Sahara Reporters Latest News Monday 28th January 2019
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 28/01/19
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E2%80%99s-wife-lavishes-n510m-market-women-ahead-election target=_blank>Katsina Governor’s Wife Lavishes N510m On Market Women Ahead Of Election
Binta Masari, wife of the Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, has distributed N510 million in support of her husband’s reelection bid.
Masari shared the money among 10,200 women during a flag-off campaign in support of her husband’s reelection on Sunday in Katsina.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cried foul, alleging “vote buying”.
A source close to Senator Lado Danmarke’s governorship campaign organisation said: “The wife of Katsina State governor, Dr. Binta Masari, has taken to vote buying by distributing N50,000 each to over 10,000 women.”
Speaking on the governor’s wife’s gesture, Shehu Shewei, a former aide of the Governor, said: “The wife of the Governor supported 10,200 Katsina women with a token of N50,000 each to help fast-track women empowerment in the state.”
He disclosed that beneficiaries were carefully selected in clusters of 300 women from each of Katsina State’s 34 Local Government Areas.
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target=_blank>Man Bags Three Years In Prison For Sending Threat Messages To Fidelity Bank MD
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced Innocent Eneji, an ex-contract staff of Fidelity Bank PLC, to three years in prison for sending a text message threatening the Nnamdi Okonkwo, Managing Director of Fidelity Bank PLC, and Chijioke Ugochukwu, a female Executive Director with the bank.
Justice Babs Kuewumi handed down the sentence following the defendant’s guilty plea to the three-count charge.
When the matter came up for arraignment on Friday, counsel to the prosecution, Mrs Kehinde Bode-Ayeni, pleaded with the court that the charge be read to the defendant so that he can take his plea.
Following Bode-Ayeni’s application, Justice Kuewumi ordered that the charge be read to the defendant, who consequently pleaded guilty to the charges. Upon the guilty plea of the defendant, the prosecutor made an oral application for the review of the facts of the case against Eneji.
While reviewing the case, the prosecuting counsel tendered the statements of the convicts dated July 10, 2017, and July 26, 2017, the statement of Nnamdi Okonkwo dated July 20, 2017 and that of Chijioke Ugochukwu, an Executive Director, Share Services and Product, Fidelity Bank PLC dated August 1, 2017. The prosecutor also tendered the message SIM card sent to the complainants, the call log from Glo line and the registered SIM card of Mrs Regina Odu, which were all admitted in evidence by Justice Kuewumi.
After reviewing the facts of the case, the prosecutor urged the court to convict the defendant based on his guilty plea, the exhibits tendered, as well as the totality of the prosecution evidence against the defendant.
Giving the ruling, the judge said: “Having read the charge before me to the defendant, I am satisfied that the defendant understands the charge, I uphold the plea of the defendant and he is hereby convicted”.
Following his conviction, the defendant’s lawyer, Adebayo Onifade, pleaded for leniency, stating that the convict had realised the gravity of his offence and is remorseful. Onifade added that the convict has three children and a wife, who solely depends on him. According to Onifade, the convict had written several letters of apology to the complainants before and is ready to write a letter of undertaking that he would never come near the complainants to harm them.
While sentencing the convict, the judge said the offence ruled that the sentence will run concurrently.
The charge marked FHC/L/341C/18 dated October 9, 2018 and filed by Kehinde Bode-Ayeni read: “That You, Innocent Eneji ‘M’ on the 25th day of June, 2017 at about 21:17 PM at Lagos Island, Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Count of Nigeria, Lagos, did knowingly and intentionally transmit or caused the transmission of a text message containing threat to life through a Glo Mobile Phone Number, 08154154470 registered by your wife to Nnamdi Okonkwo ’m’, the Managing Director, Share Services and Product, Fidelity Bank Plc on his own phone number, 08033218696, over your grievances on staff issues within Fidelity Bank Plc, to threaten or harass Nnamdi Okonkwo and his family. Such threat places him in fear of death, violence or bodily harm and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (2) of the 5 Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 24 (2) (i) of the same Act.
