Anxiety in Akpabio’s camp over Yari
AHEAD of Tuesday’s inauguration of the 10th National Assembly and election of presiding officers, there is apprehension in the camp of Senator Godswill Akpabio, the favoured candidate of President Bola Tinubu for the post of the President of the Senate.
This is just as a credible source said a vote in the Senate chamber, on Tuesday, may “trade for between $5,000 and $10,000 or even more.”
Indeed, the source said some of the senators-elect have started playing double game, collecting dollars from the two contending camps and signing up for them.
The source, a member of the Stability Group, the platform campaigning for the Akpabio-Barau Jibrin ticket confided in Saturday Tribune that some of the senators-elect who professed to be working for the Stability Group are playing double game, as they also attend nocturnal meetings of the main rival of Senator Akpabio, the senator-elect for Zamfara West, Abdul Aziz Yari.
The source revealed that some of the lawmakers who appended their signatures on the list of Akpabio supporters have also pledged loyalty to the camp of Senator Yari.
He said: “I don’t know what is happening on the other side but I am aware that some people who claim to be with us have also signed for Yari. I am saddened that senators are selling signatures for between $5,000 and $10,000. They are not asking Yari what he has to offer; they are only interested in his money,” the lawmaker lamented.
The source said the Stability Group would still continue to reach out to many senators to secure their buy-in for the Akpabio-Jibrin ticket
Consultations continue
Indication has emerged that Akpabio’s main rival, Yari, who has vowed not to step down for the favoured choice of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has continued with consultations.
Checks revealed that the former Zamfara State governor has since secured commitment of some opposition lawmakers in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
It was also gathered that despite the intervention of a former governor of Kano State and NNPP presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the senators-elect on his party’s platform are in league with Senator Yari.
During the week, the senator-elect for Kano South Suleiman Kawu (NNPP), decried the zoning template of the ruling APC and announcement of favoured candidates.
Kawu told newsmen that he and his colleagues were determined to frustrate what he called the plot to impose the presidency’s anointed candidates on the legislature.
Labour Party disowns members over Akpabio, Abbas
Four days to the election of the presiding officers of the National Assembly, the Labour Party has rejected a claim by two of its House of Representatives members-elect, Honourables Amobi Ogah and Obi Aguocha.
The lawmakers had declared support for the APC zoning template and the ruling party’s favoured candidates for the leadership of the National Assembly
The National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiorah Ifoh, in a statement on Friday, declared that the lawmakers expressed their personal opinion, contrary to the stance of the party.
Ifoh said: “As individuals, the lawmakers do not have the mandate to speak for the party and therefore cannot claim to be standing on the platform of the Labour Party to speak, giving views that are diametrically opposed to ideals which the Labour Party stands for.”
The LP spokesman warned “the two lawmakers and, by extension, any other member elected on the platform of the Labour Party who chose to walk outside the agreed position and ideals of the party to desist from such trajectory and vain glory.”
The statement reads in part: “The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to interviews granted by two of our House of Representatives members-elect, Hon. Amobi Ogah and Hon. Obi Aguocha wherein they expressed their satisfaction with the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the zoning formula of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on the leadership of the 10th Assembly.
“The members-elect had, in their different interviews, said that they alongside some of their colleagues have “agreed to go towards government and party decision” on the zoning of the leadership of the National Assembly.
“Although as newly elected lawmakers on the platform of the Labour Party, the members-elect made the utterances which are clearly within their rights as individuals as enshrined in the laws of the land, the party has a view quite different from what the honourable members were quoted to have said.
“As individuals, the lawmakers do not have the mandate to speak for the party and therefore cannot claim to be standing on the platform of the Labour Party to speak, giving views that are diametrically opposed to ideals for which Labour Party stands.
“Labour Party is presently in the tribunal hoping to retrieve our mandate which was expressively given to our presidential candidate on February 25 and every testament emanating from the tribunal points to the fact that Labour Party clearly won the election but was robbed. We have remained resolute in our belief that justice will be done and so soon.
“For the record, Labour Party has nothing against the personality of President Tinubu, but we are challenging both the process and final outcome of the presidential election. We, as a party, insist that the route to His Excellency must be excellent and anything other than that amounts to a mockery of democracy.
