•Devolution of power, security architecture, justiciability of provisions on social, economic rights

Alex Enumah in Abuja

As suggestions continue to pour in towards giving Nigeria a workable and people oriented Constitution, the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) has called on the National Assembly to put in place a system that would ensure appointment of judicial officers are based purely on merit.

President of the CSLS, Prof Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, made the call on Tuesday, at a Capacity Building Workshop on Constitutional Impediments to Access to Justice in Nigeria, which held in Abuja.

The senior lawyer, who pointed out that there are a lot of things in the Constitution that are hindering the progress of the nation, also called on all Nigerians to get involved in the ongoing constitutional reforms.

“There are many provisions which need to be reformed so as to remove them from being obstacles to access to justice. One of the most important one is chapter two which deals with fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy.

This is one of the most important provisions because the great majority of the people are poor and they need welfare, economic wellbeing and if the chapter that provides for economic and social rights are not justiciable then that is a huge gap in the Constitution.

“We also need to look at the ways judges are appointed, we need a merit based appointment system for the judiciary, a situation where the executives continue to wield so much influence over appointment of judges is not good for the system, so we need to look at that”, Akinseye-George said.

“A justice system cannot deliver effectively where its independence is structurally constrained. Judicial autonomy is not only a constitutional ideal; it is a prerequisite for fairness, efficiency, and public confidence”, he added.

Another area the CSLS is pushing for constitutional change is in the area of power sharing among the tiers of government, which the body observed is concentrated at the center.

They argued that if power is granted to the local governments and the wards they would be able to protect themselves and organize their security.
The centre lamented that the judgment of the Supreme Court which gave autonomy to local governments in the country could not be effected because of certain constitutional provisions, hence the need to rejig the entire Constitution to make it truly serve the needs of Nigerians.

“Today’s engagement is both timely and strategic. Across Nigeria, justice sector institutions continue to grapple with structural, procedural, and operational challenges that impede the effective administration of justice. While many of these issues are administrative or policy-related, a significant number are rooted in the constitutional framework itself. This workshop therefore provides us with a critical platform to examine these constraints and build the capacity of stakeholders to advocate for necessary reforms”, he said.

The law professor disclosed that the workshop aimed at deepening stakeholders understanding of constitutional obstacles to access to justice; build technical capacity on constitutional interpretation, reform processes, and advocacy strategies; strengthen collaborative engagement among justice actors; and foster a unified approach toward addressing long-standing constitutional constraints.

Alex Enumah in Abuja

British-Nigerian art dealer, Ogeneochuko Ojiri has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison after failing to report a series of high-value art transactions involving Nazem Ahmad, a man suspected of financing Hezbollah.

The 53-year-old, who once appeared on the BBC programme Antiques Road Trip, admitted to selling approximately £140,000 worth of artwork to Ahmad, despite being aware of his alleged links to the proscribed terrorist organisation.

Ojiri had pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges after admitting to selling valuable artworks to a man accused of financing Hezbollah.

He specifically admitted to eight counts under the Terrorism Act 2000 for failing to disclose suspicious transactions during his business activities.

Notably, Ojiri is the first person charged under Section 21A of the Act, which makes it a criminal offence to withhold information that could prevent terrorism financing.

Prosecutors told the court that Ojiri was fully aware of Ahmad’s background and deliberately concealed their dealings.

It was alleged he manipulated invoices related to the art sales and saved Ahmad’s name under an alias on his phone.

The court heard that Ojiri was “motivated by greed and a desire to ‘boost the reputation’ of his business, the Shoreditch-based Ojiri Gallery, by ‘dealing with such a well-known collector.’”

While delivering the sentence at the Old Bailey, Justice Cheema-Grubb criticised Ojiri’s actions, stating, “You knew it was your duty to alert the authorities but you elected to balance the financial profit and commercial success of your business against Ahmad’s dark side.”

Ojiri was given a custodial sentence of two years and six months, with an additional one year on an extended licence.

According to his barrister, Kevin Irwin, Ojiri was arrested on 18 April 2023 in Wrexham while filming a BBC show. Irwin added that his client’s “humiliation is complete” as he faced sentencing.

On the same day Ojiri was arrested, Ahmad was sanctioned by the UK government.