“Count Two : That you, Innocent Eneji ’m’ on the 25th day of June, 2017 at about 2121 pm at Lagos Island, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Lagos, did knowingly and intentionally transmit or caused the transmission of a text message containing threat to life and family through a Glo mobile phone number, 08154154470, registered by your wife, to Chijioke Ugochukwu, ‘f’, the Executive Director, share services and product, Fidelity Bank Plc on his own phone number, 08033061239, over your grievances on staff issues within Fidelity Bank PLC to threaten or harass Chijioke Ugochukwu, and such threat places him and his family members in fear of death, violence or bodily harm and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (2) (a) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act 1 2015 and punishable under Section 24(2) (i) of the same Act.
“COUNT 3: “That you, Innocent Eneji ’m’ on the 25th day of June, 2017 at Lagos Island Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did knowingly or intentionally transmit or caused the transmission of text message containing some threats to Chijioke Ugochukwu and Nnamdi Okonkwo to harm their reputation respectively, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (2) (c) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section ‘4 {2) (i) of the same Act.”
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target=_blank>CJN Removal: Buhari Is Illiterate President, Primitive Tribalist, Addicted To Parochial And Selective Governance By Bayo Oluwasanmi
Bayo Oluwasanmi
Bayo Oluwasanmi
The unconstitutional illegal removal of Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari is yet another bloodless coup on our presidential democracy. Nigerians are gasping for breath why Buhari should remove Onnoghen few weeks to the presidential elections. The issue is not why a corrupt justice or corrupt Nigerians should be removed from office, but the constitutional and legal process of how they are removed.
It is no exaggeration to say that Buhari might be the dimmest President Nigeria has ever had. The four-year presidency of Buhari convinced us that he primarily lacks sophistication, knowledge of the Constitution, of the world, and understanding of government, how it works, and a rudimentary grasp of economics. It is also an open secret that President Buhari doesn’t read, has no intellectual friends, and no knowledge of how a president, better still, a leader leads.
His tragic performance at the Town Hall Meeting two weeks or so ago, is a proof that he remains blissfully illiterate in all subjects. He surrounds himself with yes people who know little or nothing more than him. His behavior, utterances, and decision making portray Buhari as a neophyte, hopelessly unschooled and naive in the governance of a nation as diverse and multi ethnic as Nigeria. Throughout his presidency, Buhari didn’t read the Constitution, didn’t acquaint himself with the Constitution, didn’t see it as the law and ethical guide but as an inconvenient hindrance that must be ignored, disrespected, and trampled upon. Judging by the way he flouts the Constitution, it is evident that Buhari sees the presidency as his personal property where he can behave anyhow, and do whatever he likes or wants.
As an illiterate, President Buhari’s constitutional illiteracy is amusing. The appointment and removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria is clearly stated in the Constitution. I’m not a lawyer. Many legal experts have written on the unconstitutionality of Buhari’s action. I need not bore you with legal jargon. However, references to some relevant sections of the Constitution will suffice. The CJN can only be removed from office by the recommendations of the two thirds majority of the senate. See sections 231 (1), 292 (1). The Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC) is the only body that can discipline and suspend the CJN. See section 158 (1). The NJC hasn’t recommended the removal of Justice Onnoghen, nor has the senate acted on his case. Where then did Buhari gets his authority to fire the CJ? The illiterate President Buhari struggled laboriously albeit unsuccessfully, to justify the unconstitutional removal of Justice Onnoghen saying he was acting on the recommendation of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). Mr. President, the Constitution does not say CJN can be removed by the president based on the order of a court, or CCT..
President Buhari has the reputation of picking and choosing which judgments to comply with. Long time ago, the Supreme Court ruled that he must publish names of thieves who looted our treasury, how much was looted, and how much was recovered. Till date, he’s yet to comply with the order. President Buhari has defied seven judgments of the high court since 2015 in the case of former national security adviser Sambo Dasuki that ruled Dasuki should be free on bail. Dasuki still held in jail. What’s wrong in granting bail to the accessed and prosecute him? A leader of Nigeria’s Shi’ite community, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife have been held by state security forces since 2015 in defiance of court orders for bail. Activist Deji Adeyanju continues to languish in detention without bail. Prolonged detention of Nigerians without trial is against the Constitution. It echoes Buhari’s days as ruthless military dictator.
