The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has approved the posting of 94 Federal High Court Justices nationwide.
Justice Tosho made this known in a notice of posting on Tuesday, saying the redeployment followed the appointments of 23 new judges for the court.
In the notice obtained by SaharaReporters, the chief judge asked all the judges affected by the posting to report to their new post before January 8, 2024.
The notice reads, “My Lords, Notice Of Posting Of Judges; Sequel To The Appointment Of 23 (Twenty-Three) New Judges And Other Imperatives, Postings Are Necessitated As Follows.”
Some of the postings as highlighted in the document are as follows
1. Abuja
Hon. Justice J.T Tsoho – Chief Judge
Hon. Justice G.Kolotu
Hon. Justice B.F.M. Nyako
Hon. Justice R.N. Ofili- Ajumogobia
Hon. Justice A.R Mohammed
Hon. Justice Ieekwo
Hon. Justice D.Uokorowo
Hon. Justice Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik
Hon. Justice James Kolawale Omotosho
Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite
Hon. Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu
Hon. Justice Mobolaji Olubukola Olajuwon
Hon. Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Mана
2. Abia
Hon, Justice Sunday Onu
Hon. Justice Musa Κακακι
3. Bayelsa
Hon. Justice Isa Hamma Adama Dashen
Hon. Justice Salim Olasupo Ibrahim
4. Edo
Hon, Justice S. M. Shuaibu
Hon, Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor
5. Kebbi
Hon. Justice Emmanuel Gakko
6. Kaduna
Hon. Justice R.Maikawa
Hon. Justice Hawau Buhari
7. Κano
Hon. Justice A.M. Liman
Hon. Justice M.N. Yunusa
Hon, Justice S.A. Amobeda
8. Lagos
Hon. Justice J.T. Tsoho – Chief Judge
Hon. Justice A.Ofaji
Hon, Justice Alewis -Allagoa
Hon, Justice C.Janeke
Hon. Justice Yellim S. Bogoro
Hon. Justice Daniel Emeka Osiagor
Hon, Justice Akintayo Aluko
Hon. Justice Peter Odo Lifu
Hon. Justice Abimbola O. Awogboro
Hon, Justice Dipeolu Deinde Isaac
Hon. Justice Ogundare Kehinde Olayiwola
Hon. Justice Ibrahim Ahmad Kala
Hon. Justice Ogazi Friday Νκεμακονam
9. Kwara
Hon, Justice Evelyn Nmasinulo Anyadike
Hon. Justice Ariwoola Olukayode Jnr.
10. Akure – Ondo
Hon. Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke.
Hon, Justice Owoeye Alexander Oluseυι
11. Oyo
Hon. Justice Uche N. Agomoh
Hon, Justice Ekerete Udofot Akpav.
The notice added that all “The Judges Affected By This Posting Should Report At Their Duty Stations Before The Date Of Resumption From The 2023 Christmas Vacation, Being The 8th Day Of January 2024.
“Judges Who Have Been Earlier Serving, Should Recall And Rigidly Adhere To Policies/Instructions Concerning The Movement Of Property From One Judicial Division To Another.”
President Bola Tinubu-led government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, has revoked 1,633 minerals titles previously given to non-complying mining companies.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, announced this during a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said the licenses of these mineral title holders were revoked due to failure to pay mandatory annual service fees of N1,500 per cadastral unit.
He said, “The Mining Cadastre Office has recommended the revocation of 1,633 mineral titles as follows: Exploration Licence, 536; Quarry Licence, 279; Small Scale Mining Licence, 787 and Mining Lease, 31.
“In line with the powers conferred on me by the NMMA 2007, Section 5 (a), I have approved the revocation of the 1,633 titles.”
More details later…
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described as “cathedral judgements” verdicts of the Nigerian judges on electoral disputes, saying three to five judges should not overturn decisions made by millions of voters during elections.
Obasanjo described the powers vested in the hands of a few judges as totally unacceptable.