Authorities subsequently seized artworks stored in two UK warehouses, including pieces by Picasso and Warhol, valued at nearly £1 million.

* Says alleged meeting with South-south governor hours before defection to APC false

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, yesterday assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu’s administration will continue to uphold the rule of law and not falter in the fight against corruption no matter whose ox is gored.

He also dismissed claim that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, met a former and incumbent governor of a South-South state hours to their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr. Paul Ibe, media aide to former Vice President and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, had while speaking on a television programme insinuated that certain factors may have been responsible for the defection of the South-south governor and his predecessor.

Reacting, the AGF through his media aide, Mr. Kamarudeen Ogundele, described the allegations as “contemporaneous” and “from the pit of hell, and at best, a figment of imagination of Mr Ibe”.

Ogundele in a statement yesterday, noted that, “Mr. Ibe had insinuated that the EFCC and the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, met a former and incumbent governor of a South-South state 48 hours to their defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)”.

The statement observed that, Atiku’s media aide may not have mentioned the names of the former and incumbent governor who recently defected to the APC but that discerning members of the public know those he could have been referring to.

“We know as a fact that the EFCC chairman and the Solicitor General of the Federation never met any serving or former governor as alleged by him.
“We appeal to the members of the public to disregard the insinuation as it was a feeble attempt to discredit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration’s fight against corruption”, he said.

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Senator representing Kogi Central at the National Assembly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has filed a fresh petition against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

The petition dated May 15, was addressed separately to both the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Inspector General (IG) of Police.

Also mentioned in the petition was one Sandra Duru, accused of malicious campaign of criminal defamation, cyber-stalking, conspiracy, and attempted assassination against Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The petition which was filed on behalf of Akpoti-Uduaghan, by her lawyer, Dr Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), specifically called on the police to “painstakingly investigate the contents of this Petition and ensure that justice is expeditiously dispensed to all who may be found wanting regardless of their status in the Nigerian society”.

Akpoti-Uduaghan is currently under suspension from the Senate for six months for allegedly violating the Senate Rules. The alleged violation was said to have occurred when she refused to vacate her seat following reallocation of her seat on the floor of the red chamber.

But, the Kogi senator has been claiming to be a victim of sexual harassment.

Her lawyer stated that the petition which is supported by incontrovertible evidence from public broadcasts, witness testimonies, media reports, and expert analyses, demonstrates “a deliberate retaliatory campaign by Akpabio, using proxies and resources at his disposal.

The senior lawyer claimed that a smear campaign against the female Kogi senator started shortly after her sexual harassment claim and suspension, stating.

“Our client observed a sudden surge of defamatory propaganda against her on social media and in certain press outlets,” the petition alleged.

West-Idahosa added that evidence now shows that it was no organic backlash, but a coordinated smear campaign sponsored by Akpabio as a form of revenge.

“A key figure in this campaign is one Dr. Sandra Chidinma Duru, a Texas-based Nigerian who styles herself as “Professor (Prof.) Mgbeke” on Facebook. It is pertinent to highlight further evidence demonstrating the operational nexus between Senator Godswill Akpabio and Dr. Sandra Duru.

“As inadvertently revealed during her live broadcast of May 1, 2025, Dr. Duru’s call log displayed multiple contacts, including “My Daddy Directline,” “IGP Kayode,” “Senator Akpabio” (with at least two saved numbers), “Oby Ndukwe” (the media aide to the Senate President, who later appeared on Politics Today with Seun Okinbaloye to publicly condemn our client), and “CP Imo Aboki Danjuma” as well as “Senator Ned Nwoko”, the petition added.

He argued that the presence of these names, particularly those occupying high-level positions within Nigeria’s security architecture, strongly suggests that Akpabio and Duru were acting in concert, possibly with the support or knowledge of certain police officials.

“This revelation further strengthens our client’s position that the defamatory campaign and associated threats were not the isolated acts of a rogue individual, but the product of a coordinated effort involving Senator Akpabio and his political and security network, intended to discredit, harass, and endanger her”, he added.

Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Duru of malicious falsehoods in her May 1, broadcast, despite knowing them to be false and with the intent to harm her reputation and even put her in jeopardy of charges against the state.

“Duru falsely alleged that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan confessed to plotting a coup against the government. She claimed our client’s real agenda was to ‘force the Senate President to step down so that they will have their way to remove what they call the Yoruba government.

