Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has enjoined the judiciary in the state to expedite action on the trials of suspected crimes of rape, banditry, murder and kidnapping.

He was speaking at the 2020/201 Legal Year held at the High Court Complex in Bauchi, on Tuesday.

Mohammed said that speedy trials would curtail criminal activity not only in the state but across the country.

The Governor appreciated the performance of the judiciary in the state in the area of speedy disposal of cases within the last legal year.

He said it was commendable that the state judiciary disposed of two-third of the cases filed, noting that the development would enhance the confidence of the common people in the judiciary.

He said in an efforts to protect the weak and vulnerable, his administration passed into law, the Violence Against Persons Protection Bill.

The Governor said that, under his watch, criminals who derive pleasure in putting young persons and their parents through agony would not go scot-free.

‘Since my assumption to the office on the 29th of May, 2019, I made a decision to operate an open-door policy of an all-inclusive government anchored on transparency, rule of law, accountability and good governance,’ he said.

‘To achieve that, I carried along other Arms of Government by collaborating and cooperating with them while recognising and respecting their independence as enshrined under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).’

According to him, the judiciary being a non-elective arm of government remained the stabilising factor in a democracy and needs understanding, cooperation and support of other arms of government.

‘Due to my avowed believed in Justice, fair play, rule of law and independence of the judiciary, I am doing everything humanly possible within the limited resources available to provide a conducive atmosphere for the judiciary to function effectively and efficiently in accordance with the international best practices.’

Governor Mohammed told the gathering that, during the year under review, he strived and fulfilled all the promises made to the judiciary during the last legal year ceremony notably the completion of the second phase High Court Complex of 8 Courts, Judges Chambers, Registrar’s Office, Court Cells and other offices.

Others are furnishing of the High Court Complex with state of the art and modern facilities, completion of the renovation of Fadaman Mada Courts and furnishing the Courts with modern facilities, completion of the renovation of former High Court 8 into two different courts, provision of brand new and befitting official cars to the Chief Judge, Grand Khadi, Judges of the High Courts and Khadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the state among others.

‘We always respond positively and promptly to memos presented by the Judiciary. These have been a milestone achieved for the judiciary in the outgoing year.’

He assured that, in the coming years, his administration will strive to do more in the areas of construction, renovation and provision of infrastructures for the judiciary.

The Governor who used the opportunity to the Commission Honorable Justice Tanko Mohammed High Court Complex second phase, pleaded with the judiciary to remain impartial and independent of all external pressures to enable those who appear before judges can have confidence that their cases will be considered fairly and in accordance with the law.

In a keynote address, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Yakubu Bello Kirfi, said the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed has recorded tremendous achievements in the judiciary in the year 2020.

The Bauchi State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, who described the relationship between the judiciary and the executive arms of government as very cordial and collaborative with a lot of understanding, said the governor has done very well for the judiciary since his assumption of office.

The occasion was attended by the Deputy Governo Baba Tela and other top government functionaries.

A Lagos lawyer and Executive Director, Cadrell Advocacy Centre, Mr. Evans Ufeli has sued the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), before a Federal High Court in Lagos over the legality POS charges imposed on customers.

Ufeli in the suit marked FHC/1/CS/ 1709/2020 contended that since 2019 when the CBN released a new directive mandating all banks to charge applicable tax and duties on banking transactions, tremendous pressure was mounted on POS merchants to comply.

He argued that in order to deflate the heavy financial burden on them, POS merchants have since imposed an illegal additional Stamp Duty charge of N50 on customers for payment on any purchased item.

According to him, the action of the merchant was clearly in breach of the 2011 CBN cashless policy directive and another 2016 directive which stipulated that under no circumstances shall a merchant charge a surcharge to customers for using their ATM cards.

Ufeli is therefore seeking from the court, amongst other things, “a declaration that CBN directive on POS Card Acceptance Service of 2011 does not authorize POS merchants to impose and collect from consumers any stamp duty, service charge or surcharge on POS transactions.

“A declaration that the defendant’s failure to issue directive to stop the unlawful imposition and collection of Stamp Duties, Charge Surcharges from Consumer by POS Merchant, amount to a breech of the defendant’s statutory duty under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act.”