As a primitive tribalist, President Buhari said he cannot fire Babachir Lawal over “mere allegations.” He argued that Lawal was entitled to presumption of innocence until proven guilty. He reluctantly removed Lawal from office. Lawal is a free man today and as a matter of fact, he’s one of major campaign coordinators of Buhari. He didn’t reprimand or repudiate Governor Ganduje of Kano who was caught stashing bribe proceeds into the pockets of his Babariga. Abdulrasheed Maina chairman Presidential Task team on pension reforms cart away N2B in the office of the head of civil Service of the federation. Maina fled to Saudi Arabia to evade arrest and prosecution. Maina was smuggled back to the country with the knowledge of Buhari and rewarded with a juicy federal agency appointment as director general. The case has since gone cold.
President Buhari’s caricature of federal appointments is a mirror to his presidency which accepts nepotism as the norm. His ‘physical blindness’ is a metaphor for his wilfull emotional blindness. His complete unwillingness to either face reality or accept responsibility for the travesty of justice, parochial and selective governance, continue to hunt and hurt his disastrous regime. It is leadership derailment at the cross roads of our history. Buhari’s only feeble justification for blatant nepotism in appointing service chiefs, directors of federal agencies, justices, etc, because they are the ones he “trust.” Whereas, he won the presidency by the votes of people he didn’t “trust.”
Nepotism is self-destructive imperative. Buhari is facing extreme criticisms from Nigerians because of his brazen nepotism, he’s losing their respects, their collective goodwill, their trust and confidence, and he’s seen as a weak, coward leader. Today, Nigeria is a national tragedy, a monument of collective shame. As February 16 beckons on us, it is instructive to remind Nigerians that nepotistic octogenarian Buharis and Atikus are incapable of providing unclouded vision that matches the oversize expectations of our poor people for a new Nigeria where justice, freedom, equality, and pursuit of happiness are guaranteed… Let’s go there!
bjoluwasanmi@gmail.com
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E2%80%99s-case target=_blank>SERAP Gives NJC Five Days To Take Over Onnoghen’s Case
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent a petition to the “Next-In-Rank” to the Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) urging the council “to immediately take over the case of Justice Walter Onnoghen, from the Code of Conduct Tribunal with a view to setting up a committee to investigate the allegations of breach of constitutional asset declaration requirements against him”.
A statement by Ms Bamisope Adeyanju, SERAP Senior Legal Adviser, also urged the NJC to ask Onnoghen to step aside from his role as CJN, pending the outcome of investigation into the allegations against him.
The organisation noted that if the allegations against Onnoghen were established, the NJC should refer the case to appropriate anti-corruption body for prosecution, just as it asked , Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed to “recuse himself from the process as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria”.
The NJC was also asked to “consider the issue of appointment of Justice Mohammed with a view to ensuring strict compliance with constitutional provisions”.
“The NJC should take the recommended action within five days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter, failing which SERAP will take appropriate legal action to compel the NJC to take action on the case,” the statement added.
The petition dated January 26, 2019, and signed by Adeyanju, read: “The urgent intervention by the NJC would remove the allegations against Justice Onnoghen from the vicissitudes of political controversy, and a clear and present danger to the independence and authority of the judiciary. It would also help to reverse the country’s increasing movement toward anarchy or despotism.
“It is in time like this that the NJC must be most vigilant and alive to its constitutional duties, if it is not to permit a diminution of our treasured constitutional rights.”
The petition copied Diego García-Sayán, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.
The petition continued: “SERAP is concerned that the politicization of our judiciary poses the greatest threat to the independence of the judiciary, to Nigeria’s fledgling democracy and would, if not urgently addressed, lead to denial of access to justice to the most marginalized and vulnerable section of the population.
“The politicisation of the judiciary by politicians would endanger Nigerians’ fundamental human rights and the country’s international human rights obligations, and consequently, the fundamental principles of our constitutional democracy.
“It is the responsibility of the NJC to ensure the preservation of our constitutional values and to prevent the politicisation of the judiciary and politicians from running roughshod over sacred judicial functions, and consequently, the rights of citizens.
