Arrest of Judges: Court refuses to retrain Buhari, DSS, others

A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an ex-parte motion seeking to, among others, restrain President Muhammadu Buhari, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and others from taking further actions against some Judges recently arrested by the DSS.

 

Justice Gabriel Kolawole, in a bench ruling on Friday, October 28, 2016, refused to grant ex-parte a request for an order restraining the defendants from re-arresting or taking any “untoward action” against five of the eight Judges’ whose houses were recently raided by DSS’ operatives.

 

The defendants are President Buhari, Director-General of DSS (Lawal Daura); the DSS; the Attorney-General of the Federation (Abubakar Malami), the Inspector-General of Police and the National Judicial Council (NJC).

The motion was filed by a lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje. He specifically sought an order of interim injunction restraining “the respondents, their agents, servants, privies, men, officers or anybody deriving authority from them by whatever name called from further arresting, intimidating, arresting, inviting, seizing or taking any untoward action against the arrested and affected honourable Judges and judicial officers pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

 

He explained, in a supporting affidavit, that his motion was informed by his apprehension that the Judges could be charged in court before the conclusion of the substantive suit he filed, challenging the propriety of the DSS’ invasion of the Judges’ houses, their arrest and detention.

Justice Kolawole, after listening to Ogungbeje’s lawyer, Ayo Ogundele, argued the motion, said he must first resolve a number of issues, particularly the plaintiff’s locus standi, before making a pronouncement on the prayer as contained in the motion.

The Judge directed that the plaintiff’s motion on notice, seeking similar prayer,  be served on the respondents.

Justice Kolawole ordered President Buhari, Lawal Daura; the DSS; the A-GF and IGP  to appear in court on the next adjourned date (November 15, 2016)  to show cause why the interim restraining order sought by the plaintiff should not be granted.

 

The Judge ordered that the plaintiff’s motion ex-parte and on notice be served on the respondents and they shall be enti‎tled to respond within seven days of being served.

Ogungbeje had on October 14, 2016 filed the substantive suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/809/16, arguing that  the arrest of the Judges without recourse to the NJC was unlawful and amounted to humiliating them.

Ogungbeje, who sued on behalf of five of the Judges, who are still in service,  said the DSS operations violated the rights of Judges under sections 33, 34, 35, 36, and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

The Judges are Sylvester Ngwuta, John Iyang Okoro, Adeniyi Ademola, Muazu Pindiga and Nnamdi Dimgba.

The plaintif is seeking 10 reliefs including N50bn against the defendants as “general and exemplary damages” and N2m as cost of the suit.

Ogungbeje equally wants an order compelling the DSS to return to the Judges the sums of money recovered from them.

He also seeks perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from arresting, inviting, intimidating, or harassing the Judges with respect to the case.

The plaintiff is among others contending that the raid on the residences of the Judges and their arrest was unconstitutional.

He argued that the arrest of the Judges did not follow the law.

The plaintiff, in a supporting affidavit, stated that: “the 1st (President Buhari), 2nd (DG of DSS), 3rd (DSS), 4th (AGF), and 5th (IGP) respondents have no petition against the affected to the 6th respondent (NJC).

“The 6th respondent is the only body empowered by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to discipline Judges and judicial officers in Nigeria.

“The judiciary is an independent arm of government in Nigeria and separate from the executive and the legislature.

“This illegal and unconstitutional action by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th respondents have been roundly condemned by the Nigerian Bar Association.

“The 2nd (DG of DSS), 3rd (DSS), and 5th (IGP) respondents carried out their action which brazenly infringed upon the rights of the affected five Judges without lawful excuse or recourse to the 6th respondent.

“The 2nd, 3rd and 4^th (AGF) respondents have no right under the law and and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to discipline, infringe upon the rights of the affected Judges.

“Due process of law has not been followed in the arrest, humiliation harassment and detention of the affected Judges by the armed agents and officers of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th respondents

“The affected Judges have not committed any crime or wrong known to law to warrant their arrest, harassment, humiliation and detention, the forceful invasion and sieging of their residential houses and the forceful seizure and confiscation of their monies and properties without any court order.

“Due process of law were not followed and carried out by the 2nd, 3rd and 5th respondents before the arrest, humiliation, harassment, embarrassment, hounding, detention and forceful, seizure and confiscation of their monies.

“The officials and agents of the 2nd, 3rd and 5th respondents have threatened and vowed to continue to use to use unconstitutional means to arrest, humiliate, harass, pillory, hound, intimidate, and detain Hon. Judges and judicial officers of superior courts in Nigeria without recourse to the 6th respondent as the constitutionally recognised body to discipline erring Judges.”

CJN says Judiciary is under attack

 

 

The Chief Justice of Ni­geria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has described the recent in­vasion of the official resi­dences of some senior court Judges in the Country and their subsequent arrest as an affront on the independence of the nation’s judiciary.

 

The Department of State Service (DSS) had on Oc­tober 7 and 8, swooped on seven judicial officers – com­prising two Justices of the Supreme Court and Judges of the Appeal and High Courts – in several States across the Country over alleged corrup­tion and professional mis­conduct.

 

In a statement issued yes­terday in Abuja by his Se­nior Special Assistant, Ms. Hadiza Sa’eed, the CJN con­demned this onslaught and decried the antagonism from members of the public that has trailed the plight of the judicial officers.

Justice Mohammed, who is also the Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), flayed the call by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the suspension of the embattled Judges from the Bench.

He appealed to all Nigeri­ans to continue to have faith and confidence on the Judi­ciary, adding that the face-off concerning the arrest of the Judges is only between the NJC and the DSS.

The Justice, who is on the verge of retirement, contra­dicted earlier news stories claiming that the NJC failed to act on the allegations against the affected Judges following formal reports for­warded to it by the DSS.

Mohammed insisted that the DSS at no time made any complaints to the NJC, which is empowered to sanction the judges. Even at that, the NJC had already sat on the cases of some of the judges, with varying degrees of sanctions recommended against them as provided by law.

While pledging the judi­ciary’s support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s war against corruption, the CJN said no indicted judicial of­ficer would be shielded from the law.

He further declared that the judiciary is not on trial in this matter even as he point­ed out that the rule of law must be followed in meting out sanctions against erring officials.

The statement reads in part: “The Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria wishes to state in clear terms that the ‘sting’ operations carried out by the DSS on 07 and 08 October, 2016 was certainly an assault on the independence of the Nigerian Judiciary.

“Nonetheless, the Ju­diciary fully supports the anti-corruption drive of the President of the Federal Re­public of Nigeria, Presi­dent Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

“The Nigerian Judiciary has never and will never shield any Judicial Officer who is found to be guilty of corruption, however, the Hon. CJN believes that due process and the rule of law must be followed.

