Thugs clash as anti-Abure protesters storm LP Secretariat

An angry mob suspected to be thugs loyal to the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), attacked protesters believed to be party supporters from the Edo State chapter who were at the party secretariat to demand Abure’s ouster. Trouble began when the anti- Abure protesters stormed the party headquarters in a number of vehicles holding placards and chanting solidarity songs. No sooner than some of the protesters stepped out of one of the vehicles that the suspected thugs swooped on the vehicles with sticks and other objects forcing the drivers to zoom off. A detachment of armed policemen and operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) intervened when the thugs started throwing stones into the nearby Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, in pursuit of reporters who were covering the fracas.  The intervention of the security officials prevented the situation from further degenerating. A police vehicle is currently stationed in between the warring factions.

Kogi guber: Ododo wins at Tribunal

The Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, Monday, authenticated the election that declared Usman Ododo as the governor of Kogi State. In a unanimous judgment by a three-member panel of Justices of the Tribunal, it held that the petitioners failed to prove the allegations contained in their petition in accordance with the law. The Social Democratic Party(SPD) annd it’s candidate, Alhaji Muritala Ajaka was challenging Ododo’s election on the ground that it was conducted in gross violation of the electoral law of rigging and vote-buying. Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN); Alex Iziyon (SAN) and Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), who appeared for INEC, Ododo and APC respectively argued that the petitioners did not list the name of the witness in their proof of evidence and that the witness statement on oath was not front-loaded alongside the petition. They also contended that the petitioners served the reports of the witness’ analysis on them 20 minutes before the commencement of the proceedings. But Okutepa insisted that the forensic expert was listed on Page 56 of the petition as item 10, adding that his statement was also front-loaded.

Lawmaker Commends President Tinubu’s Initiative for Local Government Autonomy

Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South Senatorial District, has publicly praised President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for his recent announcement concerning local government autonomy. In a statement signed by the senator he expressed his approval of the decision, citing its potential to alleviate the hardships faced by the Nigerian populace. Senator Sumaila commended President Tinubu for aligning with the senators’ collective efforts to uplift local communities from their current challenges. He described the decision as a significant stride towards empowering grassroots governance and stimulating economic growth, especially in rural areas. “I am pleased with President Tinubu’s commitment to granting autonomy to local governments, as stipulated in the constitution,” Senator Sumaila remarked. “This move is poised to foster development in our rural areas and bolster the nation’s economy by enhancing revenue generation through agricultural and commercial activities.” However, while acknowledging the importance of local government autonomy, Senator Sumaila raised concerns about the integrity of local government elections. He emphasized the need for addressing the manipulation of electoral processes by politicians for personal gain, urging President Tinubu to take decisive action to ensure the fairness and transparency of such elections. “The conduct of local government elections has been plagued by interference and manipulation, undermining the democratic process,” Senator Sumaila highlighted. “President Tinubu’s attention to this issue is paramount to complementing the autonomy granted to local governments and ensuring that democracy flourishes at the grassroots level.” Furthermore, Senator Sumaila extended appreciation towards the collaborative efforts of the legislative and executive branches in advocating for local government autonomy. He called upon the judiciary to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities in resolving the matter. “We, at the National Assembly, have championed the cause of local government autonomy, and I am grateful for the support of the executive in this endeavor,” Senator Sumaila stated. “Now, it is imperative for the judiciary to uphold democratic principles and the rule of law in adjudicating on this issue”, the State concluded.

Nigerian Army denies involvement in Kano Emirate tussle

The Nigerian Army has clarified that contrary to claims, it is not involved in enforcing any court order related to the ongoing Kano Emirate tussle. Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, clarified in a statement on X that the troops are not engaged in the emirate dispute. He said instead, the Army has taken proactive measures to prevent any potential breakdown of law and order that might arise from the conflict. “The issue of paramount concern to the Nigerian Army and other security agencies is the prevention of breakdown of law and order in the state, which could be taken advantage of by adversarial non-state actors. “The military would imminently intervene when it becomes apparent that the intensity of the security situation becomes overwhelming for the police. “All the Army is doing at this stage is to monitor the situation as it unfolds and be on standby in the event of any escalation that could threaten the security of the state and the region in general,” the statement reads in part.

