[PRESS STATEMENT] Construction Of Flyovers and Roads in Delta State by Julius Berger: Delta APC’S Condemnation of Governor Oborovweri Is Misplaced and Politics Taken Too Far - Igbini Odafe Emmanuel
AdminI have just carefully read in some leading media publications, the content of a Press Statement reportedly issued yesterday by the Delta State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) in which the Delta State Chapter of APC accused or alleged that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori inflated the cost of construction of three flyovers in Effurun near Warri, to the tune of fifty billion naira (N50 billion), claiming that yet, the project would not be completed in 8 years. It further alleged that these three flyover projects awarded to Julius Berger Construction Company are not only a ruse but a conduit pipe to fleece Deltans of over N78 billion.
I also carefully read the comparison made by the Delta State APC, between these projects by Governor Oborovweri and some Projects embarked upon by governors Zulum, Wike, Sanwo-Olu and Ben Ayade, with which Delta State APC tried to reinforced its claim that the about seventy-eight billion naira (N78b) approved for these projects by governor Oborovweri is to defraud Deltans of fifty billion naira (N50b) through Julius Berger Construction Company.
While I commend the Delta State APC for reacting to the amount approved for these projects in order to ensure that there is accountability and justification for money spent by Governor Oborovweri, I am however unable to see any cogent and verifiable proof from the Delta State APC to buttress these serious allegations of fraud it made against Governor Oborovweri.
From my knowledge as an Engineer and with my experience in construction of roads, flyovers, bridges and other related road projects, only detailed and careful analysis of the Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME) approved for such Projects marched with the actual Site evaluation for the projects, can tell whether or not there is any element of inflation of cost or attempt to defraud citizens. Sadly, the APC did not make any reference to the approved BEME for these projects.
Secondly, all projects are not exactly the same and therefore not expected to cost the same amount. There are variations even though within similar environment like Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States of the South-South Geopolitical Zone, there should not be wide variations among these States particularly if the projects are handled by the same company, in this case, Julius Berger. Here again, the Delta State APC did not tell Deltans what it cost former Governor Wike and Governors of Akwa-Ibom to construct exactly or similar Projects by the same Julius Berger Company.
Thirdly, the Delta State APC did not show any evidence of how Governor Sheriff Oborovweri had planned to use an internationally reputable company like Julius Berger Company to defraud Deltans of a huge sum of money to the tune of fifty billion naira. This is a very serious allegation with very serious implication not only for Governor Oborovweri but for the corporate image and integrity of Julius Berger Company that Delta State APC is under strict obligation to prove beyond reasonable doubt otherwise it stands to lose it credibility before the people of Delta State.
Fourthly, the Delta State APC did not make any attempt to first commend Governor Oborovweri for breaking what had appeared to be a jinx in Delta State Government where no previous Delta State Governor ever contracted Julius Berger to construct roads, drainages, bridges and flyovers in Delta State. It is a fact known to Delta State APC that even when majority of its leaders were still Chieftains and top government Appointees of Delta State under PDP, Deltans were consistently demanding that Julius Berger Company be awarded Contracts to construct major and critical roads, bridges, drains and flyovers rather than awarding contracts for such mega projects to some very incompetent and ill-equipped local contractors who end up executing shoddy jobs that lead to collapse of such projects few months or few years after their claimed completion or in some case, are left uncompleted and abandoned.
It is also an inconvertible fact known to Delta State APC that the dual carriage road from PTI Junction to NPA, Warri, being a trunk A Road under an APC-led Federal Government has been a death trap to Deltans and Nigerians using it daily because of many failed sections on this stretch of about few kilometers. I would have expected that the Delta State APC exploits its access to President Buhari and now President Tinubu and the former and current Minister of Works, to demand as matter urgent public importance, that this very critical road be rehabilitated and regularly maintained.
In conclusion, I hold so honestly as a major stakeholder in affairs and governance of Delta State, that the only intention of the Delta State Chapter of APC to issuing its Press Statement and making the serious allegations that it made with no cogent and variable proof, against governor Oborovweri is to discredit the laudable effort by the governor which vast majority of people of Delta State have been celebrating and thanking the governor for.
This condemnation and allegations are also misplaced and politics taken too far in the retrogressive direction. Our good people of Delta State particularly those from the Delta Central and Delta South Senatorial Districts that produce the oil wealth of Delta State have suffered for decades because of lack of mega projects of these international standard to be constructed by Julius Berger. I had expected the Leaders of Delta State APC to be physically present at the venue of the flag-off ceremony yesterday to encourage and support governor Oborovweri to do much more for the overriding interest of all Deltans irrespective of our political affiliations.