“The Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria is in­deed deeply concerned by the rising antagonism over the recent arrest of our judicial officers and other is­sues pertaining thereto.

“Furthermore, it must be reiterated that the current misunderstanding is only between the National Judi­cial Council (NJC), which was established by the Con­stitution and the Directorate of the State Security (DSS), in the Presidency.

“Hence, we must em­phasize that the Judiciary continues to maintain cor­dial relations with the other arms of government, that is, the Executive and the Na­tional Assembly.

“The Hon. CJN reit­erates that the Nigerian Judiciary, as an Arm of the Government of the Fed­eral Republic of Nigeria, is not a party in this matter, nor is the Nigerian Judiciary on trial.

“On the call by President of the Nigerian Bar, A. B. Mahmoud (SAN), to sus­pend judicial officers whose residences were invaded and who were subsequently ar­rested and detained by the DSS, we believe that the call was unnecessary and hasty as the said Judicial Officers are still being investigated by the DSS.

“Furthermore, the DSS is yet to forward any com­plaint or any official com­munication regarding the seven judicial officers to the National Judicial Council.

“Indeed, some of the af­fected judicial officers have already been investigated by the NJC, which found some culpable and recommended their removal from office by dismissal or retirement to the president and respective governors as provided under the Constitution.

“While some are still be­ing investigated by the NJC, in respect of others, no com­plaint against them has been received by the NJC whose powers to suspend must be exercised in accor­dance with the provisions of the Constitution establish­ing it.”

Police recover 19 cars, SUVs from former IG Arase

 

A Special Investigation Panel has recovered 19 police vehicles from former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase.

This is just as the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has called for rigorous investigation into the alleged purchase and distribution of vehicles by his predecessors.

This development followed ‎the discovery that retiring officers, including former IGs and Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, were in the habit of appropriating police vehicles for their personal use.

 

Some of the vehicles recovered from Arase include assorted sedans, Sports Utility Vehicles and pick-up vans.

The vehicles, it was learnt, were apart from the four vehicles he was entitled to take away with him on retirement, Punch reports.

A senior officer, who is familiar with the investigation, said the SIP was still working to recover five additional vehicles from the former police boss.

It was learnt that the SIP, headed by Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ali Amodu, (rtd.), had also recovered a number of police vehicles from other retired DIGs.

 

The recovered vehicles were said to have been distributed to newly promoted Commissioners of Police and AIGs.

The source said, “We are making progress in our investigations. We were able to trace 24 vehicles to the former IG and we have recovered 19 already. He has yet to release the remaining five, but we won’t let up until we recover all the vehicles. We have pictures of the vehicles and they have been documented, so he can’t deny it, the recovery is a fact.”

Arase had earlier denied taking away 24 vehicles when his successor, Idris, made the allegation during an interview with journalists on July 18, 2016, shortly after he assumed office.

Arase has denied the allegations of his successor, saying he did not go away with any police vehicle.

He said, “What am I going to do with 24 cars? Do I want to open a car shop? This is a malicious accusation. There are ways of verifying issues rather than engaging in media propaganda.”

Arase said all vehicles bought by the police under him were distributed to the state commands and other appropriate units of the Nigeria Police Force.

Fani-Kayode arrested again by EFCC

Former Director of Media and Publicity, campaign committee of ex President Goodluck Jonathan and former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, was, Friday October 21, 2016, re-arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after he stepped out of a court room at Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, where he is standing trial.

Arrested Judges: Federal Government Approves Trial

 

The Federal Government is reported to have approved the prosecution of some of the Judges recently arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, over alleged corruption.

The DSS had invaded the homes of some judges  across the country between the late hours of October 7 and the early hours of October 8, 2016.

Those arrested include: Justice John Iyang Okoro and Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court; Justice Nnamdi Dimgba and Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja; Kabiru Auta, Federal High Court, Kano; Muazu Pindiga, Federal High Court, Gombe; and a former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Innocent Umezulike.

 

However, a source from the Presidency said that the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation has approved the immediate prosecution of some of the Judges, adding that the trial would be carried out in phases and handled by the National Prosecution Council, NPC, which was recently inaugurated.

 

On the nature of the charges, the top official in the Presidency said, “The charges are generally for corruption, with an isolated case of illegal possession of firearms to be pressed against one of the Judges.

“The firearms were recovered from the home of one of the suspects by the DSS during the nocturnal raid on October 7, a development that had sparked national outrage.

“I can tell you that the National Prosecution Council will lead the prosecution of the suspects, while the Director of Public Prosecution in the Federal Ministry of Justice will coordinate the team.

 

“The charges were cleared from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation only yesterday and the suspects are certainly going to be charged to court any moment from now. The Federal Government is not deterred by the refusal of the National Judicial Council to suspend the suspects from office.”

Lagos: Ambode fires finance, transport, tourism Commissioners

 

The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Wednesday October 19, 2016, sacked three of his Commissioners.

The affected Commissioners are Tourism-Mr Folorunsho Folarin-Coker; Finance-Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi and Transportation-Dr. Ekundayo Mobereola.

The sack of the commissioners was contained in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello.

 

According to the statement, Ambode directed the Special Adviser, Arts and Culture to take over as the Acting Commissioner for Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

The Special Adviser on Transportation will take over as Acting Commissioner for Transportation, while the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance takes over as the Acting Commissioner for Finance pending the appointment of new Commissioners.

Dasukigate Court Drama: EFCC witness says AIT boss Dokpesi got N2.1 billion through due process

 

A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the founder of Daar Communications and Holdings Plc, Raymond Dokpesi, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that payments made to the defendant were legitimate by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s standard.

The witness, Aliyu Mohammed, a staff of the Central Bank and manager of its payment section, said disbursements made to Daar communications were in conformity with the due process for such by his office.

Mr. Dokpesi is facing trial for alleged involvement in the diversion of billions of naira meant for the purchase of arms by the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

The broadcast magnate was absent at Wednesday’s sitting.

Mr. Mohammed had said during examination by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, that disbursements of funds follow a given procedure where verifications for payment-instruments are made before they are finally authorized.

 

“The procedure for payment is such that the paying organization will bring the payment instrument through an officer authorized to do so. The officer will confirm the mandate before us by writing his name, signature, status, phone number and thumbprint as well as the date. After we receive it, it will be passed for verification.

“The verification will include check of the authorized signatories of that account, (operators of the account). The mandate must also be written in a letter headed-paper. The date and account number to be debited will also be included.

“After the verification exercise we will check whether they have complied with all due processes for the payment. We will then pass it for payment and debit the account stated in the mandate while crediting the beneficiary accordingly,” he said.