Governor El-Rufai’s Brilliant, Yet Too Cute by Half Federalism Proposition

Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s position paper on federalism is erudite, brilliant, progressive, and actionable. Yet when it comes to federalism and decentralization between state and the local governments, it is not only too cute or too smart by half (take your pick), it reeks of hypocrisy on steroid. While recommending total decentralization of power between Abuja and the state governors, El-Rufai proposes that a more prudent, and truly federal, option would be to let the Federation Account fund only the federal and the state governments, while the state governments should then fund and manage governance at the local level as they deem fit, and as reflected in the enabling laws that their respective Houses of Assembly shall enact to that effect. Every state can then have as many or as few local government councils as they may choose. El Rufai wants to eat his gubernatorial cake and still have it. While he canvasses the loosening of the top-heavy stranglehold of Abuja on the states, he is not extending the same privilege to the local governments, where the state governors impose even more draconian, more autocratic, and more stifling stranglehold on their finances and administration. Governor El-Rufai would like the governor to have their kleptomaniac fingers on the juicy honeycomb of the local government allocation to squeeze it until the Queen and worker bees are starved to death. Giving the governor the kind of monarchical power being advocated by El-Rufai will give governors, who already operate as absolute monarchies, the power of life and death at the local level. They would have the power of the purse to punish and strangulate communities that vote for the opposition political parties. It has the potential to lead to the kind of abuse of ethnic minorities and opposition parties of the nature that characterized and eventually derailed the first republic. Governor El-Rufai’s position on the relationship between governors and local governments runs counter to the spirit and letter of the U.S. presidential constitution, which was massively and insanely plagiarized to form the basis for the financially crippling 1999 constitution that has been foistered on our country. Specifically, the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants all powers not given to the federal government back to the people by way of state and local government. Local governments have control over a plethora of services used on a daily basis by the citizens who vote for them in municipal elections. Among these functions are Police departments, fire departments Emergency Medical Services, Libraries, Public works departments, Building and zoning departments, Public Schools (K-12), Parks and Recreation, Municipal courts, Streets and sanitation departments, roads and street departments, public safety, water sanitation, Senior citizen programs, Cemeteries, Housing, Community development, and Environmental protection. Local governments fund their activities through property taxes on land, buildings, and personal dwellings, income from licenses, fees, state-operated businesses, federal grants, state grants, and lotteries. The state governors can’t have it both ways, by demanding autonomy from the federal government while imposing their autocratic stranglehold on the local government. The local government, by its name and definition, is the level of government closest to the citizenry and is, by extension, the most appropriate arm to provide services to it. True federalism, to be effective, must be systemic and all embracing from Abuja to the states and to the remotest local government in the federation. For Governor El-Rufai to advocate for anything less will be hypocrisy on steroids. Dr. Alonge is the President of Africa-Diaspora for Empowerment & Development Inc. He is based in Miami, Florida, USA.

FG drags 36 state Govs to S/Court, seeks autonomy for LGAs

The Federal Government, through the the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN,has dragged the 36 state governors to the supreme court over alleged misconduct in the local government administration. Specifically, the AGF is seeking full autonomy for LG as third tiers of government in the country. The Governors were sued through their respective State Attorneys General. In the suit marked SC/CV/343/2024, the AGF is praying the Apex Court for an order prohibiting State Governors from unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected local government leaders for local governments.. In the originating summons, AGF is also praying the Apex Court for an order permitting the funds standing in the credits of local governments to be directly channelled to them from the Federation Account in line with the provisions of the Constitution as against the alleged unlawful joint accounts created by governors. The summon personally signed by AGF, seeks an order of the Apex Court stopping governors from constituting Caretaker Committees to run the affairs of local governments as against the Constitutionally recognized and guaranteed democratically system. It also applied for an order of injunction restraining the governors, their agents and privies from receiving, spending or tampering with funds released from the Federation Account for the benefits of local governments when no democratically elected local government system is put in place in the states. The suit is predicted on 27 grounds among which are that the Nigeria Federation is a creation of the 1999 Constitution with President as Head of the Federal Executive arm of the Federation and has sworn to uphold and give effects to the provisions of the Constitution. *That the governors represent the component states of the Federation with Executive Governors who have also sworn to uphold the Constitution and to at all times,give effects to the Constitution and that the Constitution, being the supreme law, has binding force all over the Federation of Nigeria. * That the Constitution of Nigeria recognizes federal, states and local governments as three tiers of government and that the three recognized tiers of government draw funds for their operation and functioning from the Federation Account created by the Constitution. *That by the provisions of the Constitution, there must be a democratically elected local government system and that the Constitution has not made provisions for any other systems of governance at the local government level other than democratically elected local government system. *That in the face of the clear provisions of the Constitution, the governors have failed and refused to put in place a democratically elected local government system even where no state of emergency has been declared to warrant the suspension of democratic institutions in the state. *That the failure of the governors to put democratically elected local government system in place, is a deliberate subversion of the 1999 Constitution which they and the President have sworn to uphold. *That all efforts to make the governors comply with the dictates of the 1999 Constitution in terms of putting in place, a democratically elected local government system, has not yielded any result and that to continue to disburse funds from the Federation Account to governors for non existing democratically elected local government is to undermine the sanctity of the 1999 Constitution. *That in the face of the violations of the 1999 Constitution, the federal government is not obligated under section 162 of the Constitution to pay any State, funds standing to the credit of local governments where no democratically elected local government is in place. Fagbemi SAN therefore asked the Apex Court to invoke sections 1, 4, 5, 7 and 14 of the Constitution to declare that the State Governors and State Houses of Assembly are under obligation to ensure democratically system at the third tier of government in Nigeria and to also invoke the same sections to hold that the governors cannot lawfully dissolve democratically elected local government coincils. The AGF also prayed for invocation of sections 1, 4, 5, 7 and 14 of the Constitution to declare that dissolution of democratically elected local government Councils by the Governors or anyone using the State powers derivable from laws enacted by the State Houses of Assembly or any Executive Order is unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void. A 13-paragragh affidavit in support of the originating summons deposed to by one Kelechi Ohaeri from the Federal Ministry of Justice averred that the AGF took out the suit against the Governors under the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court on behalf of the Federal Government. The deponent asserted that local government system recognized by the Constitution is a democratically elected local government coincils and that the amount due to local government Councils from the Federation Account is to be paid to local government system recognized by the Constitution. The deponent sought to tender during hearing, Daily Post online publication of January 29, 2024 titled “LG Administration; 15 Govs under scrutiny over Constitutional breach”, Vanguard online special report of September 12, 2023, Guardian editorial of January 23, 2024, Premium Times online publication of December 1, 2023, Vanguard online publication of December 1, 2023 and Arise online news of December 2, 2023 to justify the national importance public interest on the issues of autonomy for local governments in Nigeria. Hearing on the suit is fixed for Thursday, May 30.