“We therefore caution the two lawmakers and, by extension, any other member elected on the platform of the Labour Party who chose to walk outside the agreed position and ideals of the party to desist from such trajectory and vain glory.
“The party has given clear directives and will not condone any of its members who will not subsume to the supremacy of the party. We therefore demand that the affected lawmakers retrace their steps and tender unreserved apologies to the leadership of the party.”
Naira on Friday depreciated further against the dollar at the Investors and Exporters window, exchanging N472.50 to the dollar, just as President Bola Tinubu suspended the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The local currency showed a 0.64 per cent decrease when compared with N469.50 it exchanged for the dollar on Thursday.
The open indicative rate closed at N471.32 to the dollar on Friday.
An exchange rate of N477 to the dollar was the highest rate recorded within the day’s trading before it settled at N472.50.
The Naira sold for as low as 460 to the dollar within the day’s trading.
A total of 77.42 million dollars was traded at the official Investors and Exporters window on Friday.
Shehu Sani Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani has reacted to the suspension of the governor of The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, stating he was a disaster.
The Nigerian senator, made his reaction at the late hours of Friday via his Twitter handle.
He expressed his dissatisfaction towards the CBN governor all through his term in office.
This is following the news of Mr Godwin Emefiele’s suspension as the Governor of The Central Bank of Nigeria.
‘A disaster he was’, He tweeted
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Friday suspended the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele.
The president has also ordered a comprehensive probe of Emefiele’s activities as the CBN governor.
A statement signed by the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, said the suspension was with immediate effect.
The statement said the suspension “is sequel to the ongoing investigation of his (Emefiele’s) office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.”
The statement added that: “Mr Emefiele has been directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), who will act as the Central Bank Governor pending the conclusion of investigation and the reforms.”
Emefiele has been enmeshed in series of controversies over his management of the nation’s economy and his involvement in partisan politics.
Contrary to the CBN Act, Emefiele purchased a nomination form to contest for the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He withdrew from the race at the last minute.
The introduction of new naira notes shortly before the last general election was the last straw for Emefiele.
For several weeks, Nigerians suffered the pains of cash scarcity as the CBN withdrew old notes from circulation without making new ones available.
He was appointed as CBN governor by former President Goodluck Jonathan on June 4, 2014. At the expiration of his first term in 2019, he was reappointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The President, Bola Tinubu, will on Monday make his first official broadcast as part of the June 12 celebration.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday said the celebration would be low-key, which according to him, was a result of the recent presidential inauguration which was elaborately celebrated.
Akunme noted that the activities lined up for celebration were the press briefing and the President’s address to the nation by 7am on Monday.
Akume stated, “It is important to note that Democracy Day has been reviewed to be celebrated annually on June 12 to honour the heroes who championed the struggle and made extraordinary sacrifices for the enthronement of democratic rule in Nigeria from 1999 till date.
“However, May 29 remains the date or anniversary of handing over or taking over power, and this happens every four years, according to the Nigerian Constitution. It is pertinent to state that has had an elaborate presidential inauguration some weeks back, activities to mark the 2023 June 12 Democracy Day will be low-key with just two major activities; the press conference and then a presidential broadcast on Monday by 7am.”
He said the theme for the celebration would be ‘Hope Reassured’.
Akume promised that adequate measures had been put in place to ensure citizens’ safety, before, during and after the celebration.
He added, “I invite all Nigerians to come out en masse to celebrate Hope Reassured as Nigeria will be better for us all.”
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria has declared the activities of Binance in Nigeria illegal.
According to a statement published on its website, any Nigerian trading on Binance Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of the well-known global cryptocurrency exchange Binance, is doing so at his or her own risk.
SEC noted that the company’s activities are in violation of Nigerian law urging Nigerians to exercise caution when dealing with unregistered and unregulated platforms such as Binance Nigeria.
The statement from SEC reads: “The attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) has been drawn to the website operated by Binance Nigeria Limited, soliciting the Nigerian public to trade crypto assets on its various web and mobile-enabled platforms.
“Binance Nigeria Limited is neither registered nor regulated by the Commission and its operations in Nigeria are therefore illegal. Any member of the investing public dealing with the entity is doing so at his/her own risk.
