News
The House of Representatives said yesterday the controversial Lagos-Calabar coastal highway had no National Assembly’s approval.
It also resolved to investigate the procurement process of the coastal highway.
The House also called on the Minister of Works, Minister of Finance and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to ensure that all project guarantees and credit enhancement instruments are sent to the National Assembly for approval.
The Green Chamber equally mandated its committees on Procurement and Works to investigate the procurement process of the contract for the project.
Recall that the project has generated a lot of controversies, with former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, asking the Federal Government to come clean on the project.
The motion, titled “Urgent need to investigate the procurement process and award of contract for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway’’, was moved by Austin Achado(APC-Benue) at plenary in Abuja.
Moving the motion, Achado said award of the contract did not follow due process, adding that it also did not get the approval of the National Assembly, hence the need to thoroughly investigate the procurement process of the contract.
Achado said: “The House is disturbed that the contingent liabilities accruing to the Federal Government of Nigeria on this project violate the Debt Management Office (Establishment) Act of 2023, as Section 22(3) states that the minister shall not guarantee an external loan unless the terms and conditions of the loan shall have been laid before the National Assembly and approved by its resolution.
‘No NASS approval for debt guarantees’
“The guarantees issued to cover the debt financing component of this project do not have the approval of this National Assembly.”
Speaking further, he noted that the Federal Ministry of Works had executed an Engineering Procurement Construction and Finance (EPC+F) contract, in favour of Hitech Construction Company Nigeria Limited, for the delivery of the 700km Lagos to Calabar Coastal Road and Rail Project estimated at a rate of N4.329 billion per kilometre, using reinforced concrete technology for a carriage width of 59.7metres to include 10 lanes, shoulders and rail with additional designs of service ducts, street lights, drainages and shore protection.
He further noted that the project, with the prospect of providing easy access for the movement of goods and services across the nation, has a financing structure, as announced by the Minister of Works, which required the Federal Government to provide 15 to 30% co-financing, while the private sector counterpart will provide the balance, and toll the road when completed for a minimum period of 15 years, to ensure full recovery of all debts and equity applied for the delivery of the project.
The lawmaker expressed concerns that the procurement strategy might have violated the Public Procurement Act 2007, Section 40(2) which required that where a procuring authority adopts to use Restrictive Tendering Approach, it should be on the basis that the said goods and services are available only from a limited number of suppliers and contractors and as such, tenders shall be invited from all such contractors who could provide such goods and services.
According to him, the procurement strategy adopted by the Federal Ministry of Works for the award of the contract violates the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission Act 2905, as Section 4 of the Act outlines that all approved infrastructure projects and contracts for financing, construction and maintenance must be advertised for open competitive public bid, in at least three national dailies and Section 5 of the Act further clarifies that any direct negotiations with only one contractor could be allowed, only after exhausting the provisions of section 4 .
He expressed concern that the Federal Ministry of Works, in promoting the project, has provided a rate per kilometre for the planned works, but has not provided the private partner’s financing sources, structure and competitiveness, as this was likely to create contingent liabilities to the Nigerian government.
The House, therefore, asked it’s committees to report back within four weeks.
[Vanguard]
A federal high court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to restrain the federal government from securitising the N22.7 trillion Ways and Means loan received from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Securitisation is the practice of pooling together various debt instruments and selling them as bonds to investors.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, James Omotosho, the presiding judge, held that the plaintiffs lacked locus standi (legal right) to institute the case, noting that they failed to prove the case.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1286/2023, was filed by Justin Edim and Akinfewa Akinwunmi against President Bola Tinubu, the federal government of Nigeria, CBN, and the ministry of finance as first to fourth defendants.
Others in the suit are the debt management office (DMO), national assembly, and attorney-general of the federation (AGF) as fifth to seventh defendants, respectively.
The plaintiffs, through their counsel, Victor Opatola, claimed they initiated the legal action on behalf of themselves and other Nigerian citizens.
They asked the court to stop the conversion of the debt to a promissory note or any other promise to pay at a future date or securitisation through the issuance of treasury bills, bonds, or other forms of security.
In December 2022, the federal government requested the 9th national assembly for permission to securitise the debts it incurred from the CBN over the years.
