Sahara Reporters Latest News Wednesday 12th June 2019

Sahara Reporters Latest News Wednesday 12th June 2019

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 12/06/19

target=_blank>June 12 Celebrations: Good Triumphs Over Evil!

Like a stubborn sphinx that refused to be interred, June 12 has risen after 26 years to get its rightful place in the annals of the country’s history. When those that procured and sustained the annulment of the June 12 1993 election thought they had successfully buried that epochal historicity in the thick grave that enshroud the country’s chequered political history, that date has shot up and assumed its rightful place as the foremost Democracy Day when the labours of the patriots and martyrs that fought against militarism and civilian democracy was restored and rightly documented. This year, precisely June 12, 2019, Nigerians will celebrate the real Democracy Day which highlights the gritty and nervy fight Nigerians undertook to rout the military from the country’s politics and re-establish civilian democratic rule. This historical celebration of the rightful date that midwifed the present democratic dispensation was granted by President Muhammadu Buhari via a Presidential Order last year, which boldly decided to break from the sash of a thick-hooded conspiracy that sought to bury that historical date and rather divert its glory to May 29 when civilian governments took off in 1999. In releasing the Executive Order that rightly accorded June 12 its rightful place as the country’s Democracy Day. President Buhari decided to lead the country to strike a clean break from a dubious past that was webbed to misappropriate the rightful roots of the present long stretch democratic epoch, deny the heroes of the struggle that brought democracy their rightful and earned places in history and replace these with impostors and transient fortune hunters who misappropriated the fruits of those that laid down their lives for the enthronement of the present democracy. So after a long 26 years living in denial, the country is, this year, celebrating Democracy Day on its rightful date. In invoking that Presidential Order, President Buhari had rightly mended history, healed open and festering wounds and indeed brought to fruition those indelible words in our national anthem that ‘the labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain’. In recognizing some of the leading lights of the fitful struggle to bring democracy, the government demonstrated a desire to stop the misapplication of honours and recognize it for what it really is. That June 12 rose, several years after its brutal suppression and equally brutal efforts to sustain that wrong shows the staying power of truth over blemished lies. As a core participant in the efforts to restore the sanctity of June 12 and accord it its rightful place in our country’s history, I see the decision of President Buhari to do right to the festering sore as a crowning of our efforts to do right and stand by that. I see the validation of June 12 as the right move Nigerians need to fire their moral unction and do what is right in all situations, no matter the cost. I see the hallowed place June 12 is getting from this year as a timely message to a citizenry that is being persuaded to trifle with lasting values and mores and embrace base interests because of their mundane pecuniary value. For me and millions of Nigerians who struggled against the brutal military and their civilian collaborators to restore the sanctity of June 12, the declaration of a National Holiday on June 12 and its recognition as Democracy Day is enough reward for the struggle. That this year, twenty-six whole years after that epic event, Nigerians are doing away with the lie that robbed the date of its value and are going back to the roots of this democratic order shows the staying power of truth. It can be persecuted, rubbished, deprived but it can never get buried. Those who were undeserving beneficiaries of the June 12 struggle did everything to bury June 12. Those who anchored their selfish interests on suppressing June 12 did everything to kill it. Those who see their future selfish interests nestled on killing June 12 did everything to inter that date but, because it is a struggle anchored on justice, it rose triumphant when they least expected and this year, Nigeria is in one boundless crescendo celebrating this date for what it rightly is. When we recall that some of those that made the loudest noise standing on June 12 are today seized by bitter pain and agony because June 12 is given its rightful place by the Buhari regime, we will better understand what fired some of the people in the struggle. It is obvious that most of these that hustled for photo-ops with Chief MKO Abiola and who vowed and swore to stand and die by June 12 were only hustling for their selfish interests. They neither had the conviction that encased this struggle nor the selfless desire to see that justice was served by the actualization of June 12. They were only positioning themselves for the anticipated nectars of the struggle. That is why most of them are seized with fits of bitterness and anger this year when they should be in their Christmas bests. Their anger is ruled by selfish desires and narrow interests that have made some of them disgruntled stakeholders in a PDP, whose leading lights played pivotal roles in annulling and sustaining the annulment of June 12. Their bitterness betrays their pretensions of standing for the lofty ideals of June 12. It was obvious that when Chief Abiola died, most of these players surveyed the ground for where best to attend to their carnal desires. Some of them were seduced to serve the subsequent military governments. With the advent of the civilian government, most of them cozied up to Obasanjo and his PDP who were natural foes of June 12 and what it represents and for 16 years the PDP controlled power, these impostors were comfortable with the shoddy manner June 12 was treated. They went to bed with PDP and forgot June 12 and for them, the struggle was ended because there were no further prospects for their elephantine interests in a June 12 their new allies did everything to inter. Like a Daniel come to judgment, not many were surprised that the Buhari regime restored June 12 when almost every Nigeria thought the date has become history and had cozied up with the lie that May 29 was the Democracy Day as Obasanjo and his PDP confederates sold. What was rather surprising is that many of those that struggled for photo-op sessions with Chief Abiola and were waving the bandana of June 12 are not happy today because the right thing was done by Buhari. Many of those that reveled as friends and associates of Abiola and who made a loud noise about their pre-eminent roles in the struggle for the actualization of June 12 are today very sad that June 12 was indeed actualized. They felt at home that an impostor in May 29 was drafted as democracy day by their collaborators in PDP and are bitter that June 12, the real democracy day is being restored. What more, many of them had frantically tried to pour cold water on that gargantuan effort by Buhari because they are today activists for PDP and the very interests that killed and buried June 12. But the flipsides of June 12 will not prevent millions of Nigerians from celebrating that historical date for what it is; the very root of the present democratic order. The betrayals that attend June 12 started from the very early days of the struggle when party chieftains that should protect its sanctity traded it to the devious regime that annulled it. It dates back to when the Vice Presidential candidate of that ticket sold out to the military for a price lesser than what Judas betrayed Jesus Christ for. The betrayals were enormous and expansive since then but even in their hefty nature, they are not strong enough to stop its triumph when the Buhari government declared it a national holiday, restored its status as the Democracy Day, apologized to Abiola family, presented Chief Abiola the country’s highest national honour, declared him the winner of June 12, 1993, election and honoured many who were prominent in the fight for the actualization of June 12 and the restoration of democracy in Nigeria. These were healing balms that attends to such open sore as inflicted not only on Abiola but Nigerians in general. As Nigerians celebrate the actualization of June 12, its rightful role as the Democracy Day, its dethronement of the impostor of May 29, what should rule our minds is the resolve to say never again will some self-serving interests play the nation that hard card again. And never again will bestial interests deal us such evil bad card of injustice as was done to June 12. Happy celebrations to all Nigerians!

