Ooops... Error 404
Sorry, but the page you are looking for doesn't exist.
You can go to the HOMEPAGE
OUR LATEST POSTS
Court dismisses Agunloye’s suit against EFCC, awards N500,000 fine
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, dismissed a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Dr Olu Agunloye, former Minister of Power and Steel under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a judgment, awarded a fine of N500,000 against Agunloye for filing a suit that failed to prove the alleged breach of his rights by the EFCC.
Justice Egwuatu held that though it was within the ex-minister’s right to file a suit, he said the instant case was an attempt to shield himself from the criminal investigation and an act to make the court interfere with the mandate of the commission to invite him for integration pursuant to Sections 6 and 7 of the EFCC Act.
The judge, who commended the anti-graft agency for its civility in handling the matter, said: “in totality, I am unable to see any breach of the applicant’s right to personal liberty, freedom of movement, ” etc.
Agunloye had, in the originating motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/863/2023 dated and filed June 27, 2023, by his lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, sought seven reliefs.
He sought a declaration that his continuous invitation, interview and interrogation by the anti-graft agency in connection wth the award of contract to Messr Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) by the Federal Government of Nigeria, which contract is subject of ongoing arbitral reference between SPTCL v. Federal Government of Nigeria — ICC Case No: 26260/SPN/AB/CPB; which duty was performed by him in his official capacity as the Minister of Power and Steel and approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria at the material time, was arbitrary, malicious, unconstitutional and unlawful.
He said it constituted a gross violation of his rights right to dignity of human person, personal liberty and freedom of movement and therefore contrary to...
Strike: Academic activities disrupted in UniAbuja
Academic activities were on Monday temporarily disrupted in University of Abuja as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) commenced a seven-day warning strike.
The protesting workers blocked the entrance to the university, preventing students and others from going inside.
Mr Nureden Yusuf, SSANU Branch Chairman while addressing newsmen, said the strike was to protest their four months withheld salaries.
According to Yusuf, the union were on strike to draw the attention of the government to the state of the universities.
“You may recall that one of the contentious issues why we went on strike in 2022 was that of the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.
“That agreement ought to be renegotiated every three years and now we are in 2024, that is fourteen years after the last agreement, it is yet to be renegotiated.
“Also, we are talking about withheld salaries which President Bola Tinubu in October. 2023 gracefully agreed that it should be paid to us.
“Our counterparts in Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had been paid their four months salaries, but, we are yet to receive our salaries.
“NASU and SSANU are unions of professionals. We oil the wheel of the university system,” he said.
According to Yusuf, apart from teaching, there were other activities carried out by SSANU and NASU members in the university system.
Yusuf said that the unions would be shutting down all essential services including security unit, healthcare services, water supply, transportation unit, electricity.
Also, Mrs Sadiya Hassan, Chairperson of NASU, University of Abuja, branch, said that it was imperative that the Federal Government paid the four months withheld salaries to the unions.
According to her, it was discriminatory and unacceptable for NASU and SSANU to be left out in the payment of the four months withheld salaries.
“We are professionals in...
Alleged arms deal: EFCC re-arraigns ex-PDP chair, Bello Mohammed
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, re-arraigned former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Chairman, Bello Mohammed, at a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja.
Mohammed was re-arraigned before Justice Peter Lifu on a four-count charge bordering on his alleged role in the diversion of funds meant for the procurement of arms through the office of the ex-National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.
He was arraigned alongside his company, Bam Projects and Properties Ltd, for alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
Dasuki served as NSA during former President Goodluck Jonathan's administration.
While the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) is the complainant in the amended charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/389/2015, Bam Projects and Properties Ltd and Bello Haliru Mohammed are 1st and 2nd defendants.
The amended charge was dated and filed on March 18 by the anti-graft counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN.
When the matter was called on Monday, lawyer who appeared for EFCC, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, told the court that the matter was for the defendants to take their plea and that he was ready to proceed.
He said an amended charge had been filed and the defence had been served.
Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, the defendants’ lawyer, confirmed the receipt of the amended charge.
After the charge was read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty to all the counts and Atolagbe applied for trial date.