“As the regulator with the statutory mandate of investor protection, the Commission urges Nigerians to be wary of investing in crypto-assets, and crypto-asset related financial products and services if the service provider/its platform is not registered or regulated by the Commission. Nigerian investors are hereby warned that investing in crypto-assets is extremely risky and may result in total loss of their investment.
“By this circular, Binance Nigeria Limited is hereby directed to immediately stop soliciting Nigerian investors in any form whatsoever.
“The Commission shall provide updates on further regulatory actions with respect to the activities of Binance Nigeria Limited, and other similar platforms and shall work with other regulators in Nigeria to provide further guidance on this matter.”
This notice comes after Binance.US, the U.S. subsidiary of the global exchange, was sued by the U.S. SEC, accused of operating an illegal securities exchange.
SEC also issued the warning after Nigeria passed a 10% tax on digital assets in its new Finance Act for the year 2023.
Asks Supreme Court, NJC To Sanction Erring Judges
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said it would no longer respect what it described as “frivolous injunctions” issued by judges allegedly carrying out the biddings of the executive.
Raising concerns over the frequency of such injunctions which have restrained the Congress from freely protesting unfavourable policies of the government and exercising their right, President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero in a statement on Friday called on both the Supreme Court and the National Judicial Council (NJC), to sanction erring judges.
He said: “We at the Nigeria Labour Congress are concerned by the frequent issuance of ex-parte injunctions restraining us from lawfully protesting against negative policies of government or employers in the exercise of our right as contained in the provisions of ILO Conventions, Trade Union Act, Trade Dispute Act, the 1999 Constitution, the African Charter on Human Rights and other legal instruments.
“The latest of these injunctions was the order made by Honourable Justice O.Y. Anuwe in Suit No: NICN/ABJ/158/2023 between the Federal Government of Nigeria & Anor Vs. Nigeria Labour Congress & Anor. on the 5th day of June 2023 restraining NLC from protesting against the massive increase in the pump price of PMS.
“We consider the frequency of these orders against the Congress an abuse and a violation of the pronouncement of the Supreme Court against frivolous use of ex parte.
“More importantly, we consider these injunctions a violation of the extant laws aforementioned as well as an infringement of our right to lawful assembly and free speech.
“We are similarly concerned by the conduct of pliant Judges who often bend backward to accommodate the whims and caprices of the executive branch of government by way of granting frivolous injunctions which we shall hereinafter refer to as black market injunctions.
“We must warn that black market injunctions constitute an inherent and present danger to the image of the judiciary as the judiciary risks being ignored. Given our experience, the greatest threat to the judiciary comes from within the judiciary by way of some compromised Judicial Officers.
“We are sounding a note of warning that any further black market or jankara injunction will not be respected by us. To show our capacity and resolve, we will show active resistance by picketing such a court.
“We are also letting the public know that we have taken precipitate steps to vacate the extant injunction in question by briefing our lawyers.
“We wish to warn that when the citizenry loses faith in the judiciary, the probability of resorting to self-help could be quite high with unpredictable consequences. In light of these, we are calling on the Supreme Court and indeed NJC to speedily deal with erring Judges who issue frivolous injunctions.”
The applicants and their lawyer, Stanley Agumaeme, in a suit seeking an extension of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure pending the determination of the petitions before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) have abandoned the case.
Justice Inyang Ekwo made this known on Friday in a ruling on the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/656/23 filed by Justice Initiative for the Disadvantage and Oppressed Persons and Lawman Nzenwa, 1st and 2nd plaintiffs in the matter.
Justice Ekwo, who observed that the applicants were not in court on the last adjourned date, said he had made an order directing the plaintiffs to be served with hearing notice for today’s proceeding.
The judge said he also made an order that the plaintiffs should be called on the phone and a text message sent to them to notify them of the proceeding.
He, however, expressed surprise that neither the plaintiffs nor their lawyer were in court.
According to Justice Ekwo, I believe the plaintiffs and their counsel have realised that what they seek is unconstitutional and can never be granted.
“It seems the plaintiffs and their lawyer have run away; they have abandoned their case,” he declared.
The judge, therefore, held that since the plaintiffs were not in court and he cannot make an order in their absence, he consequently dismissed the suit.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the plaintiffs, through their lawyer, had, on May 12, filed the suit dated May 12.
In the originating summons, they had sued the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of Federation (AGF), the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector-General of Police as 1st to 4th defendants.
ji Atiku Abubakar, Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives as 5th to 11th defendants respectively.
