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Ondo Chief Judge Rejects Request To Set Up Probe Panel For Deputy Governor

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Ondo Chief Judge Rejects Request To Set Up Probe Panel For Deputy Governor

Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olarenwaju Akeredolu, has explained why she cannot set up a seven-man investigative panel for the impeachment proceeding against Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi.

She said she cannot constitute the panel until all constitutional processes are followed.

Speaker Bamidele Oleyelogun had written to the Chief Judge explaining that impeachment notice has been served on Hon Ajayi.

A total of 14 lawmakers signed an impeachment notice against Ajayi.

Speaker Oleyelogun informed Justice Akeredolu that setting up of the panel was in line with section 188 (5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

A letter to the CJ and signed by the Speaker reads: “By the Resolution of the House today pursuant to Section 188 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended it was resolved that the allegations be investigated forthwith.

“It is in line with the above that request that you set up the 7-man panel to conduct the investigation as resolved by the Honourable House and the Panel, shall soon as possible, report back to the House.”

But the Justice Akeredolu, in a letter dated July 9 and addressed to the Speaker, said the lawmakers have not completed the constitutional process that would lead the Speaker to invite her to set up an investigative panel as stipulated by the Nigeria Constitution.

Justice Akeredolu said she also received a letter from Kayode Olatoke SAN that the matter of the impeachment of Ajayi was subjudice.

The constitutional processes, according to Justice Akeredolu, include: “The Deputy Governor, Hon Alfred Agboola Ajayi must be served with notice of impeachment signed by not less than one-third of members of the House of Assembly of the State.

“The Notice to be served on him must state that he is guilt of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office and must specify the particulars of the gross misconduct.

“He must be allowed to respond to the allegations.

“Within 14 days of receipt of the Notice of the Honourable Speaker, whether or not the Deputy Governor responda the House of Assembly shall pass a resolution supported by not less than two thirds majority of all the members of the House of Assembly that the allegations be investigated.

Thenigerialawyer

Leaving the Diaspora to Take a Gov’t Job is No “Sacrifice”

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Leaving the Diaspora to Take a Gov’t Job is No “Sacrifice”
  • by Farooq Kperogi, Ph.D

It has now become customary for Nigerians in the diaspora who leave their exilic locations to take government jobs at home to emotionally blackmail the nation into seeing them as irreproachable demigods whose “sacrifice” in leaving their diasporic comfort zones should inoculate them against scrutiny. Here are 5 reasons why this is boneheaded.

  1. No Nigerian who benefited from the free or highly subsidized education in the country can ever fully pay back the debt he or she owes to
    Nigeria. Thanks to my Nigerian undergraduate degree, which I couldn’t afford if it wasn’t subsidized, I am debt-free and doing financially well in my diasporic location. My American colleagues aren’t that lucky. Most of them are still paying their student loans. Obama finished paying his student loan debts just a few months before he became president. Had he not made a fortune from his well-received autobiography he would have been paying his student loans well into his presidency. So going back to work in Nigeria after staying in the diaspora is,
    properly speaking, “giving back”; it is NOT a sacrifice. Sacrifice entails an undeserved loss as a result of giving up something more valuable. Since most diasporans won’t even have the opportunity of their exilic comfort zones if they didn’t benefit from Nigeria’s free or
    subsidized education, they aren’t “sacrificing” by going back to the country that nurtured them when they were helpless.
  2. Return to Nigeria after a sojourn in the diaspora often comes with the sorts of perks that people don’t usually get in their erstwhile diasporic locations
    Being head of a government agency, a minister, a special adviser, etc. comes with humongous allowances, a retinue of aides, access to the power structure, etc. Returnee diasporans who want you to give them credit for taking a pay cut to accept a gov’t job in Nigeria are being
    intentionally deceitful. I earn more than two times what the Nigerian president officially earns, but everyone knows the president doesn’t even need his or her salary.
  3. There is really little that people in the diaspora bring back to Nigeria that doesn’t already exist in
    superfluity in Nigeria. There are literally thousands of people who can be, and even better than, whatever any diasporan Nigerian does, but they’re passed over because they don’t have access to people who make appointments— and because they don’t have the social and symbolic
    capital that living abroad confers. So it’s actually a privilege, not a sacrifice, to serve.
  4. Self-preservation is the first law of nature. Most people won’t leave their diasporan locations if it would exert a strain on them and their families. I am an example. Prof. Attahiru
    Jega invited me to work with him at INEC sometime ago, but I politely declined because it wasn’t in the interest of my young children to relocate to Nigeria. I’ve also spurned many other offers since then for the same reason. Should I decide at some point to relocate to Nigeria,
    it won’t be a “sacrifice.” At worst, it would be “giving back” and at best a privilege. There are thousands of people with my skillset in Nigeria.
  5. A diasporan who worked as a contract staff in a country where he was neither a citizen nor even a legal permanent resident is actually enjoying an upgrade if he gets a visible, consequential position in government. Instead of arrogantly saying they are “sacrificing” for the country, they should be grateful for the opportunity to do a job that thousands of Nigerians at home are capable of doing.