I must remind us all, that political campaigns are over and election is also over. It is now time for Good Governance for the benefit of our good people of Delta State. We all therefore have moral and constitutional duties under section 24 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, to make positive and useful contribution to the advancement, progress and well-being of our beloved Delta State
President Bola Tinubu will, on Wednesday, depart Abuja for Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to attend the COP28 Climate Summit, also known as the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP28).
At the World Leaders' Summit, which takes place on December 1 and 2, 2023, under the theme, "Unite, Act, and Deliver," President Tinubu will deliver a national statement, highlighting Nigeria’s stance on various thematic issues, including renewable energy and climate financing.
Mindful of the severe impact of climate change on Nigeria, such as desertification, flooding, erosion, drought, and national security risks arising therefrom, President Tinubu will maximize the opportunity afforded by the platform to advocate increased financial and technical support for developing nations, while reminding developed countries of their public pledge to provide $100 billion annually for support to localized initiatives to address climate change-related challenges.
The President’s message will also focus on holding businesses and institutions accountable, reflecting Nigeria’s dedication to sustainable and responsible practices.
The Nigerian delegation to COP28 will actively explore establishing new and deeper bilateral partnerships to implement Nigeria's Energy Transition, Article 6 Projects, Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs), Technology Transfer, Capacity Building, and Methane Mitigation.
While in Dubai, President Tinubu will actively participate in key sideline events, which will further support the advancement of his avowed commitment to aggressively attract foreign direct investment for enhanced wealth creation and revenue expansion in the country, in addition to other events hosted by the Nigerian delegation.
The President, who will be accompanied by senior government officials, is expected to return to Abuja at the conclusion of the summit.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
November 28, 2023
The Deputy Speaker of the Bauchi House of Assembly, Jamilu Umaru Dahiru Barade has been sacked by the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja.
Naija News reports that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker was sacked days after nullifying the election of the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly.
The 3-man panel of Justices, in a judgement delivered on Monday, set aside the judgement of the Bauchi State House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, which earlier affirmed the election of Barade as the duly elected member representing Bauchi Central State constituency.
The court therefore ordered a rerun election in some polling units in the constituency, where the appellant, Aliyu Abdullahi Ilela, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), alleged over-voting.
The court further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to retrieve the Certificate of Return earlier issued to the Deputy Speaker and conduct a rerun election in the affected polling units before determining the eventual winner.
The State and National Assembly Appeal Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday affirmed the election of Governor Siminalayi Fubara in the March 18 2023 governorship election.
The Appeal Court in a unanimous decision dismissed four separate appeals filed by Tonye Cole of All Progressive Congress, Beatrice Itubo of the Labour Party, Innocent Ekwu of the Allied People’s Movement, and Lulu Briggs Dumo of the Accord Party.
The court held that all the Appellants failed to prove the allegation of non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The court also faulted the tribunal for dismissing Tonye Cole’s appeal on the ground that APC sponsored him and had withdrawn the petition against Governor Fubara’s victory.
The appellate court further held that the fact that APC withdrew its petition against Fubara’s victory does not prevent its candidate, Tony Cole from pursuing his appeal.
[PRESS RELEASE] ’Ansar-Ud-Deen Has Built an Enduring Legacy' — Sanwo-Olu Salutes Islamic Society At 100
Admin- Governor receives leaders of religious organisation
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has felicitated the Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria for sustaining the legacy of its founding fathers 100 years after the Islamic organisation was founded in Lagos to propagate conventional education among Muslims during colonial era.
The Governor, on Monday, received the Society’s delegation led by its national president, Dr. Rafiu Sanni, at the State House in Alausa as part of the ongoing consultations by the missionary group to celebrate its centenary anniversary.
Sanwo-Olu said he was no stranger to the progressive ideals and guiding the activities of the Islamic movement within communities it had established its roots, noting that his personal contact with the Society came during his formative years in Surulere where Ansar-ud-Deen ran a grammar school.
The Governor said Ansar-ud-Deen gained prominence and stood tall among Islamic organisations, given the influence its reformist values had on young Muslims towards training them to be upright and attaining intellectual development.
He said: “I have come with contact with Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria right from when I was a toddler. Right behind the house I was born in Surulere is Ansar-ud-Deen Grammar School. I grew up with the idea that Ansar-ud-Deen was the only Islamic society until I started coming in contact with other religious movement. This goes to show the positive influence Ansar-ud-Deen had in my community and other communities where it has established its own identity.
“Ansar-ud-Deen gained prominence in our communities and is still standing tall today because of the incredible work to build upright society through education and religious values that produced outstanding Nigerians who are well respected in our country today. The Society has stood the test of time in terms of discipline; 100 years on, Ansar-ud-Deen has remained focus on its guiding principles and ideals of its founding fathers.”
