disowns member over attack on Ugochinyere

  The Rivers State Caucus at the House of Representatives read with dismay a statement purportedly issued by the member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency, Hon. Dumnamene Deekor calling for the discipline of the Coordinator of the G-60 Lawmakers in the Green Chamber, Hon. Ugochinyere Ikenga over his position on vexed issues in the polity. While we wouldn’t stand against the popular phrase: ”everybody is entitled to his opinion”, we refused to collectively accede to Dum Deekor’s self serving stands as he has never been elected by the Rivers State Caucus to speak on our behalf. It is a trite knowledge and backed by precedence that the Leadership of the Rivers State Caucus in the House of Representatives and the National Assembly are based on seniority. Hon Dum Deekor being a second term lawmaker cannot arrogate to himself the position of Caucus Leader in the midst of 3rd and 4th term lawmakers. For the records, Deekor was properly elected in 2019 haven lost his seat in 2015 at the Court of Appeal which barred him from being a member of the 8th Assembly. He was recently reelected in 2023 to serve his second term in the House. This alone disqualifies him to jostle for the leadership of the Rivers State Caucus. We call on the general public to discountance Dum Deekor’s statement as vituperations of a gord being. The National Assembly is not guided by Village Council’s rules and as such everyone reserves the right to make contributions inline with his innate conviction. Hon Ugochinyere has in the estimation of right thinking Nigerians proven himself in the act of quality representation.

Fubara Removes Wike’s Ally As Rivers Traditional Rulers Council Chairman

  Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has removed Chidi Awuse as Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers. Awuse, an ally of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, was replaced with the traditional ruler of Apara Kingdom, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo. The Interesting Things About Pha Din Pass, Dien Bien That Just A Few People Know The governor said Awuse was removed following inactivity and the absence of effective leadership of the council under him. Governor Fubara made the announcement at a special meeting he had with members of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday. Wodo is the Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State. Governor Fubara pointed out that, under Eze Sergeat Awuse, the council produced a calendar for the year 2024, and insulted the State Government by deliberately refusing to include the photographs of the Governor and the Deputy Governor. Such posture, Governor Fubara noted, among others, clearly demonstrated that the council under that kind of leadership had not, and would never live up to expectations. He said, “I want the council to live up to its responsibility. From my observation, the council is moribund. So, I can feel that the council, for a while now, has been very inactive. Inactive because, maybe, the chairman has decided not to be responsible as a chairman. I think that is the best way to describe it. “I am not talking about other things that have been happening. But I feel there are responsibilities of the chairman, and so far, I have not felt it and you can also attest to that, that you are not seeing that leadership that you expect. “I would like to draw your attention to a special insult that was meted to this government. The council produced a calendar for the year of our Lord 2024, and the Governor’s picture, and the Deputy Governor’s picture are not in the calendar. “I want to ask you: does it show any sign that, that leadership is working with this government? I hope you have a copy of it? Does it show that your chairman is working with this government? So, I have decided today, we have to move forward. By the special grace of God, the administrative life-span of the chairman is one year, which is renewable. So, at this particular time, I have to say that with the power vested on me, I announce that the tenure of Chief Sergeant Awuse has been terminated.” Governor Fubara said, at such critical time of his administration, when peace is cardinal with traditional rulers, who are closer to the people, not properly coordinated, it will be difficult to achieve the required harmony and coexistence among the people. The Governor pointed out that there was need to have a more competent and diligent traditional ruler with the presence of mind, and ability to carry everybody along, stressing that Eze Chike Worlu Wodo most appropriately fits into that cap, with a fatherly personality, mature character, integrity and pedigree. “So, going forward, there is need to have a leadership that will accommodate everybody and move this council forward. “Let me, before saying other things, announce here that the new chairman from this particular moment will be Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, Eze Ohna Apara, Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom. He will be the chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, and I believe strongly that he is going to do better and accommodate everyone.”

