FEATURES

FEATURES

Adabo Mohammed, a police inspector has been dismissed over alleged involvement in robbery and kidnapping in the federal capital territory (FCT).


Announcing this on Friday, May 17, the Nigeria Police Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi said Mohammed and five others were members of an armed robbery gang allegedly responsible for the stealing of N29.8 million from a victim during a robbery operation in the Gwagwalada area of Abuja.


The dismissed officer was also part of a gang that kidnapped one Ikechukwu Emmanuel Okafor, in the Tunga Maje area of Abuja and collected N4.4 million in ransom. He further revealed that Mohammed has been charged to court.


Adejobi also disclosed that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun has also approved the demotion of three inspectors to the rank of sergeant over alleged extortion.


The demoted officers as Osagie Efford, Semiu Agbekin, and Francis Ahuen, who were attached to the special tactical squad (STS) in the FCT. It was gathered that they intercepted an unregistered Mercedes Benz at the Gwarinpa area of the territory and “forced the occupants to part with the total sum of N29.4m”.

Adejobi added;

“While the monies have been returned to the complainants, the officers were subjected to orderly room trial in line with extant laws, and have been demoted.”

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Shehu Gabam has faulted the immediate past government of Muhammadu Buhari for failing to address Nigeria’s challenges, accusing it of bequeathing a comatose economy to President Bola Tinubu. 

Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) handed over to his party man Tinubu about a year ago.

But Gabam claims Tinubu inherited a terrible economy from Buhari.

“I have said several times that Buhari’s government is the worst that Nigeria has ever had. It is the consequence that President Bola Tinubu is suffering from because he knew he inherited an economy that has collapsed,” he said on Friday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today. 

Following the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, the cost of living was pushed to new levels.

However, the SDP chieftain has faulted the moves, insisting President Tinubu’s reforms were rushed.

“He knew that he inherited an economy that had collapsed. His responsibility is to find the softer ways to revive the economy, not the harsh way because you cannot revive it in a day. When someone faints, it requires a lot of process to bring him back to life,” Gabam said but maintained that: “He inherited an economy that is in the ICU.”

Despite the reforms, inflation has reached historic highs, clocking 33.69% in April 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)’s Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Gabam has accused the handlers of the economy of not doing the right things. But to make things better, he has some advice for the President Tinubu-led administration.

The SDP chairman said, “what you need is strategic thinkers, strategic applications, and strategic implementation. It has nothing to do with rush hour.”

 

Gabam asked the Tinubu administration to go back to the basis and use the template already in place to revive the economy.

“There are records in the Ministry of Finance, there are records of successful management of the economy, both regime, both military and civilian regime,” he said.

“There is a base, there is a template for him to follow. And then given the dynamics of the new generation that we belong to, the modern economy that we run, all they need to do is to remodernise, reinject a lot of initiative, a lot of innovation to drive the economy.”

Media

The renewed moves for an alliance or merger between the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, have raised concerns among some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 electioneering circle.

Recall that Atiku and Obi who ran together on the platform of the PDP for the presidency in 2019 went their separate ways in 2022 in a move many analysts believed paved the way for the victory of the APC in the 2023 presidential election.

Though both of them could not unseat then President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election with their 11,262,978 votes after the former president polled 15,191,847 votes, their combined vote of 13,086,053 in the 2023 election was more than the winning vote of Bola Tinubu of the APC, who got 8,794,726 votes.


The recent development perhaps informed the position of political analysts and politicians across divides that should the talks of alliance or merger being pushed by Atiku and the Professor Pat Utomi-led National Consultative Front (NCFront) materialise before the 2027 presidential election, with Obi on board, the APC may have a stronger challenge to surmount.


The renewed moves for an alliance or merger between the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party…

The renewed moves for an alliance or merger between the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, have raised concerns among some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 electioneering circle.

Recall that Atiku and Obi who ran together on the platform of the PDP for the presidency in 2019 went their separate ways in 2022 in a move many analysts believed paved the way for the victory of the APC in the 2023 presidential election.

Though both of them could not unseat then President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election with their 11,262,978 votes after the former president polled 15,191,847 votes, their combined vote of 13,086,053 in the 2023 election was more than the winning vote of Bola Tinubu of the APC, who got 8,794,726 votes.

