Forces Ondo Governor’s Hasty Return
The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), was forced to return to Nigeria following an alleged plot by his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and members of the State House of Assembly to impeach him.
Despite being satisfied fit by doctors in Germany, plans by some political gladiators in the state to use the Ondo State House of Assembly to declare him medically unfit to continue to function as the chief executive of the state informed Akeredolu’s decision to terminate his medical leave in the European country to return home.
It was gathered that the state’s House of Assembly was being pressured to ease out the ailing governor from power and install the then-acting governor, Aiyedatiwa, as the substantive Chief Executive of the State.
Recall that Akeredolu had surprisingly returned to Nigeria from Germany last Thursday after three months on medical vacation in Germany. He left the country on June 7.
The Governor, since his return, has been holding consultative meetings with relevant stakeholders from the state and political associates in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Family members and associates of Akeredolu have openly accused Aiyedatiwa and his associates of plotting to remove his boss from office and being disloyal to the governor, especially during his travails.
Some cabinet members, who have pitched tents with Aiyedatiwa in anticipation that Akeredolu would not return to office, are now gripped by fears of the possibility of losing their jobs.
One source told Leadership Newspaper that the cold war between Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa became evident following the poor reception accorded the deputy governor when he visited his boss in Ibadan on Friday.
The embattled deputy governor was only allowed to attend the meeting the governor held with members of the cabinet and House of Assembly.
It was gathered that Aiyedatiwa was excused from the meetings his boss held with members of the National Assembly from the state, chairmen of boards and parastatals, as well as women and youth groups.
One of the sources who craved anonymity said, “The governor had to return home hurriedly on Thursday when he was faced with the possibility of his being impeached by the state’s House of Assembly. His family members and political associates mounted pressure on him to return home in the first instance, even if he would return to Germany at a later date.
“The way the handlers of the deputy governor were going, Governor would have been eased out on the ground that he is medically incapacitated to continue to perform the duties of office for which he was elected. The House of Assembly was being pounded to do the needful to impeach him (Akeredolu) and direct the state’s chief judge to immediately swear in the deputy governor as substantive governor.
“But the sudden and unexpected arrival of the governor on Thursday has truncated the plans. The deputy governor’s camp was jolted by the arrival of His Excellency.”
Painting the picture of how the deputy government was isolated before he left Ibadan on Friday, a reliable source told Leadership, “He (Aiyedatiwa) moved from one table to another trying to ease down the pressure as people were hesitant to associate and discuss with him.
“During the governor’s separate meetings with stakeholders, the deputy was outside loitering around. Even when the wife of the governor came in to greet people, she avoided him.
“Curiously, more than 70 percent of members had already pledged loyalty to him while the rumours of the governor’s incapacitation raged.
“He had initiated a regular weekly meeting with loyal cabinet members, who also recruited influential party leaders to wage the war against the pro-Akeredolu men in government.
“One of the high points of the meeting of the deputy governor’s group was to engage APC leaders in Abuja and pressurize the state Assembly to invoke the doctrine of necessity by declaring Akeredolu unfit.”
A United States federal Court has begun moves to hasten the request of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to subpoena Chicago State University (CSU) for President Bola Tinubu’s academic records.
Naija News understands that the court accelerated Atiku’s request after learning that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has only 14 days to appeal the judgment of the election petitions tribunal at the Supreme Court of Nigeria using the requested records.
Recall that the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal had on Wednesday dismissed Atiku’s petition against the declaration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 presidential polls.
Following the deadline, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago has moved up the date for in-person arguments of the lawyers of Abubakar, Tinubu, and CSU from September 15 to September 12, citing “exigent circumstances” of the request.
According to court documents seen by Peoples Gazette, Judge Jeffrey Gilbert said: “Upon further reflection, in light of the exigent circumstances presented by the Application [1] and to account for the possibility of any appeal of the Court’s ruling.