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target=_blank>Spoken Word: Separation Or Desecration Of Power By Hannatu Musawa

Now that the leadership of the legislature has emerged with Senator Ahmad Lawan as Senate President and Honorable Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the House of Representatives, we should all be able to breathe a sigh of relief. But the way and manor of their emergence, where members of the executive at the state and federal level were reported to have played a part in the negotiating process, might leave room for discomfort. Indeed the contentious emergence of the leadership of the 8thNational Assembly is still fresh in our memories. That led to the frosty relationship between the executive and legislature. Perhaps, this fear was what prompted members of the executive from the state and federal level to intervene in the already heated battle.
With the system of government that we practice, not once should any member of the executive from the national or state level have intervened to try to negotiate the emergence of any member of the national assembly to a leadership position within the legislature. Up and down the country, members of the legislature have emerged because they were picked and sponsored by the governors in their states. While it would be ideal for the legislators to have a constructive relationship with the governors in their state and the legislature and executive to have a reasonable working relationship, we must be careful not to support a union between the executive and legislature that makes the latter a rubber stamp or an appendage for the former. We must be careful not to truncate the very separation of powers that is supposed to be the bedrock of the democratic system that is meant to protect and serve the purpose of the Nigerian people.
The term separation of powers was thought of by an 18th century French philosopher, Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu. His publication, Spirit of the Laws, is considered one of the great works in the history of political theory and jurisprudence. Under his model, the make up of a political tapestry was divided into three divisions and branches of government, the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. These branches are also known as the organs of government. Tasks are assigned to the different branches and their institutions in such a way that each of them can check the exercise of powers by the others. Firstly, it ensures that the different branches control each other. This is intended to make them accountable to each other – these are the ‘checks.’Secondly the separation of powers divides power between the different branches of government– these are the ‘balances.’ Balance aims to ensure that no individual or group of people in government is all-powerful. Power is shared and not concentrated in one branch. Charles-Louis de Secondatemphasized that, to successfully promote liberty within a specific system of government, these three powers must remain separate and act independently.
The concept of Separation of powers prevents the excess and abuse of power. It therefore, refers to the division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another. Hence, one branch of government should not encroach on the domain of another branch of government nor exercise the powers of another branch of government. This includes the executive coercing or guiding the legislature to produce leaders that are to the preference of the executive and it also includes federal legislatures rubber stamping everything that the governor of their state proposes despite it’s affect on the people of the state. The main purpose of separation of powers, if effectively deployed, prevents autocratic governance, tyrannical rule, oppression, despotism and it helps to safeguard freedom for all.
In Nigeria though, since the inception of the fourth republic, separation of powers has been elusive in some dispensations. During different administrations, the executive issues orders that seem more like legislations. While the legislature, perhaps acting under the guise of investigations carried out under Section 88 of the Constitution, issues directives to heads of ministries and agencies of government that are under the executive arm of government. If protecting this doctrine of democracy means that there would be differences and headlock between the two organs of government, then so should it be. If the leadership of the National Assembly, Ahmad Lawan as Senate President and Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the House of Representatives, is just going to agree with the executive on every policy, despite how it will affect the Nigerian people, then they will not be carrying out their primary purpose of representing and protecting the Nigerian people.
The legislature and the executive are two very important but distinct political institutions in a presidential system of government, which we practice, and they each have a critical task to play in promoting good governance. The achievement of this task however, is not dependent on whether the relationship that exists between these institutions is constructive or conflictive. It depends on what is beneficial to the Nigerian people, not every whim and caprice of the executive.
Since the return to democratic rule in 1999, discerning political observers have opined that the relationship between both arms of government has been characterized more by dysfunctional conflict, which often deadlocks the policy making and implementation process. However, even if this deadlock inhibits the flow of the government in place, at the time, the legislature has a responsibility to stand its ground and do what is right for the 200.96 million Nigerians who are depending on it for protection and representation.
On the other hand, the duty of separation of powers does not give the legislature the right to use it as a leverage to stump the progress of the executive or extort it. During the 8thassembly, for instance, there were frequent cold wars and frosty relations with the executive, which may not have been borne out of the zeal for good governance. Rather, it was as a result of difference in political permutations and the manipulations of key actors. In time, the fighting seemed to have become personalized and a stalemate in both executive and legislative attempts to deliver good governance and development became the order of the day. While it is normal for two arms to disagree in a democracy, the persistent feud over almost everything became detrimental for the country.
Senators and members of the House of Representatives ought to have been left alone to elect the leadership of their choice without external or undue interference particularly from the executive. The leadership of the senate ought not to have emerged from the intervention of any member of the executive anywhere, supposed godfathers and cocoon of cabals but from popular wishes and aspirations, the wishes and aspirations of members of the legislatures constituency that elected the legislatures in the first place.
Already the funds expended on the National Assembly is quite huge and if it’s just going to be a rubber stamp to the executive, then there is no point spending such a huge amount. If we are going to operate a system where the National Assembly is merely a mouth piece and rubber stamp for the executive and what the executive wants, then we might as well dispel of the National Assembly, change our system of government for a system that is much more affordable. If the National Assembly will not operate the purpose that it was created to serve, then the funds expended on it should just be channeled into other critical sectors that are in dire need of funding.
In the United States, where we replicate our democracy from, there is a clear and distinct separation of powers between the legislature (Congress) and the executive, which has evidently continued to make democracy in that country flourish.
Both the executive and legislature should respect and strictly adhere to the tenets of the principles of separation of powers so as to avoid frictions that could be counter-productive to the discharge of their constitutional duties, while embracing dialogue in resolving their differences. It is also imperative that both institutions should see themselves as complementary yet independent partners in the administration of the Nigerian state and as such synergize in the policy making and implementation process with a view to promoting good governance in Nigeria.
For the incoming NASS, we need a leadership that is devoid of executive interference or any form of external influence. A leadership that is proactive and able to promote the tenets of good governance and keep the executive in check. One that is in tune to sustainable development across the country through the prompt passage of legislations on good governance initiatives. A leadership that makes constituency projects more accountable, transparent and efficient.
As we witness the commencement of the 9thNational Assembly, it is imperative that the executive desists from interfering with the legislature in the way it was alleged to have with the emergence of the leadership of the legislature. Members of the NASS have always been capable of electing and removing their leaders if there is the need. They are capable of operating without the intervention of the executive. All the business of the legislature has to be done on the floor of either chamber and according to the rules set in the Constitution as well as the rules of the respective houses, not in the residence of members of the executives.
Even though separation of powers is key to the workings of Nigeria’s system of government, one can admit that there is likely to be some overlap. No democratic system exists with an absolute separation of powers or an absolute lack of separation of powers. Governmental powers and responsibilities are too complex and interrelated to be neatly compartmentalized. However, despite the overlap, the organs of government must ferociously defend their independence and exercise the concept of separation of powers at all times.
Now that the leadership of the legislature has been decided, Senate President Ahmad Lawan as Senate President and Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker must put into motion their primary purpose. Because if they just serve the purpose of being a rubber stamp for the executive on every single policy, despite the effect on the Nigerian people, then instead of protecting the principle of Separation of power, they might just be desecrating that power.
Spoken Word
Written by
Hannatu Musawa
I invite you to:Follow me on Twitter- @hanneymusawahannatumusawaspokenword@gmail.com