He is also asking for a. n order directing the defendant to issue directives and otherwise enforce the immediate refund of all unlawful charges and surcharges imposed on consumers of goods on the basis of the defendant‘s directive dated the September 17, 2019.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has further clarified that there is no medical evidence to show that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, is Covid-19 positive.

This is contained in a statement made available to TheNigeriaLawyer signed by the Supreme Court Director of Press and Information, Dr. Akande Festus

He said, “In furtherance to the press statement earlier issued, I wish to state categorically clear that there is no medical report so far made available by anybody indicating that the Hon. CJN has tested positive for Coronavirus.”

Dr. Festus challenged those peddling the rumour to produce a medical report which confirms Covid-19 status of the CJN

“Those peddling the rumour should go a step further to confirm from their sources and equally obtain the copy of whatever laboratory test result they are relying on.

“As of this moment of issuing this statement, no one has so far shown me or any other person in Supreme Court a copy of the test result they are referring to in the report.” he said

Recall that the Supreme Court had earlier in a statement that was signed Dr Akande Festus, debunked report that there is anxiety over the CJN’s health.

The statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to the story currently in circulation with the above caption which was published on page 38 of This Day newspaper on Tuesday 15th December 2020.

“It is necessary to state that there’s no iota of truth in the claim being peddled by the publication, as there hasn’t been any indication made public or otherwise that has shown any anxiety over the CJN’s health.

“This is obviously a product of the imagination of the author of the concocted story which has literally failed the test of sound, investigative journalism as no form of enquiries were made by the Reporter before hitting the public domain with this baggage of falsehoods to mislead the public by crying wolf where none is in sight.

“The Hon. CJN, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad being unavoidably absent at a function is not enough to plunge into this premeditated conclusion that there’s now “anxiety over his health.”

“The other aspect of this monumental falsehood is the erroneous claim that the “CJN has not been seen in public for weeks.”

“We are still at a loss as to where the Reporter got that malicious information from, as the CJN has been very active and even presided over the swearing-in of the newly appointed Justices of the Supreme Court a few weeks back.

“It should be noted that no business survives on falsehood. You cannot whip up sentiments through sensational reports to attract traffic to your media organisation.

“Certainly such practice leads to nowhere. We must eschew acts capable of eroding our good values at all times”.

There were jubilations in Apomu Community of Osun State Monday as the First Lady of Osun State, and President of IleriOluwa Development Initiative, (IOD-Initiative), Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola) added another pep to efforts at empowering unserved and underserved girls and women in the State.

On Monday, she handed over IOD-Initiative fully rehabilitated mentally-ill teenager, Labake Najeem, who had also been impregnated to her community in Apomu.

The rehabilitation of the Labake, also signposts one of the measurable interventions of IOD-Initiative in the campaign against sexual assault and gender-based violence in the State.

Telling the story at the handover ceremony to the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Kayode Adenekan Afolabi, Mrs. Oyetola pointed out that her intervention had been part of many being undertaken by the IOD-Initiative in the State.

She said Labake’s case had been seen by staff of the IOD-Initiative as part of the organization’s core objective hence her offering to take the girl away for a rehabilitation program when she discovered was in Apomu community while launching a financial empowerment scheme for Apomu Market women.

IOD-Initiative currently has as one of its programs IOD-Commerce Assist program which gives interest-free loans and grants to rural traders, who deal in sales of Agricultural produce.

She said, “On the 2nd of October this year, while I attended the unveiling of the Apomu Women cooperative at the Palace of the Alapomu of Apomu, Oba Kayode Adenekan Afolabi. I spotted Labake Najeem, a lady with a promising future, looking unkempt and heavily pregnant.

“Further enquiries stated that she suffered a mental health challenge and has been a regular face at the palace.

“Disturbed with the condition I found her, I quickly requested that I take her for proper medical care under my close watch. While with us, Labake initially gave us a tough time. Series of tests were carried out and some medications were given to her until she was delivered of her baby.