They, therefore, sought an order extending the tenure of Buhari (1st defendant) further from May 29 to such a time the presidential election petition would have been resolved in one way or the order.
They also sought an order mandating the Senate president (10th defendant) and Speaker (11th defendant) to invoke the principle of necessity and pass a resolution extending Buhari’s tenure after May 29 till when Abubakar’s petition against the presidential election is resolved.
They further sought an order directing the former president either by himself, appointees or agents, not to hand over offices of the president and vice president to Tinubu and Shettima until the election petitions are fully and finally disposed of by the courts, among others.
NAN reports that only Kassim Oyinwola, counsel for the 10th defendant (Senate president) was in court.
NAN also reports that Justice Ekwo had on June 6, awarded a N20 million fine against Chuks Nwachukwu, a lawyer representing five FCT residents in a suit seeking an order to stop the May 29 swearing-in of President Bola Tinubu.
The judge described the suit as vexatious, frivolous and an abuse of the court process.
Also, a sister court presided over by Justice James Omotosho had, on May 26, delivered a judgment in another suit filed by three applicants seeking to stop the swearing-in of Tinubu on May 29 as fifth Nigeria’s democratic president.
The judge had awarded a total sum of N17 million against the three applicants; Praise Ilemona Isaiah, Pastor Paul Isaac and Dr Anongu Moses, including their lawyer, Daniel Elombah, for filing a suit considered to be “frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of court processes.”
The Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, sitting in Abuja, on Friday, gave the candidate of Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi, the nod to tender two videos clips in evidence to support the case he filed to challenge the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.
Obi, who is insisting that he won the presidential contest that held on February 25, tendered the video recordings, which were contained in two flash drives, through a member of his legal team, Mr. Jubril Okutekpa, SAN.
The LP candidate had at the resumed proceedings in the case, notified the court that he subpoenaed Channels Television to produce the recordings.
Okutekpa, SAN, told the court that two separate subpoenas, dated May 30 and June 6, were served on the TV station, which he said sent one of its staff members, to tender the requested evidence.
The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel admitted the subpoenas in evidence and marked them as Exhibits PBH-1 and PBH-2.
The court, thereafter, summoned Mr. Lucky Obewo-Isawode, who identified himself as a Senior Reporter/Editor at Channels TV, to mount the witness box.
However, counsel for President Bola Tinubu, Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN, said he was opposed to the court allowing the witness to either testify or tender any evidence in the matter.
President Tinubu, through his lawyer, maintained that the witness was not competent to testify in the matter since his written statement was not front-loaded at the time the petition was filed.
Relying on Paragraph 4 (5) and (6) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act 2022, Tinubu’s lawyer argued that the law was clear that petition must be filed within 21 days after the declaration of result of an election.
He contended that the petitioners ought to have attached all the necessary documents as well as the list of witnesses they would call in support of their case, at the time the petition was filed.
“A petition which fails to comply shall not be accepted, that is what the law says. My lords, it was after the proceeding started today that the statement of this witness was served on us.
“This is over three months after the declaration of the result of the election was made.
“This witness was not listed by the petitioners and his statement was not attached to the petition. To that extent, he is not a competent witness who can testify before this court,” President Tinubu’s lawyer insisted.
Citing plethora of decided case laws, Chief Olujinmi, SAN, argued that Obi and LP were aware that they would rely on video recordings, as at the time they filed the petition.
Adopting the submissions of President Tinubu’s counsel, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, through its own lawyer, Mr. Kemi Pinhero, SAN, argued that Obi and LP should have listed the proposed evidence in their petition.
However, counsel for the petitioners, Okutepa, SAN, contended that the subpoena was an order of court which his clients had no command over.
“My lords, my submission is that a subpoenaed witness is competent to testify in this matter,” Okutepa , SAN, added, even as he relied on Paragraph 41 (5) and (6) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act.
Despite the objections, the panel, admitted the two flash drives in evidence and marked them as Exhibits PBH-3 and PBH-4.
Meanwhile, when counsel for the petitioners applied for contents of the flash drives to be played in the open court, President Tinubu’s lawyer, again, opposed.
He argued that his client was not served with any copy of the flash drive.
