Justice Liman of the Federal High Court has reportedly issued an ex-parte judgement prohibiting Governor Abba Yusuf, Kano State Government from reinstalling Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.

Platinum Times Nigeria reports that one Sarkin Dawaki Babba, Aminu Babba-Dan'Agundi, filed the lawsuit against Sanusi's reinstatement late Thursday.

Justice Liman granted leave to the Plaintiff/Applicant to issue and serve their Concurrent Originating Motion as well as all other court processes on the 6th Defendant (IGP) in FCT Abuja and outside the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court.

“That parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante the passage the
and assent of the bill into pending hearing of the Fundamental Rights application.

“That In view of the Constitutional and Jurisdictional Issues apparent on the
face of the application, parties shall address the Court on same at the hearing of the
Fundamental Rights application which is fixed for the 3rd of June, 2024.

“That in order to maintain the peace and security of the state, an Interim Injunction of this Honourable Court is granted restraining the Respondents from enforcing, executing, implementing and operationalizing the Kano State Emirate Law Council (Repeal) Law.

“That parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante the passage and assent of the bill into pending the hearing of the Fundamental Rights application.

The judge adjourned the case to 3rd June, 2024 for hearing of the Fundamental Rights application.

Governor Abba Yusuf had on Thursday officially announced the re-appointment of Emir Sanusi shortly after signing a new bill on the Kano Emirate into law.

He performed the signing at Ante-chamber, Government House before the Speaker of Kano state House of Assembly, Hon. Ismaila Falgore and other Principal Officers of the House.

Speaking shortly after signing the law, Governor Yusuf described the event as historic, and thanked the state of Assembly for performing their constitutional duties.

He said the Kano state Emirate law 2019 that divided the over 1000 years Kano Emirate into five has been repealed.

Governor Yusuf announced the reappointment of Muhammad Sanusi 11 as the Emir of Kano and gave the five Emirs appointed by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to vacate their official residence and ove their instruments of power r to the Commissioner of Local Government Affairs, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo who doubles as the state Deputy Governor.

Our Correspondent reports that earlier on Thursday, Kano State House of Assembly passed the Kano Emirates Council bill 2024, abolishing the five Emirates crested by Ganduje.

Ganduje had carved out Bichi Gaya, Karaye, Rano and Kano Emirates , before dethroning the former Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi 11

With the passage of the bill into law, the five Emirs in Kano have been dethroned.

However, all offices created under the repealed law have been dissolved, and district heads appointed or elevated under the previous legislation are to revert to their former positions.

The bill, titled the Kano State Emirates Council (Amendment No. 2) Law, 2024, was sponsored by Lawan Hussaini Chediyar Yan Gurasa, the Majority Leader and representative of the Dala Constituency.

The original law, enacted under former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on December 5, 2019, was amended twice: first on October 14, 2020, and again on April 11, 2023. Section 3(1) of the law had established the five distinct emirates, distributing jurisdiction over the 44 local government areas in the state.

Following the deposition of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi on March 9, 2020, the law was amended to designate the Emir of Kano as the chairman of the council.

Section 12 of the law allowed the Governor to grade emir offices as first, second, or third class with the Assembly’s approval.

A former Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George has asked President Bola Tinubu to disclose to Nigerians the true position of Nigeria’s economy.

He insisted that the problems plaguing the country is huge and there is a need to address the situation.

The elder statesman said this while assessing Tinubu’s one year on office.

Speaking during a press conference on Thursday, George urged Nigerians to give Tinubu more time as one year is not enough to give a comprehensive assessment of his administration.

He noted that Tinubu may not be totally held accountable for the crisis in the country, adding that the situation in the country has been brewing between 2015 and 2023 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

He noted that the Nigerian state almost collapsed because the eight-year era was probably the worst in Nigerian history since 1960.

According to him, “We can still give the excuse that he had only done one year out of the four years hoping that he is learning from the mistakes of the past. We’ve got to be fair to ourselves. He needs to learn the ropes. Anywhere in the world that first year is used for understanding the system. The President alone cannot do everything. It looks just like yesterday. I don’t want to start firing arrows against him. By this time next year he would have done two years. You heard what he said two days ago, he told his ministers to go and give their scorecards. It is not a 100 meters dash race

“This crisis became complicated between 2015 and 2023 during the administration of my oga President Muhammadu Buhari

“The Nigerian state almost collapsed because many Nigerians will agree that that eight-year era was probably the worst in Nigerian history since 1960 when we got our independence. It was as if nobody was in charge of the country.

“Everything promised before the 2015 general elections was observed in the breach by the Buhari administration.

“Despite that calamity, it is a pity that some Nigerians have come out to defend that administration, which ruled Nigeria for eight years.