The recent development perhaps informed the position of political analysts and politicians across divides that should the talks of alliance or merger being pushed by Atiku and the Professor Pat Utomi-led National Consultative Front (NCFront) materialise before the 2027 presidential election, with Obi on board, the APC may have a stronger challenge to surmount.

Atiku, who has been clamouring for a coalition of opposition parties, received some political heavyweights as visitors in Abuja in the last week. First was the visit of his running mate for the 2023 election, Ifeanyi Okowa, on May 9. Okowa had maintained a silent approach since the election, and his visit to the former VP was said to have signaled fresh permutations.

But it was the visit of Obi on Monday that more or less let out the cat from the bag. This is because Obi also visited two strong PDP leaders, Bukola Saraki and Sule Lamido, on the same day. And when Lamido, a former Jigawa State governor, himself, visited Atiku 24 hours later, observers said this only confirmed reports that it was Lamido, a strong ally of Atiku, that set the stage for Obi’s meeting with the former VP a day earlier.

While the fresh moves have been said to rattle the APC, it would be recalled that the party also earlier was rattled by talks that former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, was working towards a coalition of interests using the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) after he held several meetings with leaders from different parties and visited the secretariat of the SDP.

Several chieftains of the APC, who spoke with Daily Trust about the latest moves involving Atiku and Obi, said the alliance talks and moves had been sending shivers down the spines of most of them, especially in view of the precarious state of the economy which had further pushed more Nigerians into the poverty zone.

“Let me tell you the truth; within the party hierarchy, this alliance is being talked about all the time, and the hope is for it to collapse like a domino before it even gets serious traction,” said a party chieftain from one of the North West states who is close to the national leadership of the APC.

He said the problem the country had found itself in with some of the policies of the government had pushed more people away from the ruling party, hence that it would be disastrous if the masses saw an Atiku/Obi alliance as a viable alternative in 2027.

“Beyond the economic realities, you know some of our leaders, especially in the North, are not happy with the president. With the exception of the NSA (Nuhu Ribadu), it’s difficult to find anyone among the top Northerners close to Mr President who doesn’t have reservations.

“Look at the situation with the national chairman (Abdullahi Umar Ganduje). You know a lot of our people believe that the Kano State Government wouldn’t have gathered the liver to do what they are doing if not for perhaps support from the top as part of the plot to edge him out. Don’t forget, some people are still not satisfied with how Nasir el-Rufai was treated by the presidency,” he said.

He added that there was the belief now that only Atiku could rally Northern votes, hence that with this, it would be suicidal for the APC to allow him to consolidate this with an alliance with Obi who had huge support in the South with his Obidient Movement.

“The argument that both (Atiku and Obi) failed in 2019 does not hold water again because of the Buhari factor in 2019. The situation is different now as evidenced by the 2023 results, where we only survived by the whiskers. The Buhari factor is no longer there for the APC in the North, and the economic realities have further eroded the little goodwill our party still enjoys in the North. So, if we joke with their alliance talks, then it may be too late by 2027,” he added.

Corroborating this view, another party chieftain from one of the Southern states observed that there was also disenchantment in the president’s stronghold in the South West, with many raising concerns about the appointments by the president going mostly to politicians from the Lagos axis.

On Tuesday, the women leaders of the party, during their protest rally to the party’s national headquarters, lamented that they had been neglected after working to deliver results for the party. They expressed grievances over their exclusion from the distribution of palliatives and appointments, accusing the party of using and abandoning them after the 2023 elections.

Citing the example of the women leaders, the party chieftain, who asked not to be named, said this was a common apprehension among party leaders across the country, hence that the success of any alliance between Atiku and Obi might turn some of them away from the party.

Nothing to worry about — Ex-APC chair

But a former acting National Chairman of the APC, Hilliard Eta, told Daily Trust Saturday in a telephone interview that there was nothing new about Obi, Atiku and others meeting to cook a political meal, saying it was not a threat to the APC.

He said, “APC welcomes the virile, responsive and responsible opposition if, by coming together, they will be able to provide that; that will be fantastic.

“But there is nothing new about Obi, Atiku, Saraki, Lamido and others meeting. It is a PDP meeting. It has always been like that. There is nothing new.

“When Buhari and Tinubu joined forces in 2013, they were from different political platforms and political enclaves, and they came together. This one is not exactly like the one we had in 2013. So, it is not a threat to the APC.”