The plaintiffs claimed that the series of loans secured by the government from the CBN had amounted to N23.7 trillion.
They added that the federal government was planning to restructure the loans to something that could be traded.
They further stated that the federal government had over the years secured various loans from the CBN under the Ways and Means provision of section 38 of the CBN Act in contravention of relevant laws.
They argued that the laws stipulate that the total amount the government could borrow shall not exceed five percent of the previous year’s revenue.
Recently, according to the plaintiffs, the Ways and Means debt of N22.7 trillion was decided to be converted into bonds (promissory note) contrary to section 38(3)(b) of the CBN Act.
The plaintiffs wanted the court to declare that the effect of securitising the ways and means debt would adversely affect millions of Nigerians, as well as rob them of the true worth of their savings and further drive Nigerians below the poverty line.
Delivering the judgment, Omotosho struck out the name of the national assembly from the suit, noting that the plaintiffs had breached the condition precedence of filing a pre-action notice on the legislature three months before filing the case.
The judge said though the plaintiffs claimed they filed the matter on behalf of the masses, the instant case was not a fundamental enforcement rights suit.
He said the claim that the suit was brought on behalf of the public was incomprehensible.
The judge added that the plaintiffs failed to show how the actions of the defendants affected them personally.
[TheCable]
[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Appoints Managing Director of Ogun-Osun Rivers Basin Development Authority
AdminPresident Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority.
Engr. Woke is a seasoned engineer and politician. He had served as Chairman of Emohua local government area of Rivers State and was Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, for many years.
The President expects the new Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority to discharge his duties with integrity and in conformity with the highest standards of transparency, while working at harnessing and developing the water resource potential of the area, as well as ensuring that the Authority is a channel for holistic and integrated industrial, agricultural, and community development.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, as the Co-Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
This was contained in a statement issued by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Thursday.
According to the statement, the appointment would ensure effective oversight of the gas aspect of the nation’s assets.
“In line with his avowed commitment to establish a more efficient, targeted, and consistent approval process for unique oil and gas projects in the country, President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), as the Co-Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
“This is also to further ensure effective oversight of the gas aspect of the nation’s assets.
“The President remains committed to unlocking Nigeria’s immense gas potential to stimulate industrial development, job creation, and sustainable economic growth,” the statement said.
[DailyTrust]
A Bill which seeks to increase the salaries and allowances of judicial officers on Thursday, May 9, scaled second reading at the Senate.
The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration and debate on a bill titled: “A bill for an act to prescribe the salaries, allowances and fringe benefits of judicial office holders in Nigeria and for related matters (2024).”
The bill was sponsored by the deputy majority leader of the Senate Senator Ashiru Yisa (APC-Kwara South).
The House of Representatives on March 20 passed the bill which provides a monthly package of N5.39 million for the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
The executive bill also provides a total package of N4.21 million for Justices of the Supreme Court, while the president of the Court of Appeal is to earn a total monthly package of N4. 48 million.
In addition, Justices of the Court of Appeal are to earn a total monthly package of N3.73 million, while the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court, Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Grand Khadi, FCT Sharia Court of Appeal, President of Customary Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of State High Court and Grand Khadi of State Sharia Court of Appeal and President of State Customary Court of Appeal are to earn a monthly package of N3.53 million.
Other allowances not embedded in the total monthly package include leave allowances, estacode per night of $2000 when applicable, duty tour allowances when applicable, severance gratuity of N80.78 million after successful completion of tenure as well as an option of motor vehicle loan to be repaid before the expiration of tenure.
It would be recalled that President Bola Tinubu had in a letter read by Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, during plenary on March 20 proposed a salary increase for judicial officers in the country.
The President in the letter argued that the bill would promote the independence and capacity of the Nigerian judiciary system.
Senator Yisa in his lead debate said remuneration was needed to reflect the contemporary socio-economic realities of the times.
He argued that the proposed legal framework would bring about significant improvement in the welfare, capacity, and independence of the judiciary, which have remained contentious issues of public discourse over the years.
In his contribution, the deputy president of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, thanked President Tinubu for proposing a Bill to increase the salaries and allowance for Judicial Officers in the country.