“This matter is set for hearing in-person on 9/12/23 at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 1386.”
Gilbert urged lawyers on both sides of the matter to appear in court for the proceeding, with the docket indicating an imminent ruling during the week.
“If out-of-town counsel want to appear by telephone, they should contact the Court’s courtroom deputy. The Court’s preference, however, is for counsel who will be speaking at the hearing to appear in person,” he said.
To pre-empt any further delay, the Court asked CSU to file any objections (if any) it might have against the scope of the requested records not later than 5:00 p.m. on September 11. The school had been previously given a more extended period to file objections to the subpoenas’ broadness.
Hours after the election tribunal had struck out his petition, Atiku asked the U.S. Court to expedite the issuance of the CSU subpoena as he intended to use the records sought to file an appeal with Nigeria’s Supreme Court within 21 days.
But the plaintiff’s U.S. lawyers, led by Angela Liu, appeared not to have been aware of a recent update to the Supreme Court filing deadline for election-related appeals. The court has only 60 days to hear and deliver a verdict in line with the amended electoral regulations.
Barr Bala Ngilari, former Governor of Adamawa State, claims he will faint if he sees and owns N1 billion.
This was said by the ex-governor in response to the corruption case that made him the first victim of a court ruling since the return of democracy in 1999.
Ngilari, who governed the North Eastern state for a brief period between October 2014 and May 2015, was convicted of corruption and sentenced to prison after leaving office.
The former governor made the remarks while appearing as a guest on Trust TV’s Daily Politics program.
When asked if he had “like N1bn of your own?” he replied, “If I see N1bn now, I will faint.”
In fact, the good thing is that the greatest difficulty for a person who tries to be honest and righteous is that you gather so many enemies. Till tomorrow, I say it boldly without fear or favour, if you take the proceedings of the courts that arraigned me on a five-count charge, there is not one count of the five that said I took one naira or diverted one naira, not one, he said.
He further said that after losing the governorship seat, he wanted to contest as a senator in the following election year, but could not because the delegates in his party were asking for N1m each.
In fact, I tried to contest for the Senate too under APC. I went round, toured and two, three days to the primary election, I called and reached out to the delegates through my director general and my coordinators.”
The delegates told me, ‘Look, sir, when it comes to the right person to go for this thing, you are the right person, but honestly we will be sincere and honest with you we cannot accept N100,000 which you want to offer us.’
To help. My idea was that I could offer N100,000 for probably 200 people. That would come to about N20 million, so that they could go and start something at home.
I mean N100,000 at that time was something. (But) they said, ‘No, sir, we will not collect your N100,000 because there are people who are willing to give us one N1 million each.
Luis Rubiales, the embattled President of the Spanish Football Federation, has resigned after widespread criticism for kissing Spain forward Jenni Hermoso after the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.
Hermoso, 33, stated that the kiss after Spain defeated England in Sydney was not consensual.
On Tuesday, she filed a legal complaint.
“I cannot continue my work,” Rubiales said on Sunday’s television show ‘Piers Morgan Uncensored’ as he announced his resignation.
He has also resigned as vice president of the Union of European Football Associations executive committee.
“I can’t return to the position after being suspended by FIFA and the other proceedings against me,” Rubiales said in a statement. “Insisting on waiting and holding out will not benefit the federation or Spanish football.”
He added that leading the RFEF for more than five years was an honour and did not want the situation to affect Spanish soccer. “I make this decision after assuring myself that my departure will contribute to the stability that will allow Europe and Africa to continue toward that dream of 2030, to allow us to bring the world’s largest event to us,” he said.
He addressed the controversy, saying, “I will do anything in my power to ensure that truth wins” for his family and others who have “suffered this unmeasured persecution, along with falsehoods.”
He finished by thanking the soccer federation and everyone involved in the game with a “strong hug.”
