National
Coalition To NJC: Investigate Tribunals, Appeal Court Decisions On Zamfara, Plateau, Kano Elections
A coalition of youth groups and non- governmental organisations in the South-South geopolitical zone of the country, has called on the National Judicial Council (NJC), to launch investigation into the decision of the Election Petition Tribunals and the Court of Appeal, as it affects Zamfara, Plateau and Kano States.
Some of the youth groups and NGOs include; the South-South Routine Movement (SSRM), the Delta Youth Movement for Good Governance (DYMGG) and the Bayelsa Routine Movement (BRM).
Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, spokeman of the coalition, Podoki Austin, said the decision of the courts in the three states constitute an existential security threat to the country.
Austin said: “The judiciary must immensely look inwards to correct the impression that Nigerians have about them. The National Judicial Council must investigate all that occurred with the Tribunals and Court of Appeal in Zamfara and Plateau cases and especially with the Kano State gubernatorial Appeal Court decision.
“Even to us as youths in the South-South, it is glaringly clear that the contradictory nature of the lead judgement in the Kano appeal case is scandalous and is an indicator to what the people of Nigeria see about the judiciary.
“A couple of paragraphs and sentences cannot be defined as clerical error. Nigerians may keep quiet but we are not fools. Here we believe and see that there has been great and high level injustice; injustice in high places.
“We humbly sound a note of warning to the three arms of government at the federal level, especially, the executive and judicial arms. As Senator Shehu Sani stated on his X (Twitter) page, there is a grenade about to go off and we say, the fingers of the judiciary and the presidency are on the pin.
“Please, handle with care. We say this because the decision of the courts in these three volatile states constitute an existential security threat to the country. With the existing theatres that military are bravely tied down at the moment, we do not feel it is wise to open other chapters.”
President Bola Tinubu articulated on Thursday the rationale behind his administration’s economic reforms, saying the primary motive was protecting the interests of future generations.
“For 50 years, Nigeria was spending money of generations yet unborn and servicing the West coast of our subregion with fuel. It was getting difficult to plan for our children’s future,” he said.
He made these remarks at the State House in Abuja while receiving a delegation of former National Assembly colleagues from the aborted Third Republic, during which he served as a Senator representing Lagos West.
The president highlighted the challenges faced at the beginning of his administration, especially economic and social issues, and expressed his gratitude for the delegation’s support in addressing these difficulties:
“We faced serious headwinds when I took over, very challenging times. Nigeria would have been bankrupt if we had not taken the actions that we took, and we had to prevent the economy’s collapse.
President Tinubu declared that the administration had been able to stem the tide and expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their collective support in turning things around.
“Today, we are sitting pretty on a good foundation. We have reversed the problem; the Exchange rate is stabilising. Food prices are coming down, especially during Ramadan. We will have light at the end of the tunnel.”
He said firm adherence to democratic tenets is the best route to economic, social, and political development.
“I am happy that you are holding to your belief in democracy. I thank you for keeping faith and remembering how we started. Some people missed the ball.
“Some leadership failed, but we kept the faith with our democratic beliefs and freedom and the right to aspire to the highest office in the land. I am benefitting from it.”
Emmanuel Nwaka, who spoke on behalf of the group, expressed his delight at some of the programmes that the Tinubu administration had implemented, especially the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) and at what the two organisations were offering Nigerians.
“I appreciate you for what you are giving to students because the student population is the largest demographic in the country. I’ve spoken with many of them, and many have benefited from it.
“And the next one is the CREDICORP. That’s a major way of fighting corruption. You see a young man, you come out of school, you want to buy a car, you have to put down cash, you want to buy a house, and you are not married, but with the CREDICORP, you can get things done. I’m following their activities; we are delighted,” Mr Nwaka, a former senator, said.
Other delegation members were Bako Musa, Terwase Orbunde, Wasiu Logun, Amina Aliyu, Obi Anoliefo and Eze Nwauwa.
The Senate has passed a vote of confidence in its President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, reaffirming its support for his leadership amid recent controversies.
This followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti) and seconded by Deputy Minority Leader Olalere Oyewumi (PDP-Osun) during Thursday’s plenary.
In his motion of urgent national importance, Bamidele cited Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Rules, emphasising that Akpabio had demonstrated effective leadership since the inauguration of the 10th Senate despite the controversy surrounding allegations of sexual harassment.
Addressing concerns over Akpabio’s handling of a petition referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Bamidele clarified that the matter had nothing to do with sexual harassment.
“Some critics have accused this Senate of allowing Akpabio to preside over his matter. However, the issue before us was strictly about a motion referred to the Ethics Committee,” Bamidele stated.
He urged Nigerians to recognise that the Senate operates within the framework of the law, not personal biases.
“We are guided by rules, not the whims of individuals. This is not about a group of men conspiring against a woman but ensuring our rules are respected. That is the only way we can guarantee peace, law, and order,” he added.
Bamidele further dismissed claims that the Senate lacked the authority to suspend a member, stating that legal interpretations would ultimately confirm the Senate’s position.
He urged Nigerians not to be distracted by the sexual harassment allegations, noting that the matter was already before the courts.
“While we acknowledge public concern, we remain focused on our legislative duties. There are pressing matters that require our attention for the good of the country,” he said.
According to him, the Senate will continue to work alongside the executive to improve economic conditions and promote democratic participation.
“Our priority is to bring economic stability and development to Nigerians. We will not be sidetracked,” he affirmed.
In his response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio thanked his colleagues for their support and emphasised that the 10th Senate remains united in its commitment to national progress.
He also accused Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of misrepresenting her suspension at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting, stating that she embarrassed the country with a misleading narrative.
ASharia Court in Kano State on Wednesday ordered a 29-year-old man, Abduljabar Nura, to be remanded in a corrections centre for stabbing his neighbour over an electricity bill.
The police charged Mr Nura, who lives in Fagge Quarters in Kano, with causing grievous hurt.
When the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded guilty to the offence.
The judge, Umar Lawal-Abubakar, ordered that the defendant should be remanded in the Goron Dutse Correctional Centre in Kano until April 15 for sentencing.
The prosecution counsel, Zahradeen Abubakar, told the court that Haruna Kasim, the complainant, reported the matter at the Fagge police station on February 28.
He alleged that the defendant and Mr Kasim had an altercation over an electricity bill.
The police said that the defendant stabbed the complainant with a pair of scissors on his back.