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Thursday, 05 December 2024 13:45
ASUU kicks against FG student loan initiative, gives reasons
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has criticized the Federal Government’s student loan initiative, arguing that beneficiaries often struggle to repay the loans.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Thursday, ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke stated that the union’s research on student loan systems in other countries shows that graduates often become societal burdens and feel demoralized.
“Imagine a student graduating from the university with a loan of five million naira, even me as a professor, I cannot pay back such a loan in 20 years’ time..
“A student who graduated has a loan of N5 million and is not sure of getting a job in the next 10 or 20 years”, he said.
Osodeke suggested that increasing the budgetary allocation for education would eliminate the need for student loans.
He also noted that this is the third attempt to implement such an initiative, which previously failed, raising doubts about its viability this time.
Citing the United States, where student loans are prevalent, he mentioned that many students are unable to repay their debts, leading to severe consequences, including suicides.
He added that President Joe Biden had to intervene to address the loan crisis.
The professor questioned how the initiative could succeed in a country with a high unemployment rate.
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Thursday, 05 December 2024 13:43
Ibori’s daughter dumps PDP, moves to APC
Erhriatake Ibori-Suenu, the daughter of former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party House of Representatives caucus.
Ms Ibori-Suenu announced her defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in a letter read on the floor of the House on Thursday.
Her Father, Ibori served as the Governor of Delta State from 1999 to 2007 and is believed to have retained his hold on the political structure of the the PDP in the state.
Ms Ibori’s defection is the latest in the gale of defection rocking the minority caucus.
Earlier, four members of the Labour Party caucus also defected to the APC.
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Thursday, 05 December 2024 13:33
Four Labour Party’s federal lawmakers defect to APC
A major defection wave has rocked the Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives, as four members have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The four LP candidates that defected on the floor of the House on Thursday are from four states: Kaduna, Imo, Edo and Cross River.
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen announced the defection on the floor of the House.
The lawmakers are Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West Constituency), Mathew Donatus (Kaura Federal Constituency of Kaduna), Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Constituency) and Esosa Iyawe (Oredo Federal Constituency of Edo).
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Thursday, 05 December 2024 13:32
It’s covenant, Tinubu has come through me’ – Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has likened governance to a covenant where politician must live up to the campaign promises made to the electorates.
This was as Wike said President Bola Tinubu is fulfilling his promises through him.
Wike disclosed this while inaugurating the construction of the Kabusa Ketti Access road in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said: “I tell people something: there is nothing difficult about government. Note that Mr President has come through me to fulfill the promise he has made.
“This time around we will send people who will listen. Politics no be grammar… Make una no dey follow people wey dey speak grammar. You don see who grammar help?
“We will send people who will come back to you and say this is what you sent me to do and this is what I have brought.”
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Thursday, 05 December 2024 13:07
Read The Full Text Of Afe Babalola’s Petition On How Dele Farotimi ‘Defamed’ Him
A petition by Afe Babalola against Dele Farotimi that led to his arrest and remand in custody has surfaced online.
In the petition, Babalola alleged that he was defamed in Farotimi's book.
He wrote:
Dear Sir,
CRIMINAL DEFAMATION OF AARE AFE BABALOLA, AFE BABALOLA & CO AND HER LAWYERS BY DELE FAROTIMI
I write to report the criminal defamation of myself, my law firm Afe Babalola & Co and my lawyers in person of Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro by one Dele Farotimi in his book titled ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ published by Dele Farotimi publishers in respect of Suit no: SC/146/2005: Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu & Ors V.H.R.H Oba Tijani Akinloye & Ors.
SUIT NO: SC/146/2005: MAJOR MURITALA GBADAMOSI ELETU & ORS V. H.R.H OBA TIJANI AKINLOYE & ORS (2013) 15 NWLR PART 1378.
We were solicitors to the Gbadamosi Eletu family in the case of Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu & Ors V. H.R.H Oba Tijani Akinloye & Ors.
The Appellants lost the case at the High Court and the Court of Appeal before briefing my law firm to represent them at the Supreme Court.
