The 26th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi, has described his reinstatement by the state government as justice against the injustice meted to him in the past.

On Friday, Governor Abba Yusuf reinstated Sanusi as Emir of Kano after deposing the 15th Emir, Aminu Bayero.

This was after the Kano State House of Assembly heard the motion on the Kano State Emirate Council Amendment Bill and eventually repealed the 2019 Law that allowed for the creation of the five separate emirates from the old Kano Emirates.

But despite a court stopping Sanusi’s reinstatement, the statement had enthroned him.

However, meeting with security chiefs on Saturday, Sanusi said he had not seen the specific court order.

“The emir, who spoke for over an hour during the meeting, told us that what the state government had done was justice against the injustice meted out to him in the past.

“He told us that he had not seen the court order we were referring to, describing it as a media court order until he sees it,” a source privy to the meeting told Daily Trust.

Legal experts have offered different views about the judicial order that was recently given stopping the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano

The allegation made by Governor Abba Yusuf that Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court in Kano granted an order stopping the reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido as the 16th Emir of Kano from the United States is generating serious controversy among lawyers in the country.

While some argued that if the court proceedings are conducted virtually, the judge can sit anywhere because he has a global jurisdiction, others contended that the Nigerian judicial system follows territorial authority. Judges typically exercise jurisdiction within Nigeria’s borders.

LEADERSHIP Sunday reports that the rules of the Federal High Court provide that judges can conduct judicial activities outside the country in certain circumstances, like when the court judge participates in international arbitration proceedings held outside Nigeria.

Also, in rare cases, a judge may conduct hearings or proceedings in another country with the consent of the parties involved and the Chief Judge’s approval.

However, the Federal High Court has embraced virtual court proceedings, also known as remote hearings. However, a situation where a judge sits over a case virtually from outside the country is controversial.

The judge, in the eyes of the storm, is a very senior judicial officer who handled high-profile cases before he was transferred outside the  Lagos jurisdiction of the court.

He has been sitting virtually on some old  Lagos cases from his Kano base by the court’s rules.

On May 7, 2024, Justice Liman convicted and sentenced a plastic surgeon and founder of MedContour Services Ltd., Dr Anuoluwapo Adepoju, for failing to appear before the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) about an investigation into a failed plastic surgery that resulted in the death of one Nneka Onwuzuligbo in 2020.

This judgment was delivered virtually.

Also, on May 17, 2024, during a visual court hearing, he fixed June 3 for judgment in the money laundering trial of a former speaker of the  Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji.

He has also been conducting the case of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Four directors of Petrol Union Oil and Gas Company Limited, accused of an alleged £2.556 billion fraud.

In his reaction to the controversy,  a Professor of law, Ademola Adaranijo, said that the judge had not done anything wrong. However, he is unsure of the allegation because there has not been an official response from the court’s authority or the judge.

Adaranijo stated that in law, when it comes to online offences, jurisdiction is global. He said that if someone committed an offence of cyberstalking, for example, in Enugu, he can be tried anywhere in the country because you can not limit the Internet to a particular location. 

He said, “In the same vain if the judge is sitting online, he can conduct the proceeding from anywhere as long as the parties agree. 

But a  Lagos lawyer, Michael Okpu, disagrees with his colleague’s opinion; he said a judge must have access to necessary resources, files, or support staff to handle cases effectively.

He said, “The National Judicial Council’s (NJC) Guidelines for Virtual Court Proceedings (2020) only allowed virtual hearings in certain circumstances, such as urgent matters, interlocutory applications, pre-trial conferences and simple civil cases.

“However, the guidelines mandate that the judge, parties, and legal representatives be within Nigeria’s territorial boundaries during virtual proceedings.

“So, a judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria cannot sit over a case virtually from outside the country; he must be within Nigeria’s borders to participate in virtual court proceedings,” he said.

[Leadership]

On inauguration day at the Eagle Square, Abuja, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made promises on critical areas affecting the country including economy, security, power and petrol subsidy.

In fact it was on that occasion that he made the statement ‘subsidy is gone’ which has continued to reverberate in the economic circles across Nigeria.

Nearly one year after, people are asking, How much of the promises have been fulfilled? Find below the full text of the May 29, 2023 speech:

My Fellow Citizens,

I stand before you honoured to assume the sacred mandate you have given me. My love for this nation is abiding. My confidence in its people, unwavering. And my faith in God Almighty, absolute. I know that His hand shall provide the needed moral strength and clarity of purpose in those instances when we seem to have reached the limits of our human capacity.