“This case is not hide and seek. We are entitled to be served with a copy so that we can know the content and be able to prepare. Until we are served, we will oppose allowing it to be played.
“The material, having not been served on us earlier, it will deprive the 2nd and 3rd Respondents (President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima) of their right to fair hearing.
“We have not been able to prepare against it,” Tinubu’s lawyer added.
However, INEC’s lawyer, Pinhero, SAN, said he saw no reason why the clips should not be played since the Exhibits were already before the court.
On its part, counsel to the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Solomon Umoh, SAN, said it would amount to an ambush for the petitioners to be allowed to play the content of the flash drives without first serving same on the Respondents.
Ruling on the matter, head of the panel, Justice Tsammani, held that the Respondents would not be prejudiced if the video clips are played in the open court.
He, however, noted that it was already late in the day.
Consequently, the panel adjourned the matter till Saturday for the video clips to be played in the open court.
Meanwhile, the first flash drive, contained a press interview that the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu granted prior to the general elections, where he assured that results of the election would be electronically transmitted in real time.
The second flash drive was equally a press conference by a National Commissioner of INEC, Mr. Festus Okoye, who equally restated the commitment of the Commission to transmit the election results.
Media
10th NASS leadership: International community frowns at plan to intimidate senators-elect with security agents
AdminFour days to the election of principal officers in the National Assembly, members of the international community have frowned at a plot to use security agencies to intimidate senators-elect into supporting the zoning formula of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The APC had announced the zoning of Senate Presidency to South South and Deputy Senate President to North West, with Senators Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jubrin anointed for the positions respectively.
Senators-elect from the opposition political parties and their ultra-progressive colleagues in the APC have rejected this. Senators-elect Abdulaziz Yari (APC, Zamfara); Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia) and Osita Izunaso (APC, Imo) have continued to pursue their ambition to lead the Senate despite the zoning arrangement of the APC, with the combination of Yari and Kalu getting groundswell support.
Following the resistance by senators-elect, who canvass the independence of the legislature, both in the choice of leaders and discharge of duties, as well as the increase in support for aspirants outside the APC choices, sources revealed that some elements in the APC have hatched a plot to use security agencies to beat senators-elect into line.
It was gathered that part of the plot was to arrest Yari and some senators-elect ahead of the inauguration of the National Assembly on June 13, 2024. Yari had gone to court to secure an ex-parte order stopping his arrest. However, senators-elect have been warned that they could be in trouble if they vote against Akpabio and Barau.
Competent sources revealed that worried by the plan to intimate senators-elect, members of the international community have advised that lawmakers should be allowed to make their choice of leaders.
It was gathered that such countries as United States, United Kingdom and Israel have sent words that the independence of the Parliament should be respected.
An official of the United States embassy, who pleaded anonymity, said that although the country respects the sovereignty of Nigeria, it has advised that other arms of government should not interfere in the activities of the legislature.
He said that it was because of the US belief in the independence of the legislature that the country frowned at the insurrection at the Capitol in Washington DC when supporters of former President Donald Trump wanted to stop senators from ratifying the Electoral College votes, which gave President Joe Biden victory in the presidential election.
He said that just like the US institutions insisted that the use of insurrection to intimidate senators was wrong, the country would not support using fear or coercion to force Nigerian senators to support a particular candidate to lead the Senate.
A British diplomat said it would be unfortunate for anybody to attempt forcing lawmakers to do something against their will.
He said the choice of who leads the Parliament should be solely determined by lawmakers and not a political party or any other arm of government.
The National Assembly had suffered infraction in the past when operatives of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) stormed the Assembly complex to stop the sitting of the Senate.
This led to the removal of then DSS Director General, Lawal Daura by the acting president at that time and now former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.
[Sun]
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Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Presidential Candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), has denied the allegations that ex-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje levelled against him.
While briefing State House correspondents earlier on Friday, Ganduje said Kwankwaso was orchestrating the ongoing demolitions in Kano.
He said his predecessor felt he could target him through the demolitions, but innocent citizens, including some NNPP members, were at the receiving end.
But speaking after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at Aso Rock, Kwankwaso accused Ganduje of telling lies.
He alleged that the governor converted government’s properties to personal use and sold some to his family members and cronies.