The Appellant in this suit were Defendants at the High Court. The subject matter of the suit was 254 hectares of land at Osapa Eti-Osa Local Government Lagos sold to the late Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu in 1977 by the Ojomu family. The said parcel of land was later acquired by Lagos State Government after it was sold to the Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu by the Ojomu family.
The Ojomu family contested the acquisition against Lagos State Government in Suit No: ID/1883/89 wherein the court set aside the acquisition by the Lagos State Government. The Ojomu family then instituted the suit at the High Court of Lagos State claiming that title to the land had reverted to the Ojomu family despite the earlier sale of the land to late Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu.
We represented the Eletu family and Judgement was delivered by the Supreme Court on 13/7/2013 in favour of the Eletu family wherein the Supreme Court held that: “Where a party has fully divested himself of all interest in land, no right vests in him to deal with the same property by way of further alienation anymore. He is caught by the maxim, nemo dat quod non habet; that is, he cannot give that which he no longer has. In the instant case, it was unfortunate that the respondents claimed title to the whole of their family land compulsorily acquired by the Lagos State Government including the portion earlier sold to the father of the appellants and in which they were in effective possession. The claim so made without disclosing the truth and excluding the said portion so sold was clearly made in bad faith and smacked of insincerity. It was very unconscionable and consequently against the principles of equity and good conscience.”
The Supreme Court also held that: “A court of law should not allow itself to be used as an engine for the perpetration of fraud, in whatever guise.”
A copy of the judgment is hereby attached as annexure 1.
VARIATION OF JUDGEMENT
Honourable Justice Kumai Bayang AKA AHS JSC wrote the lead judgement. His Lordship erroneously limited the land of the Appellants to 10 hectares (24.17 acres) in respect to Suit no: M/779/93 whose subject matter was part of the 254 hectares owned by the Eletu family.
We immediately filed a motion for variation of the judgement of the Supreme Court pursuant to Order 8 Rule 16 of the Rules of Court. The said motion was heard and ruling delivered on 18/3/2014 granting statutory right of occupancy to the Appellants in respect to the entire 254 hectares sold to late Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu by the Respondents.
A copy of the ruling is hereby attached as annexure 2.
ENFORCEMENT
Upon the delivery of the Judgement, our client surreptitiously employed the services of S.B Joseph & Co to enforce the judgement before we applied for variation of the judgement with the intention of not paying our professional fees.
The judgement was however varied on 18/3/2014 as earlier stated.
NEW SUIT BY ESTATES/PERSONS AFFECTED BY THE JUDGEMENT
Several residential estates were affected by the judgement of the Supreme Court among which were Pinnock Estate, Beach Resort, NICON Estate, Friends’ Colony Estate and Victory Park Estate etc. Dele Farotimi was lawyer to one of the Estates.
The affected estates and individuals immediately filed fresh suits against the Eletu family with the purpose of frustrating the judgement of the Supreme Court.
The Eletu family were lured by the affected estates to settle some of the suits behind our law firm despite being counsel on record by filing terms of settlement with the aim of denying us our professional fees. This was admitted by Dele Farotimi in page 73 of his book ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’.
INTERVENTION BY LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT
The Lagos State Government issued a publication indicating their awareness of the Supreme Court judgement and the need for the State to intervene in order to maintain public peace and order. The Lagos State Government invited us for several meetings with respect to compromising the judgement of the Supreme Court.
The said judgement was eventually compromised and the Eletu family were compensated by the Lagos State Government so as to avoid a massive dislocation of persons and communities directly affected by the Judgement.
DEFAMATION BY DELE FAROTIMI
Sometime on 2/11/2024, one of our lawyers while travelling through Murtala Muhammed Airport bought a book by Dele Farotimi titled ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ published by Dele Farotimi publishers. He read the said book and immediately brought it to my attention. Many of my lawyers also bought the said book and read same.