Rubiales’ resignation is the logical conclusion to a lengthy saga that has overshadowed Spain’s historic first women’s World Cup victory. Rubiales grabbed Hermoso, kissed her cheeks, and then kissed her lips after Spain defeated England 1-0 during the medals ceremony.
Later, Hermoso and her teammates could be heard discussing the kiss and expressing their displeasure in an Instagram Live video. Hermoso herself stated, “Hey, but I didn’t like that.”
Former Head of State Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) has told President Bola Tinubu’s administration that Nigerians want change.
Abdulsalami made the remarks on Sunday, when the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, paid him and another former head of state, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, courtesy visits.
Suleiman Haruna, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Information and National Orientation, made the announcement.
According to the Minister, visits to elders are part of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
The minister stated that the fatherly role they have played for this country over the years will be remembered.
He also informed them of the President’s determination to return Nigeria to its former glory.
Abdulsalami congratulated President Tinubu’s administration and the minister on their 100-day anniversary.
The information portfolio is a tough job, having to market the image of the government at a difficult time. The government faced a very difficult situation and inherited many challenges with the economy, fuel subsidies, and security.”
Nigerians, as a people, want changes to happen quickly. So, my message to them is they should join hands with the government to overcome these challenges, the former Head of State said.
Responding to questions from the media, the minister noted that elder statesmen have always been known to preach peace and unity.
President Tinubu is always talking about using our diversity for prosperity, and that is the message the elder statesmen also echoed here.
Nigeria is a very diverse country, and we should use that diversity positively for the progress and development of our dear nation, he said.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Robert Clarke has submitted that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi will likely come back empty-handed from the Supreme Court in their attempt to upturn the tribunal’s ruling on the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.
Speaking on Sunday, the senior lawyer observed that the unanimous tribunal judgment which affirmed the victory of President Bola Tinubu is as fixed as anything.
According to him, the tribunal’s judgment was detailed and thorough and the Supreme Court had already ruled on almost all the issues raised by the petitioners.
Naija News recalls the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), had on Wednesday, September 6, unanimously dismissed the suits by Obi and Atiku and affirmed the electoral victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates, Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, in the February 25, 2023, presidential poll.
However, both Obi and Atiku in separate reactions rejected the verdict of the tribunal and vowed to challenge it at the Supreme Court.
But speaking on the move, Clarke during his appearance on Channels TV was of the opinion that the matter does not need to go to the apex court.
He said: “From my experience from the bar, I believe that the unanimous judgment of the tribunal is unassailable. It is as fixed as you can fix anything.”
“I assure you if there’s an appeal, I doubt whether anything can come out of the appeal.
“I doubt if the Supreme Court can upturn the judgment of the tribunal.
“I make this submission because almost all the issues raised before the tribunal had been adjudicated upon by the apex court.”
He said all the matters based on law had already been by the Supreme Court and therefore, there was no need for appeal.
The lawyer added that in Atiku’s case, point of facts were canvassed and according to the law, when you canvass points of facts, you must provide the particulars upon which you want the court to make a pronouncement.
Clarke noted that the tribunal dismissed Atiku’s case because his lawyers didn’t provide any material of facts before it.
“Atiku failed to raise issues on point of law. How could he get a judgement in his favour” he queried.
On the petition by Peter Obi and LP, Clarke pointed out that almost all issues raised by them including the status of Abuja had been ruled upon by the Supreme Court in previous times, hence the Appeal Court is not expected to go against a Supreme Court ruling.
In his words, “Almost all the four items that the Labour Party asked for were decisions that had been and heard upheld by the apex court.
“So, what are you asking the tribunal to do? To sit on an appeal against the judgment of the Supreme Court?
Ogun State Government has confirmed the demolition of DATKEM Plaza in Ijebu Ode, owned by Olufunke Daniel, stressing that the building “is an illegal structure without an approved plan.”
Recall that the Ogun State Government had demolished the five-storey DATKEM plaza in Ijebu-Ode, owned by Mrs. Funke, wife of former Governor and current Senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel.
