A Federal High Court in Kano has postponed the ruling on jurisdiction in the ongoing legal battle concerning the Kano emirate dispute.

The case, which has captured widespread public interest, will see its next significant development on June 13, as confirmed by Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman during Thursday’s session.

The legal contest stems from a petition filed by Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, known as the Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano Emirate.

The applicant is challenging the actions of various state entities and security agencies, including the Kano State Government, the Kano State House of Assembly, and law enforcement authorities, regarding the implementation of a repealed law that impacts the governance of the Kano Emirate.

During Thursday’s proceedings, heated exchanges were noted between the representatives of both sides, reflecting the case’s high stakes. M.S Waziri, the counsel for the applicant, indicated that a written address had been submitted on June 6, seeking judicial intervention to halt the enforcement of the contentious state actions.

The respondents in this significant legal confrontation include the Kano State Government, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, the state’s Attorney General, the Kano Commissioner of Police, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Department of State Services (DSS).

“On the issue of jurisdiction, in compliance with the order of the court, we have filed a written address dated 6th June and hereby adopt same and maintain that the court has jurisdiction to entertain the matter because the issue is of fundamental human rights.

“The applicant as a member of Kano emirate Kingmakers ought to have been involved in the reinstatement of the new emir. My lord, breach of fundamental rights has no timeline. I urge the court to proceed with the case.”

Responding, counsel for the first and fourth respondents, Mahmoud Abubakar Magaji (SAN), urged the court to decline the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

He argued that the law had gone through legislative processes, the order came only after the action was taken, and his client was only served on Monday of the following week.

He therefore urged the court to decline to entertain the matter on the issue of jurisdiction.

“We filed a written address dated June 3 and filed June 6. In the constitution, only the Kano State House of Assembly has the authority and power to make law.

“The applicant is neither a member of the House of Assembly or the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs. The applicant may not need to be consulted,” he said.

On his part, counsel for the second and third respondents, Ibrahim Isah Wangida, aligned himself with the submission of the first and second respondents, arguing that the applicant cannot claim his right was breached as the 2024 law was repealed and accented to before the applicant filed action.

“The 2019 Kano emirate council law, which gave the power to the applicant at the time of filing his action, was abolished, so he seized to be a kingmaker as of the time he filed the action because the governor has already accented to the law.”

For their part, counsel for the fifth and sixth respondents, Sunday Ekwe, told the court that they did not file any issue bordering on jurisdiction because the police’s duty is to maintain peace and wait to carry out the court’s order.

The judge adjourned the case to June 13 for ruling on jurisdiction.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, on Thursday, held a meeting with President Bola Tinubu against the backdrop of ongoing discussions on a new national minimum wage.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, was also in attendance at the meeting which held at the State House in Abuja.

It was gathered that during the meeting, Edun presented a new minimum wage template to President Tinubu, meeting the 48-hour deadline earlier issued to him.

According to sources quoted by WesternPost, the template proposes a new minimum wage of ₦105,000 (approximately $220 USD) per month for Nigerian workers.

The source added that Tinubu is currently reviewing the proposal, and an official announcement would be made soon.

Our correspondent gathered that the government team may unveil the new proposal during today’s meeting of the tripartite committee on minimum wage, which is made up of the government, organized labour, and the organized private sector.

The urgency of these orders underlines the government’s commitment to resolving the contentious minimum wage issue, which has repeatedly stalled negotiations.

Previously, the government and the Organized Private Sector had proposed a minimum wage of ₦60,000, which was outrightly rejected by organized labour representatives and resulted in the nationwide strike action which rocked the country on Monday and was eventually suspended on Tuesday after interventions in which some agreements were signed between the government and the labour.

The Kaduna State House of Assembly has indicted former Governor, Nasir El-Rufai and key members of his administration for alleged corruption linked to contract awards and the management of loans during his eight-year tenure.

This conclusion followed a thorough investigation by an ad hoc committee tasked with probing El-Rufai’s governance from May 2015 to May 2023.

The report, delivered to the Assembly by the committee’s chairman, Henry Danjuma, outlines multiple instances of alleged corruption within the state’s government, ministries, departments, and agencies.

The committee specifically scrutinized the handling of both domestic and foreign loans, finding significant discrepancies and mismanagement.