“Nigerians deserve a judiciary capable of serving as essential bulwark of constitutional government, a constant guardian of the rule of law, and owing fidelity to no person or party. Unless the NJC acts as requested, the mandates, ability and authority of the judiciary to act as a check on the political branches of government and to protect citizens’ human rights would be drastically curtailed.
“The allegation that Justice Onnoghen failed to declare his assets as required by the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and the arbitrary response by the Federal Government have thrown our judiciary into a crisis, with politicians seemingly taking full advantage of the crisis, resulting in the politicization of the judiciary.
“Many politicians have failed to consider the matter through a constitutional lens and have in fact made statements that may be considered prejudicial to the cause of justice, the interests of the judiciary and Nigeria. As the Senate prepares to sit to discuss the matter, the situation is likely to be even more politicised, especially at the time of election when politicians jostle for position, power, and relevance. Any intervention by the Senate is likely to be politically motivated and would not satisfactorily break the logjam.
“Many Nigerians would see the suspension of Justice Onnoghen as outright intimidation of the judiciary in the hope of making it more deferential to certain politicians, as judges prepare to hear flood of election petitions that are expected to follow the general elections in February and March 2019. Suspending the Chief Justice of Nigeria by an ex parte order obtained via an apparently flawed legal and judicial process is an absurdity too gross to be allowed to stand. It suggests the constitution is no longer the supreme law of the land.”
The group also called noted that the allegations against the CJN have created distrust of the judiciary by the citizens.
The petition continued: “The allegations against Justice Onnoghen, unless properly and constitutionally resolved, would continue to undermine his ability to faithfully discharge and perform his judicial duties as Chief Justice. At a time of judicial-cum-constitutional crisis, the NJC should not and cannot abdicate its constitutional responsibilities to intervene in this matter.
“Judges have the responsibility to uphold the rule of law as an effective check on the political branches. But the judiciary cannot continue to play its traditional role as the guardian of the Constitution until the Justice Onnoghen matter is constitutionally and satisfactorily addressed.”
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target=_blank>Ondo Football Association Crisis Deepens As Faction Calls For Cancellation Of Elections
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been asked to cancel the election into the Ondo State Football Association (ODSFA).
Dele Ologbese, the Vice Chairman of ODSFA, alongside 14 other local government football councils, made the call in a letter written to the NFF leadership.
In the letter dated January 26, 2019, and obtained by SaharaReporters, Ologbese noted that the statutory guidelines prepared by the board to guide the conduct of elections into the local government football council and state executive board were all doctored.
He accused Dele Ajayi and Daodu Alex of perpetrating fraud in the electoral process, stressing that the election was also marred with irregularities as it was “stage-managed” in order to give favour to preferred candidates of the incumbent chairman.
He kicked against the involvement of policemen as delegates at the local council election, adding that such action was alien to the NFF.
The letter read: “The adoption of policemen to vote at local government football council elections was cleverly perfected and supported to give undue advantage to candidates of the Dele Ajayi/Henry Akingboju group at the elections.
“Apart from the controversial delegates list of coaches with notable flaws presented to the electoral committee, it is unfortunate that the list of referees, local government sports desk officers and the Police are yet to be forwarded to the electoral body, giving strong impression that the state FA electoral committee is inadequately prepared for elections or that it could be working for the interest of certain known cabals within the association.
“Having regard to the foregoing and overwhelming evidences in support of the highhandedness and official recklessness of Dele Ajayi over election matters, we humbly request for the cancellation of the local government football councils election across Ondo State, and immediate disbandment of electoral committee for the sake of fair play and justice.”
Ologbese also accused Michael Fabonmi, Chairman of the Ondo State Coaches Association, for presenting individuals that are not certificated and known in the association.
In his response to the accusation, Fabonmi accused Ologbose of not being a member of the coaches association, noting that he does not have the right to determine who is not a member of the association.
“I know his (Ologbese) feeling and it is because the man he is contesting against is a policeman. He should not fear his membership because he never told anyone of them who to vote for. Is Ologbese a coach? Is he a member of the coaching association? I learnt some of my boys have joined the other party (Ologbese) and some did not come for the election as directed by Ologbese.