 

Mr. Mohammed added that his office had authorized the disbursements of over N2 billion in four trenches to Daar Communications from payment-instruments forwarded to them, (CBN) by the office of the NSA, early last year.

He said the payment mandates received from the office of the NSA were signed by Mr. Dasuki and the Director of Finance at the NSA, S. A. Salisu.

The payments were for the purposes of media campaign by Daar communications, he said.

 

During cross-examination by counsel to Mr. Dokpesi, Wole Olanikpekun, Mr. Mohammed said similar disbursements are currently ongoing at the CBN, from payments instruments passed on to his office in the same manner, as was done under Mr. Dasuki.

The following conversation ensued between the defence counsel and the prosecution witness:

 

Mr. Olanikpekun: Did you follow the due process before the account was opened for the said payments?

Mr. Mohammed: Yes we did.

Mr. Olanikpekun: Are Dasuki and Salisu still the signatories now?

 

Mr. Mohammed: No it is the present NSA and his director of finance.

Mr. Olanikpekun: While the signatories to the account has changed. The procedure for payment are still the same. Are you still following the same procedure?

Mr. Mohammed: Yes we are following the same procedure.

Mr. Olanikpekun: Apart from the authorized signatories. You also have another column to show that the payments were duly confirmed.

Mr. Mohammed: There is provision for confirmation before me.

Mr. Mohammed then explained that other payment instruments were contained in the same documents as those used for transfer of funds to Daar Communications presented in court.

 

He said N2 billion was paid to a company, A. R. security solutions, for personnel support, while N500 million was paid to Dalhatu investments for equipment’s procurement.

He added that over N600 million was paid to fund the Presidential Air fleet, from the while N13. 6 million was also paid for supply of rice to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs.

Another payment of N75 million was also made to CinC Security Department.

Other payments were made to accounts belonging to various beneficiaries, including Onile Nigeria Ltd, which received N200 million for consultancy services: Vibrant Resources Ltd, N450 million for security service; and Jawaz Multipurpose E-Venture Ltd which received N148 million as payment for supply of security equipment.

 

Several other beneficiaries were also paid based on Mr. Dasuki’s instructions, he said. These include General Hydrocarbon Ltd whose account was credited with N100 million as payment for energy consulting and another sum of N293.5, million which was said to have been paid from funds belonging to the NSA for de-radicalization project.

Another N400 million was also paid to Coose Ltd for supply of security equipment, said Mr. Mohammed.

Asked whether the payments made were all legitimate, Mr. Mohammed responded in the affirmative.

 

Mr Olanikpekun: All the payments on the vouchers are legitimate.

Mr. Mohammed : Yes sir; they are.

The prosecution counsel, Mr. Jacobs, visibly surprised by his witness’ testimony, attempted to question Mr. Mohammed based on his last response; but the defence counsel objected.

 

An argument ensued.

After the argument, the trial judge, John Tsoho, asked the witness to clarify his response and he repeated what he had said.

“Because they have complied with all the due process. We are comfortable and the process is legitimate to us,” said Mr. Mohammed. 

Senate Confirms Two New Supreme Court Justices

 

The Senate on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 confirmed the nomination of two Justices for appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The duo confirmed include Hon. Justice Ejembi Eko, JCA, North Central (Benue State) and Hon. Justice Amina A. Augie, JCA, North West (Kebbi State).

The confirmation was sequel to the presentation of the Report of Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters by the Chairman of the Committee, Sen. David Umaru (Niger East) before the Senate for consideration.

The Chamber resolved into Committee of the Whole and considered and approved the report. Thereafter, the law-makers voted electronically for the confirmation of each of the nominees.

Each of the elevated Hon. Justices of the Supreme Court was confirmed following votes cast in their favour. In fact, each of them secured 39 votes in support of their confirmation while 1 abstained.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the day’s session congratulated them and wish the duo well.

Senate vows to probe DSS over arrest of Judges

 

 

The Senate on Wednesday, October 19, 2016, mandated its Committee on Judiciary , Human Rights and Legal Matters to investigate the purported arrest of six Judges by the Department of State Security (DSS).

This followed the request by the committee to invite the Judges for clearer insight on the issue.

Chairman of the committee, Sen. David Umaru, had on a point-of-order during plenary said that it was necessary to invite the Judges to provide answers to certain questions from the Senate.

 

“By virtue of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Order 96, Rule 37 of our Rules, the powers of this committee to oversight the Judiciary and its powers include judicial matters and Judges.

“I am bringing this to the attention of the Senate so that we can take the permission to enable us conduct proper oversight on this matter and invite the Justices.

“This is to enable us to interact with them in order to conduct proper oversight as we are enjoined by the provision of our rules and the 1999 Constitution,” he said.

 

In his response, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, gave the committee permission to proceed with the oversight function as they had already been empowered by the rules.

 

“You do not need to come to us; you have your powers under the oversight and you should be able use the powers and do whatever you deem necessary.

“So, do your job in line with your powers,” Saraki said.

Operatives of the DSS had in a sting operation on October 8, 2016, arrested six Judges over allegations of corruption.

The Judges are John Okoro and Sylvester Nguta of the Supreme Court and a former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Innocent Umezulike.

Others are Nnamdi Dimgba and Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja; Kabiru Auta, from Kano judiciary and Muazu Pindiga of Federal High Court, Gombe.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) had on Thursday, October 13, 2016, described the arrest of the Judges as a threat to democracy and to the independence of the judiciary.

It had insisted that the arrest was an attempt to humiliate, intimidate, denigrate and cow the judiciary. (NAN)

Obanikoro confesses how he gave Fayose $5,377,000, N1.3billion

 

Former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro has disclosed how he gave Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, part of the N4.745billion made available to him by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The said cash was wired into the company, Sylva Mcnamara within seven months in 2014.

Obanikoro, who is still in detention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said N2.23billion was transferred to Fayose. While $5,377,000 was give to Fayose in cash, N1.3billion was received by the governor’s associate, Mr. Abiodun Agbele.

He admitted that the N1.3billion was flown to Akure airport in two chartered flights for delivery to Agbele.

Obanikoro, said he is not the owner of Sylva Mcnamara that was used to transfer the funds to Fayose.
Accompanied by his lawyer, Mr. James Onoja (SAN), the ex-Minister was confronted with a petition from ONSA which was dated November 28, 2015, The Nation reports.

 

The petition was titled “Payment to companies with no contract awards or approval.”