Police won’t evict deposed Emir, CP replies Kano gov

  The Kano State Police Commissioner, AIG Usaini Gumel, has given reasons why the police ignored Governor Abba Yusuf’s directive on the eviction of the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero. Recall that Yusuf had on Thursday night, through the State Attorney General And Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Dederi, directed the CP to remove the deposed 15 Emir of Kano from the Nasarawa mini palace where he is staying. Speaking in a telephone interview with The Punch on Friday, the police commissioner said obeying the governor’s eviction order would be tantamount to “jumping the gun”. According to him, the same government that gave the order had filed a case at the State High Court on the eviction order, which would come up on Monday, 24th June 2024. “The police will not evict the deposed Emir because the same government has filed a case at the State High Court on the eviction order, which would come up on Monday, 24th June 2024. “The government is jumping the gun because the same government has filed a case on the eviction order, which is coming up on the 24th of June, 2024. So, if we carry out the order, it is like we are pre-empting the court because we don’t know what will happen at the court,” he added. Meanwhile, security has been beefed up around the Nasarawa mini palace where the deposed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero is currently staying. A correspondent of The Punch who visited the mini palace around 11:30 am reports that more security personnel have been deployed to the place in addition to the ones on the ground. It was observed that all four major routes leading to the mini palace had been blocked by security personnel as the police had yet to remove the deposed Emir as directed by Governor Yusuf. However, while the CP had yet to comply with the governor’s directive, the deposed Emir was still in the mini palace with his retinue of palace guards and other supporters. One of his (Bayero’s) supporters, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Punch that Bayero was still in the mini palace receiving the “traditional greetings” from some traditional rulers loyal to him. “Let me tell you, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero is still in the mini palace and as I am talking to you now, he is receiving the “traditional greetings” from those loyal to him,” the source said. He debunked the rumours being peddled in some quarters that a bulldozer has been stationed at the palace in readiness for the demolition of the place. “I heard that there is a rumour going around in some quarters that a bulldozer has been stationed at the Nasarawa mini palace ahead of the demolition. This is a social media propaganda,” the source added.

Binance executive facing lawful trial, has access to quality medical care, says FG

  The federal government says Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive, currently detained in Nigeria is facing lawful trial and has access to quality health care. Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, made this known in a statement on Friday. Idris’s statement comes a day after two members of the United States congress paid a visit to Gambaryan at the Kuje correctional centre in Abuja. The lawmakers said Gambaryan was suffering and lacked access to proper medical attention. However, Idris said the claims “are false and should be ignored”. “It has become necessary for the federal government of Nigeria to address claims that Binance Executive, is being held in unsavory prison conditions in Nigeria, or that his health is deteriorating,” Idris said. “Gambaryan is being held in lawful detention and has access to quality medical care whenever required. He also has full access to consular services from his home government. Advertisement “The federal government will not do anything to jeopardize his fundamental rights to lawful trial, and to quality care, including healthcare, even as he undergoes trial by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “It is worth reiterating that his detention is a court-ordered one, and only the court can alter the terms or direct his release.” Idris also said the federal government will continue to follow due process in its quest to bring Binance to justice. “This adherence to legal and diplomatic standards underscores Nigeria’s dedication to upholding justice and maintaining the integrity of its judicial processes,” Idris added. “The executive is being treated with the utmost fairness, and his legal and human rights are being protected throughout the judicial proceedings.” On June 14, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) dropped the tax charges against Gambaryan, after confirming the appointment of Ayodele Omotilewa as Binance’s representative — with the agency filing a fresh charge listing the exchange as the sole defendant.