“We must be neutral; some of them have been bought over. I have told all of them to vote their conscience and give us the best chairman, that’s all. For simple majority, we said let’s have odd number and we agreed to put the Police. That was how we arrived with the Police at the congress.
“Ologbese is not a member, and he cannot know exactly those who registered and those that did not register. I told them those that will vote must be registered members of the association.”
SaharaReporters gathered that the elections into the football council had begun with the Ondo South senatorial district electing chairmen, while that of the North and Central senatorial district will be conducted on Monday.
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target=_blank>Group Wants Court To Stop INEC From Conducting Elections At IDP Camps
The Forum for Transparency and Integrity in Leadership and a lawyer, Samuel Adeniji, have asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to determine whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can allow Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to vote without complying with the law on voter registration.
They are praying the court to determine whether INEC has the power to conduct 2019 elections in IDP camps without compiling and maintaining a register of voters with respect to eligible voters in the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of origin of the IDPs in question.
The plaintiffs want the court to hold that IDPs can only vote when they comply with the provision of the Electoral Act by applying to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the respective states in which the IDP camps are located.
They sought a declaration that it would be unconstitutional and illegal for INEC to conduct elections in IDP camps, without first complying with the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act (2010) by compiling and maintaining as part of the national register of voters, the names of all persons entitled to vote in each IDP camp.
The plaintiffs, through their lawyer, Lekan Idowu of Edgewise Solicitors, prayed for a declaration that they are entitled to view and inspect the voters’ register, if any, which INEC intends to use in the IDP camps.
They also prayed the court to declare that it would be unconstitutional and illegal for INEC to conduct elections in IDP camps located in the Niger Republic and the Republic of Chad or in any other country or place outside Nigeria.
In the suit, the group claims that Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC Chairman, had announced that IDPs in those countries “who left their abodes due to insurgency in the North-East would not be denied their voting rights”.
The plaintiffs sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from conducting any electoral process during the forthcoming general elections in any of the IDP camps without having first complied with the 1999 Constitution as amended and the Electoral Act with regards to having the names of IDPs on the national voters register. Additionally, they prayed the court for an injunction restraining INEC from allowing any voting in an IDP camp outside Nigeria.
In a supporting affidavit, Adeniji, a lawyer and member of the forum, recalled that INEC recently announced that it would conduct elections in IDP camps. The deponent said the IDP camps are scattered in different locations in the North-East and Abuja, adding that he was not aware that INEC has so far enumerated the specific LGAs the IDPs were originally located.
Adeniji also said he was not aware that the individuals who now reside in the IDP camps applied to be registered or to transfer their registration from their original places of abode to their new locations.
“I believe that it is in the interest of justice that the reliefs in the originating summons are granted,” he prayed.
The originating summons was brought pursuant to Section 153, Paragraph 15 (A) and (E) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended); Sections 9, 10 and 13 of Electoral Act No 6 of 2010, Order 3, Rule 1 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009 and under the inherent powers of the honourable court.
The suit is yet to be heard.
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target=_blank>Police Foil Attempt To Snatch Uber Driver’s Car In Lagos
The Lagos State Police Command foiled an attempt to snatch the vehicle of an Uber driver in Lagos.
The robbery was prevented by the anti-crime patrol team of the Maroko Police Station.
A statement by CSP Chike Oti, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, noted that the car was snatched by two persons he picked up at the Afrika Shrine.
The statement read: “On January 23, 2018, at about 2350hrs, the Anti-Crime patrol team of Maroko Police Station led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Isah Abdulmajid, while on crime prevention patrol, came across one Ogadinma Ikeagu, crying for help. He narrated that his Toyota Corolla saloon car, with registration number KJA 69 FE, had just been snatched by two passengers he picked at the Afrika Shrine.
“The DPO took the driver in his patrol vehicle and they drove in the same direction taken by the thieves, while escaping with the car. Fortunately for the distressed Uber Driver, the Police team was able to intercept the car within Victoria Island.
“Although one of the thieves escaped, the team arrested his crime partner, one Ogundoju Olalekan of No. 14 Shomorin street, Ifako Gbagada. He was immediately searched and two wooden prototypes of berratta pistols were recovered from him. On interrogation, he confessed to have committed the crime.
“Meanwhile, the Command Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal, has directed that the fleeing member of the Uber snatching syndicate must be arrested to face the law.”
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target=_blank>Ganduje, Abacha Shun Kano Governorship Debate
Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor of Kano State, seeking reelection on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Mohammed Abacha, governorship candidate of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), were absent at the governorship debate held on Saturday in the state.
The debate was organised by the Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Research and Training Mambayya, in collaboration with 10 other civil society organisations.
Ganduje didn’t attend or send a representative. He also didn’t send apologies for his absence. Ganduje, who was in attendance at the signing of the 2019 Peace Accord, held at Bayero University Kano, was expected to attend the debate.
However, Abba Yusuf, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Salihu Takai of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Nasir Mukhtar of the Legacy Party of Nigeria (LPN) attended the debate.
Yusuf said his party would promote politics without bitterness, just as he highlighted his major priorities as education and empowerment of women, youth and civil servants. Noting that his government would continue from where the Kwankwaso administration stopped on education and empowerment, he also promised to improve road infrastructure, as well as ensure development across all sectors of the economy.
Nasir Mukhtar of LPN also said his main target is to improve the economy of the state, and also block all influx of drugs commonly abused by youth and reform them.
For Takai, his administration would focus on empowerment of youth. He also promised to encourage youth to embrace skill acquisition.
Of the three candidates present, only the PDP presented a hard copy of his action plan, whereas Takai, who earlier said his was not ready, later said it was ready in his conclusion remarks.
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target=_blank>Buhari’s Suspension Of Nigerian Constitution And The Coming Anarchy By Erasmus Ikhide
President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari
Before now, I had mirrored President Muhammadu Buhari’s brutal and dictatorial inclinations in several articles from his first and second coming as president in 1983 and 2015 and signposted his government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the coming anarchy! The president did not disappoints his critics, as always.
Chief Mike Ozekhome, (SAN) a Constitutional Lawyer and Human Rights Activist tagged the alleged suspension from office of the CJN as the vilest, thieving, most despicable, ultravires, undemocratic and brazenly unconstitutional act ever carried out by any government in Nigeria, both civilian or military, since 1st January, 1914, when the contraption called Nigeria was forcibly contrived through the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorates. It’s even more repulsive that a thoroughbred tyrant and Islamic potentate like Buhari, who openly subscribes to democratic values could brazenly crushed the judiciary.
“The desperate act of a sit-tight president constitutes a direct suspension of the Nigerian Constitution and the entire democratic process. It has finally removed the remaining veneer of pretension to democratic credentials by Buhari and his all-conquering cabal. Welcome, Nigerians, to full blown dictatorship, absolutism, authoritarianism and fascism. Buhari has behaved worse than what he was as a military tyrant. Military juntas always only suspended parts of the Constitution they did not like.
“But, by torpedoing the entire judiciary, rule of law and due process, including four valid High Court/Federal High Court rulings and yesterday’s ruling by the Court of Appeal, all of them staying proceedings of the phoney and funny charges levelled against Onnoghen before the CCT, Nigerians now know that we have now become an endangered specie”, Ozekhome said.
The majesty or sacrosanctity of the judiciary has not abated since the existence of civil governments; even in time of aberrant military incursions. It has remained the sole redemptive precursor for the restoration of human ethos and societal values towards civil society. Apart from interpreting the laws of nations, the judiciary hasn’t faltered essentially or abdicates its duty and has not failed in upholding the norms of judicial supremacy over and above crass animalism.
Therefore, President Buhari’s suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and by extension the Nigerian Constitution is premeditated to serve two purposes: first to foist anomic, lawless, despotic atmosphere of fear and brutality on the nation and to paved the way to rigging February 16th presidential election. The national chair of the party, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole at various times had told the world that APC will never hand over to opposition party party if his party failed to win at the polls!
It means that the next election is nothing more than a ritualistic outing to illegally confer life presidency (not just 4 years) on Buhari. Otherwise, there is no known basis, legal, constitutional or moral, to hurriedly bypass courts of law, the judicial process and court orders, to illegally remove the CJN and swear in an Acting CJN.
The provisions of section 292 (2) of the 1999 Constitution are quite clear on how the CJN can be removed from office. Aside sections 153, 158 and parts 1 and 2 of the 3rd schedule to the Constitution which provide that a judicial officer can not be removed from office until he has first been tried and dealt with by the National Judicial Council (NJC), section 292( 2) makes it clear that the president can only remove the CJN from office before the age of his retirement, “acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate”. Did the Senate meet and empower President Buhari to remove the CJN, has been the question the masses are asking.
By this singular act, the president has illegally and unconstituonally stripped both the judiciary and the Legislature bare of their constitutional functions, usurped their powers and enthroned maximum dictatorship over the affairs of Nigeria, like Louis X14 once did when he stood in front of parliament, beat his chest imperiously and declared,”l’est tat c’est moi”(I am the state).
The ill-advised action does not only assault our noble sense of humanity and dignity as decent Nigerians, it also violently desecrates the principles of rule of law as espoused by Prof A.V. Dicey and the hallowed doctrine of separation of powers as ably propounded in 1748 by the great French Philosopher, Baron De Montesque.
Now, Nigerians have to “Take Their Country Back” in the face of outright governmental brigandage, exhibition of imperial and maniacal raw power from a president plagued with Alzheimer and dementia infirmity. Before February 16th presidential election, this is a call to duty to brace up, come out enmasse, to protest against this illegality, banality, subversion of judicial processes and rape of the nation’s constitution.
For the records, we have been here before and we are back fully to the Abacha era, as OBJ rightly noted four days ago in his patriotic letter to Nigerians to reject Buhari in the coming election and APC satanic government. Civil society organisations and the labour unions concerned should rally Nigerians against the enemy of the country and the cabals in Aso Rock who Mrs. Aisha Buhari said have taken over the governance of Nigeria, who Nigerians never voted for, from her husband.
Nigerian lawyers and the NBA should shut down all courts in Nigeria until the CJN is returned to his seat. This was achieved even under military dictatorship in Pakistan, when former Pakistani president, Pervez Musharraf illegally removed from office, the then Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on 11th March, 2007. All the lawyers went on strike, from 15th March, 2007, shut down the courts and protested on the streets for months, until a panel of 7 members of the Supreme Court sat and held that the removal was illegal and reinstated the Chief Justice.
Nigerians can no longer wait for the compromised and timid National Assembly, who are themselves part of the problem to act on our behalf for refusing to impeach President Buhari on the grounds of gross incompetence and infirmity (since he can’t remember he is the nation’s president at a campaign rally in Delta State) as instructed by the Nigerian Constitution.
As it stands, there is no more democracy in Nigeria or a democrat as the president should be. What we have is a triple “D”, Defamed Demented Dictator, who has choreographed a presidential electoral heist and charade to confer legitimacy on a pre-rigged, on-the-spot rigged and post-rigged coming election. Time is now to rout the less than 1% cabals from our polity who have held the nation Hell bound, before it’s too late.
Follow me on Twitter @ikhide_erasmus1
Email: ikhideerasmus@gmail.com
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Erasmus Ikhide
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Senate May Call For Emergency Session Over Onnoghen’s Suspension
There are growing indications that the Upper Chamber of Nigeria’s National Assembly may call for an emergency reconvening to address the suspension of Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Onnoghen was suspended over allegations of a fraudulent declaration of assets. He has also been replaced by Tanko Mohammed, although in an acting capacity.
At the last sitting on January 24, the Senate had adjourned plenary till Tuesday, February 19, 2019.
However, according to a principal officer who spoke with Punch newspaper, gathered the leadership of Nigeria Senate may meet soon to determine whether to reconvene to address the issue or not.
“There are some that are pushing for the Senate to reconvene. But they don’t know the inner workings of the Senate. So, the leaders of the Senate are also afraid, because they know that they’re on a time bomb. Everybody is trying to finish well. They’re still consulting,” he said.
It was also revealed that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are backing President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision tonsuapend Onnoghen, and would prevent any actions by the legislature to overturn the decision.
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SaharaReporters, New York
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