The committee’s key recommendation is the withdrawal of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) account currently held at Zenith Bank. This account had been used as security for a ₦20 billion loan guarantee in 2023.

The committee has asked Zenith Bank to refund all deductions made from this account, including accrued interest, citing the guarantee as illegal.

It also recommended that all the commissioners of finance of the state from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2023 be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for a thorough investigation; and that all the accountant generals of the state from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2023 be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for investigation.

The lawmakers also recommended suspending the commissioner of finance, Shizzer Bada, to allow for a proper investigation into the ministry’s activities from May 29th, 2015, to May 29th, 2023.

The House also recommended that El-Rufai breached his oath of office contained in the 7th Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended and failed to exercise due discretion in the administration of the state.

It recommended that El-Rufai be referred to anti-corruption agencies for a thorough investigation and necessary prosecution for plunging the state into unwanted, unjustified, and fraudulent domestic and foreign debts, diversion of funds, and money laundering contrary to all extant laws and regulations.

Other recommendations included “That, the Chairmen of Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) from 2018 to 2023 be referred to the appropriate Law Enforcement Agencies for a thorough investigation. That, the current Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) do step aside to allow for a thorough and proper investigation into the activities of the Board from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2023.

“That, the current Executive Secretary of the State Pension Bureau do step aside to allow for proper investigation into the activities of the Bureau from 29th May, 2015 to 29th, May, 2023.

“That, all the Managing Directors of the Kaduna Market Development and Management Company Ltd from 29 May 2015 to 29th May 2023 be referred to the relevant law enforcement agencies for a thorough investigation into their handling of the affairs of the company.

“That, the coordinator of the Kaduna State Government’s Irrigation Programmes for the cultivation of Wheat at Ruwan Sanyi, Kubau Local Government Area in 2016 or thereabout, be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for a thorough investigation.

“That, Ms. Dolapo Popoola, the immediate past Managing Director of AlL KAPSCO whose where about is not known, be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for an investigation into her handling of the affairs of the company and the recovery of all government properties in her possession.

“That, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Kaduna .. State on Media and Communication from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2023 be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for investigation on his involvement in the contracts in Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC).”

The house further recommended that all the managing directors of Kaduna Roads Agency (KADRA) from 11th October 2017 to November 2021 except for Engineer Amina Ja’afar Ladan who only spent a month in office, be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for an in-depth investigation into their roles in the award and poor execution of contracts during their tenure, while management and senior staff of the agency be redeployed to other relevant ministries and agencies.

It also recommended that all loans (Domestic and foreign) obtained by the Kaduna State Government between 29 May 2015 and 29 May 2023 and found by the committee to have been obtained without due process are not binding on the State, and the State Government should henceforth stop honouring all limits and obligations arising from them.

It also directed some contractors to refund to the Kaduna State Government a total sum of ₦36,351,126,811.65, which was monies paid for work either not done, overpaid or diverted.

The House also indicted El-Rufai ‘s former senior Adviser—counsellor, Jimmy Lawal, who was saddled with coordinating the activities of government ministries and agencies, albeit without any constitutional role, for abusing the trust bestowed on him.

The House alleged that Lawal used the opportunity to introduce dubious companies to which he secured the award of several contracts at outrageous amounts, which contracts were abandoned after payment of substantial contractual sums, and diversion of funds meant for project execution. Therefore, the House referred him to the relevant law enforcement agencies for a thorough investigation and necessary action.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended nine suspects involved in crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

The operation was carried out by the NSCDC Commandant-General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS).

The CG, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, commended the squad for their dedication and effectiveness during the operation.

According to the information made available to THE WHISTLER on Thursday by CSC Babawale Afolabi, the National Public Relations Officer of NSCDC, the arrests were made in the dense forest area of Ommuma/Owaza, located at the boundary between Rivers and Abia States.

The SIS Commander, DC Appolos Dandaura, who gave details of the operation, revealed that the squad had conducted strategic surveillance based on sustained intelligence on the crime scene.

He noted that the suspects were caught in the act of refining stolen crude oil from a vandalized oil wellhead, adding that during the operation, a local refinery under construction, with the capacity to produce 60,000 liters of crude oil, was also discovered.

“Based on sustained intelligence we placed strategic surveillance on the crime scene and apprehended 9 suspects caught in the act of illegally refining stolen crude extracted from a vandalized Oil Well Head; we also discovered an ongoing construction of a local refinery with the capacity to produce 60,000 litres of crude at once.