“I can boldly say now, that Labake is now a different person. I thank God that I took only Labake away for medical care but now, I am returning labake and her newborn child to the Palace. I also want to thank the medical personnel at the State Hospital, Asubiaro, they tried a lot and took very good care of her.

“Labake is not the first (mentally challenged person) that I have taken care of, the first was 16 years ago after she was stable, I sent her child to primary and secondary school. She has written JAMB and I have spoken to the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University on her admission.

“I, therefore, urge the great people in Apomu to support Labake and not discriminate against her so that she can fulfil her destiny. I have good plans for her and I pray God supports me in making it a reality.”

The wife of the traditional ruler said, “Something happened on October 2nd, the day l launched an interest-free loan for Apomu market women. l didn’t want to be hasty in talking about it. I wanted to wait till the end. Yesterday, December 14, the end manifested. Now l can share the story.

“Labake, a mentally ill pregnant teenager came into the hall through the back door. She went through the crowd unnoticed until she got to the front. A Security man in a black suit grabbed her arm and pushed her out. That action attracted the attention of Osun State First Lady, Kafayat Oyetola, who was sitting next to me. In a whisper, she asked me” who is that girl?”
” l don’t know her” l replied.

“She asked Kabiyesi the same question. Kabiyesi said the girl is mentally ill. Someone took advantage of her mental illness and impregnated her. She comes to the palace hall whenever there is an activity to beg for money to eat.

“The first lady was touched. She instructed the same Security man who pushed her out to go and bring her back. Oyetola’s wife announced that she will take Labake away for rehabilitation, and take care of her till she delivers. Promise made. Promise kept.

“Yesterday she brought back Labake and her baby. There was heavy jubilation as the First Lady walked into the Palace hall carrying Labake’s newborn baby. The joy was infectious.

“Suddenly the guy that impregnated Labake surfaced and climbed the stage to join her. Who no like better thing? l felt like asking him to leave the stage. But l changed my mind because he looks like someone who needs help too.

“The baby was officially handed over to me. l received the baby as a gift presented to me 48 hours to my birthday l see the baby as palace responsibility.

“The first lady has done her part. It is now our turn to do ours. Kabiyesi has granted Labake’s first request. Labake requested through the First Lady that a proper naming ceremony be done for her baby.”
Preparation for the occasion has started.

Ekunnews

Fresh details have emerged on how members of the National Assembly Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution withdrew N7.75 billion purportedly to amend Nigerian constitution.
refused to sign into law. PREMIUM TIMES had last week exposed how the federal lawmakers collected the money in tranches to purportedly alter the document between 2011 and 2015, but which former President Goodluck Jonathan, spent N3,250,000,000.00.While the 49-member Senate Committee on Constitution Review led by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu withdrew a total N4,500,000.00 for the exercise, the 53-member House of Representatives Committee headed by the former Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha.

The documents, exclusively obtained by this newspaper, also showed that the Committee withdrew money from its account few days before the 2015 general elections. The presidential and National Assembly elections held on March 28. While on March 2, it withdrew N83.33m, it withdrew the same amount 21 days later, precisely on March 23. Yet, on April 13, two days after the governorship election, it withdrew another N83.33m.

The fresh documents exclusively obtained by this newspaper which exposed bank transactions showed that the two committees transferred various sums of money from two National Assembly accounts – 321/212/606/1/1/0 and 321/212/606/1/1/3 domiciled in Guarantee Trust Bank to their own accounts in different banks.
While the House Committee transferred funds to its account in Zenith Bank, its counterpart in the Senate transferred monies to its three accounts domiciled in Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank), Oceanic Bank (now EcoBank) and United Bank for Africa.

According to the documents, the House Committee transferred to its Zenith Bank account
N500m on December 16, 2011;
N500m on May 17, 2012;
N250m on August 6, 2013; and
N250m on November 11, 2013;
N250m on February 20, 2014;
N250m on May 27, 2014;
N250m on August 21, 2014;
N166.5m on a date not specified;
N83.5m on December 5, 2014; and
N83.33 on March 2, 2015.