Sanwo-Olu commended the missionary leadership for building on the foundation bequeathed to the Society, urging members of the movement to work together and maintain spirit of brotherhood rooted in the Society to sustain its cherished legacy.
Dr. Sanni observed that the story of the Society would not be told without Lagos being mentioned in significant details, noting that the missionary group had its birth in the State when it was difficult for Muslims across the Yoruba-speaking parts of the country to get conventional education.
Ansar-ud-Deen, its national president said, has over 600,000 members in Lagos, noting that the Society had been playing its part to promote development of the State.
“Ansar-ud-Deen Society, over the last 100 years, has produced prominent personalities in the society, while have continued our missionary work towards reforming young people in our effort to improve the society’s value system,” Dr. Sanni said.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
27 NOVEMBER 2023
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, during the Supreme Court’s legal year and inauguration of SANs ceremony on Monday, gave his final legal year speech ahead of his retirement.
He spoke on law, justice and the role of Senior Advocates Of Nigeria (SAN) in Nigeria’s development during the 2023 legal year celebration held in Abuja on Monday.
Ariwoola noted the ceremony, including the swearing in of 58 SANs, is the last legal year he will be presiding over before retiring.
He admonished brother justices and judges across the nation not to be moved by public opinion but that they should make decisions based on the law.
The CJN also said the judges owe the society a great duty of always deciding cases without fear or favour, affection or ill will and friend or foe.
He maintained that the law remains the law, no matter whose interest is involved and that judges should endeavour to separate emotion from logic and assumption from fact while deciding on cases.
“For the umpteenth time, I wish to honestly assure all judicial officers that if you are discharging your functions as an upright judicial officer by genuinely following the norms, then you have no cause to be afraid or feel intimidated by the often frivolous complaints or vitriolic attacks made by persons having vested interest.
“However, I expect every judicial officer to work very hard and also be very honest and courteous to the litigants, witnesses and members of the Bar, and discharge all your judicial functions with all humility at your command.
“Even while doing this, it is still necessary to have at the back of your minds that public opinions, sentiments or emotions can never take the place of the law in deciding the cases that come before you,” Olukayode charged the judges present.
He explained that judges should never be “overwhelmed by the actions or loud voices of the mob or crowd” and now begin to confuse law with sentiment.
He applauded the Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO) inaugurated in 2018 by the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice W.S.A Onnoghen, for helping in fast-tracking the trial of corruption and financial related crimes in the country.
“The Committee, which is headed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Suleiman Galadima, CFR, has been working assiduously with various heads of Courts, to ensure that there is a remarkable rise in the dispensation of corruption and financial crime cases in the country.
“With the impressive effort they put in during the last legal year, some commendable results were achieved in the disposal of cases.
“This achievement was brought about as a result of increased and continued vigilance of the Committee. The two leading anti-graft agencies in the country have also been trying to amplify the war against corruption.
“The ICPC was able to successfully secure a total number of 10 convictions while the sister agency, EFCC was able to secure 1,094 convictions within the same period under review,” he added.
On the part of the Supreme Court, the CJN revealed it presided over 1,271, comprising of motions and appeals, from the 12th day of September, 2022 to the 11th day of July, 2023,
“Out of these, we heard 388 political appeals, 215 criminal appeals, and 464 civil appeals.
“Similarly, the court considered a total number of 49 criminal motions, 153 civil motions, and 2 political motions.
“Between the 30th day of September, 2022 and the 11th day of July, 2023, the Supreme Court delivered a total number of 251 judgments.
“Out of these, 125 were political appeals, 81 were civil appeals and 45 were criminal appeals.
“Within the period under review (precisely 10 months’ duration), a total number of 91 Rulings were delivered by the Honourable Court,” the CJN added.
To the new SANs, the CJN told them that following their inauguration, they have automatically become members of the Inner Bar and Apostles of the Temple of Justice.
“As Senior Advocates of Nigeria, you now carry heavy burden on your shoulders. From the moment you leave this Courtroom, everything in you and about you will now be freely scrutinized and dissected by everyone that comes in contact with you.
“There is nothing like private life for you henceforth, as whatever you hitherto regarded as private life will now be treated as public life by members of the public; and there is nothing you can do about it,” the CJN charged them.
[thewhistler.ng]
In a move aimed at enhancing the safety and security of the Nigerian aviation sector, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has initiated moves to begin blacklisting of negligent airline regulators at all levels.
This was as the Minister also issued a directive mandating all wet leases entering the country to include Nigerian pilots and cabin crew.