The former President seemed to be speaking in relation to recent decisions of the Court of Appeal on the electoral disputes arising from the 2023 elections in the country
Recently, three governors in the opposition were sacked in separate judgements delivered by the judges of the Court of Appeal.
The affected governors include Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, Abba Yusuf in Kano, and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State.
The judgements have triggered reactions, earning the judiciary more knocks than kudos.
Speaking at a high-level consultation on Rethinking Western Liberal Democracy in Africa held at Green Resort Legacy, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Obasanjo faulted the “cathedral pronouncements” by the judges.
He said, “I believe whatever form of democracy we have or whatever system of government we have, three or four men in the judiciary should not be able to overturn the decisions of millions that have voted.
“Now, we have to find a way to handle that. I don’t know what the way will be but, for me, I think it’s totally unacceptable that millions (of votes), maybe 10 million on one side, maybe nine million on the other side. Then, you have five people sitting down, three of them agree, two disagree. And you come up and make cathedral pronouncements that cannot be changed, I believe that should not be accepted.”
“How do we do it? I don’t know. But whatever form of democracy we have, we should look at how to handle this. If you say ‘go again for election,’ then, what happened to the previous election? I don’t know.”
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed a petition filed by the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Umar Ardo, challenging the election of Ahmadu Fintiri as Adamawa State governor.
Delivering ruling, Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu affirmed a previous decision of the Tribunal led by Justice Theodora Uloho, which had dismissed Ardo’s petition for being incompetent and not properly filed.
The appellate court held that the appellants did not prove the allegations of corrupt practices and non-compliance to the Electoral Act, against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Ogakwu said there was no basis to grant the appeal.
The SDP candidate and his party had filed a petition at the State Governorship Election Tribunal after Fintiri was declared the winner of the poll.
Ardo had sought the nullification of Fintiri’s re-election on the grounds that there was substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act, corrupt practices, threats, and violence during the exercise.
Ardo subsequently appealed the tribunal’s judgment but the appellate court dismissed his petition.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo has presented a draft budget of N410 billion for Anambra State in 2024.
Soludo presented the budget estimate to the State House of Assembly in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Tuesday.
The governor disclosed that there is only about 57.8 percent increase in the present budget compared to the 2023 budget of over N280 billion.
While the Recurrent expenditure accounts for N96.2 billion, the Capital expenditure is N313.9 billion, indicating that 77 percent of the entire budget is targeted at Capital expenditure.
The governor said that with the budget, the state is changing gears towards the promised transformation agenda for a liveable and prosperous smart mega city.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nasarawa State Command, said it has arrested 27 persons over alleged cult-related activities in Lafia, the state capital.
The commandant of the corps in Nasarawa, Mr Bappa Abbas Muhammed, stated this yesterday while parading the suspected cult members.
The NSCDC boss also said one person was killed as a result of the cult activities while one other sustained a matchet injury and was receiving treatment.
Muhammed expressed worry over the increasing rate of cultism across the 13 local government areas of the state, particularly in Lafia the state capital.
He, however, said the command had launched a new security strategy to tackle the ugly menace.
He said those arrested would soon be charged to court for prosecution.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal brought before it by the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Titus Uba challenging the election of Hyacinth Alia as the elected governor of Benue State.
In a unanimous judgment, the court resolved all three issues formulated for determination against Uba and PDP for various reasons.
Justice Onyekachi Otisi who delivered the lead judgment dismissed the allegations of non-qualification made by Uba against the deputy governor Samuel Ode.
He held that the PDP candidate failed to establish forgery of INEC form EC9 by Ode beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Appellate Court, among other reasons, said the issues of non-qualification are pre-election matters that can only be challenged at a Federal High Court and not at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal as done by Uba.
Justice Otisi added that a suit to challenge non-qualification can only be instituted within 14 days of the occurrence of the subject matter.