The committee, on different occasions, also withdrew huge amounts in cash, serially violating Nigerian money laundering law.
Part 1, Subsection 1 of the Money Laundering Act 2011 provides that “No person or body corporate shall, except in a transaction through a financial institution, make or accept cash payment of a sum exceeding- (a) N5,000,000.00 or its equivalent, in the case of an individual; or (b)N10,000,000.00 or its equivalent in the case of a body corporate.”

It withdrew N250m on October 29, 2012;
N250m on May 8, 2013;
N83.33m on March 23, 2015 and another
N83.33m on April 13, 2015.
The Senate Committee, the documents revealed, transferred the sum of N125m on April 21, 2010 to Bank PHB;
N250m on June 10, 2010 to Oceanic Bank;
N125m on a date not specified; to Oceanic Bank and
N250m on October 13, 2010 to Bank PHB. The transactions were made before the Committee was inaugurated in the 7th Assembly in 2011

It also transferred N250m on a date not specified to Oceanic Bank;
N250m on February 9, 2011to Bank PHB;
N500m on December 16, 2011 to Bank PHB;
N250m on May 17, 2012 to Bank PHB;
N250m on July 23, 2013 to Keystone Bank,
N250m on November 5, 2013 to Keystone Bank;
N250m on February 5, 2014 to Keystone;
N250m on May 22, 2014 to Keystone;
N250m on August 18, 2014 to Keystone;
N166.6m on November 25, 2014 to Keystone;
N83.4 on December 5, 2014 to Keystone; and
N83.33m on February 27, 2015 to Keystone.

It further withdrew N250m on April 20, 2012;
N250m on February 27, 2013;
N250m on May 8, 2013;
N83.33m on March 17, 2015; and
N83.33 on a date not specified, in cash.

This again was a clear violation of Nigeria’s money laundering law.
PREMIUM TIMES could not reach Mr. #Ekweremadu to speak on this story last week. He did not respond to calls to his mobile telephone nor replied a text message sent to him. Mr. Ihedioha directed this newspaper to the Clerk of the House, #Sani #Omolori, who did not respond to our enquiries by phone. The management staff of the National Assembly, including its Clerk, Salisu Maikasuwa, did not also respond to our enquiries.

PREMIUMTIMES

Bandits who attacked hundreds of schoolboys at the Government Science Secondary in Kankara has begun negotiating ransom payment with parents, Eons Intelligence has gathered. 

The bandits have also instructed parents to prevail on the military to stop sending air surveillance.

Gunmen attacked the all-boys secondary school with about 800 students on Friday night. The students were rounded up and made to march on foot to the bandits camp. The Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari has confirmed that many of the students have been accounted for and about 333 students are in the custody of the bandits.

Hours afterer the incident, the presidency released a statement saying the military has located the students and have begun exchanging fire with the bandits. 

Eons Intelligence gathered that the students were sighted at Mutu Primary School in Yanwarin Daji Yankuzo village, Zamfara State.

WHY NIGERIA ARMY IS APPLYING TACTS

The Nigeria military has surrounded the location where the bandits are holding the school children, but the bandits have used the children as a shield thereby crippling the security forces, as the Minister of Defence has promised parents that he would bring back the boys with no casualty. 

Therefore, the combined team of the Nigerian security forces are applying tact to ensure the safe release of the boys and the capture of the bandits. 

TIME IS RUNNING OUT

The kidnapped boys have so far spent three nights at the mercy of the bandits with no food supply, there is an apparent fear that the boys may starve- a weapon the bandits are utilizing to force parents to negotiate for the release of their children. 

Eons Intelligence gathered that the boys were forced to walk all through the night into neighbouring Zamfara state with water as their only source of refreshment. 

WHY WAS THE SCHOOL ATTACKED? 

Eons Intelligence gathered that the Government Science Secondary School was not the initial target of the bandits. Reports gathered indicate that the bandits on Friday night made an attempt to attack the Kankara community but were repelled by security forces. 

The bandit had planned to revenge a reprisal attack carried out by vigilantes on Thursday, December 10.

On Wednesday, December 9, some bandits raided Yar-Kuka village, killed up to 12 community members, and abducted an unspecified number of people. 

The following day, vigilantes mobilized and carried out reprisal attacks in their hideouts which led to the killing of a lot of the Fulani bandits. 