PSC asks police to provide evidence of corruption in recruitment exercise

  The Police Service Commission (PSC) has asked the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to provide evidence that the recent constable recruitment exercise was marred by corruption. In a statement on Friday, Ikechukwu Ani, PSC spokesperson, said NPF does not respect the commission’s mandate to recruit personnel for the police. The NPF had said the recruitment exercise was marred by gratification and irregularities. “The Commission demands that the Police should provide verifiable evidence to prove the allegations peddled against it as it is obvious that it is a case of giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it,” the statement reads. Ani said the commission is “disturbed by the flagrant abuse” of the supreme court’s judgment that reaffirmed the constitutional mandate of the commission. BACKGROUND On June 15, NPF rejected the list of 10,000 successful applicants for constable and specialist cadre roles, which was released by the PSC on June 4. Muyiwa Adejobi, the force spokesperson, said the recruitment was a tainted process. Adejobi said the published list of successful constables contains the names of candidates who “failed either the computer-based test (CBT) or the physical screening exercise, or both. On June 10, President Bola Tinubu sacked Solomon Arase as PSC chairman and replaced him with Hashimu Argungu, a retired police officer. Responding to the allegations, the joint union congress of the PSC alleged that police attempted to compromise the exercise, while calling for the sack of Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police. ‘SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PROCEED ON TRAINING’ In the statement, the PSC spokesperson said the NPF “hired writers to run down the commission” and that the release of the IGP’s letter to the public was against civil service rules. Ani said it is “unfortunate and self-indicting” for the police to attribute its failure to address banditry to shoddy recruitment. “Since 2019, when the Police forcefully snatched the exercise from the commission, they have gone ahead against the provisions of the law to superintendent over the 2020 and 2021 exercises,” the statement reads. “It is the fraudulent recruits that they brought into the system during these exercises that are currently haunting the Nigeria Police Force. “The commission is aware that all these distractions are calculated attempts by the police to hold on, by all means, to the recruitment of police constables despite the supreme court judgment. “The commission wishes to appeal to Mr. President to protect it and rein in the Nigeria Police Force to respect the constitutional mandate of the commission to recruit.” The PSC spokesperson said the commission believes that successful candidates should be allowed to undergo training without delay.

WAEC to gradually eliminate use of papers in examinations — Official

  West African Examination Council (WAEC) in Nigeria says it would gradually eliminate the use of papers in the conduct of its examinations. Dr Amos Dangut, Head of National Office, disclosed this on Thursday after monitoring the conduct of the ongoing West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Abeokuta. The WAEC boss, who was in the company of the Permanent Secretary, Ogun Ministry of Education, Mrs Mariam Oloko, explained that WAEC was planning to deploy electronic devices to various recognised examination centres across the country for the future conduct of WASSCE. He said that the deployment of the devices would eliminate the current use of paper registration of candidates and detect all forms of malpractice in the centres. ” We are saying that in the future, we are going to give this provision where schools that have facilities to do computer-based testing will take the examination on the computer where those that are not ready will do the pen and paper. ” We will work in consultation with the Ministry of Education to have a timeline for this. When the time comes we shall roll it out,” he said. Dangut explained that the assessment was satisfactory, noting that the schools and the students had prepared well for the examination. He, however, added that there was a need for schools to have bigger laboratories that would cater for the students with sufficient equipment. According to him, over 1.8 million candidates are writing the examinations across the country. On her part, Oloko noted that the Gov. Dapo Abiodun-led administration had already commenced the process of online registration of pupils in both public and private schools in the state. The permanent secretary assured continuous upgrading of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and other facilities in public schools to prepare teachers and students. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the monitoring team visited Abeokuta Grammar School and Baptist Girls College, both in Idi-Aba. The team also visited Sacred Heart College, Oke Ilewo and Charis College, Oke Ata, both in Abeokuta.