Vanguard reports that this strong stance comes in the wake of a recent flight diversion incident where a United Nigeria Airlines airplane landed in Asaba International Airport on Sunday rather than the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA).
It was against this backdrop that the Minister also ordered the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, to, within 10 days, provide a comprehensive report of all investigations carried out on air accidents and the reason why they happened.
Addressing pressmen after a high class technical meeting with key aviation heads, Monday night, in Abuja, the Minister said the decision comes in response to concerns over unfamiliarity with Nigerian terrain and communication issues resulting from the use of foreign pilots and crew.
Some of the key aviation heads are: Managing Director, MD, of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority Nigeria (FAAN), Director General, DG, Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), and Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
He said: “To assure and reassure Nigerians that we are taking every step as a ministry to ensure the safety of lives of Nigerians who decide to travel by air.
“For the recent incidents that happened recently, some minor, and others classified as serious incidents although there was no fatalities. The NSIB is investigating these incidents and I have directed them that within 10 days from today they must submit their report of the incidents and what actually transpired.
“However, we have some preliminary and precautionary steps that are being taken by the ministry and the regulator. The incident that happened yesterday where a plane bound for Abuja ended up in Asaba, we have listened to the transcript produced by NAMA from the tower to the pilot and it was clear that when the pilot was taking off from Lagos he was headed to Asaba not Abuja
“There was no weather problem in Abuja yesterday, it was a question of a wet lease plane where the pilot and crew were all foreigners not Nigerians so they were not familiar with the Nigeria terrain.
“From the transcript we heard the tower kept asking the pilot, confirm again that you are going to Abuja not Asaba, the Pilot replied no I am going to Asaba before they took off the tower asked again and it was the same response. It was purely an in-house administrative issue. We have asked them to interview the dispatcher who dispatched that plane and where sanctions should apply we should apply sanctions.
“We have agreed that henceforth all wetleases coming into Nigeria, you must have a Nigeria pilot seated on the jump seat with the foreign pilot.
“I also directed the NCAA to within the next 72 hours summon all pilots and crew operating wet leases in Nigeria for further briefing. The NCAA must sanction the airline regulators who are negligent and made an error of judgment withdrawing their licenses and blacklisting them. We have also decided that the cabin crew of the wet leases must be Nigerians to ease interaction between the passengers and cabin crews.”
Speaking on flight cancellation and delay by airlines, Keyamo said: “We are not deaf to the cries of Nigerians about delays and canceled flights. The law is there and we are looking at how to enforce those laws for compensation of Nigerians who bear the brunt of cancellation of flights
“The process of grounding the airline or taking the airlines to court will create more problem
So if the reason for the delay and cancellation of flight is their fault they must pay compensation. And what I am suggesting is that if they don’t get cash back they must get some rebate when they buy next ticket.
“I have set up a committee to look into it such that they can generate a code that they can use when they want to purchase the next ticket
We are concerned about the passenger satisfaction and the safety of the air travelers.”
Keyamo also ordered DG NCAA to ensure a weekly catalog of canceled flights on a weekly basis.
[OpinionNigeria]
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the management of the American University of Nigeria.
Naija News understands that the institution was founded 19 years ago by the former Vice President.
Atiku regretted that the institution had yet to be on its feet as it ought to.
The Ex-Vice President, in a paper delivered at the AUN as part of activities marking this year’s celebration of the institution’s founder day, had revealed his frustrations with the management of the university that he founded for not being able to get the institution firmly rooted on its feet.
Atiku during the celebration revealed the real motives behind his establishment of the AUN.
He said his motive for establishing the university was not to gain political office but to give back to a society that has given so much to him.
Speaking at an event in his paper entitled, “AUN in the Age of Socio-Economic Crisis and Emerging Disruptive Technologies,” Atiku had made a veiled reference to his frustrations with the one too many leadership transitions at the institution over the course of the last 19 years and the inability of managers who had presided over the management of the institution to fully grasp his vision and effectively pilot the university as a truly developmental university.
Atiku said, “You cannot realise the vision of a still small and young institution without focus, without being organized, without patience, without attention to detail, without persistence, and the desire to overcome obstacles in your way. And you cannot realise that vision with reckless management of resources, arbitrariness in decision-making, and unfairness and inequity in the treatment of faculty, staff, and students. As a result, continuity and fidelity to rules and procedures haven’t always been maintained in the attempts at realizing the founding vision and pursuit of the university’s goals. There is, therefore, an urgent need to return to basics, to the original vision.
