FG To Resume Trial Of IPOB Leader Nnamdi Kanu On Terrorism Charges

The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to recommence the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on terrorism charges. Following a Supreme Court judgment on December 15, 2023, permitting the continuation of the trial, proceedings are scheduled to resume on Monday, February 26. The trial will take place before Justice Binta Nyako at the Federal High Court in Abuja, as indicated in a notice viewed by reporters.  Notably, Kanu’s lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice have been duly notified. Efforts have also been made to ensure Kanu’s presence in court, with the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) contacted for this purpose.  Kanu has been in DSS custody since his arrest in Kenya on June 19, 2021, and subsequent extradition to Nigeria. Initially facing 15-count terrorism charges, Justice Binta Nyako dismissed eight of the charges during the trial.  The Court of Appeal in Abuja later overturned the entire terrorism case in October 2022, citing the unlawful rendition of Kanu by the Nigerian government from Kenya. However, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Garba Lawal on December 15, 2023, overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision, affirming the continuation of Kanu’s trial.  Despite acknowledging the irregularities in Kanu’s extradition, the Apex Court emphasized that such actions did not hinder the court’s authority to proceed with the trial, suggesting that the appropriate remedy for Kanu would be through a civil matter against the government.

Tinubu Orders Payment Of Aso Rock Electricity Debts

President Bola Tinubu has instructed the immediate settlement of the electricity bills owed by the State House, Aso Rock, to The Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC).  In a press statement by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Tinubu emphasized clearing the total debt of N342,352,217.46 after reconciling accounts between the State House Management and AEDC.  Tinubu’s directive came after reconciling accounts between the State House Management and AEDC, resolving the discrepancy between the initially claimed N923 million debt and the actual outstanding bill of N342,352,217.46, as stated in a letter from AEDC management to the State House Permanent Secretary dated February 14, 2024.  The Chief of Staff to the President, Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, ensured that the debt would be settled before the week’s end and urged other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to follow suit by reconciling their accounts with AEDC and paying their electricity bills.  Earlier, AEDC had issued a warning to disconnect electricity supply to the Presidential Villa and MDAs due to a combined debt of N47.1 billion, with the Presidential Villa alone owing N923,873,150.  The company set a 10-day deadline for debt payment to avoid disconnection and blackout from February 28, 2024, citing the necessity to publish debt details for long-standing services rendered.

Tinubu Makes New Appointment

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Ms. Hafsat Abubakar Bakari to serve as the Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). Her appointment is pending confirmation by the Senate. Ms. Bakari is a lawyer and financial intelligence expert with years of experience in anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and counter-proliferation financing (AML/CFT/CPF). Before her appointment as the Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, she served as Deputy Director at the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, and was at different times the Head of the General Services Unit; Head of the Strategy and Reorientation Unit, and Head of the Board Secretariat of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The President anticipates that Ms. Bakare will bring her wealth of experience and expertise to full discharge in this critical role, especially in view of his administration’s war against illicit financial flows and other sharp practices currently prevalent in segments of the nation’s foreign exchange markets.

NARTO Calls off Planned Nationwide Strike

The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has suspended its planned nationwide strike. NARTO National President of NARTO, Othman Yusuf, directed members to immediately resume petroleum loading activities after a meeting held in Abuja. It was gathered that the meeting was attended by the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, with NARTO, oil marketers and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, (NMDPRA). This followed Monday’s meeting with the Federal Government and stakeholders after tanker drivers suspended operations and stopped lifting of petroleum products amid harsh economic realities. NARTO members had threatened shutdown all over the country beginning Monday over the high cost of Automotive Gas Oil also known as diesel which is used to fuel their trucks for the movement of petroleum products across Nigeria. The association explained that the decision to withdraw its operation was due to the high operational costs in the industry. Like Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol which now sells at over N600 per litre, the price of diesel has skyrocketed of late, no thanks to the forex crisis in the country. At the moment, diesel sells above N1,250 per litre in Nigeria.

Nigerian Senate Establishes 43-Member Committee for Constitution Review

The Nigerian Senate has taken a decisive step towards addressing the longstanding need for constitutional reform by inaugurating a 43-member committee tasked with reviewing the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Chaired by Deputy Senate President Jibril Barau, with Senate Leader Bamidele Opeyemi serving as Vice Chairman, the committee comprises 43 Senators representing each state of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as an additional six members representing the country’s geopolitical zones and all female senators of the 10th Senate. In his announcement, Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized the urgency of revisiting the 1999 constitution, highlighting the necessity for a major review to better serve the interests of Nigerians. Akpabio further directed the Deputy Senate President to engage Speakers of State Houses of Assembly in preparatory discussions prior to commencing the review process. During the inaugural address, Committee Chairman Jibril Barau outlined the committee’s strategic approach, emphasizing collaboration with the House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly to achieve comprehensive results. Barau underscored the importance of consulting with stakeholders from diverse sectors to ensure the success of the review process, clarifying that the committee’s objective is to amend select sections of the constitution for the benefit of the Nigerian populace. Echoing Barau’s sentiments, Senate Leader Bamidele Opeyemi affirmed the committee’s commitment to delivering tangible outcomes, acknowledging the critical juncture in the nation’s history and assuring Nigerians that the committee’s work would not adhere to conventional practices. Opeyemi emphasized the inclusion of stakeholders from academia, political groups, and other interest groups in the committee’s deliberations. Additionally, lawmakers emphasized the importance of adhering to timelines and collaborating with the executive branch to ensure a holistic approach to constitutional reform. Representatives assigned to the committee from each geopolitical zone include Senator Adamu Aliero (NW), Senator Orji Kalu (SE), Senator Fadahunsi Francis (SW), Senator Bomai Muhammed (NE), Senator Barinad Mpigi (SS), and Senator Umar Sadiq Suleiman. The Senate review committee aims to identify pertinent sections of the constitution requiring amendment to address contemporary national challenges, with inputs solicited from various stakeholders to inform the revision process.