Cholera: WHO Announces Over 1,900 Deaths, 195,000 Cases Globally

  The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed a cumulative death of 194, 897 deaths and 1,932 cases globally as a result of a cholera outbreak. A statement by the health organisation’s Eastern Mediterranean Region said the outbreaks were recorded from the 1st of January, 2024 to the 26th of May, 2024. The cases were reported from 24 countries across five WHO regions with the Eastern Mediterranean Region recording the highest numbers followed by the African Region, the Region of the Americas, the South-East Asia Region, and the European Region. No outbreaks were reported in the Western Pacific Region during this time. “The global stockpile of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV) was depleted until early March but exceeded the emergency target of 5 million doses in early June for the first time in 2024. As of 10 June 2024, the stockpile has 6.2 million doses. However, demand for the vaccine continues to outpace supply. Since January 2023, 92 million OCV doses were requested by 16 countries, nearly double the 49 million doses produced during this period,” it said. By March, the UN health agency said it exhausted its global stockpile of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV). Still, it was able to exceed “the emergency target of five million doses in early June for the first time in 2024”. WHO reported that 16 countries requested 92 million doses of OCV since January last year – almost double the 49 million produced during that time. It said it was working with other partners such as the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and others to use resources to find long-term solutions for cholera. WHO classified the global resurgence of cholera as a grade three emergency in January 2023 the highest internal level for emergencies in WHO. Based on the number of outbreaks and their geographic expansion, alongside the shortage of vaccines and other resources, WHO said it continues to assess the risk at the global level, as very high and the event remains classified as a grade three emergency After decades of progress against cholera, cases are again on the rise, even in countries that have not seen the disease in years,” the agency said. Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that spreads through food and water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, often from faeces. With safe water and sanitation, cholera can be prevented. Although it can kill within hours when not treated, however, immediate access to treatment saves lives. While the triggers for cholera outbreaks—like poverty and conflict—are enduring, climate change and conflict are now compounding the problem. Extreme climate events like floods, cyclones and droughts, reduce access to clean water and create an ideal environment for cholera to thrive, WHO said. In 2022, 44 countries reported cholera cases, a 25 per cent increase from the 35 countries that reported cases in 2021. The trend continued into 2023. “The recent outbreaks have also been more deadly, with case fatality rates being the highest recorded in over a decade. “This increase in outbreaks and cases is stretching the global capacity to respond. There is a shortage of cholera tools, including vaccines,’ the statement added. WHO said it considered the current global risk from cholera as very high and is responding with urgency to reduce deaths and contain outbreaks in countries around the world. In Nigeria, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Kemi Ogunyemi, said that the number of recorded fatalities as a result of the outbreak has risen to 21 following the last update which reported 350 suspected cases and 15 fatalities. In the same vein, the Ogun State Government confirmed the outbreak which has claimed the life of a 62-year-old woman with five persons hospitalised.

Why Federal High Court And National Industrial Court Lacks Jurisdiction To Determine Chieftaincy Matters

By Femi Falana SAN In the last one week, the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court have separately conferred jurisdiction on themselves to determine chieftaincy matters. Both decisions are highly erroneous as they cannot be justified under sections 251 and 254(C) of the Constitution. As will be demonstrated anon, both courts conveniently overruled the judgments of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal on the subject matter. The intervention of the Federal High Court in the dispute arising from the deposition of Emir Ado Bayero & co as well as the restoration of Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is a brazen repudiation of the decision of the Supreme Court in the celebrated case of Tukur v Government of Gongola State (1987) 4 NWLR (117) 517 where it was held that “The question raised in this claim is not a fundamental right question. As in the first prayer, the right to be Emir is not guaranteed by the Fundamental Rights provisions of the Constitution and the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction whatever in the matter. The Court of Appeal was therefore not in error of law to hold that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction to grant the two reliefs.” Before then the Supreme Court had made it categorically clear in the case of Olaniyi V. Aroyehum (1991) 5 NWLR (Pt. 194) 652 at 660 that the right to be a traditional ruler is not a fundamental right that can be enforced under the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution. Speaking for his judicial brethren, Karibi-White JSC: “I agree entirely with Mr. Otu for the 8th defendant/Respondent that first, plaintiff did not claim that any right of him under chapter III of the Constitution, 1960 was violated. He also did not seek any redress under the chapter. Secondly, chieftaincy is not a matter of Fundamental Rights and cannot be enforced under the provisions of section 31 of the Constitution. It cannot be seriously argued that there is a fundamental right to be a ‘Chief’. It is not a human right even though it is a privilege claimed by human beings in an organised society to bring order to their mutual relationship. It is not such right which the law can enforce by virtue merely of the claimant being a human being.” Since the apex court has said that the right to be an Emir is not a fundamental right under chapter four of the Constitution, the Federal High Court sitting in Kano ought to have declined jurisdiction to continue to entertain the dispute over the chieftaincy matter in Kano. In any case, the allegation of infringement of the fundamental rights of the Applicants is an ancillary claim to the substantive reliefs emanating from the deposition and reinstatement of the embattled emirs. In FCMB Plc v Nyama (2014) LPELR-23973 AT 19-20, the Court of Appeal held that: “Now it is settled that where an application is made under the fundamental Right (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, a condition precedent to the exercise of the court’s jurisdiction is that the enforcement of fundamental rights of the securing of enforcement thereof should be the main claim and not the accessory claim. Where the main or principal claim is not the enforcement of fundament right, the jurisdiction of thecourt cannot be properly exercised under Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules.” In the same vein, the National Industrial Court held last week in the case of Jonathan Paragua Zamuna v The Governor of Kaduna State & Anor. (Suit No: NICN/KD/13/2023), that the deposition of the Claimant as a traditional ruler was illegal and ordered his immediate reinstatement. In justifying the jurisdiction of the Court to determine the case, the presiding Judge, Alkali J. held that “the payment of the monthly salary to Jonathan Zamuna upon his appointment as the chief of Piriga Chiefdom or as an officer in the public service of Kaduna State who received salaries from the coffer of the State Government of Kaduna State brings the termination of his appointment to the realm of the jurisdiction of the Court.” I submit, with profound respect, that section 254(C)(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended has not conferred jurisdiction on the National Industrial Court to hear and determine chieftaincy matters. Section 254C (1) (k) of the Constitution provides that the National Industrial Court shall have jurisdiction in matters relating to or connected with dispute arising from payment or non-payment of salaries, wages, pensions, gratuities, allowances, benefits and any other entitlement of any employee, worker, political office holder, judicial officer or any civil or public servant in any part of the federation and matters incidental thereto. The deposition of a traditional ruler cannot by any stretch of imagination be said to be connected with a “dispute arising from the entitlement of an employee, worker, political office holder, judicial officer or any civil or public servant in any part of the federation and matters incidental thereto.” The payment of stipend to a traditional ruler by a state government cannot turn him into an employee or a public officer. Indeed, the controversy over whether traditional rulers are public officers was laid to rest in the case of Chief John Eze v Okechukwu 2002] 14 SCM 105, where the Supreme Court held that “The definition of ‘public officer’ in section 277(1) of the 1979 Constitution, which was then applicable, was very wide. Even so, it did not include the office of traditional rulers…Therefore, even if the Appellant had been a traditional ruler, there is nothing that could be relied on to regard him as a public officer and accordingly, I hold that he was not entitled to the pre-action notice under the said section 11(2).” Since section 277 of the 1979 Constitution and section 318 of the 1999 Constitution are in pari materia, a traditional ruler cannot be said to be a public officer whose removal from office can be challenged at National Industrial Court. In Efa v Efa (2018) 18 WRN