“After 19 years, AUN ought to be able to stand on its feet. I have neither asked for nor received a kobo from you since inception and have no plans to do so in the future. All the investments that my friends and I have made and continue to make here are intended to see the university grow and serve humanity.
“AUN is a not-for-profit institution. However, that does not mean that you should not generate surpluses. You should be self-sustaining and generate surpluses to be ploughed back into the development of the institution to serve a greater number of people – students, employees, and the wider community.
“Unfortunately, as I have been told, some see AUN the way some Nigerians see public institutions – as a place they take from but not to put in. Well, that’s a mistake.”
He, however, gave a forewarning of the changing educational landscape, noting that only institutions that had the financial wherewithal and were positioned for the disruption that technologies are likely to bring to education in this age of Artificial intelligence are best suited to survive.
He explained that the transition occasioned by emerging disruptive technologies in the age of artificial intelligence was in the context of Nigeria, adding, “Coinciding with deepening socio-economic crisis limiting the financial capacity of institutions and the country to acquire those very technologies, failure of which would put us further back in the race to socio-economic advancement.”
In his paper, Atiku asked, “How are you preparing for them, and how is Nigeria preparing for them? What about artificial intelligence’s potential impact on teaching and learning, especially Large Language Models such as ChatGPT? Are you prepared for that?”
He, however, expressed cautious optimism about AUN’s readiness, noting that the institution, which ought to be on its feet, had been afflicted with the same kind of malady that had afflicted the Nigerian state, which he called a “mistaken” philosophy.
[NaijaNews]
AMID controversies trailing judgments of various courts handling election disputes, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, yesterday, said that public sentiments, and emotions cannot replace the law.
“The law remains the law, no matter whose interest is involved. In all we do, as interpreters of the law, we should endeavour to sever the strings of emotion from logic and assumption from fact,” he charged judges.
The presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party and civil society organisations, however, flayed the CJN for his comments, saying Nigerians were losing confidence in the judiciary, considering the activities of judges in recent election matters in Kano, Zamfara and Nasarawa states.
But the CJN called for total emancipation of the judiciary from external influences, saying to guarantee the integrity of the judiciary, it must be “truly and genuinely independent in all ramifications.”
He bemoaned the fact that the judiciary had over the years struggled for fiscal autonomy, which he said would “ultimately embolden us to act without fear of intimidation or harassment from other arms of government.”
Justice Ariwoola, who lamented that rule of law in Nigeria had been questionable since 1999, however, scored the third arm of government highly in 2023.
The CJN spoke at a special session the Supreme Court held to mark the commencement of its 2023/2024 Legal Year and swearing-in of 58 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs.
He assured that despite the challenges and criticisms, the Judiciary will continue to discharge its statutory obligations without succumbing to sentimental “voices of the mob.”
Deep reflection
He said: “Expectedly, an occasion of this nature calls for great celebration but even in the midst of that it is still necessary that we spare a moment of our time to have a deep reflection and introspection on the journey we have made so far, with a view to knowing what direction to channel our energy and available resources.
“In those areas that we have excelled, we have to commend ourselves and, as well, endeavour to shore-up the tempo of work. While in the areas of obvious shortcomings, as responsible and responsive mortals, we shall do a quick introspection and forge ahead with the right mind-set and disposition to achieve more favourable results in the course of the successive legal year.
“The Supreme Court; and by extension, the Nigerian Judiciary, has fared well in the out-gone legal year even though our high-level of resilience was brazenly taken to task by some overwhelming challenges.
“As this new legal year unfolds, we would like to assure everyone that we are determined to redouble our efforts to bring about a judiciary that Nigerians, home and abroad, will be very proud and ecstatic about.
“Our courts should be trusted at home and abroad for the high level of respect for the rule of law and the institutional and personal independence of our judiciary.
Independence of the Judiciary
“We actually expected the independence of the judiciary to be given adequate statutory protection, not just at the Federal level alone but equally at the state level, so that they could be seen to be truly and genuinely independent in all ramifications.”
Continuing, the CJN said: “The rule of law, with all its well understood facets, has been highly questionable since the advent of democratic governance in 1999. It is noteworthy that reputation can take a long time to establish but can be dissolved and completely destroyed in an instant, sometimes, inadvertently, though.
“The rule of law and the holistic independence of the judiciary should always be cherished by all. As the Chief Justice of Nigeria, I will do everything within my ability to make it remain part of my responsibility to nourish.
“The Judiciary, as it is today, is more deserving of public trust and confidence than ever before; and we are poised to reposition it for effective justice delivery to make our beloved country a destination of note in the observance of the rule of law and tenets of Constitutionalism.
“The Nigerian Judiciary, over the years, has strove assiduously to carve a reputation for great integrity and independence which will ultimately embolden us to act without fear of intimidation or harassment from the other arms of government.