He said having gone through the petition, he discovered that Sylva Mcnamara was No. 78 on the list of firms being investigated having “collected the aggregate sum of N4,685,000,000 between April 4, 2014 and November 13, 2014.
A source told the newspaper that “the sum of N2.2billion was transferred to Sylva Mcnamara for onward transfer to Mr. Ayodele Fayose on the instruction of the NSA.

 

“The sum of N1.3billion cash was brought in a bullion van by Diamond Bank on the instruction of the NSA.
“In addition, the sum of N60million was converted to dollars at the rate of N168 per dollar and altogether the sum of $5,377,000 was handed over in cash by me to Mr. Fayose while the N1.3billion was received by Mr. Fayose’s associate, Mr. Abiodun Agbele in the presence of my Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Lt. Adewale who also accompanied them to the bank along with the bank officials.

 

“I didn’t interact with the bank officials. I called Fayose before the funds were handed over to Mr. Abiodun Agbele. I spoke to Fayose with my phone at Akure airport.”
Obanikoro said he “took off with the first flight with part of the money while the second flight brought the remaining funds to Akure local airport and I directed that it should be handed over to the same person.”
The source added: “He told us that he is “ not the owner of the company in question but introduced the owner, Mr. Kareem Taiwo to the NSA, Mr. Sambo Dasuki when the threat of Boko Haram became more visible in Lagos.

 

“He said the government wanted to incorporate local input into the intelligence gathering and prevention of terrorist attack on Lagos and the South-West in general.”

Fani-Kayode and Nenadi Usman get new trial date over alleged money laundering

The absence of Justice Sule Hassan of a Federal High Court in Lagos, on Wednesday October 19, 2016, stalled the trial of a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, over money laundering.

Fani-Kayode, who was also former Director of Media and Publicity, Campaign Committee of ex- President Goodluck Jonathan, is charged alongside a former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, and Danjuma Yusuf.

Also charged is a company, Joint Trust Dimension Nig. Ltd.

 

They were arraigned on a 17-count charge bordering on unlawful retention, unlawful use and unlawful payment of money in the tune of about N4.9 billion.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail.

On Wednesday, the trial of the accused could not proceed due to the absence of the trial judge, who is said to be away on official assignment.

The trial of the accused was, however, slated for October 21, 2016 for continuation.

 

In the charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offences between January and March 2015.

In counts one to seven, they were alleged to have unlawfully retained over N3.8 billion which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of stealing and corruption.

In counts eight to 14, the accused were alleged to have unlawfully used over N970 million which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of an unlawful act of corruption.

Meanwhile in counts 15 to17, Fani-Kayode and one Olubode Oke, who is said to be at large, were alleged to have made cash payments of about N30 million.

The amount is said to be in excess of the amount allowed by law, without going through a financial institution.

Besides, Fani-Kayode was alleged to have made payments to one Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No 125 Lewis St., Lagos, in excess of amounts allowed by law.

All offences were said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) of the Money laundering (prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

Justice Abang Orders Hon. Stella Ngwu, Dennis Nnmachi Agbo to Vacate Seats

 

 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered two House of Representatives members from Enugu State to va­cate their seats.

The lawmakers are Hon. Stella Ngwu from Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani Federal Constituency and Hon. Dennis Nnmachi Agbo from Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency.

In his judgment on Tuesday, October 18, 2016, on the pre-election matter from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) primary election held in December 2014, the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, held that the emergence of Ngwu and Agbo was unlawful.

Justice Abang directed the sacked legislators to refund to the National Assembly all mon­ies they collected as salaries, al­lowances during their stay in the House.

Abang declared Dr. Gabri­el Okafor as the rightful winner of Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Fed­eral Constituency seat election while Hon. Chijioke Ugwu won the Egbo-Eze North/Udenu Fed­eral Constituency of Enugu State.

The PDP and its Nation­al Working Committee (NWC) were the 1st and 2nd defendants, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was the 3rd defendant and Ngwu and Agbo were 4th defendants in the two separate suits.

The court declared that the PDP and its NWC had no right to use any delegates’ list for the election for its candidates in the two constituencies on November 1, 2014.

The Judge further ordered INEC to immediately issue Cer­tificates of Return to Okafor and Ugwu.

He awarded the sum of N100,000 as cost against the de­fendants in favour of the plaintiff.

Rotimi Amaechi tried to Bribe me over Rivers State Guber Election – Justice Okoro

 

 

Justice John Inyang Okoro has opened up on his re­cent arrest by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Justice Okoro was one of the Justices of the Supreme Court and five Judges of the Federal High Court whose homes were invaded by the DSS between October 8 and 9, 2016, over alleged corruption.

Contrary to the claims by the DSS, Justice Okoro, who has been granted bail and re­leased, said he was humiliated by the Federal Government for his courageous stance against overtures made to him by the Minister of Transport and for­mer governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, to influence the decisions of the apex court in the appeals involving the governorship elections in Riv­ers, Akwa Ibom and Abia States in the 2015 general elections.

Justice Okoro made these assertions in a letter he wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, on Oc­tober 17, 2016.

Justice Okoro affirms that Hon. Amaechi and the All Pro­gressives Congress (APC) gov­ernorship candidate in the elec­tion, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, had, at different times, visit­ed him at his official residence in Abuja where they asked him to influence the outcome of the election appeals in their favour.

Justice Okoro said: “I told you my Lord, that Mr. Rotimi Amaechi said that the President of Nigeria and the All Progres­sives Congress (APC) mandated him to inform me that they must win their election appeals in re­spect of Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State and Abia State at all cost.

“For Akwa Ibom, he alleged that he sponsored Umana, the APC candidate for that election and that if he lost Akwa Ibom appeal, he would have lost a for­tune.

“He (Amaechi) further told me that Mr. Umana would be paying me millions of naira monthly if I cooperated with them. My response as I told you on that date, was that it does not lie within my power to grant his request and that I would do all within my power not to be in the panel for Akwa Ibom State. My Lord graciously left me out of the panel for Akwa Ibom State.

“My Lord, recall that I also reported that Mr. Umana visited my residence before Amaechi’s visit. He also made the same re­quest of assistance to win his ap­peal at the Supreme Court.

“Mr. Umana talked about ‘seeing’ the Justices who would hear the appeal”.

In the letter titled: “Invasion of My Official Residence by Op­eratives of the Department of State Services,” Justice Okoro urged the CJN and the NJC to discountenance all the allega­tions levelled against him by the security outfit. He described the allegations of corruption as “lies and media campaign orchestrat­ed by those who felt I purpose­ly refused to help them win their election appeals at the Supreme Court.”

He listed the items carted away by the DSS operatives to include one iPad, three phones (only one active), $38,800, N3.5 million and four cheque books.