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target=_blank>Aisha Buhari, Five African First Ladies Urge Youths To Embrace Agriculture

Aisha Buhari, wife of Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, led five other African First Ladies on a return to agriculture campaign in her hometown of Yola, Adamawa State.
The African First Ladies are Rebecca Akufo-Addo (Ghana), Fatoumatta Bah-Borrow (Gambia), Dominique Folloux Ouattara ( Ivory Coast), Lalla Malika Issoufou (Niger) and the Chadian First Lady, Hinda Deby Itno.
Mrs. Buhari accompanied by her counterparts visited her alma mater, Aliyu Mustapha College, Yola, where she launched a school agricultural programme in conjunction with a fertilizer manufacturing company, in a drive to get young people interested in agricultural pursuits.
The six first ladies supported by the wife of Adamawa State governor, Lami Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, took time to demonstrate by symbolically planting maize at the college.
Mrs. Buhari also inaugurated a 24-bed capacity maternity complex, which she built and donated as part of her moves to mitigate infant andvmaternal mortality in the state.
Speaking at the event, Aisha said the construction of the maternity complex which would be an extension of the Federal Medical Centre in Yola, is in line with federal government’s commitment to effective healthcare delivery.
“I hope it will reduce maternal mortality in Adamawa and beyond,” she said, urging the Federal Government to provide enough staff to run the complex,” she said.