“Let me state it clearly here that the true touch-stone for measuring the success of a Judicial Institution is the degree of confidence reposed in it by the public.
Role of Judiciary
“It is a solemn pledge that we, as a judicial body, are making at this occasion that we are definitely going to work more assiduously and tirelessly to make our country earn for itself the fullest respect and confidence of both the citizens and the international community.
“It is germane at this juncture, to reiterate the obvious fact that the judiciary has a special role to play in the task of achieving socio-economic goals enshrined in the Constitution.
“While maintaining their aloofness and independence, the Judges also have to be fully aware of the social changes in the task of achieving socio-economic justice for the people of our dear country against all odds.
“I wish to reiterate unequivocally that integrity is an essential quality of a judicial officer; and he must, as a matter of necessity, exhibit the standards of integrity, morality, and good behaviour which he sets for others.
“In a situation where a Judge decides a case wrongly out of motives, it shakes the faith of the litigant public; and by extension, the whole society.
“Such a judge, who does not maintain the highest standard of integrity, has no right to continue to occupy the chair as a judicial officer. In the same vein, if a judicial officer is found to be corrupt, then, he cannot be allowed to hold such a divine chair of a judge.
“It has been rightly asserted that judicial officers, by the nature of their calling, discharge divine functions even though they themselves, as mere mortals, are not divine.
Sentiments, emotions can’t replace rule of law
“Judges owe the society a great duty of always deciding cases without fear or favour, affection or ill will, friend or foe. For the umpteenth time, I wish to honestly assure all judicial officers that if you are discharging your functions as an upright judicial officer by genuinely following the norms, then you have no cause to be afraid or feel intimidated by the often frivolous complaints or vitriolic attacks made by persons having vested interest.
“However, I expect every judicial officer to work very hard and also be very honest and courteous to the litigants, witnesses and members of the bar, and discharge all your judicial functions with all humility at your command. Even while doing this, it is still necessary to have at the back of your minds that public opinions, sentiments or emotions can never take the place of the law in deciding the cases that come before you.
“The law remains the law, no matter whose interest is involved. In all we do, as interpreters of the law, we should endeavour to sever the strings of emotion from logic and assumption from fact.
“We should never be overwhelmed by the actions or loud voices of the mob or crowd and now begin to confuse law with sentiment or something else in deciding our cases.
“Nevertheless, unnecessary and unwarranted utterances are bound to embarrass not only others, but the judge himself; thus what should be asked, should be asked, and what should not be asked, should be avoided.
“I admonish our judges to, as usual, receive what is tendered in court and eschew what is against the law and facts after thorough analysis and assimilation both in and out of court, which exercise is, of course, part of judgeship.
“Caesar’s wife must be above board! Your image and reputation both inside and outside the Court must be pristine and crystal clear to all and sundry.
“Like I said earlier, be bold in all your judgments by deciding cases without fear or favour, because fear and favour come in many hues and colours. For instance, fear of one’s own past, of peer pressure, of public criticism, etc.
“Like some people often misconstrue, favour does not only come in monetary terms, but also through nepotism, personal bias and prejudices. We should all know that if the faith of the people is to be maintained in the Judiciary, then the river of judicial process has to be kept pure.
“I am saying all these now because I will never have this great privilege and opportunity to address the galaxies of legal luminaries, judicial icons and distinguished personalities in the justice sector of our dear nation in another legal year of the Supreme Court as Chief Justice of Nigeria in my entire lifetime again.”
Constitution amendment to reduce cases at S-Court
While calling for a constitutional amendment to limit the cases that make it to the Supreme Court, the CJN said that 1,271 cases, consisting of motions and appeals, were filed at the apex court between September 12, 2022 and July 11, 2023.
“Out of these, we heard 388 political appeals, 215 criminal appeals, and 464 civil appeals.
“Similarly, the court considered a total number of 49 criminal motions, 153 civil motions, and 2 political motions.
“Between the 30th day of September, 2022 and the 11th day of July, 2023, the Supreme Court delivered a total number of 251 judgments.
“Out of these, 125 were political appeals, 81 were civil appeals and 45 were criminal appeals.
“Within the period under review (precisely 10 months’ duration), a total number of 91 Rulings were delivered by the Honourable Court.”
S-Court justices to be increased to 21
He assured that new justices would soon be appointed to the Supreme Court to bring the full complement to 21.
NJC ready to receive petitions against election tribunal judges
On election cases, the CJN, called for aggrieved litigants that have evidence against any tribunal to forward petitions to the National Judicial Council, NJC.