Explaining the source of the monies, Justice Okoro said that “they asked me to make a state­ment concerning the money found in my house. I told them that having received the sum of $24,000, £10,000 a year for the past three years of my sojourn in this court as annual medical/vacation allowances, and having not spent more than £5,000 on each of three trips I have made abroad, I was entitled to have more than the amount recov­ered from me.

“Put differently, My Lord, the money was the balance of esta­code received from this court for the past three years. This is quite outside the estacode I have re­ceived for International Confer­ences I have so far attended since joining the Bench of this court.”

He reiterated his loyalty to his oath of office and the need to be just and fair in handling mat­ters before him.

 

Also, yesterday, Justice Ad­eniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, bowed out of the trial of former National Secu­rity Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd).

Justice Ademola had in a let­ter to the CJN asserted that he was arrested by the DSS for dar­ing to order the release of Dasu­ki and pro-Biafra leader, Nnam­di Kanu.

Ademola also fingered the Minister of Justice and Attor­ney-General of the Federa­tion (AGF), Malam Abubakar Malami, in his ordeal. He said the Minister was after him for ordering his arrest over pro­fessional misconduct when he was a Judge of the Federal High Court in Kano.

The Federal Government had on September 1, 2015, ar­raigned Dasuki on charges bor­dering on unlawful possession of firearms and money laun­dering.

At the resumed proceed­ings yesterday, Justice Ademola told the court that he could not continue to preside over the criminal case in view of the recent raid on his home in Abuja and that of other Judges in the country.

Ademola said: “I’m sure the prosecution and defence coun­sel are conversant with what is going on in the last seven days in this country.

“One of the allegations being made against me by the Depart­ment of State Security is that I received certain sums of unspec­ified money from the defendant.

“Of course, I have respond­ed to that allegation of receiv­ing unspecified sums of money from the defendant but it will be wise for him to answer some questions.

“Do you know me at all or have you come in contact with me?”, the Judge asked.

“I don’t know you, my Lord,” Dasuki responded.

“Did you at any time give me money in respect of the ongoing trial?”, the Judge asked and Das­uki responded: “No, my Lord, I didn’t give you any money.”

After hearing from the counsel, Justice Ademola said, “This court is minded to trans­fer this case to the Chief Judge.”

Buhari orders Dasuki’s release - Aide

President Muhammadu Buhari is reported to have directed relevant authorities to recover funds said to have been misappropriated by former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (Rtd), and set him free.
This revelation is coming that a time when a Professor of International Studies and author of Buhari’s biography, ‘Muhammadu Buhari: The Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria’ had stated that there was no rift between the President and Dasuki, pointing out that they are in-laws.

Disclosing this yesterday October 10, 2016, in Abuja, an aide to Buhari assured that the former NSA will be released once the misappropriated fund is returned.

The aide said, “I can tell you that the President is not comfortable with the continued detention of Dasuki despite the offences he allegedly committed against Nigeria and its people.
“The only condition Mr. President has asked Dasuki to fulfil is to refund the huge sum of public funds which were allegedly diverted under his watch as the National Security Adviser.

Staff of Public Complaints Commission Begins Strike

Staff of the Public Complaints Commission, PCC, on Tuesday October 11, 2016, embarked on a massive protest against the 50% slash in their salaries, threatening that unless the situation was reversed they would not return to work.

Ironically, PCC, whose mandate is to investigate all manner of injustices against individuals in the Country, now finds itself immersed in acts of purported injustice to its staff.

The protesters who sealed the organization’s headquarters in the Maitama District of Abuja lamented that since January 2016, their salaries have been paid on percentages.

Some of them carried placards with inscriptions saying, “Take us back to presidency”; “We protest payment of half salary.”

 

In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the Joint Union of Civil Servants in the commission, Comrade Ogunyando Oladipo Joshua and his deputy, Dorcas Tabitha John, the protesting staff noted that “the grim situation began with the payment of workers" salaries on percentages.

“When the management of the commission was confronted to explain the unsolicited fragmented salaries, it was made known that the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, the Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly against every known rationale and logic insensitively handed the Commission N2 billion only as its 2016 budgetary allocation, signifying a far-reaching departure from the N4 billion approved for the Commission in the 2015 fiscal year.”

12 Arrested in A’ Ibom for Alleged Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, Others

Akwa Ibom State Police Command has vowed to make it hot with criminals in the State this period, warning that no form of criminality would be condoled in the State.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Murtala Mani, gave the warning on Tuesday October 11, 2016, while parading twelve suspected criminals for kidnapping, armed robbery, theft, rape and cultism.
 

He said the suspects were found with locally made firearms – one long double barrel gun, three locally made pistols, two cartridges, seven sophisticated mobile phones and charms.

 

Mani, who spoke through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, Cordelia Nwawe, disclosed that two young men who specialize in the removal of solar energy batteries on the streets of the State have been arrested.

Again, he said a young man, Mathew Atsenga, 27, from Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State who collected his friend’s vehicle to drive only to sell it to a buyer in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Daniel Usuk, aged 45, has been arrested with the buyer.

Nigerian Senate Against SSS raid on Judges’ homes

 

The Nigerian Senate, on Tuesday, October 11, 2016, condemned the raid on Judges’ homes weekend, but refused to summon the Director-General of the State Security Service, Lawan Daura, over the matter.

In a motion brought as matter of urgent national importance by Joshua Lidani (PDP-Gombe), the Senate was asked to look into the action of the SSS which led to arrest of seven Judges in the early hours of Saturday.

One of the resolutions canvassed by Mr. Lidani was that the Senate should invite Mr. Daura to explain why his agency carried out the action the way it did without deference to the constitutional responsibility of the National Judicial Council. The prayer was denied.

 

The Senate affirmed support “in entirety” for the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari, “including the efforts to sanitize the Judiciary”. But lawmakers criticized the SSS’ operations.

 

The Senate asked its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters headed by David Umaru (APC-Niger) to review all laws regarding the country’s security agencies and report back in four weeks.

Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi) said the SSS had a legitimate mandate to handle matters involving economic crimes of national security scale, making reference to the National Security Agencies Act.

 

Mr. Melaye, however, queried “how does bribery and corruption and official misconduct become threat to internal security?”

“SSS overstepped their boundary and abused their mandate,” he said.

Suleiman Hukunyi (APC-Kaduna) also asked the security institutions to remain within the mandate provided by the law.

“The Senate is irreversibly committed to assisting this government in fighting corruption,” Bala Na’Allah (APC-Kebbi) said in his contribution.

He added that if the SSS action was right “it would not have generated this hullabaloo”.

 

Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, said he supported the prayer that Mr. Daura be invited. Other speakers were silent on that prayer.