He said the governor carried out the demolition exercise in fulfillment of his campaign promise to “restore” the urban development masterplan of the city and not a vendetta against the past administration of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Kwankwaso said plots of land belonging to University, Hajj Camp, Race Course and Eid Ground that were sold must have a place in Kano.
He said most of the people making noise were beneficiaries who were forewarned with no certificates.
He said Ganduje who stopped him from entering Kano for three and a half years sold some of the properties to himself and his family members.
Asked if he was satisfied with the president’s intervention, he said: “The President was shocked. Are you not shocked that somebody will sell University? Are you not shocked that he demolished the only university? Daula Hotel, for those of you who are in Kano, you know the old Daula, demolished to zero and that is a faculty under the university of science and technology. He demolished that one. Are you not shocked?
“The President was shocked. He didn’t know. He even mentioned that he talked to somebody to go and find out for him. But when I told him, I said you are a Muslim, very soon you are going for Sallah. How can you go under that circumstance and pray in that place? And even the Triumph place he is talking about, you are journalists. You should be angry because that’s your constituency, he demolished completely and put shops everywhere.”
“You see the governor is doing what we campaigned with. I wanted to be president, I campaigned also. And I went to Kano and told them that these places, schools, in fact most of our schools in Kano were being encroached. And it is our policy to make sure that they encroached are returned to them. We will not allow anybody either local government chairman, or Governor to go sell.”
Meanwhile, Kwankwaso also said he discussed issues of politics and governance with the president who displayed experience and strategies.
He disclosed that the issue of a ministerial post for him in the Tinubu administration came up during his discussion with the president, adding that he was open to work with the president to move the nation forward.
On the ministerial appointment, he said: “The issue came up but we are still discussing. We will see how it comes to fruition. We will be very happy to see how we can move the country forward.”
[DailyTrust]
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Mr Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi as the acting Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria.
Shonubi’s appointment followed the suspension of Godwin Emefiele as the CBN Governor on Friday.
Until his appointment, he was the Deputy Governor, Operations Directorate.
Bayo Onanuga, a media aide to Tinubu disclosed this in a post via his Twitter handle on Friday.
He wrote, “Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi is the CBN acting governor. He has been since October 2018, the Deputy Governor, Operations Directorate. He was born on the 7th of March, 1962. He attended the University of Lagos from 1978 to 1983 and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He also represents the CBN on the board of FIRS”.
DAILY POST reports that Emefiele has been directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), who will act as the Central Bank Governor pending the conclusion of investigation and the reforms.
[DailyPost]
An explosion resulting from a fuel tanker crash rocked Gwagwa, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, on Friday night, Saturday PUNCH has gathered.
This is contrary to rumours making the rounds of an aeroplane crash in the Kubwa suburb of the FCT on Friday night.
Meet Aliyu Musa, Ilorin- Based Self-Taught Aircraft, Drone Maker
Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that first responders had been deployed to the scene of the incident.
The spokesperson for the FCT Fire Service, Mr Amiola Adebayo, also confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with our correspondent.
Adebayo said, “There was no plane crash in Kubwa. There was only an explosion caused by a fuel tanker crash in Gwagwa tonight and our men have been deployed to the scene of the incident.”
A police source also noted that the explosion resulted from a fuel tanker crash.
“It wasn’t a plane crash but a fuel tanker crash that led to the explosion,” the source said.
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said the police were on the matter.
“We’re on it,” SP Adeh said.
[Punch]
Reactions have continued to trail the proposed legislation by Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, intended to make laws regarding property and the economy to protect indigenes of the state.
Obasa had in his acceptance speech after his re-election for the third time, declared that Lagos is a Yoruba land and that laws passed by the assembly will now be translated to Yoruba language, adding that laws will be made to protect the interests of indigenous people of Lagos while also noting that lawmakers will reverse all that is reversible to protect the interest of the indigenes.
Reacting during an Arise TV programme, Dr Reuben Abati, who condemned Mr Obasa for such divisive statement, noted that the function of the legislature at the level of the house of assembly, according to the constitution, is “to make laws for peace, order, and good governance of Nigeria.”
His words: “That statement made by speaker Obasa, I don’t see how that promotes peace, order, and good governance. His statement is provocative as you’d recall that during the just concluded elections, ethnicity was such a big problem in Lagos state, resulting in conflict in parts of Lagos between indigenes and other persons of other ethnic extraction to the extent that indigenes were carrying rituals and threatening non indigenes to leave Lagos.