A source described the incident to Daily Trust as an act of vandalism allegedly carried out by some political thugs.
“This is more of a case of vandalisation by thugs with a police cover,” the source said.
In a statement earlier on Sunday, the Project Manager and developer, Engr Olusegun Lawal, described it as a demolition by government officials.
He also confirmed that the government issued a three-day notice of demolition.
Lawal said “not enough parking space, inadequate muster point, and inadequate airspace” were the reasons adduced by the government.
The Developer, however, insisted that “There are no single structural defects on the building, and all relevant and necessary government approvals have been obtained.”
Confirming the demolition in a statement, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Olayiwola Abiodun said the structure is illegal as it contravened the state’s physical planning laws.
Abiodun said the structure violated the building codes of the state with numerous defects, adding that several efforts made by the state government to halt further development on site were ignored by the developers.
He said government officials requested the structural engineer in charge of the building to avail the state of the structural equilibrium of the building, a request that was ignored.
The Permanent Secretary recalled the various incidents of building disasters across the country, adding that the Ogun State Government will not fold its arms and allow such occurrence.
According to him, what the government did in partially pulling down the defective building was to be proactive.
While challenging the structure owners to produce evidence of government approval in their possession, he said for a commercial building of that status, there must be parking space to accommodate vehicular traffic within and outside the facility for workers and visitors.
Abiodun said that the building lacked stage certification, usually issued at every stage of construction.
He said owners were served the necessary notices, including abatement, contravention, stop work, and demolition, between May and October 2022, which were ignored.
According to the statement, DATKEM Enterprises Limited submitted an application for an office building located along Ibadan Road, Ijebu Ode, in 2009 with registration number CB/05/299/2009.
He said: “The proposal was for five (5) floors with airspace of 3 metres at the right, 5m at the left, 5metres at the rear, and a setback of 32.5516 metres to the middle of Ijebu Ode/Ibadan road, Ijebu-Ode.
“The Zonal Town Planning Office observed during routine monitoring that the construction on site did not conform with the plan granted as there was a deviation from the airspaces and setback.
“In addition, the building had been modified and enlarged with an additional storey building at the back, thereby becoming over-density.
“In view of the above, the following actions were taken: Contravention Notice with Serial No. 0106983 was served on 24th May 2022. Stop Work Order with Serial No. 000623 was served on 24th May 2022.
“Another Stop Work Order with Serial No. 001065 was served on 22nd July 2022 when the first notice was ignored.
“Demolition Notice with Serial No. 0007549 was served on 11th October 2022. Notice to seal with Serial No. 000815 was served on 4th October 2022.”
Gbenga Daniel had personally visited the scene to assess the damage to the building.
[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu To Meet Uae Authorities During Stopover In Abu Dhabi
AdminPresident Bola Tinubu will meet with the leadership of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during a technical stopover in Abu Dhabi, UAE, after the President’s departure from New Delhi, India.
The meeting will serve as a follow-up discussion to address specific, salient issues within the bilateral relationship after conversations held during a recent visit by the UAE Ambassador to the President at the State House in Abuja.
The President is to address lingering bilateral issues while maximizing the opportunity of the stopover to equally advance his investment promotion objectives with high-level authorities in the public and private sectors of the United Arab Emirates.
Following a successful investment drive on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit, active participation in the G-20 Summit, and a productive stopover in the UAE, the President is expected to return to Abuja immediately following the bilateral engagement.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Formally Meets With Three Major Counterparts In Economic Development Diplomacy; Advances To Practical Next Steps In Bilateral Relations
AdminIn the hustle and bustle of off-camera activity in the siderooms of the G-20 Summit, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was unwilling to stay away from the action.
The President met with the Heads of State of three nations which have been identified as key partners in his economic development diplomacy drive for local investment and wealth creation.