This day is bold and majestic yet bright and full of spirit, as is our precious nation.
As a nation, we have long ago decided to march beyond the dimness of night into the open day of renewed national hope.

The question we now ask ourselves is whether to remain faithful to the work inherent in building a better society or retreat into the shadows of our unmet potential.

For me, there is but one answer. We are too great a nation and too grounded as a people to rob ourselves of our finest destiny.

This nation’s journey has been shaped by the prayers of millions, and the collective sacrifices of us all.

We have endured hardships that would have made other societies crumble.

Yet, we have shouldered the heavy burden to arrive at this SUBLIME moment where the prospect of a better future merges with our improved capacity to create that future.

To the surprise of many but not to ourselves, we have more firmly established this land as a democracy in both word and deed.

The peaceful transition from one government to another is now our political tradition. This handover symbolizes our trust in God, our enduring faith in representative governance and our belief in our ability to reshape this nation into the society it was always meant to be.

Here, permit me to say a few words to my predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr President, you have been an honest, patriotic leader who has done his best for the nation you love. On a more personal note, you are a worthy partner and friend. May History be kind to you.

For many years, Nigeria’s critics have trafficked the rumour that our nation will break apart, even perish.

Yet here we are. We have stumbled at times, but our resilience and diversity have kept us going.
Our burdens may make us bend at times, but they shall never break us.
Instead, we stand forth as Africa’s most populous nation and as the best hope and strongest champion of the Black Race.

As citizens, we declare as one unified people devoted to one unified national cause, that as long as this world exists, NIGERIA SHALL EXIST.

Today, Fate and Destiny join together to place the torch of human progress in our very hands. We dare not let it slip.

We lift high this torch so that it might shine on every household and in every heart that calls itself Nigerian. We hold this beam aloft because it lights our path with compassion, brotherhood, and peace. May this great light never EXTINGUISH.

Our administration shall govern on your behalf but never rule over you. We shall consult and dialogue but never dictate. We shall reach out to all but never put down a single person for holding views contrary to our own.

We are here to further mend and heal this nation, not tear and injure it.

In this vein, may I offer a few comments regarding the election that brought us to this juncture. It was a hard-fought contest. And it was also fairly won. Since the advent of the Fourth Republic, Nigeria has not held an election of better quality.

The outcome reflected the will of the people. However, my victory does not render me any more Nigerian than my opponents. Nor does it render them any less patriotic.

They shall forever be my fellow compatriots. And I will treat them as such. They represent important constituencies and concerns that wisdom dare not ignore.

They have taken their concerns to court. Seeking legal redress is their right and I fully defend their exercise of this right. This is the essence of the rule of law.

Over six decades ago, our founding fathers gave bravely of themselves to place Nigeria on the map as an independent nation.

We must never allow the labour of those who came before us to wither in vain but to blossom and bring forth a better reality.

Let us take the next great step in the journey they began and believed in.

Today, let us recommit our very selves to placing Nigeria in our hearts as the indispensable home for each and every one of us regardless of creed, ethnicity, or place of birth.

My supporters, I thank you. To those who voted otherwise, I extend my hand across the political divide. I ask you to grasp it in national affinity and brotherhood. For me, political colouration has faded away. All I see are Nigerians.

May we uphold these fitting and excellent notions as the new Nigerian ideal.
My fellow compatriots,

The Nigerian ideal which I speak of is more than just an improvement in economic and other statistics. These things are important; but they can never convey the fullness of our story.

Our mission is to improve our way of life in a manner that nurtures our humanity, encourages compassion toward one another, and duly rewards our collective effort to resolve the social ills that seek to divide us.

Our constitution and laws give us a nation on paper. We must work harder at bringing these noble documents to life by strengthening the bonds of economic collaboration, social cohesion, and cultural understanding. Let us develop a shared sense of fairness and equity. 

The South must not only seek good for itself but must understand that its interests are served when good comes to the North. The North must see the South likewise.

Whether from the winding creeks of the Niger Delta, the vastness of the northern savannah, the boardrooms of Lagos, the bustling capital of Abuja, or the busy markets of Onitsha, you are all my people. As your president, I shall serve with prejudice toward none but compassion and amity towards all.

