• Nov 28,2023.

The Chief Justice Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has reiterated the judiciary’s determination not to be overwhelmed by the sentiments of the “mob” in their decisions.

Naija247News reports that following the rulings on electoral disputes, which led to the sacking of some governors and lawmakers, many have accused judges of bias, especially with the controversies that trailed the “errors” observed in the certified true copy of the judgment of the Court of Appeal that sacked Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.

But revered constitutional lawyer, Professor Auwalu Yadudu has said while “Cacophony of unfounded allegations of corruption against the judiciary and insinuations of bias in their various decisions” justified the position of the CJN, it is imperative for judges to be warned to avoid embarrassing the judicial institution with careless slips and avoidable errors.

Speaking at the opening of the special session of the 2023/2024 legal year and the swearing-in of 58 newly conferred Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) on Monday, CJN Ariwoola asked judges to remain firm.

He said, “I expect every judicial officer to work very hard and also be very honest and courteous to the litigants, witnesses and members of the bar, and discharge all your judicial functions with all the humility at your command.

“Even while doing this, it is still necessary to have at the back of your mind that public opinions, sentiments or emotions can never take the place of the law in deciding the cases that come before you.

The law remains the law, no matter whose interest is involved. In all we do, as interpreters of the law, we should endeavour to severe the strings of emotion from logic and assumption from fact.

“We should never be overwhelmed by the actions or loud voices of the mob or crowd and now begin to confuse law with sentiment or something else in deciding our cases.

“Nevertheless, unnecessary and unwarranted utterances are bound to embarrass not only others, but the judge himself; thus, what should be asked, should be asked, and what should not be asked, should be avoided.”

The CJN pledged his commitment to safeguard the rule of law, the holistic independence of the judiciary and the trust and confidence of the public.

The CJN further assured that soon the apex court would enjoy its full complement of 21 justices to break the jinx of its inability to meet the constitutional requirement.

He said the Supreme Court received 1,271 cases comprising motions and appeals between September 12, 2022 and July 11, 2023.

Out of these, the apex court heard 388 political appeals, 215 criminals appealed and 464 civil appeals, while it also considered a total of 49 criminal motions, 153 civil motions, and 2 political motions.

He said within the same period, the apex court delivered a total of 251 judgments, out of which 125 were political appeals, 81 were civil appeals and 45 were criminal appeals and 91 rulings.(www.naija247news.com)

Nov 28,2023.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will, on Wednesday, present the 2024 budget to the joint session of the National Assembly.

Secretary, Research and Information of the National Assembly, Dr Ali Barde Umoru, confirmed this on Monday to journalists while requesting the list of those to be allowed into the chamber during the budget presentation.

This will be the first budget estimate President Tinubu will present to the National Assembly in person.

He had earlier transmitted two supplementary budgets, 2022 and 2023, to the National Assembly, which the parliament speedily approved.

President Tinubu had, weeks ago, also forwarded to both chambers of the National Assembly, the 20224-2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) where the sum of N26.1 trillion was proposed as the total expenditure for the 2024 fiscal year.

The Senate, following the recommendation of its joint committee, which scrutinised the document, approved the MTEF/FSP.

It approved the N26.1trn proposed as the 2024 budget and other parameters as proposed by President Tinubu.

It approved the new borrowings of N7.8 trillion, pegged the benchmark of oil price for 2024 at $73.96, and oil production volume per day at 1.78 million barrels.

Other parameters approved are a GDP growth rate of 3.76%, an inflation rate of 21.40%, an exchange rate of N700 to $1 dollar, and a projected budget deficit of N9.04 trillion.(www.naija247news.com)

Nov 28,2023.

A cross-section of politicians from the North Central zone of the country, on Monday, decried alleged exclusion of indigenous people from the six states that make up the zone from key federal government roles under the present administration led by President Bola Tinubu.

The politicians, under the aegis of the North Central Development Initiative (NCDI), specifically said nobody from the zone has been considered in the national security architecture of the country and the leadership of the National Assembly.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Director-General and National Coordinator of NCDI, Musa Otigba (Kogi State), added that there was also currently no judge representing the region at the Supreme Court.