Also, a member of the APC National Caucus, Chief Sam Nkire, told Daily Trust in a telephone interview that defeating the APC in 2027 would be a hard nut to crack, noting that before the 2027 elections, the APC-led government would have delivered on its campaign promises and made Nigerians happy.

He said there was no vacancy for the office of president in 2027, but insisted that by 2031 power must shift to the South East.

It’s a big threat to APC if… — Analysts

But analysing the development, Aminu Yakudima, a public affairs commentator, said the opposition’s strategy to wrest power from the APC in 2027 was a big threat to the APC.

He said if the proponents of the force succeeded, the APC would be compelled to wake up from its slumber.

Similarly, a professor of political sociology at the University of Abuja, Abubakar Kari, told Daily Trust Saturday that if the internal crises in the parties involved were resolved and a strong force was formed, it would give the APC a big fight.

He, however, said the big fight would depend on the political dynamics before the 2027 elections.

He said, “I don’t think we are going to remain like this. Yes, Tinubu has not lived up to expectations, but he has spent just a year. He may change. He may perform in the next two and a half years and the story will change.”

Temitope Ogunsanwo, the owner of Temmy Autos, in this exclusive interview, speaks to TEMITOPE ADETUNJI on his decision to apprehend the controversial street singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, over a N14 million pending debt from his acquisition of a N27 million Mercedes Benz

There is a viral post alleging that the renowned musician Portable purchased a vehicle from you but failed to fulfil the payment terms How correct is the post?

My name is Temitope Ogunsanwo, and I am a car dealer and owner of Temmy Autos, Lagos. So, concerning the question you asked, the post is indeed accurate. He (Portable) acquired a car from me. I got acquainted with Portable through a friend. That friend brought Portable to my office because he wished to acquire a Mercedes Benz GLE 350. Following discussions about the price, he expressed a desire to commence payment in instalments. I made it clear that I do not accept instalment payments. However, my friend, representing Portable, implored me, assuring me that Portable would adhere to the agreement, and suggested that we could reach an agreement.

What was the eventual agreement?

On that very day in January 2024, Portable stated that he intended to make a payment of N12,000,000. Regrettably, he claimed to have forgotten his token at home. He requested that one of my assistants accompany him to enable him to transfer N12,000,000 and settle the remaining balance, as specified in the agreement document circulating online to which I consented based on my friend’s assurance.

However, upon reaching Portable’s location, he failed to fulfil the agreement, and my assistant returned empty-handed.

What steps did you take after that?

Upon my assistant’s return empty-handed, I started calling Portable. I made numerous attempts to reach Portable, but he declined to answer my calls. After one week, instead of remitting N12m, I received an alert for N1m. I was taken aback and found myself asking, “What is this?” Subsequently, Portable began making sporadic payments, often as low as one or two million. The largest amount Portable remitted in this transaction was N3m. Ultimately, he paid a total of N13,000,000 in instalments. The funds became inconsequential as I could not utilise them for any meaningful purpose because of the way it was paid.

Following this, he ceased making payments. I continued to call Portable, but he was not picking up my calls. On the rare occasions he did answer my calls, he resorted to cursing and verbal abuse.

I persisted in my efforts to contact him but received no response. I even reported him to his father, but no action was taken. I reported him to his lawyer, who eventually grew weary and was unable to intervene.

I lodged a complaint with Zone 2 Police, and Portable was summoned, but he refused to appear. Consequently, I proceeded to report the matter directly to the Commissioner of Police, leading to his arrest three days ago.

Could you elaborate on the specifics of the agreement you entered into with Portable?

The agreement was not dissimilar to what has been posted online. It pertained to a black Mercedes Benz GLE 350, with CHASSIS NUMBER: 4|DASHB6GA656575, priced at N27m. He pledged to make an initial payment of N12m on January 10, 2024. A second payment of N5m was due on January 24, 2024. The third payment of N5m was scheduled for February 10, 2024. The final payment of N5m was to be made on February 24, 2024. The total sum amounted to N27m.

So, how much is Portable owing you now?


He has only paid a total of N13m out of N27m, so currently, he owes me N14m. It should be noted that the N13m was paid in instalments. We agreed that the N27m payment would not exceed one month and two weeks following the initial N13m payment, but he ceased payments at that juncture.