“I expect members of the public who have any complaints bordering on any form of untoward behaviour or misapplication of the law by any member of the tribunals to channel such to the National Judicial Council, NJC, for prompt action, as I will not condone any form of malfeasance or nonchalance from any judicial officer in the tribunal or regular Court,” he added.
AGF tasks new SANs on professionalism, others
Meanwhile, in his remarks at the event, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, tasked the new SANs on professionalism, warning them not to engage in media trials.
“The doctrine of subjudice enjoins lawyers and even members of the public to refrain from commenting and discussing live cases. You should not be seen breaching this doctrine,” the AGF added.
CJN’s confession of external influence’s troubling —Atiku’s aide
Mr. Phrank Shaibu, Special Assistant on Public Communications to former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP 2023 Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, described the CJN’s comments to the effect that the judiciary was not devoid of external influence as troubling.
He told Vanguard: “The confession by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola that the judiciary in Nigeria is not devoid of external influences deserves the troubling attention of Nigerians.
“For any circumspect reason, what the CJN said was technically a Save Our Soul declaration. But the revelation is not any different from what eminent jurists and members of the Bar have been saying, the justice system in Nigeria is faulty.
“A number of senior lawyers and even recently, retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Muhammend Dattijo, have alluded to the rot in the judicial process in Nigeria. What the CJN thus ought to have done, was to apologise to Nigerians and commit his tenure to a reform of the system that he superintends.
Lost hope of common man
“The judiciary in any society, especially in a democracy, is expected to be the last hope of the common man. But from all the indications that we have seen, the judiciary under Justice Ariwoola has remained the lost hope of the common man.
“There are irrefutable reasons to conclude that judgments are delivered deliberately to patronize certain political interests, as there are plethora of instances where the courts in Nigeria have made declarations that are not just controversial but also stand against the letters of the constitution.
“Although Justice Ariwoola blamed the dysfunction in the judiciary on lack of independence, and intimidation from the other arms of government, he also ought to have interrogated the wild allegations of corruption in the judiciary.
“Justice Ariwoola should know that for our courts to be trusted at home and abroad, there should be a process of investigation into the controversial judgments which the courts have made thus far.”
CSOs slam CJN
Meanwhile, a host of civil society leaders have criticized the CJN for giving the Judiciary pass mark in 2023, saying that the faulty verdicts of many courts on the 2023 general polls could harm Nigeria’s democracy.
Chair of the Board of Trustees for Amnesty International (Nigeria), Head of Transparency International (Nigeria), and Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Mr. Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, expressed dissatisfaction and called for greater transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law within the judiciary.
“If the CJN were to be honest with himself, he would admit that Nigerians are expressing dissatisfaction, largely with the verdicts of courts and tribunals that do not conform to the provisions of the law and a sense of justice,” he stated.
Rafsanjani added that the confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary is waning daily, which is not a positive sign for the country’s democracy.
He also raised concerns about the commercialization of the judiciary, with some political parties stating they would no longer challenge electoral fraud in court due to a belief that the judiciary now serves the highest bidder.
Rafsanjani called for the judiciary to retrace its steps, warning that its current path has caused “a great deal of anger and frustration in the hearts of millions of our citizens, which is not a good sign for our democracy.”
Also, Mr. Eze Onyekpere, a lawyer and director of the Centre for Social Justice, CSJ, said: “There is an unfortunate level of arrogance in the Chief Justice of Nigeria describing valid concerns of Nigerians as ‘mob action’ simply because they have criticized the performance of the judges.”
He further criticized the CJN’s attitude towards criticism, stating that judges are public servants and should be open to criticism just like any other profession.
He called on the CJN to ‘come down from his high horse’, pointing out that lawyers were also expressing misgivings about various verdicts.
“Until the judges come down from their high horses, they will continue to act like touts in their conduct and utterances,” Onyekpere said.
Societies fail when public confidence in Judiciary fails – LP
Speaking in like manner, the Labour Party, LP, urged the Judiciary to remain apolitical and ensure the time-tested belief that the Court is the last hope of the common man by not only ensuring that justice is done but also seen to have been done.
In a chat with Vanguard, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Obiora Ifoh, said the judiciary plays a critical role in keeping human societies from descending into chaos, hence the need for judicial officers to live above board.
His words: “What we expect from our Judiciary is justice. Justice is critical to everything we do as human beings. In every sane society, anyone who is wronged no matter how highly or lowly placed should be able to approach the court and get justice.
“ When this is done, public confidence is boosted in the rule of law, the judiciary and ultimately society will be the better for it. But when evidence is ignored and judgments, which turn logic on its head, then there is a problem.
