News
Abuja Court asked to stop Tinubu, Akpabio, police, DSS from interfering with CCT Chair Danladi Umar’s duties
A Federal High Court in Abuja has been requested to restrain President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and other officials from using the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to impede the activities of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), particularly its Chairman, Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar.
The Police and DSS, acting under the directives of Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief, have been asked to refrain from inviting, intimidating, investigating, or subjecting any officials of the CCT, including Justice Umar, to their operations related to the Tribunal. This request is to remain in effect pending the hearing and determination of a Motion on Notice.
The ex-parte application follows a lawsuit (marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1796/2024) brought forth by two organizations and an Abuja-based attorney, who are challenging the legality of efforts to remove Justice Umar from his position without adhering to due process.
The applicants, identified as the Community Rescue Initiative, Toro Concerned Citizens & Relief Foundation, and Barrister Nasiru Bala, have filed against a broad range of defendants, including the President of Nigeria, the Attorney-General, the Senate President, and other key governmental bodies, totaling 11 defendants.
In their ex-parte application, the plaintiffs seek an interim injunction that would prevent the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) from taking steps to appoint Dr. Mainasara Umar Kogo as Chairman of the CCT until the Motion on Notice is heard.
Additionally, the applicants want the court to bar Kogo from claiming the office of CCT Chairman or obstructing the Tribunal’s functions until the ongoing legal matters are resolved. They also seek a ruling to prevent the defendants from recognizing or dealing with Kogo in any official capacity related to the CCT during this period.
The ex-parte application is based on 14 grounds asserting that the central issue concerns the alleged unlawful removal of Justice Umar as CCT Chairman. According to the plaintiffs, Umar has a direct stake in the case as he occupies the position in question.
Key points raised in their application include:
– The plaintiffs have previously filed an originating summons on November 28, 2024, addressing the validity of resolutions purportedly removing Justice Umar conducted on November 20 and 26, 2024.
– The plaintiffs point out that the 1st defendant previously announced the appointments of Kogo and another individual as CCT Chairman, despite Justice Umar’s current occupancy of that office.
– Urgent action by the court is necessary to maintain the status quo until the determination of the motion, especially given the actions of Kogo, who has reportedly begun conducting himself as the Chairman even without an official oath of office.
The plaintiffs are specifically seeking to restrain the Clerk of the National Assembly from forwarding the concurrent resolutions of the Senate and House of Representatives that allegedly remove Umar from his position. They argue that the procedures mandated by law, particularly the 1999 Constitution, were not followed in this purported removal.
Through their filings, the plaintiffs additionally request a total of seven declarative reliefs against the President and the other defendants, emphasizing the illegality and potential unconstitutionality of the actions taken against Justice Umar.
The suit has been filed by legal representatives Mahmoud M. Maidoki Esq., A.G. Salisu Esq., Jibrin S. Jibrin Baq., and Abubakar S. Idris Bag, who aim to uphold the integrity of the CCT and protect the constitutional rights of its Chairman during this contentious period.
By PRNigeria
..calls for the release of revitalization fund
..plans emergency meeting to reject money
… accuses Minister of double standard
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has faulted the federal government’s claims of releasing 50 Billion Naira to the union as Academic Earned Allowance (AEA) meant for the settlement of members of the body’s outstanding indebtedness.
ASUU said it is yet to receive any correspondence from the government relating to the widely reported release of 50 Billion as an earned allowance.
It noted that even if the reported 50 Billion were to be true, ASUU’s demand is for proper funding of the university system with the immediate implementation of the 2009 agreement bordering on the release of 220 billion naira annually as revitalization fund, and not for the release of a partly 50 Billion that fall far below expatriation.
A highly dependable source who spoke with our correspondent during a visit to the ASUU Secretariat, located within the University of Abuja campus in Giri, Gwagwalada, on an anonymous condition because he is not authorized to speak on behalf of the union, revealed that some members of the body have frowned on the claims by the federal government to have released 50 Billion Naira to the union as Earned Allowance.
He disclosed that the leadership of ASUU is already studying the development and would soon make its position public.