We received several calls from professional colleagues, friends and family members who watched a program on Channel’s TV wherein Dele Farotimi was interviewed with respect to the said book where he made several defamatory statements against myself, my law firm Afe Babalola & Co (Emmanuel Chambers), Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro Esq.
We also received several calls from persons who saw excerpts of the book and interview on several social media platforms.
The said defamatory statements are detailed below:
“That Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgement in the service of his client” See page IX.
“That Aare Afe Babalola, Olu Daramola, Olu Faro and the law offices of Afe Babalola & Co, (Emmanuel Chambers) compromised the Supreme Court and the remaining semblance of integrity it might have had when they went back to the Supreme Court and got the Court to swim in the sewer of corruption and shameful self-Abnegation”. See page X.
“That Afe Babalola libeled me and the fact of the libel became known to me in a suit against Lawal Pedro SAN”. See page X.
“That I sued Afe Babalola SAN for libel and he leveraged his influence in the Judiciary to deny me justice”. See page X.
“That I have always been familiar with the fact of our perversion as a People and I have few illusions about equity and justice reigning in Nigeria but I had always assumed that there were lines that should never be crossed. I have however been slapped awake by the brazenness of the judicial brigandage unleashed on hapless citizens, corporate, and individuals by the Nigerian Supreme Court, acting under the direction of Aare Afe Babalola. At least five Justices of the Apex Court have been identified as guilty of odious corruption and or gross incompetence. Either is sufficient to have them removed from their office and this is my petition to the Nigerian people and most definitely to the NJC”. See pages 10 to 11.
“The first we knew of the magic been put together by Afe and his elves must have been around the middle of July”. See page 49
“While all this was going on, we had a meeting in the law office of Afe Babalola in Magodo, where Olu Daramola SAN made himself unavailable, and had us meet with Olu Faro, a younger counsel…..but Olu Faro Esq was remarkably insolent and assured that we were made aware of just how powerful the law office he worked for believed itself to be and how much above the law and the practice of law they believed themselves to be”. See page 52
“The judgement of the court was unanimous in giving judgement to the Eletu………..But Justice Rhodes-Vivour laid a foundation for the fraud that was to come. He spoke of an unextinguished equitable interest in 254 hectares”. See page 52 to 53.
“We quickly realized that the law office of Afe Babalola & Co, Emmanuel Chambers had outsourced the judgement execution to another law office, the firm of 5.B Joseph & Co the firm had fraudulently and deliberately concealed the judgement of AKA’AHS and had underlined the words of Justice Rhodes Vivour to deceive and perhaps mislead Atilade or as is more likely, Atilade was always a part of the original fraud”. See page 56.
“But even as Atilade J. played the contrition game, she was already part of the game plan being staged together by the grandmaster of judicial corruption in Nigeria, Afe Babalola. I have come to the conclusion that the required form of the application and her ruling were all part of the insidious plans of Afe Babalola, his band of crooked lawyers and coterie of crooked/incompetent justices of the Supreme Court”. See page 59.
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Thursday, 05 December 2024 12:51
Police Recover Over N31M Extorted By Four of Its Officers
The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has successfully recovered over N31 million from four officers accused of unlawfully arresting and extorting a civilian. This recovery follows allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of power within the force, sparking widespread discussions about integrity and accountability in law enforcement.
The development was confirmed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who addressed the incident publicly while also dispelling rumors that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) was involved in shielding a cartel suspected of introducing questionable new Naira notes into circulation. Adejobi reaffirmed the force’s commitment to justice and transparency in addressing such allegations.
The incident, which took place on August 26, 2023, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, implicated four officers: Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Peter Ejike, Inspector Ekeinde Edwin, Inspector Esther Okafor, and Sergeant Talabi Kayode. All officers were attached to Zone 7, Abuja. Acting on DSP Ejike’s directives, the team, led by Inspector Okafor, unlawfully detained a civilian, Andrew Ejah, an employee of Fatfad Cargo Nigeria Limited, who was transporting N74,950,000 on behalf of his clients.