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target=_blank>Nigeria’s Tertiary Exam Body, JAMB, Sets 160 As Cut-off

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has set 160 and above as this year’s national minimum cut-off mark for admission into public universities.
JAMB also approved 140 as minimum score for admission into private universities in the country.
The body announced the decision on Tuesday at the 19th policy meeting on admission The decision was reached on Tuesday at the Bola Babalakin auditorium, Gbongan, Osun state.
At the meeting, JAMB registrar, Ishaq Oloyede said admissions into all universities would be conducted on central admission processing system (CAPS).
He cautioned institutions not to fix cut-off marks below what the stakeholders decided at the policy meeting.
The score approved for admission into public polytechnics is 120, while 110 was approved for private polytechnics.
Colleges of education, 100 and above was approved as the cut-off marks.
The admission body also set December 19 as closing date for admission into public universities, while February 15, 2020 for private universities.

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target=_blank>BREAKING: Femi Gbajabiamila, Nigerian Lawmaker Convicted In The US Emerges Reps Speaker

Video of #UPDATED: Gbajabiamila: Pleaded Guilty To Stealing In U.S, Now Seeking To Be House Of Reps' Speaker

#UPDATED: Gbajabiamila: Pleaded Guilty To Stealing In U.S, Now Seeking To Be House Of Reps’ Speaker

Gbajabiamila: Pleaded Guilty To Stealing In U.S, Now Seeking To Be House Of Reps’ Speaker…

Femi Gbajabiamila has been elected Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives.
Gbajabiamila was convicted by the Supreme Court in the state of Georgia, United State of America, for stealing settlement money from his client and relocating to Nigeria after closing shop.
He secured 283 votes to defeat his only challenger, Umar Bago who garnered a paltry 76 votes.

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target=_blank>LETTER: What MKO Abiola Told Gani Fawehinmi Two Days Before He Was Killed