“You can’t have that in a society. Why did Obasa consider it necessary to reopen that matter? He should talk like somebody who is interested in the national interest; public interest and not a provincial person, dredging up antediluvian sentiments, ‘Lagos belongs to the Yorubas, Lagos is a no man’s land’. I thought that argument was part of the politics. He should not use the platform of the house of assembly to play politics. That’s not leadership,” he added.
Dr Abati further advised public office holders to only speak when necessary, saying that, “This is what we say to public officials all the time, if you don’t have something to say that will appeal to reasonable thinking members of the society, can you just shut up. The issues that he raised can cause problem in Lagos state. I hope nobody goes ahead with that because the constitution of Nigeria grants every Nigerian the right to own property; Section 43, movable and immovable, in any part of Nigeria. “Section 42 says you cannot be discriminated against in this country on the basis of your ethnicity, religion or anything. The threat to reverse whatever that is reversible because you are not a Yoruba person or from Lagos state, that is discriminatory. I am surprised because Mr. Obasa is a lawyer, maybe he is just playing to the gallery, but this kind of thing can cause conflict, disorder.”
Also condemning Obasa, Ayo Mairo-Ese said, “We are on the path to healing and restoration. What we saw during the march 11 election in Lagos is what we shouldn’t see again; is what politicians should never play to again”, stressing that “what we should be looking at is how to bring people together.’
She also emphasised that what makes “Lagos a Centre of Excellence is the fact that people from around the world can come here and thrive and excel and contribute to the prosperity of Lagos state.”
It’s a drum of disunity - Olakunle Edun
Former National Publicity Secretary and current National Welfare Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr Olakunle Edun said: “Nigeria is a country governed by laws. We have a Constitution which is our grundnorm. It is the fundamental right of every Nigerian to move to anywhere he wants to in Nigeria and acquire property anywhere he likes. That is a right that no law of any State can take away. A State House of Assembly cannot lawfully pass any law that will be discriminatory against other tribes or groups within a State or pass any law that will violate the fundamental rights of other Nigerians. That will be unconstitutional.
“Lagos State has always been a pacesetter in terms of good governance in Nigeria. It is the only State (Ogun State being the second) that delights in welcoming all Nigerians. I want to believe that the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly was quoted out of context because if not, then he is on a path of disaster. All Nigerians have come to take Lagos as their home and they have also contributed to the development of Lagos State. They pay tax. The State Government should ensure mutual respect, harmony and peaceful co-existence amongst indigenes and non-indigenes. This is what will make Lagos State greater and more attractive for investment. Non-indigenes should also respect the official and traditional institutions of the State where they are resident. We must stop beating the drums of disunity.’
It’s shameful, disgraceful, Ojo
Constitutional lawyer and University don, Gbenga Ojo said: We are thinking of moving the country forward in terms of unity in the Country, a house of Assembly is preaching ethnicity even amongst the Yorubas. The Ijeshas, Ijebus, Egbas, Ekitis, where will they stand in the scheme of things? It is shameful and retrogressive. This modern age? Targeted at who? The Igbos? Our forefathers fought to keep Nigeria as one. Hopefully Ekiti State House of Assembly, Oyo State House of Assembly or even Kaduna State House of Assembly or Enugu State House of Assembly will pass similar laws.. The law will be unconstitutional even if they pass such a ridiculous law.”
No legislation can reverse legal titles - Ufeli
Constitutional Lawyer and Executive Director, Cadrell Advocacy Center, Evans Ufeli said:
“The legislation the Lagos State House of Assembly ought to enact are laws that will protect all owners of properties not just indigenes, people who have acquired properties genuinely in the state should be protected by subsidiary legislations from the Lagos State government since the constitution in chapter 4 already made copious provisions that a citizen can own properties in any part of Nigeria thereof.
“Any law therefore made by the State House of Assembly should complement the federal law – constitution.
The indigenes of Lagos State who sold their properties to non-indigenes in good faith will not be able to reverse such a transaction by any legislation made by the Lagos State House of Assembly.
I must say that Lagos is a Yoruba land, it belongs to its indigenes, it is never a no man’s land and should never be addressed as such, as same is inflammatory and will amount to spitting on the heritage of a people with a collective dynasty.”
[Vanguard]