Were you worried Portable was trying not to pay the remaining balance?

He stopped answering my calls. If I called him, he would not pick up. If he called me, he would resort to threats and insults. Prior to this, even before the commencement of the business transaction, we conversed in a civil manner. Had he been cooperative, I would not have resorted to involving the police. He stopped answering my calls. If I had the opportunity to speak with him, he would resort to insults, curses, and rudeness.

Where are you currently based?

I am based in Lagos, and my business operates here as well.

How has this situation affected your business operations?

To be honest, it has had a negative impact. Portable cannot deny the existence of our agreement. I have evidence, including videos, which I have chosen to keep private as I do not wish to share them online. Additionally, I have voice notes of him pleading with me for the car. I am not the type to resort to such actions.

How did you manage to get him arrested?

It was quite an ordeal before I was able to apprehend Portable as I could no longer tolerate the situation. Imagine a business involving £27m, and he began making payments of just one or one and a half million in instalments. The money was essentially wasted. However, I believe divine intervention is at play now, and things will improve.

Have you encountered a similar situation in the past?

No, I have not. This is the first time I have experienced such an ordeal. Even if someone who is not a celebrity approaches me to purchase a car and explains their payment plan, we would collaborate and make the process transparent, unlike this. I recall that when I contemplated entering this business, many people warned me against conducting business with Portable. However, I am compassionate, and I viewed him as a budding talent, which is why I engaged in business with him. Unfortunately, he betrayed my trust.

How do you plan to prevent such a situation from occurring in the future?

This will not deter me from assisting individuals in need of business support. However, I will be more discerning when entering into business agreements, and I will thoroughly assess the character, reputation, and associates of potential business partners.

What advice would you offer to other car dealers when dealing with high-profile clients such as celebrities?

To me, there are many upstanding celebrities out there, and the Portable issue has left me perplexed. Frankly, I am at a loss for words. However, my advice to fellow car dealers is to exercise caution and thoroughly vet the individuals they engage in business with.

Is there anyone who has supported you throughout this ordeal?

I have received numerous calls from friends, family, and customers. Some have blamed me, while others have viewed this as a learning experience. Releasing a car of N27m just like that. Portable is not my relative, he betrayed my trust. If Portable’s fans attempt to persuade me that my actions were unjust, they should reflect on the fact that I made significant efforts to accommodate him, releasing an N27m car without receiving any payment upfront. I am not a politician. I am a hardworking Nigerian.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr Babachir Lawal, has said Nigeria collapsed after the swearing of President Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023.

Lawal said the shocking announcement of fuel subsidy removal by Tinubu on the day of inauguration plunged the country into economic malady, stating that the policy was launched before the cabinet was assembled.

The ex-SGF said this while discussing state of the nation on Trust TV’s Daily Politics.

According to Lawal, the announcement of fuel subsidy removal led to increase in the transportation which is basically the engine of business for both the rich and common man in Nigeria.

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Describing the action taken on May 29, Lawal said the non-existence of the cabinet and the Federal Executive Council to address the consequences of such a harsh policy was the undoing of Tinubu, leading to a total collapse of the country.

“I can only repeat what I said before. I’ve spoken on this before. First of all, I did say one time you came into government on the day you were inaugurated,” he said.

“After swearing in you embark on the first major policies that are very impactful on the lives of the society. It is like a cowboy, or macho man removing subsidy. At that time, he didn’t have a minister of planning, that should plan the outcome, the consequences to take care.

“You don’t have a minister of finance who will calculate the impact of this society. You did not even have the federal executive council that will approve that, you have nothing. As at that time, nobody to advise, nobody to break out ‘what ifs’”.

Speaking further, he said, “So immediately after that inauguration, Nigeria collapsed. It is like a balloon. Nigeria fell down. It deflated completely. Immediately transportation (fare) tripled,” he noted.

“That week! I used to buy animal feed for my cows from Zaria, I used to pay N270,000 per truck. Immediately that week, I couldn’t buy anymore, because transportation alone was going to cost me N1 million,” he explained from his personal experience as a farmer.

“I couldn’t afford it because the cost of fuel just jumped up. Everything. Last week I bought some equipment for my farm. I wanted to transport it from Kano, they were asking me to pay N3 million to transport three tractors and only to be put in a trailer. One trailer carrying three tractors!. Everything has gone up. So that policy alone crashed everything.”