My dear Gani,
Praise be to God for your life and the courage, fortitude and determination with which He endowed you. May we live long to be of service to each other in the contribution we make to the development, peace and justice/fairplay in Nigeria and beyond. The ” Express ” story is a hoax. True, both Anan and
Anyaoku (apparently working together, although I saw them separately), wanted me to sign a statement that I will not, once again, demand my mandate, once released. They both believed such undertaking would expedite my release. To each of them, my answers were:
(1) Having been cut off from all both human and media contacts for 4 years, I was like a man put in an open grave, I quoted Rt. Hon. Harold Wilson’s statement October, 1964, a few days before his first Labour victory in 13 years: “24hrs is a long time in politics.”
If 24hrs is a long time, 4years cut off from politics can be likened to eternity. Diplomats can guess: political leaders must be sure because credibility once lost can never be regained.
(2) Both diplomats spoke of arranging my UNCONDITIONAL release. With the demand for that kind of statement that will render me a “deserter”. Any release obtained on that basis would be the worst form of capitulation.
(3) The declaration of 11/06/94 was made at a major public rally to thousands of cheering supporters. A statement under the table of AGUDA House purportedly negating it will not be acceptable as authentic. My rejection will naturally read “duress” into it. Judged by the circumstances (therefore) it will not be worth the paper on which it was written. A declaration made publicly (at a major rally) and clear ( in the most unambiguous terms) at any similar rally.
You cannot render a man naked at the marketplace and prefer to dress him up in the bedroom!
(4) That a declaration, like that of 11/06/94, once made and in great circulation, needs no repetition, which, will be superfluous. Made when June 12 was suffering from a terminal illness – in-fact in a COMA – the June 11 shot-in-the-arm had over the years not only revived the patient (June 12) but has also established it firmly on its own base, such that its right to exist would today no longer be denied. In this situation, I could well concentrate on my release, on revamping my health, attending to the wedding of 4 or 5 of my children, re-establish the cohesion of my family, whic has been almost totally eroded, especially after the brutal assassination of my Kudi whilst my leading supporters who have done wonders in my absence, take the full steps necessary for formal VICTORY by G d’s grace. It is this point
(5) that have might been twisted or misunderstood by Annan and /or the section of the press who got it wrong.
(6) Finally, I reviewed the history of June 12. I told them that quite at the beginning, Obasanjo in July 1994 came to me with 26 traditional rulers to seek a similar statement. He was told off in no uncertain terms in the presence of the retinue of traditional fathers, after I had explained that the issue is one of God Vs a few “powerful elements”.
The voice of the people is the voice of God, ” Vox Populi Vox Dei”, a popular maxim long before Jesus Christ arrived.
I told them that IBB’s only reason for cancelling the free, fair and peaceful poll – a fact he could not deny – was that his leading officers (who would have been retired with him) threatened to kill him and to kill me if he ever swore me in. I did not allow him to use the Koran to swear to “blackmail”
IBB made the assertion to two Northern Emirs- mutual friends of the two of us and Chief Sonekan at a peace meeting called at the presidential wing of the ABUJA airport.
I would not accept the cancellation on that ground or any ground hence my ” hijra” of August 2 to mount worldwide campaign, as the local press had then been silenced. I said that if I had accepted what was done, it would have created a most dangerous precedent, not only for Nigeria but most of the third world. The saying would then have been – “who are you to resist what could be forced on Abiola?”.
The ultimate effect is that Nigeria would then become a land of “guided democracy “, of the type in the imagination of the late President Sukarno of Indonesia..ho used to issue ” voting directives” to his nation of 230 million. God forbid bad thing!
The lapse of five years since the election of 12/06/93 was regarded as fatal to the mandate. Both diplomats told me nobody will recognise me on the basis of the out-of-date mandate. Chief Anyaoku went on further to say he had sought and obtained legal opinion which confirmed the “death of the mandate”.