So, when the Fulani bandits realised they could not get their pound of flesh from residents in Kankara that Friday night, they went for the boys’ school. 

WHY KATSINA STOPPED NEGOTIATING WITH BANDITS

The Katsina government under Governor Aminu Masari has adopted the “zero negotiation with bandits” policy. 

Governor Masari who once signed a peace agreement with bandits to keep Katsina residents safe from bandit attacks has vowed never to negotiate with the criminals again because they do not keep their word. 

In 2016, Governor Masari initiated an amnesty programme for bandits and cancelled all vigilantes and volunteer groups in the state. After its initial success, the criminals soon reneged on the agreement and went back kidnapping for ransom and other forms of banditry. 

Eons Intelligence gathered that Dogo, the leader of the bandits responsible for the abduction of the schoolboys in Kankara is on the wanted list by the Katsina State Government. 

However, Dogo, as well as Dangamari and Yellow- all notorious bandits leaders who have been declared wanted by the Katsina State Government are walking freely in neighbouring Zamfara state. 

Zamfara A Safe Haven For Bandits? 

Unlike Katsina state, Zamfara’s Bello Matawalle has declared that he has no regrets negotiating with bandits. 

In Zamfara, bandits are not regarded as outlaws. Sources told Eons Intelligence that the state government compensates the leadership of the bandits for loss accrued during run-ins with security forces.

Governor Matawalle told newsmen he sees negotiation with bandits as the best option for lasting peace in his state. 

“We applied the peace accord as a means of honest solution to the problem of Zamfara State which has yielded tremendous result never expected in the last one year,” Matawalle said in June. 

Last month, the Governor of Zamfara claimed he was able to secure the release of 26 girls abducted in Dan-Aji community in Katsina through mere dialogue with the bandits.

The girls, aged between 8 and 12 were kidnapped in Katsina and taken into the bandit’s camp in Zamfara. 

The village head in Katsina was quick to refute Governor Matawalle’s claim, saying the community paid the bandits 6.6 million ransom to secure the abducted girls’ freedom. 

Bandits find it convenient to unleash mayhem in Katsina and flee to Zamfara with their loot under the state government’s protection. 

Like the abducted Dan-Aji girls, the bandits have once again brought the abducted schoolboys into Zamfara-a zone that is proving itself a safe haven for bandits. 

For a state with such close proximity to Katsina, the difference in security strategy and policy is a clog to a successful victory over banditry in the region.

As parents face the most gruelling decisions of negotiating with bandits to secure the lives of their children and further embolden them to carry out more daring attacks with funds provided, the time has come for the federal government to look into states actively encouraging banditry by making their territories safe haven for their nefarious activities.

The Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA) condemns the Nigerian and Katsina State governments for the spectacular security breaches that led to the kidnap of over 300 students of Government Boys Science Secondary School Kankara, Katsina State.

The lack of effectiveness and efficiency in securing any and all parts of Nigeria falls squarely on the desk of Mr President so Mr President has failed in his responsibility to protect Nigerians as clearly spelt out in section 14 (2)(B) of the 1999 Constitution which makes security and the welfare of the people the Primary duty of the government.

“So Mr President should own up to his cocktails of failures to protect the citizens of Nigeria.

“Mr President needs to take immediate steps to remedy these bad situations because Nigeria cannot continue to be a country of the primitive epoch whereby the citizens are killed or slaughtered like chickens at the whims and caprices of non -state actors and the government that is elected primarily to protect the citizens has been busy since five years in lamentation and mourning.

These ugly situations have gone on for far too long than Nigerians can tolerate. Enough is enough.

Taking responsibility by the President means dismissing persons who have failed to discharge their obligation to the people of Nigeria and these persons are all in Katsina State.

“These people are first the Governor of Katsina State who needs to be impeached by the Katsina State House of Assembly. Others are the Commissioner of Police in Katsina State; the director of Department of States Services  (DSS) in Katsina state and the state Commandants of all the paramilitary and the military in Katsina state.