For the Leader of Africa's largest economy, a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Europe's largest economy, Germany, presented a unique opportunity to expand ties of prosperity for the people of Nigeria, but with a pragmatic approach toward ensuring the effective execution of agreements struck.
"It is not, for us, only a matter of designing the financial architecture for an expanded economic partnership. It is also about the practicality of aligning the perspectives of your large-scale manufacturers, such as Volkswagen and others, with the reality of the new incentives my government is putting in place for them to come and prosper across multiple value chains and sectors inside of our country," the President implored.
Apparently intrigued by the specific economic focus of the President's proposal, German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, responded by acknowledging the mutually-beneficial nature of an escalation in the scale of economic ties with Africa's largest economy.
"Thank you for this important discussion, Mr. President. I can appreciate this opportunity to advance our economic relations. Your market is unique and our companies have history in Nigeria. We acknowledge the business friendly reforms you have put in place. I am happy to inform you of my desire to visit you in Nigeria in October, which will allow us to carry forward these initiatives," the German leader confided.
Following President Tinubu's acceptance of the German Chancellor's request to visit, the President proceeded to sit down with the Leader of Asia's fourth largest economy, South Korea, during which, South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol, commended the President's regional leadership in upholding democratic tenets and norms.
"I wish to commend your strong leadership, following the peaceful transfer of power to you from your predecessor and we see a stable country in West Africa that is growing in stature," he said.
President Tinubu responded by swiftly steering the discussion toward his economic focus as he immediately advanced proposals for an enhanced South Korean presence in Nigeria's local manufacturing sector.
"We will leave nothing hanging. We will finalise what we agree to and we will execute. We will work point by point with you to secure rapidly implementable MoUs across sectors of partnership that will involve the active presence of your biggest firms, not just in terms of Nigerian consumption, but in local Nigerian production, from telecommunications to technology, and oil & gas," the Nigerian leader affirmed.
The South Korean President responded in agreement, noting specifically that Nigeria's education, technology and energy sectors are of utmost interest to South Korean investors and that he will mobilize his business community to take advantage of new Nigerian incentives for local industry.
Offering an invitation to visit Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu would conclude formal discussions at the G-20 with the Asian giant and host nation, which had invited Nigeria to the G-20 Summit, as he met with Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
"There are many lessons our nation can learn from the rapid progress that India has made under your leadership. We see fantastic opportunity between our nations across sectors, such as agricultural development, but specifically, there is more we can do to advance ICT innovation and the emergence of Blue-Chip FinTech growth in Africa. Nigeria has the local players who can drive it from the front," the Nigerian leader confidently asserted.
The hosting Head of State responded in the affirmative to the economic partnership proposal, even as he expressed gratitude for the Nigerian leader's invitation to visit.
"Our teams must now stay close in touch to detail our priority areas of upscaled cooperation with respect to agriculture, defense industries capacity building, and even FinTech growth. I see your commitment. We believe there are immense prospects for Nigeria in the UPI (Unified Payments Interface) and we will ensure that we come together and make progress on these fronts very rapidly," the Indian leader concluded.
During the G-20 sideline meetings, President Tinubu also had substantive, informal exchanges of views with U.S. President Joe R. Biden; European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen; and World Bank President, Ajay Banga, amongst many others.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
What would have been a violent confrontation was averted in Lugbe, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory on Saturday, when owners of Corner shops at Sector ‘F’ resisted attempts to build new shops on the setbacks from the adjourning road which would block entrance to existing shops.
The building of new shops on setbacks between existing buildings and the roads has in recent times become indiscriminate, allegedly approved by officials of the Federal Housing Authority which owns the estate, in clear violation of their masterplan.
Before the swearing-in of the new Housing and Urban Development Minister, Alhaji Musa Dangiwa, officials of the Federal Housing Authority had hurriedly allocated available spaces within the Lugbe area, including parking spaces, setbacks and places marked for public convenience.