He, however, stated that ASUU National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke is deeply concerned over the media reports on the issue, adding that 50 Billion is grossly inadequate and wasn’t part of the demands of the union.
According to him, the union’s position is that the government should, as a matter of urgency, release 220 Billion naira annually as a universities revitalization fund and also provide about 150 billion as Earned Allowance owed to members of the union.
He further revealed that feelers from the members of the National Executive Council (NEC), the union will outrightly reject the 50 Billion Naira said to have been released as earned allowance, if it becomes clear that such money was released to the union.
The source who enjoys the privilege of attending ASUU’s NEC meetings, noted that the union is unhappy with how the government ignored it and broke the news of the release of the money to the media, whereas it’s yet to receive any Correspondence from the Ministry of Education patterning to the release of such money.
He said ASUU believed that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, was playing politics over the implementation of the 2009 agreement entered into between ASUU and the federal government.
Our source also faulted the widely reported release of 50 Billion Naira; saying that 50 Billion has never been part of its demands. ” The ideal thing is that the government should release the agreed funds for the Universities revitalization project. What we asked for as earned allowance is about 150 Billion Naira. So, how did they arrive at the 50 Billion that is said to have been released to us?’ Do not make any mistake, we will reject this. We wants need assessment projects in the universities to go on.
The projects, when completed will improve the teaching and learning environment at the campuses and solve the problem of decaying infrastructure “.
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, hosted a delegation from the United States Embassy, led by Colonel Tom Brooks, the US Defence Attaché in Nigeria, at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja on Wednesday.
This was according to a statement by the minister’s Personal Assistant for Media, Ahmad Dan-Wudil.
The statement noted that yhe discussions centred on deepening the existing military-to-military cooperation between the Nigerian Armed Forces and their US counterparts.
The meeting, held at the Ship House headquarters, underscored both nations’ commitment to enhancing defence collaboration.
Ambassador Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, alongside directors and senior military officers, also attended the talks.
A federal high court in Abuja has granted permission to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and detain six Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) promoters over allegations of investment fraud to the tune of over one billion dollars.
Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, gave the order following an ex parte application moved by Fadila Yusuf, counsel to the EFCC.
In the application by the EFCC, the six suspects are Adefowora Olanipekun, Adefowora Oluwanisola, Emmanuel Uko, Seyi Oloyede, Avwerosuo Otorudo and Chukwuebuka Ehirim.
The commission sought an order of the court for a warrant of arrest of the defendants.
They also prayed the court for “an order remanding the defendants in the custody of the complainant/applicant pending the conclusion of investigation of the alleged offences and possible prosecution”.
Yusuf said that the defendants are at large and a warrant of arrest is required to arrest the defendants for proper investigation and prosecution of this case.
In the affidavit in support of the motion, the EFCC said preliminary investigation into the intel revealed that the defendants “using their company ST Technologies International Limited, promoted another company Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) by making adverts and lured unsuspecting members of the public to invest crypto cryptocurrencies on the CBEX investment platform”.
The EFCC said the defendants promised an unrealistic return on investment of up to 100 percent.
“The victims were made to convert their digital assets into a stablecoin of USDT for onward deposit into the suspects’ crypto wallet,” Yusuf said.
“The victims were initially given full access to the platform to monitor their investment.
“Following the deposits valued at over $1 billion by the victims, the CBEX investment platform became inaccessible to them, and they could no longer withdraw from the investment made.
“The victims later discovered that the said scheme is a scam.
“During the course of investigation, it was discovered that the said ST Technologies International Limited, though registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), it was not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for investment purposes.
“It was also discovered during the investigation that the defendants had moved out of their last known address in Lagos and Ogun states.”
The anti-graft agency said obtaining a warrant of arrest was necessary in order to place the defendants on a watch list, enabling authorities to trace and apprehend the suspects to face the charges brought against them.
Nwite granted the request for a warrant of arrest and remand, adding that the order was necessary to enable the commission to apprehend the defendants and conclude its investigation.
“I have listened to the submission of the learned counsel for the applicant,” Nwite said.
“I have also gone through the affidavit evidence with exhibits thereto, along with the written address.
“I am of the view and I so hold that the application is meritorious.
“Consequently, the application is granted as prayed.”