“If Mr President is truly the Commander- in -Chief of the Armed Forces in Nigeria, he should dismiss the people who have failed in discharging their duties if, on the other hand, the President fails to take actions, it, therefore, means that the President tolerates impunity and in that case, the National assembly should impeach the president, because it is an impeachable offence, that is if the National Assembly members are not Cowards but if they are, then we can live with the reality of our situation as a doomed nation.

The National Assembly should indeed constitute independent medical examiners to conduct thorough checks to ascertain the health status of the President because he is not showing empathy with the victims of these dozens of killings and he failed to go to the National Assembly to tell Nigerians why he can’t protect Nigerians and Nigeria but instead he flew into Katsina State and he was in Katsina when these boys were kidnapped.

However, rather than visit the school, he stated back in his private residence when he is allegedly inspecting his private cattle ranch. Something is not right somewhere and the National Assembly is in this conspiracy to destroy Nigeria by failing to compel the appearance or medical examination of the mental capacity of the Commander in chief who has in five years failed to win the war on terror.

Theleadnewsreport

A top source told SaharaReporters on Tuesday that the First Lady had now relocated quietly to the UAE for over three months.

Alot of reactions from Nigerians have continued to trail SaharaReporters’ exclusive report that First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has relocated to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates for over three months, citing insecurity at the Aso Rock Villa.

Most commentators knocked the First Lady for absconding from the country and lavishing taxpayers’ money on foreign trips. Many people wondered where average Nigerians who are daily facing the heat of insecurity should run to.

SaharaReporters had on Tuesday reported that Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, had been in Dubai since September after the wedding of her daughter, Hanan, and she had therefore not been involved in any government activity.

The First Lady is not in a hurry to return, despite spending over three months, as she reportedly stated that the Aso Rock Villa was not secure for her family.

The security concern was fuelled a shooting incident which occurred in June and caused some panic among occupants of the Villa.

Continue reading

The recent slaughter of more than 100 farmers in Borno State, Nigeria, by the jihadist group Boko Haram should convince those still in denial that Africa is now a terror hotspot.

Terror has crippled Somalia. Every time the East African nation begins to rebuild from years of chaos, terrorists bring her down on her knees. Just when Mozambique was beginning to make progress from effects of years of civil war, terrorism makes parts of the country desolate wastelands of death. Kenya, after a series of devastating attacks, is constantly under threat. Cameroon, too, suffers deadly attacks. Burkina Faso is desperately fighting off terror. North Africa suffers intermittent albeit extremely violent attacks.

But perhaps it is the terrorism in Nigeria which shows the depraved nihilism of jihadist terror. Where is the military value in slitting throats of poor farmers eking out a living in a country impoverished by pathological corruption? What religious justification can there be for depriving people already living hellish lives? What religious goal is served when you kidnap children from their homes and force them to become sex slaves? What can be more alien to the principle of a common humanity to which every religion subscribes than notions of gender and religious supremacy? After the slaughter in Borno State, the UN spoke for everyone when it expressed “horror and outrage”.

Where is the African Union? For years — until a while ago — the continental body refused to accept that theft by African governments was a major cause of underdevelopment, and address the issue with urgency. The AU shies away from condemning brutality of African police on unarmed citizens. The AU refuses to confront the issue of bad governance and dictatorship in Africa. The continental body has never confronted traditional customs that continue to deprive women of their humanity. And now, in the face of terror that violates the very core of our humanity, the African Union fails to call an extraordinary summit to discuss the deteriorating terror situation on the continent.

And yet, ironically but not surprisingly, the AU was quick to denounce Donald Trump’s insult when he called its member states a bunch of “shit hole” countries. Again, the AU was quick to protest the mistreatment of African Americans at the hands of the US police. Why is the AU’s dignity offended and its consciousness pricked by these events and not by those closer to home?

Terror is a complex problem because it is caused by a multitude of factors. First: A truly depraved religious ideology that aims to return the world to a medieval religious culture. Second: Terror breeds in situations of poverty and despair. Third: Perceived or real marginalisation of religious and cultural minorities. Fourth: Psychological angst at rapid social change. Given this complexity, there can be no other issue that would require the African Union’s urgent attention than terrorism.

Theeastafrica