One of the beneficiaries, Engr. Amos Adebayo, who said he was recently allocated one of the setbacks for his private office, was prevented from building the office. After his efforts were rebuffed, he returned to the site last Saturday, determined to commence construction.
The adjourning shop owners alerted the Lugbe police station when the matter became potentially violent between Adebayo’s workers and staff of Fingerprint Communications Limited which operates the DSTV franchise in Lugbe. They insisted that the space was the only setback between their office, which was once occupied by Happy Note Microfinance Bank, and the access road.
The Police officer, Inspector Samuel Olusola, who arrived at the site to forestall any violence, eventually took Mr. Adebayo and his construction workers to the Lugbe police station. The DPO, Supt. Ugochukwu later advised against any violence and therefore ordered Mr. Adebayo to stay action while all the parties should seek further clarification from the Federal Housing Authority.
The disputed building approval was signed by one Ms. Queen Phillips, a staff of the FHA field office in Lugbe. Inquiries by newsmen at the office however revealed that Ms. Phillips, who purportedly signed the document, has since been redeployed first to the head office, then to the FHA office in Gwarinpa. We could not ascertain whether her deployment had to do with such controversial allocations.
When the head of the Town Planning department at the Federal Housing Authority Surveyor Eyong was reached for clarification, he denied knowledge of the allocation. He however said he would see the two parties to determine whether the allocation was authorized or not. The meeting will be attended later in the week by Adebayo, an Engineer, and Mrs. Peace Nwakego, owner of the building and Managing Director of Fingerprint Communications Limited.
Efforts to reach the Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority, Senator Gbenga Ashafa over the crisis proved abortive.
There are indications that the owners of such Cornershops intend to petition the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike and his Housing and Urban Development counterpart, Alhaji Musa Dangiwa, over indiscriminate allocations of setbacks and open spaces meant for public convenience within the Sector ‘F’ Corner shops. They also lamented that many of the Cornershops in Lugbe has since been turned into residential homes allegedly with the connivance of FHA field office in Lugbe.
The new FCT Minister who has frowned at such indiscriminate constructions, insists that such buildings which have turned Lugbe and other settlements into big slums and hide-outs for hoodlums, will be demolished.
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A suspect, Asana Leke who was arrested over the possession of 399 improvised explosive devices has confessed to having received them in a car park in Ibadan, Oyo State and to be delivered in Kaduna State.
Leke had confessed upon his arrest, and subsequent interrogation that the explosives were scheduled to be collected by an unidentified person in Kaduna.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, disclosed on Sunday that Asana, 39, was arrested along the Mokwa-Jebba road in Niger State on September 7.
“The suspect and exhibits have since been transferred to the military authorities in Niger state,” the NDLEA said.
Similarly, operatives of the agency intercepted consignments of skunk concealed in tins of tomato paste and methamphetamine hidden in used clothes, meant for export to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
The skunk in the tomato pastes consignment weighing 20.00 kilograms was intercepted at the SAHCO export shed of the airport on September 8.
The agency in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi said the meth shipment has a gross weight of 1.60kg seized at a courier company in Lagos.
Another consignment of 556 grams of Canadian Loud sent from Canada to one Tunji Adebayo in Ikorodu, Lagos was also intercepted by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, attached to courier firms.
“Though Adebayo was not home when operatives visited his house at 52, Aina Atoloye street, Ikorodu, he however directed his younger brother to sign for the package on his behalf. The brother was promptly arrested,” the NDLEA said.
The agency further added, “Beside the various drug control efforts, the state Commands and other formations also continued the Agency’s War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaigns to schools, worship places, palaces and local communities among others.
“Among them include WADA advocacy visit to His Royal Highness, Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Maji; the sensitization lectures conducted for members of Hairdressers Association, Ila Orangun; at RCCG, Dominion Tower, Port Harcourt, and for Muslim faithful at Harmony Estate central mosque, Ilorin, among others.”