N4bn Fake News: Osinbajo to Sue Blogger, Jackson Ude, for Defamation

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N4bn Fake News: Osinbajo to Sue Blogger, Jackson Ude, for Defamation

Reading Time: 2 minutes

SWITZERLAND, JULY 9 – Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo is set to sue controversial blogger, Jackson Ude, for defamation of character, over unproven allegations that the Vice President received N4 billion bribe from the suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

Today’s Echo gathers that Osinbajo has written a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, demanding the probe of Ude, who is known for making sensational allegations against notable figures.

The petition dated July 8, 2020, is titled, ‘Criminal Defamation of the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), GCON by Jackson Ude’.


In the petition written on his behalf by his lawyer, Bayo Osipitan, the Vice-President said Ude, the publisher of an online medium, Point Blank News, authored a story in which it was alleged that the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, who is facing a Presidential probe, told the investigative panel that he gave N4bn to Osinbajo.

The Vice-President said Ude was in the habit of publishing malicious articles against his person. He subsequently attached printed copies of some of the blogger’s reports to the petition.

Osinbajo said the articles were defamatory and capable of bringing him to ridicule before members of the public.

He called on the IG to probe the blogger with a view to prosecuting him for criminal defamation.
Osinbajo said Ude also likened him to alleged international fraudster, Ramon Abbas aka Hushpuppi, by calling him ‘Hush-bajo’.

The petition read in part, “These vicious and malicious publications are meant to achieve one objective only, to present to his readership and others (Nigerians and foreigners) that our client is a dishonest and disloyal public officer and consequently unfit for the position of Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria he is occupying.

“We are of the view that unless an action for criminal defamation is commenced against the said Mr. Jackson Ude, he will continue to use his social media platform to publish materials that are false and criminally defamatory of our client’s reputation.
“In view of the above, we humbly request that you cause the above allegations made against our client to be investigated and if the suggested investigation confirms our complaint of the falsehood of these allegations, to initiate criminal proceedings pursuant to the provisions of Sections 391-395 of the Penal Code Act for criminal defamation against the said Jackson Ude.”

Today’s Echo gathers that Ude continues to post negative commentaries on the Vice President via his Twitter handle.

Apparently in reaction to Osinbajo’s statement, Ude tweeted on Thursday afternoon, “Since Osinbajo, the Star Boy, is denying, let’s have lawyers compel the Presidential Panel investigating Magu and the Police, to release the verbatim transcripts of Magu’s confessions. This is not about waving immunity. Oya, let’s go there ndi Lawyers!

“I am not afraid of Osinbajo and his minions. If he indeed wants to go to court, he needs to resign first, and sue me. He cannot be VP and be using state resources to intimidate the Judiciary. He cannot wave an immunity that he didn’t place. Osinabjo should resign first!”

todaysecho

IG Orders Withdrawal Of All Police Personnel Serving At EFCC

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*Restrict access to the commission’s premises

The Inspector-General of Police (IG) Mohammed Adamu on Friday directed the immediate withdrawal of all police operatives serving at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The directive which was contained in a signal to the Assistant Inspector General (AIG), Police Mobile Force (PMF), PMF Squadrons one to 79, Force Secretary and Commissioners of Police of all the state commands and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) also directed that the exact number withdrawn be replaced with new operatives.

According to the order, only staff of EFCC should be allowed access into the premises, while withdrawn police personnel from PMF 21, 44, 45, 46 and 50 must report to the Force Headquarters by 8am on Monday.

