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Court rejects EFCC’s additional proof of evidence on Emefiele’s trial
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Abuja, has rejected the additional proof of evidence brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele in the alleged procurement fraud trial brought against him.
The additional proof of evidence filed on October 15, 2024 by the EFCC was seeking to introduce fresh evidence against Emefiele, more than 365 days when the charges against him was filed.
It also sought to bring two witnesses, Tommy Odama John and Ifeanyi Omeke, whose extra judicial statements were made in August 2024, in respect of the charge that had been filed in August 2023.
Delivering ruling on Thursday in a motion on notice filed by Emefiele to object to the action of the EFCC, Justice Hamza Muazu held that the anti-graft agency had on February 12, 2024, first filed additional proof of evidence against the former CBN governor to accommodate the evidence of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha and one Bamayi Haruna Mairiga.
The judge who noted that the charge against Emefiele was filed since August 14, 2023 and his plea taking on November 16, 2023, said that the action of the EFCC had a resemblance of denial of fair trial because the former governor of CBN was not confronted with the new evidence during investigation as required by law.
Justice Muazu said that the action of EFCC amounted to trial by ambush and a clear case of fishing for evidence in the trial that commenced since November 28, 2023.
In the ruling, the judge agreed that allowing the additional proof of evidence after the charge had been amended severally was prejudicial to the defendant, as his right to fair hearing is being breached.
Justice Muaza held that the position of the law, is that the charge was filed upon the completion of investigation and prima facie case established against any defendant in a criminal matter, adding that in the instant case, the contrary is the case.
The judge however, declined to strike out the charge for being a product of incomplete or ongoing investigation and therefore speculative as claimed by Emefiele.
Justice Muaza said that the charge cannot be struck down because both the defendant and the prosecution had joined issues with each other and trial almost completed.
The judge that having gone so far, justice would be served if the trial is completed on its merit and final judgment delivered in the matter.
He also declined to expunge the evidence of Boss Mustapha and Bamayi Haruna Mairiga from the court records as requested by Emefiele that the evidence of the two witnesses offended Section 36 (2) of the 1999 Constitution on fair hearing.
Emefiele had in the motion argued by his lead counsel, Mr Mathew Burkaa, SAN complained that the evidence of Mustapha and Mairiga were brought to court by EFCC without confronting him with their extra judicial statements made long after the trial had commenced.
Meanwhile, Justice Muaza has fixed June 3, for continuation of trial in the charge marked: FCT/HC/CR/577/2023.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has announced that all full-time Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates will now be mobilised for the National Youth Service (NYSC).
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Folasade Boriowo.
Boriowo quoted Alausa as saying that after discussions with the Director-General of NYSC, only full-time HND graduates were eligible and could thereafter proceed with their mobilisation.
This development, he said, marked a major breakthrough for full-time HND graduates who were previously excluded from the NYSC programme.
According to him, it underscores the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to equity, fairness, and inclusivity in the nation’s education system.
“However, those who did HND part-time are not eligible for mobilisation at all.
“To facilitate a seamless mobilisation process, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to expedite the collation of data for eligible HND graduates.
“In line with this, a circular has been sent to all Rectors of Polytechnics, instructing them to upload the necessary graduate data onto the newly created HND admission portal,” he said.
Alausa emphasised that NYSC mobilisation was strictly for those who completed a full-time HND programme.
He stressed that only full-time HND graduates would be mobilised, while those who did HND part-time remained ineligible.
He further disclosed that the newly created portal would ensure proper documentation of full-time HND graduates.
He added that this would also serve as the official database for NYSC mobilisation, addressing past challenges related to admission records.
The minister urged all eligible full-time HND graduates to take full advantage of this opportunity and proceed with their mobilisation without delay.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering equal opportunities for all qualified Nigerian graduates and ensuring their contributions to national development through the NYSC scheme. (NAN)
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) on Thursday advocated true autonomy for Local Governments(LGs), saying it will help in managing and solving security challenges facing the country.
Former ALGON President and member of Board of Trustees (BOT), Hon. Ibrahim Dasuki, said this at a news conference, organised shortly after an emergency meeting of the Executive Council, Board of Trustees (BOT) and past Presidents of ALGON in Abuja.
Dasuki said the local governments and traditional institutions have a key role to play in security matters as the security challenges were mostly happened at local government levels.