Barau said: “I joined the President of the Senate to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for bringing forward this Bill. This is very important and he has done well, not only for the judiciary but for the entire nation.
“Mr. President, by the nature of the judicial officers, they don’t agitate. They cry in silence, and they don’t speak out. Other workers agitate, and they stage protests. But the judiciary doesn’t talk; they cry in silence.
“Now, the president of the country has spoken for them. What he did is something laudable and we are applauding him here. Because a country that didn’t take its judiciary in a very important passion is doomed.
“And when you want to take the judiciary seriously, you have to take the remuneration of the judiciary staff seriously. That is very important, and that is what he has done. They have stagnated for several years.
“What the president has done should be supported and we will give him more support to continue to work on this kind of trajectory for the development of the nation. So, Mr. President, I joined you and other colleagues to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC – Borno North) Monguno, said improving the welfare of judges will insulate them from corruption and ensure they deliver just and fair judgments.
On his part, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC-Abia North), said: “No right-thinking Nigerian will not think that it is right to keep the judiciary comfortable. I want to thank the executive for deeming it fit to increase the salaries of judges at all levels.”
Senators later approved that the bill be read for a second time when it was put to voice vote by Akpabio.
Akpabio thereafter referred the Bill to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters for further legislative input and to report back in four weeks.
[TheNation]
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has insisted on negotiating the salary of its members with the Tinubu-led administration, thereby, rejecting the N35,000 wage award.
ASUU National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, stated this in Ibadan on Thursday at the inauguration of the secretariat of the University of Ibadan (UI) branch of ASUU.
Osodeke stated that the union had agreed that whatever was legally sent to members’ accounts should be spent but not to be taken as the negotiated salary.
“We told them we should negotiate our wage, but they said we are giving you an award of N35,000; we have told them that it is not our own.
“We are still insisting that there has to be negotiated salary,” he said.
He identified the renegotiation of the existing agreement, payment of withheld salaries, earned academic allowance and release of the Needs Assessment Funds as some of the pending issues with the Federal Government.
While commending the UI ASUU branch for the edifice it built using the expertise of its members, Osodeke decried the use of external or foreign consultants to handle projects in the country.
He said the government should rather hire experts within the country, especially from within Nigerian universities as consultants.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, UI, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnership, Prof. Yemisi Bamgbose, had commended the union.
Adebowale said the secretariat would serve as a hub of intellectual discussion, collaboration and solidarity among the union members “as it continues to strive for a better future for our universities and our nation.”
The UI ASUU Chairman, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, said the secretariat was built without donations from external people or bodies.
He commended members of the union who gave in cash and kind to see to its completion.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inauguration had a session, titled, “Challenging NeoLiberal Narrative in Nigeria’s Education Sector: ASUU’s 2022 Strike and Matters Arising”.
Speaking on the theme, Akinwole, said the impact of neoliberalism on education was complex and multifaceted.
He noted that the lecture was appropriate “at this period in our nation’s march toward self-reliance and independence in the right sense of the word.
“Expectedly, the lecture beams light on the way forward in continued relevance for scholars and all concerned leaders of the progressive movement in Nigeria.”
A Professor of Botany, Odoje Biodiversity Centre, Ogbomoso, Prof. Omotoye Olorode, spoke on the foundationality of the neoliberal narrative as expressed in the Nigerian ruling class response to ASUU’s strike.
He said, “ASUU’s struggles arise out of the necessity to build a country in which every citizen shall be free, educated, well fed and healthy.
“We cannot abandon these struggles and yet be worthy of being called ‘intellectuals’.
“This is where we stand. This is where we ought to stand.”
NAN reports that the union’s building at Olajuwon Olayide Extension, Ajibode, University of Ibadan, has a secretariat building, scholars’ chalets as well as other modern facilities.
(NAN)
Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games gold medallist and President of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria, Tijani Babangida, was on Thursday involved in a car accident that claimed the life of his younger brother Ibrahim Babangida, The PUNCH has learnt.
Former teammate, Emmanuel Babayaro, the General Secretary, PFAN, announced the incident in a statement.
Though the details of the accident remained sketchy as of the time of filing this report, our correspondent learnt that the accident happened along the Kaduna-Zaria Road.