He joked that many of his colleagues had gone to urinate to avoid commenting on the SSS action because of the risk of having security operatives “jump over their fences tomorrow”.

“We support the president but we must ensure survival of democracy,” he said.

 

He said just as former governors were treated as criminal suspects abroad, nobody would have confidence in any judgment from the Nigerian courts given SSS action.

In his remarks, Mr. Saraki said going against the law “does not help the war against corruption”.

Judges Arrest: Buhari engaging in tyranny – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has reacted to the arrest of some senior judges by the Department of State Services, DSS. The DSS also reports that more will be picked up.

 

Prince Dayo Adeyeye, National Publicity Secretary, in a statement, recalled that in the early hours of October 8th, 2016, men of the DSS “carried out Gestapo like invasions on the homes of a number of Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the Court of Appeal”.

According to reports, the affected Justices of the Supreme Court were Walter Onnoghen, Sylvanus Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro, while the affected Judges of the Federal High Court were Muazu Pindiga, Adeniyi Ademola, Abdullahi Liman and Nnamdi Dimgba.

 

PDP said Justice Dimgba only escaped abduction because he was not at home at the time, while Justice Abdullahi’s abduction was prevented by the timely intervention of Governor Nyesom Wike, who insisted on the observance of the rule of law and the application of due process.

The opposition party noted that “Governor Nyesome Wike was assaulted by the men of the DSS during his intervention causing him to sustain injuries on his arm. At a point, an officer pointed a fully cocked gun at him and threatened to shoot him.”

The statement continued, “During the invasion, the Justices were manhandled and members of their families as well as their household staff beaten up.

“The invasion is the latest in series of actions taken by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration which reveal its disregard for the rule of law and its abject disdain for the principle of separation of powers.

 

“This inexorable slide into fascism began with the invasion of the Akwa Ibom State Government House by the same DSS, the continued detention of several people despite Courts ordering their release, the invasion of the Ekiti State House of Assembly and detention of Hon. Akanni Afolabi and the invasion of the Zamfara State House of Assembly.

“This slide into fascism has included a sustained attack on the leadership of the National Assembly as President Buhari has sought to break its independence and make it a rubber stamp to suit his will.

“It is worthy to note that NEVER in the history of our country has any President attacked the judiciary in such a manner. Even the late dictator – General Sani Abacha, whose regime is remembered by many as the second worst regime in Nigerian history, did not carry out such Gestapo style attacks on the members of the judiciary.

“By bringing this attack to the judiciary, President Buhari has shown that he has no desire to respect the pillars of our democracy. He has shown his desire to kill off our democracy and convert it to an autocracy without checks and balances.

 

“The government has no regard for the rule of law. They do not care about court orders. This government has disregarded the orders of the ECOWAS Court and every other courts in the land and continue to detain Dasuki illegally. They continue to detain hundreds of Nigerians without bringing them to trial and against valid court orders.

 

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Constitution in Section 153(1)(i) and Part 1 of the Third Schedule thereto establishes the National Judicial Council (NJC) and empowers same to regulate and discipline Judges across the country.

 

The proper path to follow to discipline erring judges will be to forward a petition containing any wrong doing to the NJC along with any evidence in support thereof.

 

“The path not to follow is this Gestapo style invasion in the middle of the night that involves the use of sledgehammers to breakdown gates and front doors for DSS to gain access to the homes.

“Nigerians can no longer afford to stand aside and watch the Buhari administration destroy the foundations of our democracy that we have built for several years. Nigerians have a duty to speak out against this sort of tyranny.”

Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Condemn Arrest of Judges

 

 

During the nationwide operation which took place on Saturday, October 8, 2016, the DSS arrested and detained seven Judges, according to a security source, who said a total of 15 judges were being investigated for allegedly receiving bribes.

The raids prompted the Nigerian Bar Association to declare a state of emergency, denouncing the "Gestapo-style" operation and prompting President Muhammadu Buhari's spokesman to defend the operation.

In a statement, the Department of State Services (DSS) said it had seized $800,000 (715,000 euros) in cash during the operation which was launched on the basis of "allegations of corruption and professional misconduct" by a number of Judges.

"The searches have uncovered huge raw cash of various denominations, local and foreign currencies, with real estate worth several millions of naira and documents affirming unholy acts by these Judges," it said.

A source at DSS headquarters confirms thus: "about four or five judges are here with us writing statements".

 

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abubakar Mahmoud lashed out at Buhari over the raids.

"We are not under military rule and we cannot accept this unholy event and Gestapo-style operation," he told reporters.

A human rights and anti-corruption group urged Buhari to ensure the judges' "immediate and unconditional release".

"We are seriously concerned about the wave of arrests, intimidation and harassment of Judges across the Country by the DSS," said Adetokunbo Mumuni, Chief of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.

"We cannot accept anti-corruption strategies and methods which patently offend the rule of law and undermine the authority, integrity, sanctity and independence of the judiciary."

In response, Buhari's spokesman Garba Shehu issued a statement late Sunday saying the President "remains a committed democrat, in words and in his actions, and will not take any action in violation of the constitution.

"The presidency has received assurances from the DSS that all due processes of the law, including the possession of search and arrest warrants were obtained before the searches."

The DSS said it was preparing criminal cases against the Judges.

DSS to arrest eight more Judges

In continuation of arrest of senior judges accused of corruption, eight more will soon be picked up by the Department of State Services, DSS.

Seven judges were earlier arrested in different States across the country between Friday night and Saturday morning, October 7 & 8, 2016.
The Judges in custody last night are: Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court, Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Kabir Auta of the Kano High Court, Mu’azu Pindiga of the Gombe High Court, Mohammed Tsamiya of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin and the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike. They would be arraigned in court soon.

A DSS source confirmed that the Judges were allowed access to their families, adding that they were cooperating with the agency.
“We still respect them. They are not being treated like common criminals."
“As part of the investigations, three registry staff from various courts were also invited for questioning”, he said.

APC distances Buhari from Judges arrest

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has faulted claims that President Muhammadu Buhari is involved in the recent arrest of Judges by operatives of the Department of State Security, DSS.

This is contained in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja and signed by the national secretary of the ruling party, Mai Mala Buni.
The DSS, had in the past few days, embarked on arresting some Judges of the Supreme, Appeal and High Courts, explaining that the operations were based on allegations of corruptions and other acts of professional misconduct by a few of the suspected Judges.

Following the operation, some have accused the President of being the mastermind, but the APC, in the statement, said the opposition party, PDP and some of governors are desperate to drag Buhari into issues surrounding the arrest of the Judges.
The APC said, in the statement, “The All Progressives Congress (APC) is concerned about the desperation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some of its governors to drag the President into circumstances surrounding the reported raids of the homes of some judges by the State Security Service (SSS).

