NIGERIAN NOTCH

Legal luminaries have declared that the fact that some judges are married to top politicians does not necessarily obstruct the dispensation of justice to aggrieved citizens. They made this assertion yesterday following the request by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Court of Appeal president, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, to recuse herself from the presidential election petition tribunal hearing Alhaji Atiku’s challenge of the outcome of the last presidential election won by President Muhammadu Buhari. The PDP had based its argument on the fact that  Justice Bulkachuwa’s husband , Adamu Mohammed Bulkachwa, is a  senator-elect for Bauchi North Senatorial district on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).  In a letter to Justice Bulkachuwa on Thursday, the PDP insisted that her family interest – her husband belonging to and supporting the president’s party – would impede the wheel of justice for the PDP quest to obtain justice from ...

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday gave a clue into the direction his administration will take in the next four years when he declared that the practice of true federalism is imperative in the country. He said that to advance Nigeria’s democratic development, the country must embrace true federalism. The president took this position when he received an award of appreciation from the Progressives Governors Forum at the presidential villa, Abuja. Buhari asserted that the time had come to build bridges across divide for the sake of an indivisible country. According to him, “we remain committed to improving the  welfare of the Nigerian people. Your Excellencies, it will be belaboring the point to say that true federalism is necessary at this juncture of our political and democratic evolution. “At a time when some few privileged individuals and groups have chosen to exploit and manipulate the ethnic and religious fault lines for seeking personal and partisan advantage, we need...

Breaks record with 347 scores Won’t be admitted in Unilag, his choice of school due to age, says JAMB Registrar Trailed by 16 year old boy who scored 346 Both two leading candidates from Imo, Abia states  As the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, released the results of the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, UTME, a 15-year-old boy from Abia State emerged the best candidate by scoring 347 marks considered as the highest by board. JAMB Similar, a 16-year-old boy from Abia State came second by scoring 346 marks just as a 17 year old from Osun State trailed behind with 345, considered by the board as the third best result in the 2019 UTME. But the Registrar of JAMB, Prof Ishaq Oloyode, who announced this at a media briefing, Saturday, however, said the best candidate may not be admitted in the University of Lagos,which he chose as his first choice because of age.  He gave the names of the three best candidates as Ekene Franklin: Igban Emmanue...

The Presidency has described as an ‘absolute falsehood’ the allegation that the Federal Government gave N100billion to Miyetti Allah, an association of Fulani herders, for ‘dubious reasons’. Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja on Friday. The presidential aide was reacting to comments credited to Ohaneze Ndigbo and Afenifere, who expressed concern about the meeting between the government and Miyetti Allah. He said: ” We are pleased that Afenifere and Ohaneze Ndigbo found our insights worthy of attention even when they disagreed with our view that they, as socio-cultural associations, represent same interests as Miyetti Allah, an association of Fulani herders.  ”Miyetti Allah, like any other trade, community, ethnic organization or interest group is a legal stakeholder in our nation and should be respected. ”We maintain that the government needs to engage all stakeholders and seek partnership in building our c...

   A Kano High Court sitting at Ungogo on Friday granted an order restraining Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje from taking any action to legitimize the four new emirates he created. The four new emirates are Rano, Bichi, Gaya and Karaye. The order followed a suit filed by one Rabi’u Sule-Gwarzo challenging the decision of the governor to create the four additional emirates in the state. The presiding Judge, Justice Nasiru Saminu, gave an interim injunction directing all parties involved in the suit to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. Justice Saminu, also gave an order directing the state governor and Government Printer to stop the publication and release of the law that created the four new emirates.  The Plaintiff in the suit is Rabiu Sule-Gwarzo while Kano State House of Assembly Speaker is the first defendant. Similarly, the Kano state House of Assembly is second defendant, Clerk Kano state House of Assembly is the third...