“They’re now blaming the Bola Tinubu administration which has spent about one year in office. Government administration is not a hundred-meter dash race. We’ll advise and condemn so that in a year’s time, we can assess the methodology and performance of the Government.

“Pitiably, some Nigerians have resorted to a blame game. Let me advise that we have to be careful in this country because Nigeria is not for any individual, group or region.

“Nigeria belongs to everybody. It’s through cooperation and unanimity of purpose that we can lift the country up. Tinubu should also come out and tell Nigerians the true position of things in the country. This is not the time to play party or regional politics. Nigerians have suffered enough and they want fast results.”

The Rivers State All Progressives Congress, APC, Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tony Okocha, has said its leadership wants the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to join the party and help it win the presidential election for Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Reports that Okocha stated this on Thursday during a one-million-man solidarity march for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda’ in Port Harcourt.

Okocha described Wike as a game changer and political strategist with a midas touch.

According to the APC chieftain, Wike’s presence in the party will make President Tinubu’s reelection in Rivers State easier like he did during the last presidential election.

He said, “Wike is the leader of the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ in Rivers State. Wike was responsible for the victory of the Tinubu election in Rivers State. Wike is a reformer and he is our leader Rivers in State.

“Wike is the game changer he has a Midas torch and you remember that we have been wooing him to come over to to help us. This is again one of those attempts to woo him to come over to APC and help us so that we will continue to win the elections for Mr President, particularly when elections come for 2027.

“A time came in Rivers State when we could not campaign for our presidential candidate using the party platform upon which he emerged because we were threatened by the entire leadership of APC in Rivers State.

“They told us that the man we were supporting Bola Tinubu, was too old and that he had become senile. How can we support a man who will die any moment soon, that he was at the departure lounge?

“They said to us that we were supporting a man who is medically unfit and was using all the social media platforms to paint him as someone who defecates on himself. I want to state here that President Tinubu is the best thing that happened to Nigeria.

“Rome was not built in a day. Nigeria suffered setbacks- political, economic, socio-cultural and we have a leader who just came on the throne for nearly one year. 

“Can he possibly upturn the mistakes of 30 or 50 years in one year? So it’s a process and the process began the same day he took the oath of office. The President was very clear when he said that he wanted to fix Nigeria and he said that fuel subsidies were gone.

“Today states, federal, and local government areas are packing money in billions for the development of the State. I am aware that the first and biggest project that will transverse the length and breadth of Nigeria is being carried out under Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Former Bayern Munich coach, Hansi Flick is on the verge of becoming the head coach of FC Barcelona.

Earlier this week, Hansi Flick travelled to London, England to meet with the sporting director of FC Barcelona, Deco and Sports Commission member Bojan Krkic.

After the meeting, Flick and the Spanish giants reportedly agreed on a deal which will see the German tactician replace the departing Xavi Hernandez this summer.

A report by Spanish publication, AS, claimed that Hansi Flick was at the meeting with his agent, Pini Zahavi.

Reports in Spain claimed that the parties involved in the discussion had already agreed on the terms of the deal in principle. The purported agreement will see Flick stay at Barcelona for two seasons.

Meanwhile, there are reports that FC Barcelona sent scouts to watch the Europa League final between Italian Serie A club, Atalanta and German Bundesliga champions, Bayer Leverkusen.

Spanish outlet Sports claimed that Barcelona directors, Deco and Krkic were at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin to watch the game.

The report claimed that the directors were impressed with the performance of Super Eagles’ forward, Ademola Lookman who scored the three goals that won Atalanta the Europa League.

Following the outstanding performance of the 26-year-old, the Barca directors are said to be considering making a move for the €30 million-valued-winger this summer.

Lookman who has scored 15 goals and provided eight assists in 43 games this season has two more years in his contract with Atalanta.

West Ham United appointed former Real Madrid and Spain boss Julen Lopetegui as their new manager on Thursday after David Moyes’ departure from the London Stadium.

The 57-year-old Spaniard, who had been unemployed since leaving Wolves just before the recently concluded Premier League season, will officially begin working with the Hammers on July 1.

“We came here with the idea and the thought to make a big, big noise.

“That’s why we came here, and we are excited by this challenge.

“Of course, we are going to do our best to help the club and the team to achieve the best level and to achieve our aims.

“I assure the fans that they are going to be key in all our achievements,” Lopetegui said.

West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan said Lopetegui’s appointment would “ensure a strong opportunity to build on the positive progress made in recent seasons.”

Recall that David Moyes had confirmed that he will be leaving West Ham United at the end of this season as he rolls out his achievements at the club.

David Moyes first coached West Ham United from 2017 to 2018 and then returned to the side in 2019. Since then, he has been enjoying a series of ups and downs in terms of the team’s run under his watch.

Most West Ham United fans seem not to be big lovers of his style of football as they prefer more free-flowing football from the Scottish tactician.