The Court also dealt with the allegations by Uba that the name of the Governor, Hyacinth Alia was not not submitted by the All Progressives Congress to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC within 180 days before the election of March 18.
The Appellate Court held that the allegations could survive because the primary election that produced Alia was ordered by a High Court and was done within the period ordered by the court.
Justice Otisi held that the appeal of Uba against the judgment of the Benue State Election Petition Tribunal delivered on September 23 lacked merit and was dismissed.
The Court subsequently upheld the judgment of the tribunal and rejected the plea of the PDP governorship candidate to set it aside.
Monday’s development came about eight months after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Alia as the winner of the governorship exercise in the North-Central state.
The Catholic priest won 473,933 votes ahead of his closest rival Uba who polled 223,913 votes.
Nigeria Police To Consider Solar Energy As Lightning Option For Police Station, Barracks Others
AdminThe Nigeria Police Force has revealed its intention to adopt solar and other renewable energy sources as lightening option for police stations, police barracks and police colleges as it looks to reduce emissions.
Making this disclosure in a statement made available on its official X handle, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, detailed that the decision was taken after the force signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a Green Initiative known as the Nigeria Police Green Initiative.
“A key aspect of the Initiative is “Nigeria Police Emission Reduction Programme” which is aligned to the national and global direction in addressing climate change issues through emission reduction projects and lifestyle to be adopted by all Police Officers so as to create awareness for responsible production and consumption across sectors including renewable energy source for lighting applications such as solar lighting across the Police Stations, Police Colleges, Police Barracks, Police Outpost and Communities in alignment with the transition to low-carbon climate-resilient development,” the statement partly read.
“Additionally, the initiative aims at promoting eco-friendly transportation methods within the Police Force. This includes transitioning to electric vehicles and gas conversion vehicles thus reducing premium motor spirits (PMS) consumption and air pollution while increasing efficiency and promoting a healthier lifestyle among police personnel and the community. The Initiative will also leverage environmentally sustainable waste and water management include solar boreholes, waste-to-energy programmes, thereby reducing operational cost, create jobs and a cleaner environment,” it added.
The Police further revealed that it will “also going beyond our immediate environment by lighting up Communities with Solar Power to reduce security vulnerability and herder-farmer crisis, conducting outreach programs to educate citizens on the importance of preserving natural resources, reducing pollution, and engaging in sustainable practices, thereby effectively managing natural resource-induced conflicts such as the herder-famer conflicts.”
Vice-President Kashim Shettima is meeting with members of the private sector including the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Mr Aliko Dangote, and the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr Tony Elumelu.
The meeting is being held behind closed doors with the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Muhammad Ali Pate in attendance.
Others present are international development partners, including the Country Director of the World Bank, Schubham Chaudhuri among others.
Lottery Regulation: Supreme Court Fixes Date To Hear Lagos, Ekiti Suit Against FG, 34 Other States
AdminThe Supreme Court has fixed March 13, 2024, to hear a suit filed in 2008, by the Attorney General of Lagos State against the Federal Government in respect of who controls and regulates the gaming and lottery sector.
Ekiti State was joined as co-plaintiff in the suit following an order of the court made on October 6, 2020.
The attorneys general of 34 other states were joined as defendants by the Supreme Court on November 15, 2022.
A seven-member panel led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun fixed the date for the day’s proceedings.
The plaintiffs want the apex court to declare that the lottery is not one of the 68 items for which the National Assembly has the exclusive vires to make laws under Part 1 of the Second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
They are also seeking a declaration that the National Assembly lacks the vires to legally and constitutionally make any law to regulate and control the operation of lottery in Nigeria.
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There is anxiety in the police over plan to enforce the rule on mandatory retirement by officers.
Those affected are officers above 60 years and those who have spent 35 years in the service.
They are expected to send their letters of retirement to the appropriate police commands, according to a circular by Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun.
However, the affected over-aged officers are trying to resist the move to enforce the order.
