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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
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared four individuals wanted over the alleged fraud perpetrated on crypto bridge exchange (CBEX), a trading platform.
The four suspects are Adefowora Olanipekun, Adefowora Oluwanisola, Emmanuel Uko, and Seyi Oloyede.
More to follow…
The Oodua Integrity Group, a Nigerian civil society organisation, has called on Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to investigate and arrest an alleged gun runner, land grabber,popularly called then insert Lucky Blessings Abuah aka bullets of Achala Ibusa village operating in Asaba and Ibuzor, Delta State, accusing him of orchestrating criminal activities with the aid of rogue police officers.
Tosin Olaoluwa, the group’s South-South coordinator, made the appeal following intelligence gathered from concerned residents.
The suspect, identified as Achala Ibusa but popularly known as “Bullet,” is accused of running a network involving illegal arms trafficking, land grabbing, and cult-related activities.
Olaoluwa claimed Bullet operates with the protection of police officers from Rivers State, in violation of regulations prohibiting officers from working outside their command without approval.
According to the group, four AK-47 rifles were recently discovered hidden in a house in Ibuzor.
Two mobile police officers guarding the property reportedly distanced themselves from the find, raising suspicions of their involvement with Bullet, who is allegedly a leader of the Viking cult.
The Oodua Integrity Group further alleged that an assistant commissioner of police is complicit in Bullet’s activities.
The group highlighted that up to 10 mobile police officers are attached to Bullet, despite IGP Egbetokun’s recent directive to withdraw such personnel from individuals not legally entitled to their services.
“We urge the IGP to take immediate action to arrest the culprit in the interest of the general public,” Olaoluwa said, describing Bullet as a miscreant exploiting government security agents to perpetrate crimes.
In a separate incident, the group claimed that security agents from an agency in Abuja, acting on intelligence, were prevented from arresting Bullet by his police escorts.
The officers, reportedly from Rivers State, allegedly used tear gas and fired shots to obstruct the operation.
The Oodua Integrity Group warned that Bullet’s activities, including stockpiling AK-47s and other weapons in Asaba and Ibuzor, pose a significant threat to public safety.
They called for a thorough investigation into the allegations and the immediate apprehension of those involved.
The Nigeria Police Force has yet to respond to the allegations. Efforts to reach a spokesperson for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
The competition and consumer protection tribunal has upheld the $220 million fine imposed on Meta Platforms Incorporated by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
In a statement on Friday by Ondaje Ijagwu, the agency’s director for corporate affairs, FCCPC said the tribunal also awarded $35,000 to the commission as the cost of investigation.
On July 19, 2024, FCCPC imposed a fine of $220 million on Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, for multiple data privacy violations.
However, Meta said it would appeal the fine.
The case stemmed from a 38-month joint investigation by the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) into the privacy practices and consumer data policies of WhatsApp and Meta.
Delivering judgment on Thursday in Abuja, the tribunal led by Thomas Okosun ruled that the FCCPC acted within its constitutional and statutory powers in investigating and sanctioning the companies for alleged anti-competitive and exploitative practices.
The tribunal dismissed the appeals filed by Meta and WhatsApp, which challenged the legal basis of the commission’s findings and orders.
Instead, it upheld the commission’s position on nearly all contested issues.
Gbolahan Elias (SAN) led WhatsApp and Meta’s legal teams, while Babatunde Irukera led the FCCPC’s legal team.
According to the statement, both teams had made their final arguments on behalf of their respective clients on January 28.
‘FCCPC ADHERED TO DUE PROCESS’
The tribunal, in its ruling, found that the FCCPC adhered to due process and acted within the law.
It resolved issues one to seven primarily in favour of the commission.
“The Tribunal resolved Issues 1 to 7 largely in favour of the FCCPC, dismissing the appellants’ objections to the Commission’s findings, orders, and legal competence,” the statement reads.
“One of the central issues (Issue 3), which alleged a breach of fair hearing, was decided in favour of the Commission, with the Tribunal affirming that the FCCPC fully discharged its quasi-judicial responsibilities by affording the appellants ample opportunity to respond.
“The Tribunal found no violation of constitutional due process.
“On Issue 4, which questioned the Commission’s powers in data protection and privacy, the Tribunal held that the FCCPC acted within its statutory mandate, reaffirming its authority under Section 104 of the FCCPA to regulate competition and consumer protection even in regulated industries.
“On Issue 5, which challenged the Commission’s findings regarding Meta’s privacy policies, the tribunal also resolved in the FCCPC’s favour.
“The Tribunal found no error in the Commission’s conclusions and held that the privacy policy in question did, in fact, offend Nigerian law.
“While issue 7 was largely resolved in favour of the commission, the tribunal set aside Order 7 of the commission’s final order, stating that it lacked sufficient legal basis.”
Commenting on the judgment, Tunji Bello, executive vice chairman (EVC) and chief executive officer (CEO) of the FCCPC, welcomed the ruling, describing it as a landmark judgment reinforcing the commission’s mandate to protect consumers and ensure fair market practices.
He commended the commission’s legal team for their diligence.
Bello reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to enforcing the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) in line with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.