“Comrades! Let us be in prayers for our president, Tijani Babangida, who just had a ghastly motor accident along the Kaduna-Zaria Eoad.
“Ibrahim Babangida, his younger brother, died on the spot from the accident while Mr President (Babangida) and his family were taken to the hospital.
“May the soul of Ibrahim Babangida Rest In Peace with God, amen,” he announced.
When our correspondent reached out to Babayaro, he confirmed the incident.
“Yes, it is true. The accident happened while they were on their way to Zaria from Kaduna,” he said.
“His brother Babangida died on the spot from the accident. The accident happened today (Thursday) this afternoon and his wife was also involved in the accident.
“He is currently admitted at Shika Hospital in Zaria, where he is receiving treatment and to the glory of God he is conscious,” he added.
The late Ibrahim, 47, a retired footballer himself, was a member of the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning Golden Eagles squad in Japan.
He featured for local sides Bank of The North, Stationery Stores and Katsina United on the domestic scene before joining Dutch side Volendam in 1997.
[Punch]
The House of Representatives has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to suspend the proposed implementation of the cybercrime levy of 0.5% on electronic transactions.
Consequently, the House directed the CBN to withdraw the ambiguous circular in existence and issue an unequivocal circular in line with the letters and spirit of the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2024.
The Green Chamber also mandated its Committees on Banking Regulations, and Banking and other Ancillary Institutions to guide the CBN properly.
This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by the House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda (PDP Rivers), and 359 others.
The motion …
Moving the motion, Chinda said CBN through a circular to all commercial, merchant, non-interest and payment service banks; other financial institutions, mobile money operators, and payment service providers (“CBN Circular”) dated 6th May 2024 informed Nigerians of a proposed 0.5% levy on electronic transactions in line with Section 44(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2024.
He noted that Section 44(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024 provides that “a levy of 0.5% (0.005) equivalent to half percent of all electronic transactions value by businesses specified in the Second Schedule to the Act it be paid into the Cybersecurity Fund.
“Further notes that businesses which the said Section 44(2)(a) refers to are listed in the Second Schedule to the Cybercrimes Act to be: a) GSM Service Providers and all telecommunication companies; b) Internet Service Providers; c) Banks and Other Financial Institutions; d) Insurance Companies and e) Nigerian Stock Exchange.
“Concerned that the CBN circular mandates all Banks, Other Financial Institutions and Payments Service Providers to implement the Cybercrimes Act by applying the levy at the point of electronic transfer origination as “Cybersecurity Levy” and remitting same.
“Further concerned that the wordings of the CBN Circular leaves the CBN directive to multiple interpretations including that the levy be paid by bank customers, that is, Nigerians against the letters and spirit of Section 44(2)(a) and the Second Schedule to the Cybercrimes Act, which specifies the businesses that should be levied accordingly,” Chinda said.
The lawmaker expressed worry that this act has led to apprehension as Civil Society Organisations and citizens have taken to conventional and social media to call out the Federal Government, and give ultimatums for a reversal of the “imposed levy on Nigerians” among other things.
He argued that unless immediate pragmatic steps are taken to halt the proposed action of the CBN, the Cybercrime Act shall be implemented in error at a time when Nigerians are experiencing the aftermath of multiple removal of subsidies from petroleum, electricity, and so on and the rising inflation.
A federal high court in Abuja has adjourned a suit filed by Olu Agunloye, a former minister of power and steel, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until June 24 for a hearing.
Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, fixed the date after Jedidiah Akpata, lawyer to Agunloye, sought an adjournment to enable parties in the suit to regularise their processes.
Akpata, who held the brief of Adeola Adedipe, lead counsel to the applicant, told the court that they were yet to respond to the defendants’ counter-affidavits.
Mercy Akeredolu, counsel representing the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), said the death of a lawyer who was supposed to handle the case, caused the delay in filing their processes.
M.K. Hussein, who appeared for the EFCC, did not oppose the application for adjournment.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/167/2024 has the AGF as the second defendant.
Agunloye submitted that the EFCC declared him wanted without any form of judicial intervention, recourse to constitutional safeguards or order of court.
The former minister is asking the court to order the EFCC to remove his name from the wanted list published on the commission’s official website or any other related platform.