Thenigerialawyer

FIRST BARRISTER IN ONICHA ADO & EASTERN NIGERIA!

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FIRST BARRISTER IN ONICHA ADO & EASTERN NIGERIA!

Sir Louis Nwachukwu Mbanefo was born in Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria on the 13th of May 1911. He was educated at The Methodist Boys High School in Lagos and subsequently at the prestigious Kings College, also in Lagos, which was modeled on Eton and Harrow Colleges and where he was a keen Cricketer and Footballer- all these between the years 1925-1932. He was then admitted to the University College London, where he studied Law, graduating Second Class Upper in 1935 and was called to the Bar at The Middle Temple later on in the same year. He was then admitted to Cambridge, where he obtained a further Degree in the Humanities in 1937.

He returned home to Nigeria and set up practice in his hometown of Onitsha and is on record as the first Lawyer from the East of Nigeria. He veered into politics and was elected into the Eastern Region Parliament in 1950, where he distinguished himself as an excellent Orator and Lawmaker. However the pull of the Legal profession was such that he returned after 2 years, but this time to the Bench, as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1952, with his first posting being to Warri in the Mid-West of Nigeria, where he sat as resident Judge.

He was later seconded back to the Eastern Region as Chief Justice in 1961 and in 1962, reached the peak of his Judicial career by appointment to the International Court of Justice, as an ad-hoc Judge, a position he occupied till 1966, when he returned to his post as Chief Justice of the Eastern Region. His appointment to the ICJ being to sit on South-Western Africa Cases i.e. Liberia v South Africa and Ethiopia v South Africa ICJ Reports 1966 ICJ which spanned over four years.

In 1961, he received a Knighthood from the Queen and assumed the title which he proudly answered till his death- Sir Louis Mbanefo. Upon the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War, he was appointed the Chief Justice of Biafra and Ambassador Plenipotentiary. He was actively involved in the Peace talks with the Nigerian Government and worked actively towards a diplomatic resolution of the Crisis. He remained in Biafra till the very end.

He dedicated his later years to Charity and Church work, serving variously as President of the Christian Council of Nigeria, Chancellor of the Niger Diocese- a position he had held since 1946, President of the Anglican Consultative Council from 1972 and a Fellow of the University of London.

Sir Louis died in 1977.

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Procedure For Recovering Money Mistakenly Paid Into Wrong Account

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Procedure For Recovering Money Mistakenly Paid Into Wrong Account

By Sam Okolie

Due to mistake, carelessness and a plethora of other factors, people have transferred or paid money into accounts different from the one they intended to pay or transfer the money into.

Most times, individuals who find themselves in this type of situation usually fall into hopelessness and helplessness owing to ignorance, and, as such, they end up losing and forfeiting the money to either the bank or to the account they wrongly paid the money into.

The English Philosopher Francis Bacon, once said that knowledge is power, and so we’ll try to explain the procedure for recovering money mistakenly paid into an account different from the one intended.

The first step to take in this situation is to promptly inform the bank, either by writing, calling the customer care line, or by personally visiting the bank to explain the situation. Ideally, one should personally visit the bank and explain the predicament viva voce.

Once the predicament is explained to the bank, it then behooves on the bank to immediately reverse the money back to the transferor or the account the money was originally intended to be paid into.

Secondly, the bank on receipt of the complaint made by the transferor, will have to act quickly to correct the mistake. This the bank will do by immediately reversing the money to the transferor. This is only possible if the transferor and the owner of the wrong account operate accounts in the same bank.

In such a situation all the bank should do is to either contact the owner of the wrong account, or suo moto reverse the money to the transferor without the consent of the wrong account holder.

The third step to take will only be necessary if the bank is unable to reverse the wrong payment as explained in the last two steps. This may occur as a result of various factors.

These factors include: (1) when the transferor or and the owner of the wrong account don’t operate accounts in the same bank; (2) when the owner of the wrong account refuses to give consent to reverse back the money to the transferor; (3) when the owner of the wrong account has moved the money into a different account; and (4) when the owner of the wrong account has immediately withdrawn the money.

In any of the aforementioned scenario, the transferor will have to file an application to the court by way of motion on notice, praying for an order of court to reverse the money to the transferor.