The Police Service Commission (PSC), which has frowned at the officers’ resistance to retirement, said it is contrary to service rules.
There was apprehension among the officers, following the issuance of the internal memo by the Inspector-General that the over-aged officers should proceed on retirement.
Egbetokun said the names of the affected officers will be published soon.
In the memo circulating online, Egbetokun ordered police formations and commands to extract letters of retirement from officers who are due for retirement, but are reluctant to leave.
The memo reads: “Cooperating with other government bodies in compliance with the directive of the honourable chairman, Police Service Commission, the IGP directs and draw the attention of all members of the force to the emerging and disturbing trend in the Nigeria Police Force wherein officers upon attainment of 35 years in service or 60 years of age refuse to proceed on retirement.
“This is contrary to the provisions of the public service rule (PSR) 020810 i & ii which provides that the mandatory retirement age for all grades in the service shall be 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service no officer shall be allowed to remain in service after attaining the retirement of age of 60 or 35 years of pensionable service whichever is earlier all actions taken by the said officers for the Nigeria police are null and void as a result of expiration of service duration accordingly you are to immediately extract a letter of voluntary retirement from such officers.
“The police authorities need to publish all officers that have violated their service retirement age.”
The Head, Press and Public Relations of PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, who confirmed the circular, said the memo is authentic.
He added: “Those that are due for retirement, the IGP has said they should write and leave the service.”
[TheNation]
THE House of Representatives has summoned 83 ministries, departments, and agencies of the Federal Government as it begins an investigation into the alleged mismanagement of over N447.6bn Covid-19 intervention fund from 2020 to 2022.
Checks in the budgets of the MDAs showed that at least 22 of them got not less than N447.6bn as COVID-19 funds in 2020 alone.
This implies that the COVID-19 intervention fund from 2020 to 2022 was way higher than the N447.6bn received by less than half the number of MDAs invited by the House of Representatives for the probe slated to begin from November 27, 2023, and end on December 4.
The House invited the Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Communications and Digital Economy, Federal Road Maintenance Agency, and scores of other Ministries, Department and Agencies.
The MDAs are to appear before the lawmakers to answer questions on alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 intervention funds distributed among them to fight the global health pandemic.
In an invitation issued by the Chairman of the Committee and a member representing Ede North/Ede South Federal Constituency, Osun State, Bamidele Salam, dated November 20, 2023, the lawmakers asked each of the MDAs to be represented by their “Chief Accounting Officers, Head of Finance, Head of Procurement and any other relevant officer to defend the expenditure contained in their various submissions.”
To appear before the Committee on Monday, November 27, are the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, FERMA, Federal Ministries of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, and Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Others include the Federal Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mines and Steel Development, Water Resources, Health, National Hospital, Abuja, and National Directorate of Employment.
On Tuesday, November 28, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps are expected to appear before the committee for the exercise.
Also billed to appear on Tuesday are the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigerian Airforce, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Federal Fire Service, Rural Electrification Agency, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, National Commission on for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons Offices, Abuja, and the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State.
On Wednesday, November 29, it will be the turn of the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research, Lagos State; National Eye Centre, Kaduna State; National Ear Centre, Kaduna State; Ministries of Aviation, Industry, Trade and Investment; Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Niger State; Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja; Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi; Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Abia State; Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State; as well as those in Katsina, Nguru, Yobe State, Asaba, Delta State and Gusau, Zamfara State.
[NaijaTimes]
Political veteran Joseph Boakai was on Monday declared winner of Liberia’s presidential election, beating incumbent George Weah, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) said after completing the ballot count.
Boakai won with 50.64 percent of the vote, against 49.36 percent of the vote for former international football star Weah, Davidetta Browne Lansanah, president of the commission, told reporters.
Boakai won with only a 20,567-vote margin.
Weah had already conceded defeat on Friday evening, based on the results of more than 99.98 percent of the polling stations.