According to reports, the officers falsely reported that only N31,790,000 was recovered from the funds being transported. Furthermore, they allegedly pressured Mr. Ejah and his associates to forfeit a percentage of the recovered money in exchange for halting further investigations. These actions raised suspicions about the integrity of their claims and the actual amount recovered.
Dissatisfied with the officers' actions, the owners of the funds filed a petition with the Force Headquarters in Abuja. This led the IGP Monitoring Unit to initiate a thorough investigation. Their efforts resulted in the recovery of the N31,790,000 from the implicated officers. However, concerns remain regarding the full amount recovered from Mr. Ejah, as the discrepancies in reported figures suggest possible foul play.
The Nigerian Police Force has since taken disciplinary action against the involved officers. This case serves as a critical example of ongoing efforts to combat corruption and restore public trust within the police force. The NPF reiterated its commitment to ensuring accountability and maintaining transparency in its operations, vowing to handle similar cases with utmost diligence in the future.
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Thursday, 05 December 2024 12:45
EFCC Clears Air On Discovering $800m, N700bn Cash, Drugs At El-Rufai Son’s Residence
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has refuted claims that it discovered $800 million, ₦700 billion in cash, and drugs valued at ₦1 trillion at the residence of Bello El-Rufai, the eldest son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, describing the reports as false.
The commission made this known in a terse statement on its official Facebook account.
This clarification follows speculations that the EFCC discovered the alleged sums of money and drugs at Bello’s residence in Kaduna State.
However, the anti-graft agency described the claims as a false narrative of its activities.
The EFCC, therefore, urged Nigerians to disregard the reports, stating:
“‘EFCC Discovers $800 Million, ₦700 Billion Cash, and ₦1 Trillion Worth of Drugs at Nasir El-Rufai Son’s House in Kaduna’
"This piece of news quoted above is a false narrative of the activities of the EFCC. Members of the public are enjoined to ignore it.”
Daily Post reports that Bello El-Rufai also debunked the speculations, denying that the EFCC discovered large sums of money and drugs at his residence.
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Thursday, 05 December 2024 12:39
How Ex-Kwara Governor, Commissioner Misappropriated N5b UBEC Fund - Witness Reveals
Former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his Finance Commissioner Ademola Banu were arraigned yesterday at the State High Court in Ilorin, the state capital, for alleged stealing and mismanagement of N5.78 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the duo in October for allegedly stealing public funds meant for the payment of teachers’ salaries at the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC) as well as to provide security and other infrastructural facilities across the state.
The duo pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.
They were admitted to bail, and the case was adjourned for trial.
At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, the EFCC presented its first witness (PW1), Abubakar Hassan, an Assistant Director of Finance at UBEC.
Led in evidence by counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Hassan told the court that the state government misappropriated about N5 billion meant to execute projects at primary and junior secondary schools between 2013 and 2015, when Abdulfatah Ahmed was governor.
“The matching grant fund from UBEC is meant to provide certain infrastructural facilities for both students of primary and junior secondary schools. Such facilities include the construction of primary schools, provision of laboratories for students, construction of toilets, provision of water and sanitation and cultural education,” he said.
Explaining the objectives of the UBEC when it was established in 2004, Hassan said: “UBEC law provides that the Chairman of State Universal Basic Education Board, its Executive Secretary, and the Director of Finance are signatories to Matching Grants Account. The Matching Grants Account is opened with any commercial bank or the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).”
The witness explained that the state has to prepare action plans (budgets), defend the projects, and get approval before it can access grants from UBEC.
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Thursday, 05 December 2024 12:38
Yabagi Sani alleges Tinubu shielding massive corruption in NNPC
The National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Yabagi Yusuf Sani, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu is being used as a cover for ongoing corruption within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Sani, a former presidential candidate, claimed that recent discoveries coming out of the Central Bank of Nigeria were child’s play compared to what was going on in the NNPC, lamenting that no one seems to care.
In an interview on Channels Television, Sani, Energy and Crude oil expert, called on President Tinubu to act as fast as he could, insisting that Nigerians would not continue to fold their hands and watch.