The Empty Sanctimony of the Nigerian Diasporans

Anyone who has spent time on Nigerians in diaspora dominated social platform would be sick and tire of the their negativism, sanctimony and boasting about the system they currently live in and their constant whining and complaining about their God forsaken homeland. They share videos of automated garri factory in Bolivia and elsewhere, berating Nigeria and Nigerians in the homeland for not doing the same thing. Instead of coming together as a body, raise the fund, go to Bolivia which is not too far away from us, form a partnership with them and transfer the same technology to our country and make money in the process, they would rather list the reasons why it can’t be done in Nigeria. Rather they venerate other African countries like Zambia which are woefully behind us in development, forgetting that negativists and pessimists build nothing of value. When we keep saying what’s wrong with Nigeria, ain’t we citizens or at least once citizens of that country? Some of us have no solution to Nigeria’s problem other than hauling insults at the president and anyone who expresses a contrary position. Was that how this “great” country which we now call home was built? If truth be told some of those “great” nations are not so great. They have their ugliness underbelly. Some of them are just great packing and re-branding of themselves to the world, why we Nigerians specialize in degrading and denigrating our own homeland. Negative branding has real life consequences. Who would want to invest in a country whose citizens are constantly bringing it down by projecting negativity? No one. Didn’t African-Americans march, fight, and paid with their lives to pass landmark legislations like the civil rights act, the voters right act and other such legislations that have brought the societal change which we African immigrants are now enjoying and have benefitted from. Yet, the struggle continues. Racial disparity and racism still exist. That is the nature of human systems. Changes are usually gradual and won not by whining but by fighting to being them about. Every great nation we idolize today has gone through worse than what we are experiencing now. This is our make or break moment and we will not make it with our “bring him, mob at the cockpit door, negativism, constant whinning and complaining with no actionable solution proffered” attitude. Great nations are built by the sweat, tears and blood of patriots not by lazy armchair critics, stone-throwers and whiners. Let everyone do something to improve their local neighborhood and block by block, town by town and local government by local government, state by state, we will transform our nation. If we think we can do better than those in power, let’s organize a coalition of concerned diasporans and get into the political arena to change the system. It’s a lot easier to be a lazy and sanctimonious armchair critic separated by thousands of miles of vast ocean. It changes nothing otherwise with the mountains of whining from Nigerians in diaspora, our country should be a great nation today. We in the diaspora who have been exposed to systems that work have a special obligation to contribute our quota to transforming our motherland. Sadly, many of the same leaders at the helms of affairs today including our President, were once diasporans like us making a lie of our holier than thou sanctimony. Many of us will do worse if given political appointments. We will steal and enrich ourselves like almost everyone else does. That has been the track record of the Nigerian diasporans. It is criticize from afar off and join them in looting given the opportunity.

Federal High Courts embark On Easter Vacation, March 22

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, has announced that the courts will embark on Easter vacation from March 22 to 8th April 2024. This is Pursuant to the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4 (b) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 (as amended). A statement signed by the Assistant Director of Information, Catherine Oby Christopher,PhD. Assistant Director Information, indicated list of vacation judges. The Court resumes sitting on Tuesday, 9th April, 2024 in all Judicial Divisions. During the vacation period, the Abuja, Lagos and Port-Harcourt Judicial Divisions shall remain open to the public only for cases of extreme urgency. It is essential to stress that, during the vacation, only matters relating to enforcement of Fundamental Rights; Arrest or Release of Vessels and matters that concerns dire National Interest are to be entertained by Vacation Judges. The Abuja Judicial Division will cater for cases from the Federal Capital Territory, North Central, North Western, and North Eastern parts of the Country. The Lagos Division will cater for cases from all the South Western States, while the Port-Harcourt Judicial Division will cater for cases from all states within the South-South and South Eastern Geo-political Zones. The following Hon. Judges will serve as Vacation Judges: ABUJA JUDICIAL DIVISION: Hon. Justice I.E. Ekwo and Hon. Justice D.U. Okorowo LAGOS JUDICIAL DIVISION has Hon. Justice A.O. Awogboro and Hon. Justice Ibrahim I. Kala While PORT-HARCOURT JUDICIAL DIVISION has Hon. Justice A.T. Mohammed and Hon. Justice S.I. Mark as their vacation judges. The Vacation Judges and Heads of Divisions are as usual advised to promptly refer to the Hon. Chief Judge all matters which they believe may require His Lordship’s urgent attention and directives. The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Honorable Justice John T. Tsoho, wishes his fellow lordships a wonderful vacation in advance.