The Hammers secured a ninth-place finish in the Premier League for the 2023/24 season.

The Federal Government has said it was unaware that Dangote Refineries imports its crude oil from the US.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Heineken Lokpobiri, said the country is blessed with enough crude to supply all the refineries in the country, including the modular ones.

The Minister stated this in Abuja on Thursday at the Ministerial Sectoral Updates as part of activities to mark President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s one year in office.

The first session of the Sectoral Briefing was attended by the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu; Minister of FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike; Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Ibrahim Bio; Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmud; Minister of State Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande.

“I’m not aware that Dangote Refinery has started importing crude oil from the US. That’s the reason why we’re talking about an increase in production.

“That’s why we’re talking to servicing companies to come back and start drilling. The only way we can increase production is to continue drilling…” He stated.

Speaking on the rumours that the Tinubu administration still pays fuel subsidy, he added, “On the issue of subsidy, all of us know that from the first day the President took over office he said subsidy is gone.

“And I can confirm to you today that the subsidy is gone. But the point is, all over the world, governments find a way to subsidise. It may not be fuel but may be food … there’s no responsible government that will not find a way to ameliorate the suffering of its citizens. But pls I want it to be official that there’s no subsidy for fuel as of today.”

The Federal Government has announced the immediate start of construction work on sections three and four of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, beginning from Calabar.

The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, made the announcement at an engagement with representatives of communities within the alignment of the road between Eko Atlantic (Chainage Zero) and Eleko inside (Chainage 47.4klm) on Thursday in Lagos.

He said that section three would start from Calabar and section four from Akwa Ibom.

Umahi said, “Let me announce also that Mr President has directed that section three that is starting from Calabar and section four that is starting from Akwa Ibom should commence immediately; and so, we are in the process of concluding the procurement.

“And for those who have been saying why not start these roads in Calabar, one, the zero point is Lagos and what wrong has Lagos done to these people?

“However, an impartial President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Bola Tinubu, has directed that section three and four be started from the end of the project. So while this is moving, the other one will be moving.

“I’m sure that sections five and six will also start in places like Port Harcourt and Bayelsa.”

Umahi also announced that the president had given approval for the commencement of construction work on the road connecting Sokoto to Badagry.

He said: ” Just the last Federal Executive Committee meeting on Monday, Mr President also approved another project; because this road have two spurs , that we start the design and procurement of that Sokoto to Badagry.

”It’s a 1,000 km, its running through a lot of irrigation, lands and dams where you can have a lot of power generation and its running from Sokoto to Kebbi, Kebbi to Niger, Niger to kwara, Kwara to Oyo, Oyo to Ogun state, and then to Badagry in Lagos State.”

The minister, who acknowledged potential criticism about the project’s scale and chosen sections, mentioned that section one, a 47.7 kilometers, was ambitious for an interstate road project.

He said that the federal government’s plan was to recoup construction costs through tolling and selling land along the road corridors.

The aim, according to him, is to create a scenic route similar to coastal highways in other countries.

Additionally, he said that the return on investment would start immediately the first section was completed and would come from tolls and land sales along the completed section one.

The minister pointed that the country loses money daily due to cargo transshipment at Apapa Port.

He explained that Apapa Port’s water depth was insufficient for large ships, forcing them to use deeper ports elsewhere for cargo transfer (transshipment), which incurred millions of dollars on daily basis.

He said that the new roads would act as an evacuation corridor for the Lekki Deep Sea Port to other parts of the country.

Controversy has surrounded the death of a final-year student of the Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, identified as Favour Ugwuka, on Wednesday night.

Our correspondent gathered that Ugwuka took her life in her hostel at the Ishieke Campus of the school in Abakaliki.

Further investigations revealed that the deceased, a final year student in the Department of English, passed all her courses but repeatedly failed a particular course, whose lecturer was said to have vowed she would never pass.

It was learnt that the late Ugwuka went into depression after several attempts to pass the said course and was frequently seen on the campus wandering alone until she decided to take her life on Wednesday night.

In a video seen online by our correspondent, a woman said to be the deceased’s mother blamed a lecturer for making her daughter commit suicide.

According to the woman, who was seen lamenting in the video, “The lecturer said he is the best, that nobody can teach like him. He should come and carry my daughter who has committed suicide.”

Also, a graduate of the institution who identified himself as Rex Nwome claimed that the girl committed suicide because she had been failing a particular course repeatedly.

He said, “Favour was my classmate and a best friend to me in the English Department. The above-mentioned lecturer did vow never to allow Favour to graduate.

“You could imagine where she later passed all the courses except that lecturer’s that, she had to pay another extra year tuition fee to rewrite.

“Unfortunately the man failed her again. What resulted in this intense depression is the latest NYSC names that were recently shortlisted, and her name wasn’t there.”