Agabi, however, prayed the court to allow Mohammed continue on existing bail granted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed.
The senior lawyer said that Mohammed did not flout the earlier bail conditions granted him and that he would not jump bail.
Although Atolagbe did not oppose Agabi’s application, he, however, argued that his bail was once revoked for breaching the terms.
Justice Lifu, who admitted Mohammed to the bail earlier granted by a sister court, adjourned the matter until May 7 and May 8 for trial.
In count...
Voice, data services affected by undersea cable cuts restored – NCC
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says the voice and data services affected by the cable cuts have been restored.
NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr Reuben Muoka, stated this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.
Muoka said that services were restored, following its disruption on March 14, which affected data and voice services due to cuts in undersea fibre optics on the coasts of Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal.
“We are pleased to announce that services have now been restored to approximately 90 per cent of their peak utilisation capacities,” he said.
Muoka said that all the operators who were impacted by the cuts had taken recovery capacity from submarine cables which were not impacted by the cuts.
According to him, mobile network operators (MNOs) have assured the commission that data and voice services will operate optimally, pending full repairs of the undersea cables.
He said that the MNOs had managed to activate alternative connectivities to bring the situation back to normalcy.
“We extend our appreciation to telecom consumers for their patience and understanding during the downtime caused by the undersea fibre,” he said.
Tinubu confident of APC victory in Edo guber election
President Bola Tinubu says the All Progressives Congress (APC) "is on the path to victory" in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State.
Tinubu stated this during the presentation of the party’s flag to the Edo governorship candidate, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa, on Monday in Abuja.
Addressing a gathering of party stalwarts led by the National Chairman of the APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, at the State House, the President pledged that the party would stand all the way with the candidates.
‘’We are going to work with you. We are going to stand with you like the wall of Gibraltar. That is all I can assure you. The party is supreme but victory is superior and very important,’’ the President said.
Tinubu commended the leadership of the party in Edo for their efforts toward the success of the candidates and the party.
He particularly lauded Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of the state, for his exemplary leadership.
‘’Distinguished senator and our flag bearer, we are putting you forward in order to hold the party in trust for us and achieve victory for us.
“You and your running mate have been described as giant killers, and you have worked tirelessly with the party leadership,’’ he said.
The President, while inviting the APC Edo Woman Leader, Lady Betty Okoebor, to speak on the party’s readiness for the election, reiterated that with the strong support of women, victory is assured.
‘’If the women say we are going to win, then we are good to go because they constitute the largest number of voters and the most dedicated,’’ the President said.
In his remarks, the national chairman of the APC, stressed the unity of purpose within the party toward achieving victory in the election.
‘’Our candidate is soft-spoken, focused, and an achiever. He is a product that is...
Your propaganda won’t save you, Army warns Okuama community
The Nigerian Army has accused Okuama Community in Delta State of resorting to media propaganda and shenanigans to divert attention from the gruesome killing of 16 officers and soldiers.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Monday in Abuja.
Nwachukwu said that rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out perpetrators of the heinous crime, the community has resorted to propaganda against the Nigerian military.
This, according to him, is a clear indication that the murder of the troops was a communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.
He said that the falsehood being peddled by the criminals and their cohorts to whip up sentiments and sway public opinion, clearly indicated that the community endorsed and supported the outrageous criminal act.
“It is only a ridiculous attempt at justifying their crime, rather than turn in themselves to security agencies.
“There is no amount of propaganda that would arm-twist the narrative, they are complicit and must be ready to face the wrath of the law.
“While law-abiding citizens are assured that there will be no reprisal on the part of the troops, we enjoin all to go about their normal activities, even as ongoing efforts are scaled up to positively identify and isolate the criminals to account for their atrocious deeds,” he said.
Troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion comprising one Lieutenant Colonel, two Majors, one Captain and 12 Soldiers were killed while on a mediation mission to the community.
Nwachukwu said the troops, who were out there for peace and securing lives and property of people in the Niger Delta, were murdered in the most gruesome, heartless and cruel manner and their remains debased.
“Regrettably, the community complicit in this dastardly act has resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans, rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the...