Emirship tussle: Federal court sets aside reinstatement of Sanusi

  The Federal High Court sitting in Kano and presided over by Justice A. M. Liman, has set aside the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano. The court refused to nullify the Kano Emirate Council law but set aside steps by the state government in pursuant of the law. Neighbor recounts how woman abused 12 years old niece, burnt her with hot knife and forced…..0:07 / 1:00 The judge, Justice Liman, however, ordered that status quo be maintained.

Address Lingering Issues Or Face Fresh Strike — ASUU Warns FG

  The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Federal University, Gashua branch in Yobe State, has asked the Federal Government to address the lingering issues affecting universities to avoid another disruption of academic activities on campuses. The Chairman of the branch, Melemi Abatcha, and his members who addressed journalists at Damaturu the state capital on Thursday outlined funding for the revitalisation of Nigerian public universities, and the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement among the major issues. “Funding for revitalisation of Nigeria public universities i.e. improved infrastructure, conducive teaching/learning environments, students and staff accommodation, equipping of laboratories and libraries. Consequently, the Academic Staff of Nigerian Universities have remained on the same salary structure since 2009. “Even with the directive of Federal Executive Council (FEC) for removal of ASUU from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) platform since December 2023 till now, ASUU members are still being paid via the obnoxious platform (IPPIS),” he said in a statement. Other issues they listed include university autonomy, the proliferation of public universities, the backlog of earning academic allowances amounting to N50bn, and the withheld three and half months’ salaries of its members across the country. Melemi also explained that the removal of fuel subsidy without credible alternatives has brought untold hardship on the people, adding that it would not want to compound it with yet another disruption of academic activities. The union also called on FG to show sensitivity to the plight of Nigerians by speedily agreeing and implementing an acceptable living wage for Nigerian workers to assuage the suffering of Nigerians. The warning comes on the heels of the ongoing battle between FG and the labour unions over a new minimum wage.