The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested one Rachel Geoffrey, a 23-year-old woman and resident of Federal Housing Estate, Girei, for allegedly setting fire to the hands of her stepchildren.

The children, Genesis Geoffrey, seven years old: and Idadai Geoffrey, three years old, now have their affected hands bandaged.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Suleiman Nguroje, said in a statement that Rachel intentionally inflicted severe physical injuries on her stepchildren. 

In the statement released Saturday, the police image maker said the incident occurred on Tuesday, May 14.

He said the children suffered several calculated acts of cruelty and human rights violations from their stepmother.

He explained that the children faced the wrath of the woman over a plate of rice she cooked and kept for her husband.

“The kids, because of hunger, ate their father’s food and that angered her. She then tied their hands with a handkerchief and set fire to them, resulting in the severe injuries they sustained,” Nguroje explained.

Joseph Aloba, father of late singer, Illerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad, has claimed that the singer rejected his son, Liam, before his death.

Speaking in a clip captured from a recent social media making the rounds on X , he claimed his late son told him he only slept with Wunmi once before she brought Liam’s pregnancy to him.

Speaking in Yoruba, he said, “They shaved my late son’s hair before I got to his house. People saying my son didn’t reject Liam are lying. He said he only slept with Wunmi once and she brought pregnancy after their first sex.” 

Aloba has been clamouring for a DNA test to be conducted on Liam to ascertain his true paternity following the tragic death of the rapper.

DAILY POST reported that Wunmi, who had previously expressed her willingness for a DNA test on her son, said she is no longer open to a DNA test on Liam.

She said only her late husband has the right to request a DNA test from her.

Wunmi claimed that Mohbad disvirgined her and he was the only man she had ever known.

 

Video:

Media

The Naira recorded two appreciations and three depreciations in the last week amid the foreign exchange crisis.

The development comes as the Naira closed on Friday at N1497.33 per dollar.

This is an appreciation compared to N1533.99 on Thursday.

 

Accordingly, the Naira appreciated N1459.02 and N1497.33 per dollar on Wednesday, 15th, and Friday, May 17, respectively, in the week under review.

Conversely, on Monday, May 13, Tuesday, May 14, and Thursday, May 16, the Naira depreciated N1478.1, N1520.40, and N1533.99, respectively.

In the last seven days, the Naira has lost N31.02 compared to the N1466.31 per dollar it traded last Friday.

Meanwhile, at the parallel market section, the Naira gained N42 against the dollar, trading at N1475 per dollar on Friday compared to N1,517 on Monday.

This is because dollar transactions at the official market remained low, closing at $83.50 million on Friday.

Bureau De Change Operators blamed poor foreign exchange allocation from the Central Bank of Nigeria on the Naira depreciation.

CBN recently approved 14 International Money Transfer Operators to boost foreign currency remittances into Nigeria.

Isaac Oyedepo, the son of Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church, has confessed that he used to struggle with pornography at a point in his life.

Isaac disclosed that he got indulged in P0rnography during a trip to an European country.



Featuring on a podcast “Confession Box,” Isaac said he overcame through the help of God.

According to Isaac: “My confessions are good ones that will help people. I struggled with p0rnography before.

“I remembered how it started, we travelled to one country and I was meant to be in the room alone, I switched on the TV and that’s it.

“But God brought me out of it very quickly. A lot of people still struggle with it and I think of somebody who had struggled with it and had walked up to me and told me how to come out, I would have come out quickly.

“I think people feel there are things we shouldn’t talk about, but today there are some pastors and church members still struggling with it.

“You may be anointed, seeing signs and wonders but it does not mean you are standing right.

“There is this old saying that if it’s working it means you are standing right but I found out that it’s not always the case. There are times I found out I wasn’t right, but grace and mercy found me.

“For the sake of someone who is genuine in the congregation, God can bypass you to meet the person; this is my confession.”

…okays elevation of Wike’s wife, 21 others to Court of Appeal


…bars 2 judges from getting promotion to Appeal Court for a period

 

 

 

The National Judicial Council, NJC, on Friday, said it has constituted panels to investigate eight judges for alleged judicial misconduct.