He added, “The girl suffered a lot of depression because she was only left wandering about the EBSU seeking help. She was very desperate to graduate and serve. This and many more of the disgusting stories resulted in this suicide mission.

“I wish she didn’t go this far to end her life. R. I. P. Ugwuka Favour till we meet to part no more.”

The Ebonyi State Police Command confirmed the incident on Thursday.

The command’s spokesman, DSP Joshua Ukandu, told our correspondent that the matter was reported to the headquarters.

He said, “Yes, the command received the report of a suicide by a female student.”

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to get the reaction of the university proved abortive.

The decision of the Governor of Kano state, Abba Kabir to splash N2.6 billion on exotic sports utility vehicles (SUVs) for members of the state Assembly leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Coming at a time when the citizens are barely able to eke out a living as result of the hard times speaks volumes about the insensitivity of the nation’s political leaders.

Only recently, the state Government confirmed that it has purchased 41 SUVs for members of the House of Assembly at a cost of N68 million each amounting to a whooping N2.6 billion.

The governor’s Chief of Staff, Shehu Sagagi, was reported to have said the lawmakers deserved sound working vehicles. And the suffering citizens are asking for the real definition of sound working vehicle.

Must it be the one procured at a staggering N68 million at a time majority of the citizens are looking for what to eat?

In the opinion of this newspaper, purchasing such vehicles for the lawmakers at this critical time is sheer misplacement of priority and we wonder if the state government is fully aware of the current hardship that permeates the entire country including the most populous state and the north’s commercial nerve centre.

In a preamble to its 41-page Manifesto, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) states that “The care for human life and happiness, not their exploitation and extinction, is the first and only legitimate object of any good and innovative government Therefore, the worth of every state through its governments is the worth of her citizens”

Who could have imagined that the only state governed by the NNPP-Kano, with all its development challenges, will be so brazen as to accord priority to the luxurious cravings of the lawmakers at a time majority of the citizens are languishing in penury, bogged down by poverty, high cost of living and other hardships.

The fact that Kano state has almost one million children out-of-school who are roaming the street begging and being exposed to other cruelties of life is all it takes for one to understand how much of a misplaced priority Governor Abba Kabir’s vehicle purchase for lawmakers is.

According to the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), there are 989,234 out of school children in Kano. Deprived of education, the state is trading away the future of these children. Yet the government is comfortable spending billions on vehicles for people who do not urgently need one.

And to imagine that this vehicle purchase is coming at a time the Kano state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) complained of critical systemic weaknesses within the healthcare system of the State. The NMA decried poor remuneration and welfare of health workers, as well as inadequate equipment and consumables in hospitals and noted that such has continued to impede quality healthcare delivery in the state.

We can only imagine the quantity of consumables N2.6 billion can buy for the state health sector. Or what the amount could do if channeled to the provision of potable water in the state that has a long history of acute water shortage.

It is on record that the state has not fully addressed the challenge of acute water scarcity which is taking a toll on some residents of Kano municipality where men, women and children trekking in search of water for their daily chores have became a common sight in recent times.

The most infantile excuse we have heard so far is that the latest purchase followed a familiar pattern as previous administrations did the same so it should not be condemned.

And to those bandying this vexatious reason, we like to humbly remind them that two wrongs have never made a right. When did the ruling NNPP in the state resolve to toe the path of the immediate past administration which, in our candid opinion, it rightly vilified?

Why should a government that vowed to address the challenges of development bedeviling the people be so reckless as to prioritise the welfare of an insignificant few over and above that of many? Tellingly, the argument that the vehicles would facilitate the lawmakers’ oversight functions is pedantic and bereft of common sense

Although the lawmakers, most of whom belong to the NNPP have taken possession of their vehicles, we like to remind them that their party’s manifesto is unambiguous in prioritizing the need to ensure “the care for human life and happiness, not their exploitation and extinction”.

Flaunting these vehicles at these critical times doesn’t pass the lawmakers out as people who care for the happiness of their constituents. It is not late. They can return it and ensure the money is used to make the people happy. Knowing the average Nigerian politician for who they are, greedy and selfish, this is asking for the moon.

Migrant graduates who go to the UK through the Graduate Route will soon need to take mandatory English tests every year.

This change is part of a new government plan to make sure only the best and brightest stay in the UK.

The Cabinet is set to approve these new rules for the scheme, which now allows foreign students to work in the UK for two years after they graduate.

The new policy will also affect universities and colleges with high dropout rates. These institutions will lose the ability to recruit international students.

Additionally, the Home Office will target recruiting agents who mislead foreign students into leaving their degrees for low-paying jobs, often below minimum wage.

Government sources say the revised Graduate Route scheme is part of a larger effort to tighten immigration rules.

This move comes after news that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak plans to stop British universities from offering low-quality postgraduate courses to foreign students.

There is concern that these courses are being used as a way to enter the UK.