“While on operational tour across the terrain, we uncovered about 3 well constructed illegal local refineries where crude is being siphoned through the vandalized well head with large hoses connected to transmit crude to Cooking ovens and later channelled to reservoirs after processing; thereafter loading is finally done.

“Visibly at the massive illegal bunkering site you will notice how large hoses and galvanized metal pipes were laid to transfer stolen crude across the processing channels; the site occupied over 15 Modular ovens with 4 fabricated reservoirs and 30 pits dug out to store processed AGO,” said DC Dandaura

The arrested suspects were identified as, ”Oghene Wede (M) 32years, Moses James (M) 25years, Chidi Nwosu (M) 53years, Samuel John (M) 24years, Emmanuel Paul (M) 20years, Oghenevo Nwebi (M) 43years, Martina Whinnypeter (F) 38Years, Nwabuchi Nwogu (M) 41 years and David Okere (M) 20years.”

Dandaura further stated that some exhibits recovered during the operations are: RWD 5.0 GFE-6500 Power Generating Set, 2 Yellow Colour Pumping Machines, Metal and Plastic buckets, Cutlasses, Saw, Mats, Welding Machine, Galvanized metal pipes, different heavy-duty hoses, Head flashlights, some Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) illegally processed in cooking ovens.

He said an investigation is underway to determine the level of involvement of each suspect and identify their sponsors and upon completion of the investigation, the suspects will be charged to court to serve as a deterrent to others engaging in similar activities.

The Federal Government has disclaimed two leaked documents circulating in the media purporting to contain details of President Bola Tinubu’s new fiscal policy proposals.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the presidency urged the public and media to disregard the documents, saying they are not officially approved policies of the government.

One of the leaked documents titled “Inflation Reduction and Price Stability (Fiscal Policy Measures, etc.) Order 2024” was being shared as if it were an executive order signed by President Tinubu.

The other was a 65-page draft titled “Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan (ASAP),” containing suggestions on improving the Nigerian economy.

Earlier reports based on the leaked documents had claimed that President Tinubu was considering suspending import duties and tariffs on food, drugs and other basic commodities for six months starting May 2024.

The reports also said the purported order authorized rice millers to import paddy rice at zero duty and VAT for a period.

However, Onanuga stated that the documents are merely “policy proposals that are still subject to reviews at the highest level of government.”

He quoted the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, as saying: “The Federal Government is committed to mitigating the effects of this removal and easing the cost of living pressures on Nigerians.

“Our strategy focuses on addressing key factors such as food inflation, which is significantly impacted by transport costs. With the implementation of our CNG initiative, which aims to displace high PMS and AGO costs, we expect to further reduce these costs.

“Our commitment to ending unproductive subsidies is steadfast, as is our dedication to supporting our most vulnerable populations”.

Edun also used the opportunity to reiterate that the Federal Government’s position on fuel subsidy has not changed from what President Tinubu declared on May 29, 2023 that the regime has ended.

He dismissed speculation of N5.4trn being provisioned for fuel subsidy in 2024 as untrue.

“It is important to understand that policymaking is an iterative process involving multiple drafts and discussions before any document is finalised.

“We assure the public that the official position on the documents will be made available after comprehensive reviews and approvals are completed,” Edun affirmed.

Operatives of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested four intending pilgrims with plans to ingest 200 pellets of cocaine in their hotel rooms ahead of their Hajj trip to Saudi Arabia.

The Agency revealed this in a statement, signed by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi on Thursday.

The NDLEA said the pellets of cocaine weighing 2.20 kilograms were found in their possession when its operatives stormed their rooms at an undisclosed hotel in Lagos, where they were lodged.

The suspects: Usman Kamorudeen, 31; Olasunkanmi Owolabi, 46; Fatai Yekini, 38; and a lady, Ayinla Kemi, 34 were scheduled to leave on a Wednesday, for the ongoing Hajj when they were arrested.

“One hundred wraps of the Class A substance were recovered from each of the two rooms bringing the total seizure to 200 wraps. Two suspects were to swallow 100 wraps each,” the Agency revealed.

While commending the NDLEA operatives, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen., Mohamed Marwa said the agency will continue to spread its dragnet to track, trace and apprehend criminal elements who may want to hide under pilgrimage to carry out their nefarious activities.