Why FG dropped forgery charges against Saraki, Ekweremadu

 

The Federal Government has explained why the forgery charges it leveled against the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, and two others was withdrawn.

Saraki, Ekweremadu, as well as a former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and a former Deputy clerk, Ben Efeturi, were first arraigned before Justice Yusuf Halilu on June 10, 2016 on charges bordering on forgery of the Senate rules, to which they all pleaded not guilty.

Reports however emerged yesterday that the government has decided to withdraw the charges  leveled against the principal officers of the National Assembly.

 

At Friday’s resumed hearing, lead counsel to the government, Aliyu Umar, SAN, informed the trial judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Jabi Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, that the charges were dropped due to a pending case related to the charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

According to Umar, “This government respects the rule of law, and hierarchy of the judiciary. It is obvious from these two applications (filed by Saraki and Ekweremadu) and the similar case before your learned brother, Justice Kolawole, at the Federal High Court who is dealing with the issue that we are withdrawing the charges.

“It is trite that two matters of the same subject matter cannot be before different courts of coordinate jurisdiction.

“Therefore, the amended charge dated October 5, 2016 and also the original dated June 10, 2016 and filed the same date be struck out and all the four defendants be discharged.”

 

Following the application for the withdrawal of the suit, Justice Halilu struck out the case.

Corps members protest non-payment of 4 months state allowances in Sokoto

The 2015 Batch `B’ National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed to Sokoto State have protested the non-payment of their four months state allowances amounting to N49.04 million.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protesting Corps members were being owed state allowances between July and October 2016.
The Corps members, who concluded their service year on Thursday, October 6, 2016, marched from the NYSC Secretariat at Kalambaina, Sokoto, to Government House.

The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba, who received them on behalf of Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, pleaded with corps members to be patient.

Garba assured the protesting Corps members that the money would be paid latest October 7, 2016.

The Chairman of NYSC Governing Board in the state, Alhaji Muhammad Ladan, confirmed the story.

Ladan told NAN in Sokoto on Friday that “as we speak now, the payment for the months of July to September, 2016 is ongoing, adding that the amount involved was N36.78 million.

"The money for the month of October, 2016 amounting to N12. 26 million will drop into NYSC account from the Ministry of Finance anytime from now.”
The state NYSC Coordinator, Mr Thomas Yamma, also confirmed the story when he addressed newsmen in Sokoto on Friday.
NAN reports that, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal recently jerked up the monthly allowances being paid to the corps members.
The corps members were being paid minimum of N5,000 to maximum of N50,000 monthly depending on their disciplines.

Cobbler and his Girlfriend arraigned in Court for Stealing #11.4million

A salesgirl and her boyfriend were arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate Court on Thursday, October 6, 2016, for allegedly stealing N11.4 million belonging to one businesswoman, Omobola Akintoye.

The salesgirl, simply identified as Suarau and works at a supermarket on Dosunmu Street in Lagos, was said to have connived with her boyfriend, a 32 year old cobbler, Ganiu Anjorin to commit the act.
The accused persons were arraigned before the Chief Magistrate of the Court, A. O. Soadoye, on a three-count charge bordering on stealing.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Counsel to the police, Jimoh Joseph told the court that the offence was committed between February and July 2016.

Sarau, who worked at the supermarket was said to have got N400,000 from the money, while her boyfriend allegedly collected N11 million.
One of the charges read: “That you, Ganiu Anjorin, between February and July, 2016, at 47 Dosunmu Street, Lagos Island, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did steal the sum of N11 million, property of one Omobola Akintoye”.

The offence contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2011.
The Magistrate granted the accused persons bail of N1 million each with two sureties each in like sum, and adjourned the case till November 9, 2016.

Patience Jonathan's $15.5m case: Court Dismisses Applications Seeking To Change Companies Guilty Plea

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos today, October 7, 2016, dismissed two applications filed before the court seeking to change the guilty pleas of four companies linked to former First Lady Patience Jonathan's controversial $15.5 million account fraud.

The two applications filed by two Lagos lawyers Gboyega Oyewole and Tochukwu Onyunke on behalf of the four companies, namely; Pluto Property and Investment Development Company Limited, Seagate Property and Investment Development Company Limited, Transoceanic Property and Investment Development Company Limited, and Avalon Property and Investment Development Company Limited, were dismissed by a Judge who described the application an abuse of court process.

 

The applications had challenged the court's jurisdiction to take the plea of the companies through their purported directors, and also wants the court to reverse the guilty pleas of the purported directors of the companies since they claim not to have anything to do with the companies.

 

Dismissing the two applications, the presiding Judge, Justice Babs Kewumi ruled that since the applicants had approached the Court of Appeal for adjudication under Section 477 and 478 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act which was the same issue they are asking his court to determine on the matter, Justice Kewumi then stated that the step taken by the accused persons is abuse of court processes consequently  he dismissed the applications and adjourned until November 2, 2016, for the trial of the accused persons to commence.

 

It would be recalled that the purported directors of the four companies, Taiwo Ebenezer for Avalon Property and Investment Development Company Limited; Kola Fredrick for Transoceanic Property and Investment Development Company Limited; Friday Davis and Agbo Baro for Seagate Property and Investment Development Company Limited, have all pleaded guilty on behalf of the companies to money laundering charges leveled against them.

 

Upon the guilty pleas of the purported directors of the companies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to adjourn for review of facts of the case against them.

Other accused persons  Waripamo-owei Dudafa, a former domestic aide of President Goodluck Jonathan and Skye Bank's Head E-Banking, Adedamola Bolodeoku, alongside the four companies, in a second amended charge number FHC/337C/16, were alleged to have between November 13, 2013 and March 31, 2015, conspired with one Sombre Omeibi, who is now at large, to retain the sum of $15,591,700 which they reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and thereby committed Offences bordering on money laundering, stealing and conspiracy. 

 

EFCC  alleged that the said money was wired through account numbers: 2110002207; 2110002245; 2110002238; 0122493290; 2110002252; domiciled in Skye Bank Plc.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that the accused persons forged Skye bank's mandate card which was purportedly signed by the purported directors of the companies, namely; Friday Davis, kola Fredrick, Agbo Baro, Taiwo Ebenezer and China John.

The offences according to the EFCC are contrary to sections 18(a) and 15(d), and punishable under section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

Mrs. Jonathan has since claimed the monies belonged to her and has sought the intervention of the courts to reclaim the funds.