“And that ‘the fight was not really about the Senate President, but about the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, they don’t want a Yoruba government to go beyond four years.

“In other words, Duru painted our client as part of an ethnic cabal conspiring to topple the current administration (headed by a Yoruba president). This is an utterly baseless and inflammatory accusation meant to stir public enmity and invite state persecution.

“Indeed, whistleblower Francess Olisa-Ogbonnaya, who later reviewed Duru’s source audio clips, confirmed that ‘nowhere in the clips’ did Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan say anything about ‘wanting to bring down the Yoruba government.’

“ The very notion was implausible, as Ms. Ogbonnaya noted: ‘How do you think Sen. Natasha will bring down the Yoruba government? A Kogi person is a minority… they don’t have alliances like that.

“This emphatic debunking demonstrates that Duru’s treason narrative was a complete fiction,” the petition added.

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has withdrawn the fiat donated to Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, to prosecute the Chairman of Zinox Technologies, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh and 12 others.

The fiat which was granted to Falana on December 20, 2023 to prosecute the alleged case of fraud against the defendants was withdrawn following request by Mr. Mathew Burkaa, SAN, counsel representing the defendants in the suit marked: FCT/HC/CR/985/2024, between FRN v. Leo Stan Ekeh and 12 others.

According to the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr. M. B. Abubakar, the senior lawyer had written the AGF on several occasions demanding the withdrawal of the fiat.

In a correspondence dated May 6, and addressed to Burkaa, the AGF said he took the decision to withdraw the authorization after a consideration of the senior lawyer’s request, the facts and circumstances of the case.

The letter read inter alia: “You may wish to refer to the above-mentioned subject matter and be informed that the office of the Attorney General of the Federation is in receipt of your letters dated December 24, 2024; March 27, 2025 and April 10, 2025 respectively, requesting for the withdrawal of the fiat donated to Messrs. Femi Falana SAN on December 20, 2023.

“I am to inform you that after a consideration of your request, the facts and circumstances of the case, the Attorney General of the Federation has withdrawn the fiat donated to Messrs. Femi Falana SAN, dated December 20, 2023 vide a letter dated May 2, 2025.”

Meanwhile, the May 2, letter addressed to Falana and titled: Withdrawal of Authorization Under Section 174 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as Amended, reads: “I am directed to write in reference to the above caption and to inform you that the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in exercise of the power conferred upon him by section 174 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended and section 106 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, has withdrawn the fiat earlier granted to you dated December 20, 2023 to prosecute the case mentioned below at the expense of the nominal complainant Mr. Joseph Benjamin: FRG V. Chris Eze Ozims and 6 others, Charge No: CR/827/2013.

“You are accordingly, requested to withdraw Charge No; FCT/HC/CR/985/2024 between FRN v. Leo Stan Ekeh and 12 others in the interest of justice.”

However, this is not the first time the AGF is withdrawing the fiat donated to the senior lawyer and rights activist.

Recall that the former AGF and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN, had in a letter dated October 28, 2022, withdrawn a similar fiat that was donated to Falana, upon his own application, on the same set of facts and allegations.

Based on the withdrawal, the charges filed by Falana, pursuant to the Fiat were struck out by two justices of the FCT High Court, Abuja (Honourable Justice Christopher O. Oba, and Honourable Justice Ade. S. Adepoju).

However, upon the appointment of the current AGF and Minister of Justice, Femi Falana, again applied and got a Fiat with which he filed a new case: Charge No: FCT/HC/CR/985/2024 between FRN.v. Leo Stan and 12 others, still on the same set of facts and allegations.

But upon a further review of the file at the Ministry of Justice, the AGF and Minister of Justice came to the conclusion that “in the interest of justice” the Fiat and the Charges filed pursuant to it should be withdrawn.

Recall that this case and its adjunct suits had been dismissed three times by three different courts.

The latest dismissal was on March 20, 2025 by Justice Akpan Okon Ebong of the FCT High Court who struck out the case filed by Mr. Femi Falana SAN, against the Chairman of Zinox Technologies, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, and 12 others, based on the Fiat (that has now been withdrawn from him.).