 

The Council, in a statement it made available to newsmen, said its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees filtered 35 petitions that were written against the judicial officers and them to be meritorious.
However, the legal body stressed that other petitions that were brought against 20 High Court judges across the federation, were dismissed for lack of merit, evidence of misconduct, subjudice or that they were matters that could be appealed.

It further disclosed that stern warnings were issued to Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja for abuse of the discretionary power of a Judge by wrongly granting an ex parte order, as well as to Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of the Delta State High Court for his failure to deliver judgement within the stipulated period.

Whereas Justice Ekwo was barred from getting a promotion to the appellate court for a period of two years, Justice Brikins-Okolosi was barred for three years.

Besides, the NJC, which took the decisions at its 105th plenary meeting held on May 15 and 16, okayed the elevation of 22 judges to the Court of Appeal.

Among those who made the list of judges to be promoted to the bench of the appellate court, included the wife of the former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Hon. Justice Nyesom-Wike Eberechi Suzzette.

According to the Council, 64 others were recommended for appointment as judges of various other lower courts.
It said the recommended candidates were expected to be sworn in after the approval of their appointment by President Bola Tinubu and the Governors of their respective states.

Likewise, the Council said it deliberated on the notification of retirements of three Judicial Officers, among whom included the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, as well as the notification of death of three Judges of the Federal and State Courts.

 

The statement, which was signed by the Director of Information at the NJC,
Soji Oye, read: “The National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, at its plenary of 105th Meeting held on 15 & 16 May 2024, resolved to issue warning letters to Hon Justice Inyang E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court and Hon. Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court.

“Hon Justice Inyang E. Ekwo is warned for abuse of discretionary power of a Judge by wrongly granting an ex parte order in Suit No FHC/ABJ/C/626/2023 Juliet Ebere Nwadi Gbaka & 2 Ors V Seplat Energy Plc & 12 Ors.

“The Hon Judge is also barred from being elevated to a higher Bench for a period of two years.

“Hon. Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court is also issued a warning for failure to deliver judgement within the stipulated period in Joseph Anene Okafor Vs Skye Bank, Suit No A/94/2010 after parties had filed and adopted their final Written Addresses.

“Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi will also not be elevated to a higher Bench for three years.
“Council cautioned Hon. Justice Amina Shehu of Yobe State High Court for issuing Writ of Possession Conferring Title on the Defendant in Suit No YBS/HC/NNR/1cv/2020 when there was no subsisting judgement of any Court to enable His Lordship issue the Writ.

 

“Council at the meeting considered two Reports of its two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees that filtered 35 petitions written against Judges of the Federal and State High Courts and decided to empanel eight Committees to further investigate the petitions that were found meritorious by the Committees.

“Petition against various Judges were dismissed for lack of merit, evidence of misconduct, subjudice or that they were matters that could be appealed.

“The dismissed petitions were against Hon Justices A. M. Liman, A. A. Okeke, D. E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Hon Justices S. B. Belgore, Bello Kawu both of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Hon Justices O. A. Chijioke, A. E. Akeredolu and Kadi M. U. El-Mainari who sat on Election Petition Tribunal in Edo State, Hon Justice Okey Paulinus Aneke, High Court Enugu State and Hon Justice C. Anya of Abia State.

“Others are Hon Justices M. A. Ikpambese and W. I. Kpochi both of Benue High Court, Hon Justices T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka Chief Judge and B. C. Iheka of Imo State High Court, Hon Justice Rose Godwin Soji of Nasarawa State High Court, Hon Justice T. J. Yakubu, High Court Taraba State, High Justices W. N. Danagogo and Chinwendu Nworgu, High Court Rivers State, Hon Justice C. C. Okaa, High Court Anambra State and Hon Justice Abdullahi Sulyman High Court, Kogi State.

“The Council deliberated on the notification of retirements of three Judicial Officers including that of the Chief Justice of Nigeria Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON and notification of death of three Judges of the Federal and State Courts.

 

“Council at the Meeting also considered the recommendation of its Interview Committee on Appointment of Judicial Officers of all Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria and resolved to recommend the under-listed 86 Judicial Officers for appointment to the Court of Appeal, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Sharia Courts of Appeal and Customary Courts of Appeal of States in Nigeria.