“If you look at the security challenges we are facing in Nigeria, virtually in every zone are local in nature, it does not happen in the city, be it insurgency, banditry and others are mostly happened at local government levels.
“Why is it so, it is because of the failure of the local government system. If you could look back to the history, our local governments played key roles in ensuring peace and security especially the responsibilities given to traditional institutions.
“Over times, there were reforms, especially in 1976. In the north, we had a native authority, and Emir was a leader then. Whoever comes to town and city, he must be registered, he must be known.”
Dasuki recalled that due to the reforms, the government split the native authority with the emirate system.
He said this created a vacuum in terms of checkmating who goes in and out, resulting to missing link in the operation of local governments.
According to him, unless and until we go back and look at the older system, the security challenges bedeviling the country will be found difficult to address.
“You can deploy number of security personnel, and use whatever weapons, but so long as you don’t have structure, you can have some achievements in the short term but it cannot be sustained, you will see reemergence again.
“I will like to call on the government to look at the local government’s role in security matters.
“It is imperative because despite the fact that there is security committee comprising all the security agencies, we have to incorporate traditional institutions to the system so that they play a key role in solving security challenges.”
He also commended the Supreme Court judgment on LGs financial autonomy currently implemented by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“We have happy that things have started to change with the Supreme Court judgment because the Supreme court has not left any stone unturned regarding the proper administration of local government.
“It (judgment) talks about the financial autonomy, administrative autonomy and political autonomy. The financial autonomy had been granted long time ago through signing of Executive Order by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“President Bola Tinubu is currently implementing the Supreme Court judgment on the financial autonomy, and also administrative autonomy.
“The political aspect is also being done by the National Assembly as the NASS lawmakers were directed to look at those key areas so that true autonomy of local government can be achieved.
“So, if that can be done and achieved over a period of time, I believe that some of the security challenges we are seeing can be managed and probably resolved in due time,” he said
Also speaking, Hon. Odunayo Ategbero, BOT Chairman of ALGON, commended the Implementation Committee on LGs Financial Autonomy for making a laudable progress in spite of its challenges.
Ategbero said, “Our focus of discussion remains the Supreme Court judgment of July 11, 2024 which granted the financial autonomy to the local governments in Nigeria.
“We are aware that the Federal Government has set up an implementation committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.”
According to him, this implementation committee has commenced its implemention. So, we want to report that so far so good we are impressed in the way they are handling the implementation.
“In spite of bottlenecks, I want to believe that they are making progress. There are pressure on this committee not to implement the Supreme Court judgment based on sentiment and personal issue but the committee is patriotic by resisting these pressure that are mounting.
“Steady progress is being made because they have actually instructed the local governments across the country to go and open account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) so that there will be seamless implementation of getting allocation directly.
“So, we need to commend them because if they have yielded to pressure, there would not have been made such a progress.
“They asked local governments to go and open accounts at the CBN. And it is only when the accounts open at CBN, the money can transfer to that accounts for local governments to do grassroots projects.” (NAN)
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has pledged to cover all medical expenses for the victims of Wednesday’s accident near Karu Bridge along the Abuja-Keffi Expressway.
Wike stated this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Mr Lere Olayinka.
Sympathising with the victims, Wike described the accident as “avoidable.”
“It was painful that precious lives were lost, and vehicles were destroyed in an accident that could have been avoided,” he said.
He condoled the families of those who lost their lives and directed continued treatments of those who sustained injuries.
The minister said he had directed the Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe to ensure prompt treatment of the injured.
“Following my directive, Fasawe visited Asokoro District Hospital on Thursday morning and was part of the medical team that attended to the 17 casualties brought to the facility.”
“She informed me that after initial stabilisation, seven were referred to the National Hospital, while six with minor injuries were treated successfully,” Wike said.
He further explained that three victims suffering from severe burns, inhalation, and crush injuries were still receiving treatment at the hospital.
“Regrettably, one of the casualties with third-degree burns passed away while undergoing resuscitation,” he added.
Wike emphasised the need for stricter adherence to traffic regulations, particularly by heavy-duty vehicle drivers, urging them to be cautious and comply with speed limits.
He also called on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant agencies to intensify efforts to enforce traffic laws and ensure the safety of road users.