He also wants the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from further declaring him wanted concerning the Mambilla hydropower contract except ” by a judicial intervention and recourse to all constitutional safeguards available to him in law and equity”.
Agunloye is seeking N1 billion as “general damages”.
The EFCC is prosecuting Agunloye over a $6 billion Mambilla hydropower contract.
He was arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on fraudulent contract award and official corruption.
The anti-graft agency said it has traced some suspicious payments made by Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd to Agunloye’s bank accounts.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also challenged Agunloye to tell Nigerians where he derived the authority to award a $6 billion contract to Sunrise for the Mambilla hydropower project in 2003.
[TheCable]
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Prince Harry and Meghan will arrive in Nigeria on Friday, May 10, for a three-day private visit.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are visiting Nigeria at the invitation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa.
The Director of Sports, Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Air Vice Marshal Abidemi Marquis, said the founder of Invictus Games will spend three days in Nigeria and would interact with wounded soldiers and their families.
Marquis said: “Because we realized that 80% of our soldiers have been involved in this recovery program, they are getting better. Their outlook on life is positive. You know, when you are engaged in, you experience a permanent disability, you know, issues, it affects your mental health and also your outlook on life.
“But the recovery program has given them an opportunity to improve their personal self-esteem, to improve their mental health, their emotional intelligence has been improved and also their families seeing them, you know, as they used to be a breadwinner who is capable of, you know, continue living. So this engagement with Invictus is giving us the opportunity for a recovery for our soldiers.”
Marquis said Nigeria being a member of the Invictus community, the visit will lay credence to the fact that the Nigerian Armed Forces are accepted.
He added that Nigeria is also looking forward to hosting an Invictus game hence, the reason for the visit.
AVM Marquis also stressed the need to build a state-of-the-art structure for the management of the wounded and injured soldiers, “particularly the post-traumatic syndrome and the post-traumatic stress syndrome that are manifesting due to our engagement in the counter-insurgency operation.”
He disclosed that the couple would visit Kaduna and Lagos states where they would also interact with the Governors
He said: “So, to be specific, now, they will be arriving here tomorrow and they will be received and the reception will be a quiet reception because they will be traveling 14 hours to get to this place. They will be taken to the hotel.”
Marquis said the couple, after resting at the hotel, would return to visit the Chief of Defence Staff by noon tomorrow.
The director added that Prince Harry and his wife would before that visit, “They have their own NGO they are supporting somewhere in Wuse Light Academy. They are going to visit that place.
He said: “They will be proceeding to Kaduna to visit the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital. You know, that is where our wounded and injured soldiers are kept for their medical recovery. He will be going there.
“On Saturday, we’ll be having something like an exhibition of novelty matches. The CDS team and the Duke team will be having a volleyball match at armed forces officers’ mess in the morning. And this is just to engage with the wounded and injured soldiers. It’s a sitting volleyball match coming in the morning.
“So after that, we have a programme for them, 01:00 p.m. A reception, where they will be interacting with families of wounded and injured soldiers and families of soldiers and officers killed in action and service members generally. The program will start at 01:00 p.m. On Saturday thereafter, they will go back to the hotel to rest.
“So on Sunday, we have a program in Lagos. They will pay a courtesy call to the governor of Lagos State, and they also have an NGO. They are supporting Lagos over time, and we are going there. They built a basketball court for the school in Lagos. So they will be going there also. And there will be a basketball exhibition Match, 20 minutes, 30 minutes will be played.
“From there, they proceed to the governor’s place. After that, there is a reception also for them in Lagos. And when we finish that, we come back to Abuja, and they’ll be leaving Nigeria on Monday morning.”