Otigba was flanked by Mohammed Alabi (Kwara State), Director, Administration; Dominic Alancha (Benue State), Bashir Bago (Niger State), Juliana Aliyu (Plateau State), and Hannatu Aboki (Nasarawa State).

Others were David Ismaila (FCT). Oluseyi Sunday, (Kogi State) Babatunde Ahmed, (Kwara State), Teghtegh Fabian (Benue State) and Dr Zubairu Abdullahi, (Niger State).

According to him, the situation was worrisome, especially considering the myriad of security challenges being faced in the region, including “all kinds of banditry and other sundry crimes.”

He stated that they were worried that a government they worked so hard to enthrone against all odds, had decided to neglect the region and its people within such a short period of time.(www.naija247news.com)

Nov 28,2023.

Edo State Deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, has declared his intention to contest the 2024 governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The deputy governor made his declaration at the Biohop Kelly Centre, Benin City, on Monday morning.

He said as a “home boy” who has felt the pains of the people, he is poised to develop the state.

He said he is unstoppable in the forthcoming election.

He said he had worked with Governor Godwin Obaseki in the last seven years to lay the foundation for the development of the state.

Shaibu said he was aware of the need of the greater Edo people for a more inclusive government which is “the government of the Edo people, by the Edo people, and for the Edo people”.

He said his government would be predicated on five pillars of infrastructure and economic diversification, education sport and skill development, healthcare and social welfare system, agriculture and rural development and environmental sustainability.

“I have fought the good fight for you my people, along the way, suffered humiliations and enjoyed many moments of victory but I am thankful in all things.

“I have been pressed but not crushed, persecuted but not abandoned, badly hurt but not destroyed. I resonate with the tireless and irrepressible spirit of the Edo People. By the grace of God, nothing and no one can stop us. After all, I am original Edo son, 100 per cent home boy”, Shaibu said.

Naija247News reports that Shaibu had been at loggerheads with his principal over reports that he was nursing the ambition of succeeding him, leading to Shaibu securing an order from the Federal High Court restraining the House of Assembly, Chief Judge of the state, Governor Obaseki and others from impeaching him.

As the crisis festered, Obaseki relocated Shaibu’s office outside the government house, withdrew his press crew and sacked some of his aides while he was not acknowledged in government functions he attended.

Shaibu, however, later tendered an apology and begged his principal for forgiveness and also pledged to work harmoniously with him.

His formal declaration for the governorship position has however been viewed by political pundits as reigniting the feud.

The deputy governor was billed to declare his governorship bid at the Eterno Hotel but the hotel cancelled the event at the last minute, saying Governor Obaseki had a programme at the venue at the same time.(www.naija247news.com)

Nov 28,2023.

Fresh protests yesterday erupted in Kano City and its environs with the demonstrators denouncing the recent judgment of the Court Appeal that sacked the state governor, Abba Yusuf.

While pockets of protests had taken place since the appellate court’s decision, Monday afternoon’s coordinated protests came as a surprise to many following the clampdown on some would-be protesters by the police that led to the arrest of seven people.

In what appeared like a coordinated action on Monday, crowds of protesters stormed strategic positions in the city leading to heavy traffic gridlock and temporary hiccups on commercial activities.

Major roads like Kano-Zaria Road, Maiduguri Road by Muhammadu Buhari’s interchange, and Kantin Kwari (Kano textile market) were taken over by hundreds of youths who called for justice for Abba Yusuf.

The placards they carried read: “Kano my city my state”, “Justice for Kano”, “Justice for Abba”, “Abba’s mandate was stolen in 2019, we will not allow it happen in 2023”.

The protest came on the heels of a discovery by the police that “some faceless groups are bent on unleashing violence in Kano,” stressing that the police were on top of the situation.

The state commissioner of police, Hussaini Gumel, told newsmen in Kano on Monday that already, seven suspects had been arrested and would be arraigned soon.

Gumel revealed that “we have the understanding with the leadership of the contending political parties, and they have signed a peace pact, in view of that therefore, anyone found outside this arrangement will be treated as a common criminal.”(www.naija247news.com)