My reply:
Firstly, there’s no statue of limitation on valid elections provided the winner did not willfully refuse to take office. The struggle in Sierra Leone more than three decades ago between Milton Margai and Siaka Stevens is a case in point. The Haiti issue re-Aristide is partially relevant.
Secondly, if that were so, then, criminals would have had a lawful right to take advantage of the criminal situation they have created! That, in my opinion, is against equity and the rule of law and, therefore, invalid. They illegally cancelled the election (which they had no power to do) and promoted their usurpation by putting in the most wicked incarceration ever known – 4 years without exercise, access to the sun or even the corridor outside my room.
Thirdly, no nation ever solves her nagging political problems through legal opinion. The Bar of public opinion has a code of practice totally different to that of a formed point of law. I asked Chief Anyaoku what was his interest in seeking the so-called legal opinion? I got no answer because by that time the exchange had become eyeball to eyeball. He looked most embarrassed and dumbfounded. Annan must know that if the majority of OAU member nations gave me recognition, the UN must automatically do the same e.g. the Angola situation between MPLA and UNITA.
The call for the recognition in the London Times of last Friday has taken the wind out of the sail of the “five leg” argument. There was no substance to it.
My final point is that although Time searches o destroys all things MATERIAL, a point made most convincingly by Shakespeare in his sonnets 5, 12 and 64, his emphasis on “never resting time” and the Spencer in “of time
and the River” where he stated that “dark times remind us of and the briefness of our days”. TRUTH, which is what June 12 is, is SPIRITUAL AL-HAQQU in Islam – one of the sacred names of God. Therefore, since all things in nature, life and creation are subservient to God(K2:116) willingly or unwillingly, TIME IS IN FACT AND INDEED ON THE SIDE OF TRUTH, K17:81, K34:49, K2:42 etc. and Gospel according to St. John 8:32, Psalm 62:1-2, Isaiah 40:30-31 etc.
It is falsehood, with its associated varieties and crookedness that must varnish as foam on the ” Torrent of time”.
The FMG, probably did not want to meet me at this stage. Hence, the arrangement made for the two to meet me.
The very top meeting I had on Monday night with two of our service chiefs was to inform me about the death of General Abacha and my friend Ya’adua and talk generally. The atmosphere was most cordial and the service chiefs were most sympathetic. It enabled me to asses the quality and calibre of the two which are most high, indeed. I have gone St. John 8:32, Psalm 62:1-2, Isaiah 40:30-31 etc.
It is falsehood, with its associated varieties and crookedness that must varnish as foam on the ” Torrent of time”
The FMG, probably did not want to meet me at this stage. Hence, the arrangement made for the two to meet me.
The very top meeting I had on Monday night with two of our service chiefs was to inform me about the death of General Abacha and my friend Ya’adua and talk generally. The atmosphere was most cordial and the service chiefs were
most sympathetic. It enabled me to asses the quality and calibre of the two which are most high, indeed. I have gone into this minute detail because I heard you were upset when you read the exclusive report. You probably did not know me well enough! If I refused to listen to IBB, my personal friend of long standing, and ignored Abacha, will it be 2 international civil servants who would force my surrender?
Please, have more confidence than that in the future.
All my life I had worked for the result which God in His mercies, gave us on June 12, 1993. Quoting Jesus Christ (Luke 9) “No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God”. The spiritual consequence of any desertion of a sacred cause like June 12 is HELL, which God forbids.
ANOTHER DIFFERENT POINT on 13/1/95, Abacha sent Prince Ajibola to me to say he (Abacha) would not allow me to get any trial because he knew I had large sum of money pad to my recognition which will force him out of office. Ied Prince what he advised. He sad ” Patience” Suru ni. I told him to tell my family and lawyers.
When Ore Falomo saw me on 10/5/97, I sent him to you on that. Did you get the messages? Remember me to the family with best personal regards.
I LOVE YOU.
Signed
MKO Abiola