Ondo Federal Lawmaker, Jimoh Ibrahim Speaks On Leaving APC

Senator representing Ondo South, Jimoh Ibrahim has dismissed allegations that he was leaving the All-Progressive’s Congress (APC). Ibrahim stated this during an interview with Arise Television on Wednesday. The Ondo lawmaker said he has never engaged in anti-party activities, adding that if he were to leave the party, he would publicly declare it. He said, “Everyone is informed that I will never engage in anti-party activities. If I am no longer going to be APC, I will announce it publicly.” Ibrahim said adhering to internal democratic processes is essential for maintaining the integrity and functionality of the political landscape and articulated the constitutional procedures for suspending party members. He said it should be done at the state, local government, and additional working committee levels. Ibrahim said, “I entered politics to help my people because we were deprived for a very long time. I felt that with my message, I could make a great impact.”

Gov Yusuf reappoints Sanusi as Emir of Kano, orders ex-monarchs 48 hours to vacate seats

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved the reappointment of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano under the new laws. The governor has given former emirs 48 hours to vacate their palaces and hand over Emirate Council properties to the Commissioner of Local Government, who also serves as State Deputy Governor. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has signed the Kano Emirates Bill 2024 into law, repealing the 2019 Emirate Councils Law that altered the state’s over 1000-year history. By signing the bill, the governor declared that the 2019 law has been repealed and is now history. The signing was attended by the Speaker of the State Assembly, Ismaila Falgore, Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam, Secretary to the State Government Abdullahi Baffa Bichi and others. The State Assembly has fulfilled one of its constitutional roles by signing the bill into law.

₦19.4 Billion Fraud: Court Grants Sirika, Brother N200 Million Bail

Justice Suleiman Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Thursday granted bail to the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and his brother, Ahmad Abubakar Sirika. The bail was set at ₦100 million each, with stringent conditions attached, reflecting the seriousness of the charges against them. Both defendants are required to provide two sureties, one of whom must own a landed property within the Federal Capital Territory, valued at a similar sum. In addition to the financial conditions, the court has restricted their travel, stipulating that the Sirika brothers cannot leave Nigeria without prior permission from the court. This decision comes after careful consideration of the bail application, with Justice Belgore stating he found no reason to deviate from the bail conditions previously granted by Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the same court. Ruling on the motion on notice for the 1st defendant, Hadi Sirika, the court held that “The prosecution filed no counter affidavit. He is already on administrative bail, he met all the bail applications, he continues to abide by the bail conditions, he has never been convicted of any criminal offence in Nigeria, he is a recipient of National honours, he has an aged mother he is catering for an investigation in the case has been completed. “It is my resolution that this applicant deserves to be admitted to bail and I so do.” Concerning Sirika’s brother, ruling on the motion on notice, brought pursuant to Sections 158, 156 and 135 of ACJA, where he requested a sole relief (bail). The trial judge granted him bail in the same terms and conditions as the 1st defendant (Sirika). The Sirika brothers, and the company, Enginos Nigeria Limited, are facing a ten-count amended charge bordering on contract fraud to the tune of ₦19.4 billion.

INEC to Release Details of Ondo Gubernatorial Candidates Ahead of Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to disclose the personal particulars of candidates and their running mates contending in the Ondo State governorship election. The release is scheduled for Saturday, May 25, 2024. Sam Olumekun, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, affirmed that the publication of candidates’ personal details is a consequential step following the conclusion of party primaries. Olumekun clarified that seventeen political parties had adhered to the deadline by successfully submitting their candidates’ nomination forms for the Ondo State gubernatorial race before May 20, 2024. Notably, the dedicated portal for submissions automatically closed at 6:00 pm on the specified date. This forthcoming action is in accordance with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, delineated as item 4 on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election. INEC will prominently display copies of Form EC9, alongside all academic credentials and other pertinent documents submitted by each candidate. These displays will be accessible at the INEC state headquarters in Akure and the 18 local government offices across the state. Olumekun urged Nigerians to meticulously examine the documents provided. He clarified that any aspirant who participated in their party primaries and harbors reasonable suspicions regarding the accuracy of information provided by a candidate or running mate, has the prerogative to challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court. This recourse is stipulated in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.