Subsidy removal: 36 govs given 7-day ultimatum to disclose details on spending of N2bn palliative
AdminSocio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the 36 state governors in the country to “disclose details on spending of the N2 billion palliative recently disbursed to each state by the Federal Government, including the names of beneficiaries and details of the reliefs so far provided with the money.”
According to reports, the Federal Government recently disbursed N2 billion out of the N5 billion palliative package for each state of the federation and the federal capital territory (FCT), to address the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy.
In the open letter dated 9 September 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “It is in the public interest to publish the details on spending of the N2 billion palliative and any subsequent disbursement of funds to your government.”
SERAP said: “Nigerians have the right to know how their states are spending the fuel subsidy relief funds. It is part of their legally enforceable human rights.”
According to SERAP, “Transparency and accountability in the spending of the N2 billion and any subsequent disbursement to your state would help to reduce the risk of corruption, mismanagement, diversion, or opportunism.”
The letter, read in part: “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and your state to comply with our request in the public interest.”
“The oversight afforded by public access to the details of the spending of the N2 billion palliative and any subsequent disbursement would serve as an important check on the activities of your state and help to prevent abuses of the public trust.”
“The constitutional principle of democracy also provides a foundation for Nigerians’ right to know details on spending of the N2 billion fuel subsidy palliative. Citizens’ right to know promotes openness, transparency, and accountability that is in turn crucial for the country’s democratic order.”
“The effective operation of representative democracy depends on the people being able to scrutinise, discuss and contribute to government decision making, including on the fuel subsidy relief funds.”
“SERAP notes that the removal of subsidy on petrol continues to negatively and disproportionately affect the poor and socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians in several states, undermining their right to adequate standard of living.”
“The Freedom of Information Act, Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee to everyone the right to information, including about how the N2 billion fuel subsidy relief funds are spent.”
“By the combined reading of the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, the Freedom of Information Act 2011, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, applicable throughout Nigeria, there are transparency obligations imposed on your state to publish details of spending of the N2 billion fuel subsidy palliative.”
“The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s anti-corruption and human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their government’s activities.”
“Your state cannot hide under the excuse that the Freedom of Information Act is not applicable to your state to refuse to provide the details being sought, as your state also has clear legal obligations to provide the information as prescribed by the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and. Enforcement) Act.”
“SERAP urges you to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to jointly track and monitor the spending of the N2 billion fuel subsidy palliative and any subsequent disbursement of public funds to your state.”
Noah Kekere, the doctor accused of removing a woman’s kidney in Jos, Plateau State’s capital, displayed mental illness in a police cell on Saturday evening.
Kekere was arrested on Wednesday after a report was filed at the Nasarawa Gown police division about removing Mrs. Kehinde Kamal’s right kidney during an operation in 2018.
The state police had previously confirmed the arrest of the suspected harvester.
According to sources, Kekere was rushed to the Psychiatric Unit of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) after exhibiting signs of insanity in the police cell.
A source from the police headquarters confirmed to Daily Trust that the suspected harvester was taken to the hospital after tearing his clothes in the cell and acting like a “mad” person.
This made the police rush him to Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) in handcuff.
A source from the hospital also confirmed to Daily Trust that Kekere was admitted to the hospital’s psychiatric department.
The source said;
On arrival, he was just screaming, yelling and shouting. He was saying ‘they want to silence my daughter’.
According to our source, there is a large police presence around the hospital’s Psychiatric unit.
DSP Alabo Alfred, the state police command’s spokesperson, did not respond to our correspondent’s inquiry.
It was reported that Kekere had provided medical treatment, including surgery, at his Murna Clinic and Maternity in Yanshanu Community of Jos North Local Government Area of the state for over two decades before his arrest.
“True leaders do not make choices with reference to the opinion of the majority. They make choices based on the opinion of the truth, and the truth can come from either the majority or the minority!” —Israelmore Ayivor
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano State governor and the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) is under intense political fire.