He said, “The Agency will work with our counterparts in Saudi Arabia to ensure that the designated recipients of seized illicit drug consignments in any part of Saudi Arabia are also traced and dealt with accordingly.”

Comfort Stevens Industries, a collaboration between US, Chinese, and Brazilian companies, has announced plans to establish a footwear factory in Owerrinta, Abia.

Dr. John Nwankwo, CEO of Comfort Stevens, disclosed this on Wednesday, during a meeting with the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti.

He stated that the factory, with a daily production capacity of 15,000 shoes, aims to boost local manufacturing, create jobs, and strengthen the “Made-in-Aba” brand.

Mr. Levi Sotomayor, a foreign partner, emphasized the importance of a public-private partnership for success and the establishment of an artisan academy.

This collaboration according to Sotomayor would facilitate knowledge and technology transfer, bolster local manufacturing, and support large-scale export of finished leather products.

Another foreign partner, Mr. Hon Chik, added that the project would integrate Abia State into the global footwear industry, which holds substantial promise for the region.

He expressed confidence in the project’s potential for success.

Governor Otti welcomed the investment and reaffirmed his administration’s focus on revitalizing local manufacturing and creating a business-friendly environment.

He acknowledged the importance of local production for economic development and expressed admiration for the resilience of Aba’s existing shoemakers.

“One of our government’s key priorities is job creation. We sometimes prioritize job opportunities for our youth over company analysis.

“Our administration is willing to collaborate with Comfort Stevens to establish an academy for artisans and enhance footwear production in the state.

“We are encouraged by your plans to train and upscale our shoemakers. Many of them lack the right tools, skills, and patience. It would be beneficial for Comfort Stevens to not only produce products but also run a finishing school for our youth. Introducing technology to them will significantly improve their output,” Otti said.

Governor Otti assured that the government would ensure a steady power supply to the Owerrinta shoe factory and noted ongoing infrastructure improvements, such as the dualization of the road from Imo River to Umuikaa Junction, to facilitate seamless transportation.

A Sydney court has sentenced a Salvation Army youth support worker from Nigeria, Friday Fredrick Jeremiah, to a minimum of six months in jail for having sex with a 17-year-old girl in his care at a homeless shelter.

Jeremiah, 35, pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to nine months in jail with a non-parole period of six months.

The court heard that Jeremiah exploited the girl’s vulnerability and engaged in sexual activity with her in a nearby park.

“This caused the victim to feel uncomfortable and she did not say much.

“The therapeutic youth support worker later led the victim away from the shelter to a nearby park, grabbed her head and kissed her which she said also made her feel uncomfortable,” the court was told.

According to reports, Jeremiah thereafter led the teenage girl to a tree and pulled down her pants before engaging in sexual activity with her.

The court was also informed that Jeremiah returned to the shelter, telling the girl to wait 10 minutes before coming back, so as not to draw suspicion.

The girl then messaged a friend to narrate her ordeal with Jeremiah.

“Jeremiah continued to message her for months after the incident, even after she left the shelter for long-term accommodation.

“At one stage, he sent her a picture of his genitalia with the message: ‘Let the sleeping dog lay’ to which she did not respond.

The judge noted Jeremiah had a good work history and was an active volunteer at his church, he stated however that, “his good character was reduced to some extent because the offender relied on his good character to become a carer for vulnerable people such as the victim.”

He will be eligible for parole on December 3.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has rewarded the overall best student of the Lagos State University (LASU), Olaniyi Olawale, with N10 million. 

The governor made this announcement at the university’s 27th Convocation and 40th Anniversary in Lagos on Thursday. 

Yusuf, from the Department of Accounting Education, graduated with cumulative grade point average of 4.98 in the 2022–2023 academic session. 

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Jubril Gawat, made this known in a tweet on X on Thursday.

He wrote, “FLASH: Governor of Lagos State, Mr #jidesanwoolu has announced a token of N110m for the overall best graduating student of Lagos State University (#LASUOfficial), Olaniyi Mubaraq Olawale, Accounting Education, who graduated with a CGPA of 4.98. 

“Mr Governor made this announcement today at the Lagos State University (LASU) Grand Finale of the 27th Convocation Ceremony.”