However, with respect to where the wrong account holder has transferred the money into a different account or has withdrawn the money, the transferor will have to contact the police who will in turn approach the court to place a lien in the form of post no debit on the account of the wrong account holder.

The application to the court by way of motion on notice will contain a supporting affidavit, wherein the transferor (Claimant) will state his/her account number, the name of the bank, the bank of the wrong account holder, plus the statement of account of the transferor and the wrong account holder.

The fourth and final step is for the transferor to obtain a certified true copy of the court order from the court registrar and then serve same on the bank.

The bank on receiving the certified true copy of the court order will have no option but to reverse back the money to the transferor.

Thenigerialawyer

Broadband Plan: NCC Chairs Implementation C’ttee as Minister Urges for Commitment

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Broadband Plan: NCC Chairs Implementation C’ttee as Minister Urges for Commitment

…Penetration hits 40.14%, Danbatta pledges implementation

 Dele Ogbodo

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been saddled with the task of leading the team to ensure effective monitoring and steering of the overall implementation of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) 2020-2025.

 This followed the designation of NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Engr. Ubale Maska, as the Chairman of the newly-inaugurated Broadband Implementation Steering Committee (BISC) by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.

While inaugurating the inter-agency and multi-sectoral committee in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister said the central responsibility and mandate of the Committee, which will have its secretariat in NCC, is to ensure “effective monitoring for implementation of the National Broadband Plan (NBP), 2020- 2025.”

The Minister said the inauguration of the committee was part of the ongoing journey for a Digital Nigeria, which had received a boost since his assumption of office in August, 2019.

“The journey started with the approval for the transformation of the ministry and its parastatals in October, 2019 from mere ICT institutions to digital economy institutions by the President. This was followed by the unveiling of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) in November, 2019 and the development of a new NBP 2020-2025, which was launched by the President in March 19, 2020,” he said.

He explained further that all the efforts were meant to put Nigeria on the global digital economy map, supported by robust broadband infrastructure. He noted that under the NDEPS, Solid Infrastructure components which is the 3rd pillar will provide the bedrock for the realization of the country’s digital economy vision.

“In the new National Broadband Plan, there are many targets. Principal of which are to cover 90 per cent of Nigerian population with broadband access and 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025. We also plan to achieve a broadband speed of 25 megabits per second (mbps) in urban areas and 10 mbps in rural areas by the end of implementation of the new Broadband plan,” Pantami said.

While noting that the implementation of the new NBP had started fully and is resulting in the increase in broadband penetration currently at 40.14 percent, up from 35.10 per cent in August, 2019, the Minister said the ICT industry contributed 14.07 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2020. He noted that increased broadband penetration will help Nigeria to achieve increased GDP growth.

The Minister, however, explained that problems of Right of Way, protection for telecom infrastructure and multiple taxations, which are critical to fast-track broadband infrastructure deployment and penetration are being addressed from all fronts. He added that the efforts are already yielding positive results with the engagement of relevant stakeholders including state government and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, commended the Minister for the inauguration of the committee and promised the support of the Commission towards realisation of the mandate of the Committee.

The Chairman of the Committee, Maska, also assured the Minister of the Committee members’ readiness to deliver on the assignment.

Also present at the inauguration are the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Abdullahi; Managing Director, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Dr. Abimbola Alale and Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Muhammed Abubakar.

The Committee draws membership from the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and agencies under its supervision, Including the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), World Bank, Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), among others.

sharpedgenews

We’re confused by FG’s U-turn on WAEC – ANCOPSS

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We’re confused by FG’s U-turn on WAEC – ANCOPSS

By Tunbosun Ogundare – LagosOn Jul 9, 2020

PRINCIPALS of secondary schools nationwide under the aegis of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) have also expressed surprise over Minister of Education, Mr Adamu Adamu’s announcement on Wednesday withdrawing all the SS3 students in all the 104 Federal Government colleges nationwide from participating in the forthcoming West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) being conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

It said the association was fully represented at the education stakeholders’ meetings on Tuesday where they were all voluntarily agreed that WAEC could go ahead with its pending exam with all safety guidelines and protocols applied.

The national president of the association, Mr Anselm Izuagie, said this in an exclusive interview with Tribune Online on Thursday, noting that the sudden twist by the government on the exam is still baffling them more than 24 hours after the minister’s pronouncement.