In the coming days and weeks, my team will publicly detail key aspects of our programme. Today, permit me to outline in broad terms a few initiatives that define our concept of progressive good governance in furtherance of the Nigerian ideal:

The principles that will guide our administration are simple:

1. Nigeria will be impartially governed according to the constitution and the rule of law.
2. We shall defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality that threaten the peace and stability of our country and our sub-region.
3. We shall remodel our economy to bring about growth and development through job creation, food security and an end of extreme poverty.
4. In our administration, Women and youth will feature prominently.
5. Our government will continue to take proactive steps such as championing a credit culture to discourage corruption while strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the various anti-corruption agencies.

SECURITY

Security shall be the top priority of our administration because neither prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity and violence.

To effectively tackle this menace, we shall reform both our security DOCTRINE and its ARCHITECTURE.
We shall invest more in our security personnel, and this means more than an increase in number. We shall provide, better training, equipment, pay and firepower.

THE ECONOMY

On the economy, we target a higher GDP growth and to significantly reduce unemployment.
We intend to accomplish this by taking the following steps:

First, budgetary reform stimulating the economy without engendering inflation will be instituted.
Second, industrial policy will utilize the full range of fiscal measures to promote domestic manufacturing and lessen import dependency.

Third, electricity will become more accessible and affordable to businesses and homes alike. Power generation should nearly double and transmission and distribution networks improved. We will encourage states to develop local sources as well.

I have a message for our investors, local and foreign: our government shall review all their complaints about multiple taxation and various anti-investment inhibitions.
We shall ensure that investors and foreign businesses repatriate their hard earned dividends and profits home.

JOBS

My administration must create meaningful opportunities for our youth. We shall honour our campaign commitment of one million new jobs in the digital economy.

Our government also shall work with the National Assembly to fashion an omnibus Jobs and Prosperity bill. This bill will give our administration the policy space to embark on labour-intensive
infrastructural improvements, encourage light industry and provide improved social services for the poor, elderly and vulnerable.

AGRICULTURE

Rural incomes shall be secured by commodity exchange boards guaranteeing minimal prices for certain crops and animal products. A nationwide programme for storage and other facilities to reduce spoilage and waste will be undertaken.

Agricultural hubs will be created throughout the nation to increase production and engage in value-added processing. The livestock sector will be introduced to best modern practices and steps taken to minimize the perennial conflict over land and water resources in this sector.
Through these actions, food shall be made more abundant yet less costly. Farmers shall earn more while the average Nigerian pays less.

INFRASTRUCTURE

We shall continue the efforts of the Buhari administration on infrastructure. Progress toward national networks of roads, rail and ports shall get priority attention.

FUEL SUBSIDY

We commend the decision of the outgoing administration in phasing out the petrol subsidy regime which has increasingly favoured the rich more than the poor. Subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources. We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions.

MONETARY POLICY

Monetary policy needs thorough housecleaning. The Central Bank must work towards a unified exchange rate. This will direct funds away from arbitrage into meaningful investment in the plant, equipment and jobs that power the real economy.

Interest rates need to be reduced to increase investment and consumer purchasing in ways that sustain the economy at a higher level.

Whatever merits it had in concept, the currency swap was too harshly applied by the CBN given the number of unbanked Nigerians. The policy shall be reviewed. In the meantime, my administration will treat both currencies as legal tender.

FOREIGN POLICY

Given the world in which we reside, please permit a few comments regarding foreign policy.
The crisis in Sudan and the turn from democracy by several nations in our immediate neighbourhood are of pressing concern. 

As such, my primary foreign policy objective must be the peace and stability of the West African sub-region and the African continent. We shall work with ECOWAS, the AU and willing partners in the international community to end extant conflicts and to resolve new ones.
As we contain threats to peace, we shall also retool our foreign policy to more actively lead the regional and continental quest for collective prosperity.

CONCLUSION

This is the proudest day of my life. But this day does not belong to me. It belongs to you, the people of Nigeria.

On this day, Nigeria affirms its rightful place among the world’s great democracies. There, Nigeria shall reside forever.

The course of our past and the promise of the future have brought us to this exceptional moment.
In this spirit, I ask you to join me in making Nigeria a more perfect nation and democracy such that the Nigerian ideal becomes and forever remains the Nigerian reality.

With full confidence in our ability, I declare that these things are within our proximate reach because my name is Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and I am the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. May God bless you and May He bless our beloved land. 

*In the following pages, the ruling party, opposition parties’ members as well as a renowned economist, in what is at best fireworks on the Tinubu government, assess the administration one year after.