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[PRESS RELEASE] Honorable Attorney General of Ondo State Salutes Chief Judge Ondo State for His Egalitarian Practice Direction on The Administration of Criminal Justice
AdminAttorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ondo State’s Reaction to Practice Direction No. 1, Vol 1 Of 2024 Of the Ondo State Judiciary
INTRODUCTION
The Honourable Justice Ademola Enikuomehin of the Ondo State High Court, Owo Judicial Division on the 14th of March, 2023, handed down a judgement in Suit No: HOW/66/2022(ALHAJI RASHEED OLANREWAJU KAZEEM V. THE HONOURABLE CHIEF JUDGE OF ONDO STATE & OTHERS) and after a thorough perusal of the judgement, with deliberate considerations of Sections 86 and 87 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Ondo State, 2015,and Section 35 of the High Court Law of Ondo State, 2006 , the Chief Judge of Ondo State of Nigeria; Honourable Justice Aiyedun Olusegun Odusola, on the 7th of May, 2024, caused to be issued in Practice Direction No. 1, Vol 1 of 2024, a Practice Direction directing; that all criminal cases be commenced, tried and completed by a Court having jurisdiction in the division or district where the offence was committed; that all pending criminal cases in trial which had yet to reach the defence stage be reverted to such division or district where the offence was committed and such criminal matters commenced afresh; and that all prior Practice Directions, Circulars, Orders or any other administrative instructions against the directives were thereby repealed.
The Ondo State Government under the stewardship of the Executive Governor His Excellency, Honourable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa unfurled an eight point reformative agenda of the Office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice Ondo State wherein obeisance to court order and law is given utmost compliance. The Ondo State Government herewith adheres with Practice Direction No. 1, Vol 1 of 2024, to its fullest extent as it will always continue to do.
The Office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice Ondo State salutes the judgment of the Ondo State High Court, and the judicial directives of the Chief Judge of OndoState in Pratice Direction No. 1, Vol 1 of 2024, and also assures the Ondo State Judiciary of continuous synergy and partnership with the State executive arm of government.
The Practice Direction will restore balance to the criminal jurisdiction across all judicial divisions and magisterial districts in the State, ensuring the jurisprudential development of the Bar and Bench across the State as compared to when the criminal jurisdiction over felonies and capital offences was centralized to the State capital, Akure.
Furthermore, the new directives will reduce the risk of transporting awaiting trial persons and defendants in criminal matters held in our State Correctional facilities across the State to and from the State capital, and also lessen the financial burden on the transportation, personnel, surveillance and armed escort expenditure of the State Correctional facilities. The witness transport expenditure of the Ondo State Judiciary as provided for under the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Ondo State, 2015, will also be prudentially managed as the courts will receive fewer requests from witnesses from outside its jurisdiction.
The Office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice reassures the citizenry of Ondo State that the Ondo State Ministry of Justice will continue to meet up its duties in prosecution of criminal matters regardless of the location of the court across the criminal divisions and districts in the State, and that the Ondo State Government will pay rapt attention and facilitate the speedy infrastructural development of court facilities and across the State.
Dated Thursday, the 9th Day of May, 2024
E-signed
Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, OON
Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Ondo State
The Senate has passed for third reading the NDLEA Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, thereby approving death sentence as the maximum penalty for drug traffickers in the country.
The Bill was into law on Thursday when the Senate dissolved into Committee of the Whole for a clause-by-clause consideration of a report of its Joint Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters, and Drugs & Narcotics on the Bill.
The report was earlier laid at plenary by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters, Senator Tahir Munguno.
In a review of the provisions for penalties in the amendment Bill towards strengthening the operations of the anti-narcotics agency, a proposed amendment to award a death sentence to drug traffickers rather than just a life sentence was raised by the Senate Chief Whip, which was eventually adopted.
However, there was slight uproar in the Red chamber as some lawmakers appeared displeased with the new provision.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole expressed his displeasure over what he considered a hasty consideration and passage of the amended clause to the Bill.
The Deputy Senate President, who presided at the session, rejected Senator Oshiomhole’s call to reverse the ruling, insisting that it came late.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has explained that his visit to the residential quarters of the State House of Assembly was to undertake on-the-spot assessment of condition of the structures for a possible rehabilitation work to restore its status and make it habitable.
The Governor had made a brief stop at the Assembly Quarters yesterday enroute Emohua – Abalama -Tema Junction on inspection of the 15.24 kilometers long dual carriageway road project.
According a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, Fubara, who spoke after the inspection stated that the assembly quarters is part of state government properties, adding that the facility needs to be taken good care of.
He noted that the state now has a new speaker for the State House of Assembly, noting that his visit was to see what were necessary to be done.