He said both the Federal and various state government had representatives at the said meeting with the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, as the chairman.

He added, “The representatives of WAEC, National Examinations Council (NECO) and the National Board for Technical Education (NABTE) and other critical stakeholders in the sector were also in attendance.

“We all reviewed and considered the safety of everyone who would be involved in the exam and promised that all hands would be on deck to ensure no lapses is recorded only for the minister to announce the contrary the following day. That is why the news is shocking to us and also confusing.

“But all the same, we ANCOPSS will meet tomorrow with the NUT to review the whole issue and take position and make it public.”

TRIBUNE

2020 revised budget realistic assumption – Prof Uwaleke

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2020 revised budget realistic assumption – Prof Uwaleke

By Mustapha Sumaila

Abuja – Prof. Uche Uwaleke, an experts on Finance and Capital Markets at the Nasarawa State University Keffi, has described the 2020 revised budget signed by President Muhammadu Buhari as a realistic assumption.

Uwaleke stated this when he appeared on Channels news at 10, monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.

NAN recalls that Buhari on Friday signed the revised N10.8 trillion 2020 budget into law.

He said the president needed to be commended for coming up with a realistic 2020 revised budget.YOU MAY LIKE

The economist said the benchmarks were realistic as well as allocation of resources in the estimate.

He noted that the allocation reflected the government’s priorities, adding that in the breakdown, work and housing, transport, power and agriculture had the largest share.

“The 2020 revised budget is a child of necessity, in the sense by now, we would have been six months into the implementation of the budget.

“Again that brings me to commend the Federal Government’s effort in restoring the budget cycle from January to December but just that COVID-19 is affecting this one.

“That the budget is high or higher than what was initially presented, it is expected, in a period of recession, we wouldn’t be reducing spending, if you want to stimulate the economy and avert a severe recession as being projected, the option is to spend,” he explained.

Uwaleke, however, commended Buhari for giving a marching order to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to ensure MDAs got at least 50 per cent of their capital allocation before the end of the month.

He said that with this development, a significant implementation would be recorded before the end of the year.

He, therefore, advised the government to revisit recurrent expenditures and make some amendments by reducing budget on contingencies, outsourcing services, international sporting events and defence among others.

(NAN)

Two important management lessons I learnt from a 500 Naira note.

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Two important management lessons I learnt from a 500 Naira note.

  1. It happened some time ago but . I was in an audience listening to a motivational speaker. The speaker got out his wallet & pulled out a 500 Naira note. Holding it up, he asked, “Who wants this 500 naira note?”
    Lots of hands went up. Including mine. A slow chorus began to build as people began to shout “Me!” “Me!” I began to wonder who the lucky one would be who the speaker would choose. And I also secretly wondered (and I am sure others did too ) why he would simply give away 500 naira. Even as the shouts of “I want it” grew louder, I noticed a young woman running down the aisle. She ran up onto the stage, went up to the speaker, and grabbed the five 500 naira note from his hand. “Well done, young lady,” said the speaker into the microphone. The speaker simply say “Most of us just sit and wait for good things to happen. That’s of no use. You’ve got to make things happen. Make a move” ‘Simply thinking about doing something is of no use and not gud enough’. Our lives are like that. We all see opportunities around us. We all want the good things. But the problem is we don’t take action. We all want the 500 naira notes on offer. But we don’t make the move. We look at it longingly. Get up, and do something about it. Don’t worry about what other people might think.
    Take action.
  2. later, the speaker got another 500 naira note and held it up for all to see, I thought I knew what’s up. But he just asked a simple question. “How much is this worth?” “Five Hundred naira!” the crowd yelled in unison. “Right,” said the speaker. He then took the note and crumpled it into a ball and asked “How much is it worth now?” “Five Hundred naira!” screamed the audience. He then threw the note on the ground, stamped all over it and picked up the note and asked one more time: “And how much is it worth now?” “Five Hundred naira!” was the response. “I want you to remember this,” said the speaker. “Just because someone crumples it, or stamps on it, the value of the note does not diminish. We should all be like the 500 naira note. In our lives, there will be times when we feel crushed, stamped over, beaten. But never let your self-worth diminish. Just because someone chooses to crush you, that doesn’t change your worth one bit!

Don’t allow your self-worth to diminish because someone says something nasty or does something dirty to you.”

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