Despite the four local refineries in Nigeria having a combined capacity of 450,000bpd, oil marketers and energy experts have expressed diverse views on whether they can end the lingering fuel crisis in the country if fixed by the Bola Tinubu-led administration.

The four state-owned refineries in the country located in Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Warri have stopped operations since 2019, forcing the Federal Government into foreign refining of its crude oil, which has grossly affected the fuel supply and economic stability of the country.

In a bid to fix the Port Harcourt refinery, the Federal Government in 2021 approved the sum of $1.5 billion, but the refinery, which has a total capacity of 210,000bpd has yet to restart operations since then.

The Federal Government initially said the refinery plant would commence operations in December 2022. Later, it shifted the commencement date to the end of the first quarter of 2023, but nothing else came out of it.

However, on Monday, the National Public Relations Officer, Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, said the PH refinery may now commence operations by the end of July after several postponements.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Company, Mustafa Sugungun, has said the rehabilitation of the Kaduna refinery would be completed by the end of 2024 after years of being shut down due to lack of maintenance.

Speaking during an oversight visit to the refinery by members of the Senate Adhoc Committee on Petroleum Downstream led by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, in April, Sugungun explained that the 110,000-barrel-per-day refinery would start producing at 60 per cent capacity by the end of the year, while full production will take place subsequently.

Recall that the acting Managing Director of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), Desmond Inyamah, had said the refinery would commence full operations in December 2023.

Disclosing this when members of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee over-sighting the refinery projects visited to inspect the level of maintenance of the Warri refinery, Inyamah said the last time maintenance work was done at the WRPC was in 2004 and 2005.

The Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, Olufemi Soneye, also told our correspondent in February that the mechanical completion of the Warri refinery would be completed in the first quarter of this year.

However, speaking in separate interviews with Sunday PUNCH at the weekend, the oil marketers and experts argued that even if the current administration moves speedily to get the four refineries into full operations in the next few months, the consistent fuel crisis in the country may still not be completely eradicated because the refineries would likely face supply constraints of crude oil.

In his submission, the President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, Dr Billy Gilly-Harry, said though there were strong indications that the Port Harcourt Refinery would start operation anytime soon, the Tinubu’s administration should work on putting the entire four refineries into full operations in other to ease the country’s consistent fuel crisis.

He said, “It is difficult for me to confirm any date for the Port Harcourt Refinery re-operation. But I had a physical visit to the place a few weeks ago and what I saw was good enough to go. But they (NNPCL) don’t want to announce anything again, because they don’t want Nigerians to have issues. We were hoping that on the 29th of this month, the Warri refinery would go live, while the Port Harcourt one would come onboard shortly after. But since the management of the PH refinery has projected a date for its reactivity in July, we can’t say anything more about it.

On whether the full operationalisation of the four refineries would reduce the price of fuel in the country and the artificial scarcity of the product, he said that cannot be guaranteed, except the Consumer Protection Council and other agencies emplace strict price regulations in the market.

“The price of fuel in a deregulated petroleum product regime will be determined by the cost of demand and supply. If the Consumer Protection Council is working optimally, there should be a source of control so that we, the retail outlet owners, will not unnecessarily hike fuel prices once the refineries take off. Though we have our internal mechanisms to regulate ourselves in as much as we have the NMPDRA, the CPC should also put in their efforts to protect the consumers,” he explained.

Also speaking with Sunday PUNCH, IPMAN Vice President, Hammed Fashola, said full operation of both the Port Harcourt refinery and the Dangote Refinery would serve as a “big relief for everybody” in the country if it can be achieved.

He said, “It is very important and I believe the government is working towards that. If the Port Harcourt refinery can come up this year, and maybe the Warri refinery next year, my concern about the whole thing is the Kaduna refinery which has been abandoned for years. I don’t know if it is still good or available to transfer crude. I think the government has to look at that before they start pumping money into it. That is very key because there will be further constraints and it will be useless.

However, in his submission, an energy expert and lawyer, Mr Ayodele Oni, stated that even though the refineries were completed, it would be difficult for them to meet Nigeria’s fuel needs, because there had been an onward sale of the country’s crude oil for years to come.

“There have been debates whether we have enough crude because of the faulty agreement the government has reached having sold out our future crude so even if you have a refinery and you don’t have enough crude, there is a challenge there,” he said.

The expert further urged the Federal Government to boost its investment in oil exploration and production to ensure a stable supply of fuel in the country.