At the moment Kwankwaso, not immune to the complexities of Nigerian politics is caught in the web of a political battle of survival.
And in a country like Nigeria where political fortunes can be fickle and power fleeting, Kwankwaso is not leaving anything to chance, and fully conscious that how he handles the present crisis will either further his political influence or diminish his already established political stature.
What is clear is that the Boniface Aniebonam and Gilbert Major group, which controls NNPP Board of Trustees, is bent on reducing him to an ordinary political denominator if they can.
They want to demystify the spirit behind the Kwankwansia Movement.
They have tried the suspension weapon before playing the expulsion card, but Kwankwaso seems to be smart too as he wasted no time in rushing to the court to stop the thick plot, and then seek for justice.
He appears to be winning as a high court in Kano State last Tuesday set aside his suspension from the party, NNPP.
Ruling on an ex parte motion in a suit marked K/M1157/2023, the presiding Judge, Usman Na‘Abba, also restrained members of the Boniface faction that suspended Kwankwaso from acting as national officers of the party.
Recall that last Tuesday, the NNPP’s Board of Trustees (BoT), led by Aniebonam, founder of the party, suspended Kwankwaso over allegations of anti-party activities.
However, a faction of the party loyal to Kwankwaso reversed the suspension.
The party’s National Executive Council (NEC) had also set up a disciplinary committee to probe allegations of anti-party activities and mismanagement of party funds levelled against him.
Kwankwaso was directed to appear before the committee within five days of getting the invitation.
The NEC had warned that Kwankwaso would be expelled in line with the provisions of the NNPP’s constitution if he failed to appear before the disciplinary committee.
In a statement on Tuesday, Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq, NNPP’s acting national publicity secretary, said that NEC resolved to expel him because of his refusal to honour the committee’s invitation.
But in the latest ruling, the court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise the purported suspension pending the determination of the suit.
The judge adjourned the suit to October 5.
The judge ruled that “an order of interim injunction is hereby granted, restraining the respondents by themselves, their agents, cronies and whosoever acting or act through them from parading themselves, issuing press releases or granting interviews as national officers, leaders or members of the applicant pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“An order of interim injunction is hereby granted setting aside the purported suspension of Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as a member of the applicant and restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the purported suspension pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”
As things stand now the Aniebonam and Major group has vowed to kick out Kwankwaso, insisting that nothing would stop them.
They claimed among other things that “material evidence” in public affirmed that Kwankwaso was involved in “anti-party activities in various meetings” and political discussions with President Bola Tinubu, then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC); his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar; and Labour Party (LP)’s Peter Obi.
The truth is that through the formidable Kwankwasia Movement, Kwankwaso was able to galvanize massive support across diverse socio-political groups just in less than a year after joining the NNPP, flying its presidential flag during the last general election with high electoral value within the short period of time and emerging in the fourth position.
Kwankwaso left a credible record as governor of Kano State. His commitment to education which is key to any development agenda stood him out as then governor of Kano State as he set an enviable record for the promotion of education and literacy, as well as other legacy projects, being the first governor to establish two universities, including a university of science and technology in Kano.
Kwankwaso is widely reported to have sponsored hundreds of young men and women abroad for professional degree courses as part of his commitment to education as a tool for lifting the people out of poverty.
Most commentators seem to be wondering about what will be left of the party if Kwankwaso, who is seen as the soul of the party, is forced out.
Political commentators believe that there is need for wider consultations, as it is in the best interest of the party to seek for genuine reconciliation, realising that Kwankwaso is a huge asset given his followership.
But whether the gang up against him can swallow him or not will be revealed in the months ahead.
Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was born on October 21, 1956, in Kwankwaso village located in Madobi LGA of Kano State.
He was a former governor of Kano State and was at a time the senator that represented the Kano Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly.