Court Gives Two Kano Judges 48 Hours To Resign

Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court has instructed Justices Faruk Adamu and Zuwaira Yusuf, judges of Kano State High Court, to step down from their positions as chairmen of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Misappropriated Public Properties and Assets as well as Political Violence and Missing Persons within 48 hours. The National Judicial Council (NJC), Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Attorney General of Kano State, Justices Faruk Adamu and Justice Zuwaira Yusuf are defendants in the case. In a ruling on Thursday in a case brought by former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Justice Amobeda stated that the NJC should halt payment of any remuneration, allowances and benefits to the two judges from the consolidated revenue fund if they do not comply with the order.  Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, had on April 4 inaugurated the two judicial commissions of inquiry under the chairmanship of Justices Adamu and Yusuf to investigate cases of misappropriation of public properties, political violence and cases of missing persons from 2015 to 2023. Justice Amobeda directed that the judges should refrain from carrying out the executive functions assigned to them by the governor in courtrooms designated for adjudicating disputes between individuals and authorities in the state. The judge held that “The combined effects of sections 6, 84, 153(1), 271(2), 272 together with paragraph 21(c) of part 1 of the third schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the 4th and 5th defendants (Justices Faruk Adamu and Zuwaira Yusuf) are not legally permitted, “while purporting to hold the office of a judge of high court of Kano State, to accept appointments as chairmen of commission of inquiry with quasi-judicial powers equivalent to that of a Magistrate and subject to review by a judge of the High court of Kano State.” The court ruled that the governor lacked the authority to appoint and administer the oath of office for individuals to serve as chairmen of a commission of inquiry, a position designated for commissioners exercising executive powers. The court emphasized that Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman’s ruling, which stated that only the EFCC and the ICPC have the jurisdiction to investigate the former governor, deems it an abuse of power and a violation of judicial integrity for the governor to establish a commission of inquiry to probe the plaintiff’s administration. Nevertheless, the court dismissed the plaintiff’s counsel’s argument that the judges compromised their judicial roles by participating in the judicial commission of inquiry.

War cabinet minister in Israel resigns, calls for new elections

Israel’s centrist War Cabinet Minister, Benny Gantz, has announced his resignation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s emergency government, calling for new elections. In response, Netanyahu released a statement saying that “Israel is in an existential war on several fronts. “Benny, this is not the time to abandon the campaign.” In a televised press conference, Gantz accused Netanyahu of prioritising his political survival over a ceasefire deal that would secure the release of about 100 hostages held in Gaza. “Unfortunately, Netanyahu is preventing us from advancing toward the real victory,” said Gantz. “Strategic decisions are met with hesitation due to political considerations.” Echoing increasing public protest against Netanyahu’s government, Gantz called for a new round of elections in the fall. He urged Netanyahu to set an agreed date to hold them. “Don’t let our people be torn apart,” he said.  Gantz’s decision to withdraw his centrist party from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition left it with extremist ministers, including Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who advocate for reoccupying the Gaza Strip and expanding Israeli settlements there. Gantz’s resignation followed a May ultimatum he issued to the right-wing prime minister, demanding that Netanyahu develop a clear post-conflict strategy for Gaza, where Israel has been conducting a fatal assault, and agree to a hostage-ceasefire agreement. 

CBN Formally Confirms Emefiele’s Resignation As Cardoso Assumes Duty

The Acting Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Olayemi Michael Cardoso, on Friday, formally assumed duty pending his confirmation by the Senate. This is as the Central Bank officially confirmed the resignation of former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, recently appointed Cardoso, and other Deputy Governors.    This follows the resignation of Mr. Godwin Emefiele as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). A statement by the Director, Corporate Communications, Dr. Isa AbdulMumin which was made available to journalists on Friday in Abuja, added that the Deputy-Governors-Designate have also assumed duties in acting capacities, sequel to the formal resignation of former Deputy Governors, Mr. Folashodun Shonubi, Mrs. Aishah Ahmad, Mr. Edward Lametek Adamu, and Dr. Kingsley Obiora. Dr. Cardoso and his colleagues subscribed to the relevant oaths of office at a brief ceremony held at the Bank’s Head Office in Abuja, on Friday and have since settled down to the task of administering monetary and financial sector policies of the Federal Government. An Economic and Development Policy Advisor, Financial Sector Leader, former Chairman Citi Nigeria and Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget in Lagos, Cardoso brings over three decades of managerial experience on board. He is an alumnus of Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom, where he studied managerial and administrative studies. He also holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, United States of America. It would be recalled that Dr. Cardoso and his colleagues were appointed by President Bola Tinubu to their respective positions at the Bank on September 15, 2023, subject to their confirmation by the Senate. Meanwhile, The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has confirmed the resignation of Mr Godwin Emefiele as its governor, three months after being suspended from office by President Bola Tinubu.