University of Abuja, NIDCOM Partner to Enhance Migration Management

The Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, says, the university, through the newly established Centre for Migration Studies, is willing to partner the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) for better migration management. Na’Allah stated this during a visit to the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon.Abike Dabiri-Erewa, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. The Vice Chancellor emphasized that the visit was to foster partnership for better migration management. Na’Allah described the University as an institution with large impact, noting that it is the first to introduce Distance Learning in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to leverage learning opportunities for Public Servants and other Nigerians all over the country. “As an Institution situated in the centre of Nigeria, with over 50,000 students and also the first University the Embassies come to interact with, we are ready to partner with you on the job you do as a Commission” he added. The VC stated that the Centre is willing to talk to Nigerians and educate them on regular migration with information on several ways to migrate legitimately. In his words, “we can work on joint research, joint sensitization effort to curb migration crisis, train your staff and other possible ways to best enhance migration management”. Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Chairman/CEO NiDCOM, Dr. Sule Yakubu Bassi, Secretary to the Commission, welcomed the initiatives with so much enthusiasm, noting that the Commission is fully committed to better migration management. Bassi describes the partnership as essential, reiterating that migration is a natural phenomenon that can not be stopped but can be beneficial if properly managed. “Different factors such as push factor and pull factor leads to migration, what we do is to see how we can turn it into a win-win situation by encouraging those intending, to migrate regularly so they can contribute their own quota to National Development” Bassi noted. He further urged the university to also look at means through which the Diaspora can be encouraged to maintain ties with their homeland. “We engage with the over 20 million Nigerian Diaspora by enabling them with knowledge on how to engage with Nigeria. They have talents, resources, and global exposure, which can be harnessed for national development.” Bassi added. The Secretary elaborated how the Commission continues to attract Nigerians back home and their investments through numerous programmes guided by the National Diaspora Policy, such as Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS), Diaspora Investment Trust Fund, Diaspora Mortgage Scheme and the National Diaspora Merit Award amongst others.

Niger Civil Servants Begin Indefinite Strike

Civil servants in Niger State, organized under the Nigeria Labour Congress, have initiated an indefinite strike, citing the government’s failure to address their demands.  The strike, scheduled to commence at 8 am on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, was confirmed in a letter addressed to Governor Mohammed Bago.  The letter, signed by Idrees Lafene (NLC Chairman) and Ibrahim Gana (Trade Union Congress Chairman), highlighted unresolved issues, including appointments in dispute and the need for a clear statement on wage awards.   The organized labour emphasized its commitment to the governor’s New Niger Agenda while expressing openness to negotiations. “We wish to formally inform the Government that effective 8am on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 that Niger State workers shall commence an indefinite strike action until our demands are comprehensively met. “Meanwhile, we wish to reiterate that our doors are open for negotiation subject to : Conveyance of formal invitation, reversal of all appointments in dispute ie, Executive Directors Finance, Executive Directors Admin and Executive Directors Operations, Chairman, members and permanent commissioners of local Government Service Commission and Civil Service Commission, Directors General DGs of some agencies “A clear statement by the government on payment of wage award. “We also wish to stress that the idea of appointing Permanent Secretaries who are not eligible and within the service will no longer be tolerated by the Organised Labour. “Accordingly we call on the government to withdraw the recent appointment of a Vice Principal on secondment as a Permanent Secretary to allow for career progression from within. “We also call on the government to desist from victimising teachers and members from the educational sector as a result of the recent debate by some primary school pupils in Agaie LGA.”

FG Issues Warning To Civil Servants Leaking Official Documents

The Federal Government, through the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, has taken a firm stance against the increasing leakage of sensitive official documents.  Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan emphasized the need for permanent secretaries to expedite the transition to a digital workflow system to mitigate the embarrassment caused by these leaks. A stern warning was issued, stating that any civil servant caught leaking documents would face severe consequences in accordance with relevant regulations.  The memo tagged HCSF/3065/VI/189 reads, “It has been observed with dismay, the increase in the cases of leakage of sensitive official documents in Ministries, Departments and Agencies. This is very embarrassing to the government and therefore unacceptable. “As part of the efforts to curb this undesirable development, all permanent secretaries are to fast-track the migration to the digitalised workflow system, and ensure effective deployment of the Enterprise Content Management Solution, “This will reduce physical contact with official documents thereby checking the increasing incidence of leakage and circulation of same. “Furthermore, permanent secretaries are advised to strongly warn all staff against leaking and circulating official information and documents. “Any officer caught engaging in such unbecoming act will be severely dealt with in line with the relevant provisions of the Public Service Rules and other extant circulars.” This move comes in response to recent public outrage over leaked memos disclosing financial allocations and plans by government committees, prompting calls for investigations by Civil Society Organisations and organized labour.