Fubara, who took a walk round the facility, said that he decided to visit the place to get better appreciation of what needs to be done to make the quarters conducive for lawmakers.
The Governor said: “Is the Assembly quarters not part of my property? Is there anything wrong in going to check how things are going on there? You are aware of the developments. We have a new speaker, and I went there to see for my myself how things are. There might be a few things I might want to do there for the good of our people.”
The Governor speaking on the road project, said he was assessing the extent of job that had been done to know what else was needed in preparing the road for commissioning during his one year anniversary.
He pointed out that the road project was inherited from the immediate past administration but a greater chunk of the cost was borne by his administration.
“As a matter of fact, we added this section of the road as one of the projects we will be commissioning. So, I needed to see it myself, and what is remaining is just the lighting. By the grace of God, we will commission it.”
Emergence of two speakers in Rivers Assembly mockery of democracy, says group
“We feel justified to add it as our project and to commission it for the good of our people here. Governance is all about the people. When the people are out of the centre of governance, then it is no longer governance.
“So, this road, as we all now know, was in a very bad state. A lot of criminal activities were being carried out here: kidnapping and all sorts of things. So, putting this road in order is appropriate,” he said.
The Governor further added: “You can see the little hour we spent coming here. Before, it takes you 30 to 45 minutes to drive from Emohua to this place. But look at it, less than 15 minutes we are here. So, it is about the people, the good of the people, making life easy for the people. That is the way I see governance. Anything outside that has nothing to do with me.”
Renowned political economist, Professor Pat Utomi, has named the groups that will form the mega political party to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2027.
Utomi told newsmen, on Thursday, that the redemption of the country could not be achieved by the ruling APC, or any of the opposition parties.
While listing the groups, Utomi said the present political parties failed Nigerians. He said they had not added value to nation-building.
According to him, the planned mega party is to disrupt the current political order and deliver that impactful leadership that the country truly deserves.
“It is precisely the reason I arrived in Nigeria yesterday (Wednesday) to continue that work (formation of mega party).
“I believe that the political party system in Nigeria has failed completely. Political parties are not democratic and they are not serving the purpose.
“Political parties and politicians of these parties cannot save Nigeria now. It is clear.
“The nature and the structure of our politics is such that even good people, when they enter these existing political parties, will play to their interests.”
Utomi, Founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership, returned to Nigeria on Wednesday after a long stay in the U.S.
Also, he was the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in 2007.
‘New order needed’
According to Utomi, parochial culture has consumed civic culture in the country and this has affected the mindset of politicians.
Therefore, he said, a new political order must be birthed to get Nigeria out of the woods. Also, citizens and leaders must begin to do the right things to reposition the country.
“Nigeria must be saved by its citizens and this is precisely what I am advancing.
“We are talking about value-driven citizenship with integrity, work ethics, respect for the dignity of people, and regard for labour.
“We are created for others; we are not created for ourselves. A tree does not take benefit from the shades it creates.
“We want Nigerians to develop that mindset. Right now, the mindset that Nigerians have is me, myself, and I.
“Self-love is so consuming and that is why Nigerian politicians don’t act in the interest of the people or the state. They act so narrowly in their self-interests,” he said.
Utomi said in continuation of work to float the mega party, he would hold meetings in Lagos this week, and in Abuja next week before a news conference.
The political economist added he hoped to achieve much with the mega-party talks before going back to the U.S.
The groups
Utomi said groups that would come together to form the mega platform were two cohorts of politicians- the ‘mea culpa’ and ‘new value’ cohorts.
“The mea culpa cohort are politicians who have seen that what they did while in power had not helped Nigeria and are remorseful. And they are now willing to become part of the redemption initiative.
“There are also new Nigeria new value cohorts. This cohort will be working together, and they will include people from all these other political parties,” he said.
He said that some elder statesmen would also be brought into the fold.
Recall that Utomi had, in January 2024, said he had had conversations with leaders of some opposition parties on plans to form a new mega political party that would take power from the ruling APC in 2027.
He disclosed that he had held discussions with some of the presidential candidates in the 2023 general elections.
According to Utomi, the discussion was the possibility of bringing them and other opposition politicians together to form a new party. (NAN)