Former First Lady Patience Jonathan

FG drops Forgery Charges against Saraki, Ekweremadu

  


The Federal Government on Friday, October 7, 2016, dropped charges against Bukola Saraki, president of the Nigerian Senate, in which he had been accused of altering Senate rules to get himself elected.
 Saraki, Nigeria's third-ranking official and a member of President Muhammadu Buhari's party, had been charged by the Abuja court along with his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, with "forging" the rules during the election process in June 2015.
Saraki was not his party's preferred candidate, but ran unopposed for the post of senate president. He had pleaded 'not guilty' to the charges earlier this year.

Saraki still faces charges of falsely declaring his assets when he was a state governor from 2003 to 2011, to which he has also pleaded 'not guilty'.

"We believe much time has been wasted in pursuing this needless case and we hope that the same treatment will be extended to other politically motivated cases," Saraki and Ekweremadu said in a joint statement.

Dasuki: Obey Ecowas Court order or foreign investors’ll evade Nigeria, SAN tells FG

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Alhaji Ahmed Raji has warned the Federal Government of Nigeria to respect and obey the judgment of the Economic Community of West African States’ Court of Justice which on Tuesday October 4, 2016, ordered the release of former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki from detention as failure to do this could scare foreign investors away.

 

Recall that Dasuki has been in the custody of the federal government since December last year over an alleged charge bordering on illegal arms deals that led to the death of many and fuelled terrorism in Nigeria. However, Dasuki, Tuesday, got a reprieve from the regional court which also imposed a fine of N15m on government for illegal and arbitrary detention of the applicant.

 

Raji who spoke in a media-chat in Abuja said that Nigeria as a respected member of ECOWAS and the International Community is expected to honour its obligations to the protocols establishing the court by complying with its order.

The senior lawyer said that the spirit invoked in the acceptance of the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the disputed oil rich Bakassi land must be rekindled in the decision of the ECOWAS Court.

 

Raji explained that ECOWAS Court was not a domestic court, it’s sitting in Nigeria notwithstanding, adding that complying with the order of the court will further boost the confidence of the International Investors to invest in the country where the rule of law prevails. The SAN warned that should the federal government turn deaf ears to the regional court verdict, foreign investors would be wary of doing business with the country not to talk of coming down to establish business ventures. “I am appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to facilitate immediate compliance with the ECOWAS Court decision.

 

I am also appealing to the Presidential aides especially the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, Mallam Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the heads of the intelligence units to advise the President properly.” “The order of the court cannot be ridiculed and Nigeria, as a democratic nation, cannot afford to ridicule the court order in the interest of the corporate image of the country.” The senior lawyer expressed happiness that the allegation of coup plot and waging war against Nigerians brought against Dasuki at the court by government to justify his unlawful detention was not sustained since Dasuki is not facing treason charge in anywhere in the country. Besides, Raji also said that the allegation of non purchase of arms and ammunition against Dasuki had not been substantiated because the records were there that several towns and local governments were liberated from the Boko Harram in the North Eastern part of the country during Dasuki’s tenure. “In fact, records are there that some of the ammunitions being used by the current government were part of those ordered during the regime of the former NSA according to information he made available to his legal team”. “It is under the leadership of Dasuki as NSA that the country security forces liberated several towns and cities under Boko Haram in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno”, the lawyer said. At any rate, the golden rule is that when matters are pending in court, they become subjudice and nobody is allowed to make comment in such a way that will suggest that the roles and functions of courts are being usurped. The counsel said that the Dasuki’s legal team does not need to serve copies of the ECOWAS Court judgment on the federal government before the verdict can be obeyed since the government was adequately represented throughout the proceedings. “The fact is that lawyers standing for a party in a matter have duty to obtain copies of the court judgment and advise their clients accordingly”. “In the case at hand, ECOWAS Court is not a court of first instance or intermediate court, it is only and final court and Nigeria must submit to the jurisdiction of the court.”

Biafra: Federal Government determined to prolong Nnamdi Kanu’s detention

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has accused the Federal Government of plotting to prolong the trial of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

This was as the pro-Biafra group claimed that the government and its agencies, in a bid to frustrate Kanu’s case at the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, court, in Abuja yesterday, failed to send representatives for the hearing.
Following the withdrawal  of the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, Kanu had dragged the Federal Government to the regional court over his continued detention.

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Home » Main Headline » Biafra: FG determined to prolong Nnamdi Kanu’s detention, refusing to send lawyers to ECOWAS court – IPOB

Biafra: FG determined to prolong Nnamdi Kanu’s detention, refusing to send lawyers to ECOWAS court – IPOB

By Seun Opejobi on October 6, 2016

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, accused the Federal Government of plotting to prolong the trial of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
This was as the pro-Biafra group claimed that the government and its agencies, in a bid to frustrate Kanu’s case at the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, court, in Abuja yesterday, failed to send representatives for the hearing.
Following the withdrawal  of the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, Kanu had dragged the Federal Government to the regional court  over his continued detention.

IPOB made the latest allegation in a statement signed by its media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful.
In the statement titled: ‘Nigerian Government on the run as ECOWAS threatens to pass final judgement on Kanu’s case,’ the group said: “It was a nervous moment for the Nigerian government today at the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) Abuja, as the Court ignored every threat from the government not to conduct a hearing on Nnamdi Kanu’s case, which has suffered an unending trial in the Nigerian judiciary”.
“It is unfortunate that the Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress, APC, cannot come to defend the illegal detention of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“Mazi Kanu’s defence team led by Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor arrived the court at exactly 10:00am, while the three man panel of Judges led by Justice Friday Nwoke, from the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, arrived at the court at about 10:10am. Barrister Ejiofor introduced himself to the Judges after which the court clerk called up the case but no representative was sent by the Nigerian government. The case was adjourned to November 8, 2016 for hearing.'

“The Nigerian government was found to be on the run as the defence lawyer to the Federal Government submitted a motion for his absence just few hours before court proceedings, claiming that he has a case today in Kaduna, however, IPOB and Kanu’s lawyer Ejiofor objected to excuse pointing out that he met him yesterday at the court, while he accused the Nigerian government of plans to further prolong Kanu’s case.”
IPOB claimed that the presiding Judge, Justice Nwoke pointed out that the court case in Kaduna is not enough reason for the government’s absence in court, warning that if counsels of the government fail to appear in the next court session, he will go ahead to give final judgment in the case between Kanu and the Federal government of Nigeria.
“The judge also asked the Nigerian Government to compensate Kanu’s lawyer, Mr. Ejiofor with the sum of one million naira only as compensation for flying from Lagos to Abuja for the case and their failure to show up, Justice Nwoke thereafter, adjourned the case to 8th November 2016 for hearing and final judgment,” the statement added.