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target=_blank>Gbong Gwom Jos Stool: Paramount Ruler Seeks To Join In Suit Against Gov. Lalong

The paramount ruler of Ganawuri, the Ataa Aten, Yakubu Chaimai, on Tuesday sought the leave of a Plateau State High Court to be joined as co-defender in the suit challenging Governor Simon Lalong’s attempt to tamper with the Gbong Gwom Jos Stool.
Seven of the “illustrious sons of Berom nation”, had on May 23 dragged the state government before Justice Christine Dabup of State High Court, over its attempt at tampering with the composition of the Gbong Gwom Jos Traditional Council.
The state governor had created two traditional councils out of the Jos Traditional Council, which did not go down well with the Berom nation, and then filed a case challenging such action.
Consequently, the court on May 23 issued an interim injunction stopping Lalong from tampering with the composition of the Gbong Gwom Jos Traditional Council.
Joined in the suit are Plateau State Government as the 1st defendant, while the state attorney general and commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs are second and third defendants respectively.
Others are the chairman of Jos North Local Government and the chairman of Riyom Local Government.
When the case came up for hearing on Tuesday, Chairman through his Counsel, Mr. Titus Mann, announced his appearance and wish to join in the case as a co-defendant.
“My lord, l am Titus Mann, counsel, to the Ataa Aten of Ganawuri, who wish to be joined as a co-defender in this matter. We have already filed our processes with a motion on notice to join in the case,” Mann announced.
Mr. Edward Pwajok, SAN, the plaintiffs’ lead counsel, had earlier told the court that the case was for hearing, but that he had received three different motions from the defendants.
“My lord, we have a motion on notice that we hope to move today, but for the three motions we have just been served with, we cannot go on simply because we need to study them and reply to them. While one of the motions seeks for the setting aside of the interim injunction this court had issued, another is seeking for an extension of time to reply to our motion on notice.
“The third one is the motion on notice by Mr. Titus Mann seeking to join on behalf of the Ataa Aten of Ganawuri as co-defender. Your lordship, in view of the fact that there is the need for us to formally reply to these processes in the interest of justice, we hereby apply for a very short adjournment during which we would have responded to all the processes,” Pwajok stated.
Responding, the Attorney-General, Mr. Chrysanthus Ahmadu, counsel to the defendants, who was represented by Mrs. Rauta Dakota, a director in the Justice Ministry, said: “That’s the true position of things, my lord.”
“We have filed two motions; one seeking for an extension of time to reply to plaintiffs motion on notice and the second asking the court to set aside the interim injunction it issued to the plaintiffs.
“Therefore, we are not objecting to the application for an adjournment,” she said.
Pwajok, however, notified the court of the interim injunction which he said still subsist pending the determination of the case.
After listening to the parties involved, Justice Dabup adjourned the case to June 24 for hearing.
The state government had on May 14 carved Riyom and Jos North Traditional Councils out of the Jos Joint Traditional Council.
The creation of the two councils left the Jos Joint Traditional Council with only two local governments – Jos and Barkin-Ladi – instead of the former four.
The state government also announced that the Attaa Aten of Ganawuri would chair the Riyom Traditional Council, while the Ujah of Anaguta would head the Jos North Traditional Council.