“The running of the Petroleum industry in Nigeria is as bad as it can be. The report you’re talking about reported that in six months we lost 1.5 billion dollars.
“That is a conservative figure that the Obaseki Committee, set up by the NEC came up with…it’s more than that,” he stated.
He further alleged that, “My regret is that I don’t know how they got Mr President to become the shield of the NNPC rot.
“Do you know what you will get when you probe the NNPC? This is a joke ‘what you are getting from the CBN’.
“Somebody should tell Mr President, it is high time we beamed the searchlight on NNPC. We cannot be taken for a ride for so long.”
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Thursday, 05 December 2024 12:21
President Tinubu Knows Nigerians Are Suffering – Minister of Health, Pate
President Bola Tinubu is aware that Nigerians are suffering.
This is according to the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate.
Pate stated this while assuring Nigerians that Tinubu will find a lasting solution to the hardship.
The minister gave the assurance at the quarterly review meeting of the Traditional Leaders’ Committee on Primary Healthcare Delivery, representing the 19 northern states, held at the Government House, Bauchi, the state capital, yesterday evening.
Prof Pate said the President is not only aware but deeply concerned about the plight of the people.
“President Tinubu knows what Nigerians are going through. He feels the pain, he cares, and he is working day and night to ease the suffering. His main focus is on how we can improve the living conditions of our people,” he said.
The Minister acknowledged that the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration have been tough on Nigerians, assuring that the long-term benefits would justify the sacrifices.
“Yes, there have been difficulties, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. After hardship comes relief,” he said.
He revealed that the federal government has been working tirelessly to address issues in key areas such as health and education.
According to him, 8,800 primary healthcare centers are now receiving regular funding through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, while 4,000 centers are being revitalized across the country.
“This work cannot be done by the President alone,” Prof. Pate emphasized. “State and local governments, along with traditional and community leaders, must come together to ensure that we achieve the Nigeria we all desire.”
In his remarks, Governor Bala Mohammed commended President Tinubu for his efforts and called for even greater collaboration between the federal and state governments.
Mohammed stated that his administration is committed to the Abuja Declaration, allocating 15 percent of the state budget to the health sector.
He also acknowledged the significant contributions of traditional and religious leaders in facilitating the establishment of over 300 primary healthcare centers across the state.
The governor expressed appreciation to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, for his role in mobilizing traditional rulers to create health awareness in communities.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of Bauchi State, Barrister Ibrahim Mohammed Kashim, Mohammed said, “We appreciate our traditional leaders for their efforts in mobilizing the grassroots and raising awareness. This is how we can truly reach the people and improve their lives.”
“As Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of reforms, the government is urging patience, unity, and collective action to bring about the desired relief and long-term development.”
In his goodwill message, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, commended the traditional rulers from the 19 northern states for their pivotal role in Nigeria’s fight against the wild poliovirus and their ongoing efforts to combat outbreaks.
Speaking through her representative, Shamina Sharmin, Munduate stated, “I applaud our Royal Fathers for their significant contribution to writing Nigeria’s unique success story in eradicating the wild poliovirus and their vital role in the ongoing battle against outbreaks.”
She emphasized the indispensable roles traditional leaders play in polio eradication, routine immunization, and primary healthcare delivery, particularly in raising awareness and encouraging healthcare utilization among vulnerable groups like women and children.
“Combating polio requires a collaborative effort involving government agencies, international organizations, local communities, and other stakeholders,” she said, stressing the need for stronger partnerships to address challenges such as low routine immunization coverage, nomadic movements, and achieving a polio-free Nigeria.
Munduate urged traditional leaders to intensify efforts in strengthening routine immunization and ensuring Nigeria remains free of polio.
She also reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to collaborating with the Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and other stakeholders to drive vaccination-related behavior change within communities.
In her words, “UNICEF remains dedicated to working closely with partners to overcome challenges and ensure every child receives the necessary immunization, bringing us closer to a healthier and polio-free future.”
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