They are as follows:

“Twenty-Two (22) Justices, Court of Appeal: Hon. Justice Kwahar Polycarp Terna, Hon. Justice Ruqayat Oremei Ayoola, Hon. Justice Eleojo Eneche, Hon. Justice Asma’u Akanbi-Yusuf, Hon. Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman, Hon. Justice Abdu Dogo, Hon. Justice Fadawu Umaru, Hon. Justice Ishaq Mohammed Sani, Hon. Justice Zainab Bage Abubakar, Hon. Justice Abdulazeez M. Anka, Hon. Justice Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba, Hon. Justice Nwoye Victoria Tochukwu, Hon. Justice Nwabunkeonye Onwosi, Hon. Justice Okorowo Donatus Uwaezuoke.

“Hon. Justice Ngozika Uwazurunonye Okaisabor, Hon. Justice Ntong Festus Ntong, Hon. Justice Nehizena Idemudia Afolabi, Hon. Justice Nyesom-Wike Eberechi Suzzette, 19. Hon. Justice Lateef Babajide Lawal-Akapo, Hon. Justice Akinyemi Abiodun Azeem, Hon. Justice Oyewumi Oyejoju Oyebiola and Hon. Justice Olukayode Adegbola Adeniyi.

“Twelve (12) Judges, High Court, FCT, Abuja: Ademuyiwa Olakunle Oyeyipo, Bamodu Odunayo Olutomi, Anumaenwe Godwin Iheabunike, Odo Celestine Obinna, Hauwa Lawal Gummi, Abdurahman Usman, Buetnaan Mandy Bassi, Sarah Benjamin Inesu Avoh, Maryan Iye Yusuf, Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria, Lesley Nkesi Belema Wike and Munirat Ibrahim Tanko.

 

“Seven (7) Judges, Imo State High Court: Akowundu Cletus Ndubuisi, Uchenna Mary Njoku, Chibuogwu Ojiugo Chukwumaeze, Ononogbo Chidi Linus, Adaego Peace Nosiri, Emeka Ozoma Orafu, Mathew Chinedu Ijezie.

“Six (6) Judges, Bauchi State High Court: Amin Umar Ilelah, Aliyu Bin Idris, Ahmed Shuaibu Ningi, Shafa’u Ladan Yusuf, Abdussalam Idris Waziri, Kawu A. Yerima.

“Three (3) Judges, Taraba State High Court: Hamidu Audu, Bibonga Jeniffer Nauma, Joel Daniel Ubandoma.
“Thirteen Judges, Lagos State High Court: Sunmonu Tunde Bashiru, Azeez Fimisola Augusta, Alebiosu Olawale Lawal, Adewale Russel Musiliu, Popoola Oluwatosin Ajose, Anjorin-Ajose Tanimola Abdulwaheed, Muyideen Abdul-Raheem Tejumade, George Alfred Akingbola, Balogun Adegboyega Ganiu, Shonubi Adenike Kudirat, Badejo-Okusanya Yewande Jokotola, Layinka Oyeladun Amope, Ojuromi Nalirat Olayinka Oluwatosin.

“Four (4) Judges, Kogi State High Court: Ajesola Joseph Sunday, Ojoma Rachael Haruna, Kadiri Badama, Ezema Beatrice Ada.

“Two (2) Judges, Jigawa State High Court: Mohammad El-Usman, Nilfa Abdullahi Gambo.

 

“Five (5) Kadis, Sharia Court of Appeal, Bauchi State: Ishaku Magaji Abdurrahman Hassan Sabo, Bello Mohammed Sambowal, Muhyiddeen Mohammed, Mahmoud Idris Shehu Tiyin.

“Five (5) Kadis, Sharia Court of Appeal, Kogi State: Muhammad Muhammad Bello, Okino Isah Saidu, Yakubu Adavenge Abbas, Shaibu Ridwan Aliyu, Idris Alhaji Abdullahi.

“One (1) Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Jigawa State: Mukhtar Shuaibu Adam.
“Three (3) Judges, Imo State Customary Court of Appeal: Everyman Ezenna Eleanya, Ofoha Sylvesta Uchenna, Ibeh Rosemond Oluchi.

“Two Judges, Customary Court of Appeal, Taraba State: Esther Tata, Benjamin Samuila Bawage.
“One (1) Judge, Customary Court of Appeal, Kogi State: Maryann Oziohu Otaru.
“All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the President and their respective State Governors,” the statement read.