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target=_blank>Trial Of Former FCT Minister Akinjide Suffers Setback

Ex-Minister Jumoke Akinjide

Sahara Reporters Media

Re-arraignment of a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide over alleged money laundering could not take place on Tuesday as a result of prosecution’s request that the case should be returned to the previous judge.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Akinjide alongside two chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ayo Adeseun and Olarenwaju Otiti.
The commission charged them on an amended 24 counts bordering on N650 million fraud and money laundering.
The defendants were first arraigned before Justice Muslim Hassan before whom they all pleaded not guilty, and were granted bail.
The trial began before Hassan, with witnesses being led in evidence, but midway into a trial-within-trial, the case was transferred to Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke at the instance of defence.
The case was then adjourned until June 11 for re-arraignment of the defendants.
When the case was called on Tuesday before Aneke, the defendants mounted the dock, and Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) announced appearance for the first defendant (Akinjide). while Mr U.U. Buhari announced appearance for the EFCC.
Buhari then orally applied to the court for a transfer of the case back to Hassan.
However, Ayorinde raised an objection to the application, describing it as ‘ambush’.
Ayorinde argued that the prosecution ought to have made the application formal before the court and served it on the defence for it to reply.
He prayed the court to refuse the application, saying that it should be brought properly.
His submission was adopted by other defence counsel.
At this point, EFCC lead counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo walked into the courtroom and also announced appearance for prosecution.
Oyedepo argued that by the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, an application for transfer of a partly heard case must not be in writing.
He added that the case had already advanced to trial and parties at the stage of a trial-within-trial before the case was transferred.
“Whether rightly or wrongly, this matter is going through turbulence; a case of 2016. Why should we start afresh?” he asked.
In a ruling, Aneke upheld the submission of defence that the oral application was like `ambush’. He ordered the EFCC to bring a formal application to that effect.
The court adjourned the case until June 26 for hearing.
The EFCC accused the defendants of unlawfully receiving money from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the build-up to the 2015 General Elections.
The money was said to have formed part of a total sum of $115 million allegedly disbursed by Alison-Madueke to influence the outcome of the 2015 Presidential Election.

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target=_blank>BREAKING: Mace-Snatching Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege Emerges Senate Deputy President

The lawmaker representing Delta central, Ovie Omo-Agege, has been elected deputy president of the Senate.
He secured 67 of the 107 votes in the election to defeat Ike Ekweremadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).?

Inauguration: National Assembly Management Bars Okorocha From Entering Complex

Former governor of Imo State Rochas Okorocha arrived National Assembly premises at 7:40.amon Tuesday ahead of the inauguration but was denied accreditation.
Okorocha, who was declared the winner of the Imo West Senatorial District, was not issued a certificate of return by INEC.
However, a federal high court in Abuja last week ordered that he be given his return certificate.
It was, however, gathered that Okorocha was not accredited by the National Assembly management to attend the inauguration.
It was not clear if INEC had complied with the court’s directive.

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SaharaReporters, New York

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