“This is why we, as a party, have taken our petition with respect to the Enugu Governorship Election to the Supreme Court with the hope that the miscarriage of justice done in the lower courts will be addressed.”
[Vanguard]
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will, on Wednesday, present the 2024 budget to the joint session of the National Assembly.
Secretary, Research and Information of the National Assembly, Dr Ali Barde Umoru, confirmed this on Monday to journalists while requesting the list of those to be allowed into the chamber during the budget presentation.
This will be the first budget estimate President Tinubu will present to the National Assembly in person.
He had earlier transmitted two supplementary budgets, 2022 and 2023, to the National Assembly, which the parliament speedily approved.
President Tinubu had, weeks ago, also forwarded to both chambers of the National Assembly, the 20224-2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) where the sum of N26.1 trillion was proposed as the total expenditure for the 2024 fiscal year.
The Senate, following the recommendation of its joint committee, which scrutinised the document, approved the MTEF/FSP.
It approved the N26.1trn proposed as the 2024 budget and other parameters as proposed by President Tinubu.
It approved the new borrowings of N7.8 trillion, pegged the benchmark of oil price for 2024 at $73.96, and oil production volume per day at 1.78 million barrels.
Other parameters approved are a GDP growth rate of 3.76%, an inflation rate of 21.40%, an exchange rate of N700 to $1 dollar, and a projected budget deficit of N9.04 trillion.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the 2024 Appropriation Bill with aggregate expenditure of N27.5 trillion.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, announced this on Monday after the federal cabinet meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The minister also said the targeted revenue for next year is N18 trillion.
According to him, further details of the budget will be released when President Tinubu makes his presentation of the budget to the National Assembly.
Daily Trust gathered that the president might present the budget on Wednesday.
Bagudu also said FEC also approved the revised 2024 – 2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework(MTEF)/ Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) which would be submitted along with the 2024 budget.
“The federal executive council considered the 2024 Appropriation bill. The MTEF was earlier approved by the National Assembly. It has an exchange rate of N700 to a dollar and a crude oil benchmark of $73.96 cents
“To improve revenue, the council further reviewed the MTEF, with an exchange rate of N750 to a dollar, and a crude oil benchmark of $77.96 cents. This will significantly improve revenue,” he said.
Protests erupted in Kano city and its environs on Monday afternoon with the demonstrators denouncing the recent judgment of the Court Appeal that sacked the state Governor, Abba Yusuf.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that uneasy calm pervaded the state capital following a contradictory Certified True Copy of Appeal Court that affirmed the prayers of both the appellant and the respondent in the contentious Kano governorship, though the judiciary had since cleared the air.
In what appeared like a coordinated action on Monday, huge crowd of protesters had stormed strategic positions in the city as it visited temporary hiccups on commercial activities.
Kano- Zaria road, Maiduguri road by Muhammadu Buhari’s interchange, and Kantin Kwari (Kano textile market) were taken over by hundreds of youths who called for justice for Abba Yusuf.
The placard reads “Kano my city my state”, “Justice for Kano”, ” Justice for Abba”, “Abba’s mandate was stolen in 2019, we will not allow it happen in 2023”.
The protest came on the heels of discovery by the Police that “some faceless group are bent on unleashing violence in Kano”, stressing that the police were on top of the situation.
Cp Hussaini Gumel told newsmen in Kano on Monday that already 7 suspects had been arrested and would be arraigned soon.
Gumel revealed that “we have the understanding with the leadership of the contending political parties, and they have signed a peace pact, in view of that therefore, any one found outside this arrangement will be treated as common criminal”.
However, normalcy had since returned to the ancient city following the peaceful protest that lasted several hours.
(NAN)
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has summoned heads of aviation agencies over the safety concerns of Nigerian airlines.
The agencies’ heads include, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau among others.
Keyamo made the disclosure on his verified X handle on Monday.
The development is coming less than 24 hours after an Abuja-bound United Nigerian Airlines aircraft took off from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and diverted to Asaba International Airport.
Keyamo said, “Due to safety concerns in the aviation sector expressed by members of the public, I have summoned the heads of the regulatory agencies to my office later today to review the incidents that are the cause of these concerns and to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to forestall future occurrence and to apply sanctions, where necessary, regarding the past incidents.”
In November alone, there have been more than two incidents of aircrafts skidding off the runways.
An Aero Contractors aircraft was involved in a similar incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja on November 12, 2023.
Two days later, another incident involving a Bombardier CRJ-900LR aircraft with Nationality and Registration Marks, 5N-BXR, owned by ValueJet Airlines was confirmed to have skidded off the runway at the Port Harcourt International Airport.