THE acting Inspector General of Police,IGP Mohammed Adamu, yesterday, charged commanders of the Special Anti-robbery Squad,SARS,and other special units of the Nigeria Police Force,to take war against violent criminals to their door step. He, however,warned that any officer that was involved in extra-judicial killing and abuse of power would not only be held accountable for his action but also risks losing his job as well as facing criminal prosecution. The police chief also disclosed that his administration was exploring the option of installing Close Circuit Cameras,CCTV on strategic points with a view to complement the crime fighting efforts of the Nigeria Police. Adamu,spoke during interactive session with officers in charge of SARS,anti-kidnapping squad and other special units,at the Force Headquarters. “Consequently, as I charge you to rededicate yourselves to your duties by taking the war against violent criminals to their door steps, I also strongly warn you all that this must ...

The National Working Committee, NWC, of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, has berated those accusing the party’s National Chairman, Chief Victor Oye of alleged embezzlement, denying that such thing ever existed in the party. A member of NWC, Chief Godwin Udu, who spoke Vanguard in Abuja, condemned party members behind current slogan of “Oye refund and resign”, who he described as enemies of the party. The Deputy National Secretary of the party however challenged any APGA members who gave money to Dr. Oye to come up with such proof. He said most of people shouting this slogan are not genuine members of APGA, but political prostitute who are neither here nor there. Udu, who lost in the 2019 election to represent Afikpo North West in Ebonyi State House of Assembly, noted that, no aspirant that purchase nomination forms under the party would have moral or legal right to request for refund of such money. He said, “Which money Oye should refund? Which money did they give to him? They bou...

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, met with security chiefs on the security situation in the country and ordered  them to redouble their efforts to secure the lives of Nigerians. The President’s charge came on a day Acting Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, rolled out new counter-kidnapping operational strategies in continuation of efforts of the Nigeria Police Force to speedily bring to an end the current internal security challenges facing the country. President Buhari gave the directive after meeting behind closed doors with heads of security agencies in the country at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ibok Ekwe-Ibas, said the number of kidnapping across the country has dropped. Admiral Ibas said he and other security chiefs at the meeting briefed the President on the proliferation of small arms and what the various agencies were doing to curtail the consequences of the developmen...

The Commisioner of Police, Anambra Command, Mr Dan Daura has lauched Operation Puff Adder, at Okpoko Divisional Police Station Ontisha, which is aimed at stepping up police operations in and around the state with an aim at flushing out miscreants and criminals from the State. He said that, ``we assure peace, to the law abiding residents and visitors to the state for them to enjoy lasting peace and safety.’’ ``It is significant that we have chosen to launch this Operation in the commercial city of Onitsha as the command is resolute in its drive to make the city safe for residents. ``We shall extend this operation to every nook and cranny of Anambra State, so that every  'onye Anambra’ can sleep comfortably and engage in their lawful activities in secure atmosphere. The operation, an initiative of the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr M A Adamu, seeks to bring to the barest minimum the issue of crime in all states of the federation. Speaking at th...

From Edward Uduak Lawmakers in Imo State during thursday plenary suspended 27 elected chairmen of the various Local Government Areas in the state. The motion for immediate suspension of the chairmen was moved by Chika Madumere (Nkwerre),which was unanimously supported by all the lawmakers present in the plenary. The sponsoring the motion, Hon. Chika Madumere   accused the chairmen of failing to appear before them, to explain on how they have been running the affiars of their LGAs financially. According to Madumere, the suspended chairmen disobeyed the legislature by failing to properly honour invitations sent to them on several occasions. One of the suspended chairmen who craved anonminity   confirmed the development to our correspondent in a telephone conversation, while saying that it was uncalled for. He opined that the Legislature cannot just suspend them without any just cause He,   told our correspondent that the suspended chairmen were meeting to r...

The executive governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has commended Airtel Nigeria, for upgrading and modernising its network infrastructure in Enugu as well as rolling out its 4G services. Ugwuanyi spoke while a team of Airtel employees led by its regional operations director, South Region, Dapo Dosunmu, paid him a courtesy visit at the State House.  He thanked Airtel for modernising its network, noting that the initiative would help boost personal productivity, trade and commerce as well as provide solid platforms for people to become successful in their respective endeavours. The governor later attended a consumer launch event at the Airtel regional office on Tuesday, May 7, in Enugu, where he formally launched Airtel’s network 4G services in the State. While thanking the governor for his support and for creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, Dapo Dosunmu, Regional Operations Director, South Region, who represented the chief executive officer ...