The outgoing president and former football star won praise from abroad on Monday for conceding and promoting a non-violent transition in a region marred by coups.
“Liberians have once again demonstrated that democracy is alive in the ECOWAS region and that change is possible through peaceful means,” the Economic Community of West African States said in a statement.
Since 2020, ECOWAS states have seen abrupt regime changes with military forces seizing power by force in four of the fifteen member countries: Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Niger.
The election six years ago of Weah — the first African footballer to win both FIFA’s World Player of the Year trophy and the Ballon d’Or — had sparked high hopes of change in Liberia, which is still reeling from back-to-back civil wars and the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic.
But critics have accused his government of corruption and him of failing to keep a promise to improve the lives of the poorest.
While his party lost, “Liberia has won,” Weah had said on radio.
Weah said he had spoken to the man he called the “president-elect” to congratulate him and urged his own supporters to accept the election result.
“This is a time for graciousness in defeat,” he said, adding “our time will come again”.
The African Union sent its congratulations to the president-elect on Monday.
AU chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat also called on “all parties to continue to display maturity and embrace dialogue to consolidate democracy”.
G20: Tinubu seeks partnership with German Chancellor Scholz, on power and rail transportation investment
AdminPresident Bola Tinubu met with German Federal Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, where he discussed Nigeria’s determination to pursue German investment in the power and rail sector, among others.
The President met with Scholz on the sidelines of the G20 Compact with Africa Economic Conference on Monday.
He noted that his administration is eager to partner with German companies, such as Siemens AG, in reforming the power sector of Nigeria.
Recall that former President Buhari established in 2018 Siemens-backed Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) as an attempt to resolve the lingering challenges in the power sector and to expand the capacity for future power needs.
Siemens Energy was expected to facilitate financing for the project through the German Export Credit Agency (Euler Hermes AG), other ECA’s, and other financing Agencies.
However, President Tinubu noted that there is a need for a review of the initiative to ensure the speedy execution of targeted projects in the power sector.
Noting Siemens AG’s positive impact on the quantity and quality of Egypt’s electric power supply, the President declared that, with his leadership, the implementation of the PPI would now proceed with increased urgency and a more deliberate approach to project execution.
- “For me, I am very much committed to pursuing all aspects of the Siemens Power project and the skill development opportunities that will emerge from that project for our talented youths who can participate in sustaining the industry,” the President told Scholz.
What Germany is saying
On his part, the Federal Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, signalled a willingness to address administrative and financial challenges in the sector, recognizing the governance issues inherited from the previous administration.
- “I know that there is a lot of work that has been done. There is already a big production of electricity in Nigeria, but it is not getting to the population. Of course, this has to do with the need for a provision of stations and infrastructure on the grid.
- “Siemens has developed the plan and is ready to deepen implementation, but it is now up to your new government to take the follow-up action that you are now committed to taking. On the railway plans, Siemens will be very happy to do this when more progress is made on the power project which has been started already,” he said.
Speaking on the investment in the rail sector, Scholz said Nigeria can replicate the success of China, noting that the country shared similar opportunities and conditions with the Asia country.
- “There is nothing too unique about the growth of China. It came down to a lot of investment from overseas that leveraged cheap and skilled labour with adequate internal infrastructure and shipping infrastructure for imports and exports to flow easily. These things are possible in Nigeria. You even have abundant natural resources. Step by step, it is achievable, Mr. President,” he added.
What you should know
Germany has shown a great willingness to invest in Nigeria with its Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, visiting the country earlier in October.
During his visit, Scholz noted Nigeria’s huge capacity for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) production. He also pledged to invest in the county’s mineral resources as well as the rail sector.
Given the Israel-Hamas conflict as well as the crisis fuelled by the Russian war on Ukraine, Western European countries have increasingly begun to turn to Africa for their energy sustenance. Nigeria has one of the highest oil reserves in the world, creating an opportunity for both countries to deepen their investment ties.
[Nairametrics]