The other defendants are Mr. Chris Eze Ozims, Oyebode Folashade, Charles Adigwe, Obilo Onuoha, Agartha Ukoha, Anya O. Anya, Femi Dosumu, Nnenna Kalu, Admas Digital Technologies Limited, Technology Distributions Limited and Zinox Technologies Limited.

The suit No. FCT/HC/CR/985/24 filed in November 2024 by Falana on behalf of his client, Benjamin Joseph, before the Federal High Court in Abuja for the same alleged diversion of N162,247,513.80 being payment for laptop supply contract at FIRS Headquarters was dismissed.

In the Certified True Copy of the judgment dated March 20, 2025, Justice Ebong ruled as follows: “It is my conclusion based on the foregoing that this charge (No. FCT/HC/CR/985/2024, Federal Republic of Nigeria v Leo Stan Ekeh and 12 ORS) constitutes a gross abuse of court process and is liable to dismissal. I accordingly hereby dismiss it.”

Justice Ebong held: “One intriguing aspect of this matter is that none of the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation of the nominal complainant’s (Mr. Joseph) numerous petitions has found merit in any of his allegations against the defendants.

When called upon before Senchi J. (Justice Danlami Z. Senchi) to prove his said allegations to the court, he failed to turn up in court. One then wonders on what premise he wants to maintain this campaign of persecution against the defendants.”

Previous judgments on the matter had established that rather than being the culprit, Ekeh and the 12 others were actually the victims of a failed money diversion scheme plotted by Mr. Joseph and Citadel.

The most recent charges filed by Falana on the basis of a fiat from the Attorney General was the third in a row as Mr. Joseph had earlier filed charge no.CR/469/2022, which was struck out by Honorable Justice Christopher O. Oba of the FCT High Court, by an order dated November 8, 2022.

Justice Oba ruled: “Upon hearing the counsel for both the Prosecution and the Defendants in court, the basis for which the law firm of Femi Falana filed the present charge is the authority gotten from the Attorney General of the Federation. The said authority has been withdrawn, there is legally no basis for the present charge before this court. Therefore, this charge is hereby struck out.”

Determined to push through his case, Mr. Joseph filed the same charges before Honorable Justice Ade S. Adepoju of the FCT High Court, and the charges were, once again, struck out by the Honorable Court on March 19, 2024, with Honorable Justice Adepoju holding that: “This matter was brought in dead, extinct and should be confined into the dustbin of history…I hold that the instant suit is an abuse of the process of court and it is hereby struck out accordingly.”

It will be recalled that in his petition to the police in 2013, it was alleged by police authorities that Mr. Joseph provided false information to the police, prompting the Inspector General of Police to charge him for false information in charge no.CR/216/16.

In another case filed by the EFCC at his instance against his partner, Princess Kama, in charge no. FCT/HC/CR/244/2018, Honorable Justice Danlami Z. Senchi of the FCT High Court (as he then was), dismissed as false all the allegations made by Benjamin Joseph, and imposed the sum of N20 million as damages against him for false petitioning in relation to these same allegations.

•Court allows witnesses to testify behind Camera  

•Call for self-determination not a crime, says accused

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The federal government, yesterday, commenced its fresh prosecution of detained Biafra nation agitator, Nnamdi Kanu, by calling its first witness, an operative of the Department of the State Service (DSS).

Kanu, who has been in custody of the DSS for nearly four years, was last month arraigned afresh before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a seven count charge bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism.

His re-arraignment was due to the withdrawal of the former judge, Justice Binta Nyako, who stepped aside after Kanu accused her of bias.

He pleaded not guilty to all the seven count charges, following which the court fixed April 29 and May 2, for trial.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, the witness, code-named, PWAAA by Justice James Omotosho, for security reasons, narrated how the secret service, acting on intelligence, deployed an 8-man team to a hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, on October 15, 2015, where Kanu was first arrested.

According to the witness, items found on the defendant at the point of his arrest included IPOB pamphlets, IPOB complementary cards, laptops, IPADS, microphones, microphone stand, flash drives, power adaptor for mixers, various brands of phones, perfumes, ATM cards, and wrist-watch, among others in his hotel room and recorded.

The said items in four bags were presented before the court and admitted as exhibits since Kanu’s lawyers did not objected to their admittance.

Speaking further, the witness informed the court that the interrogation of Kanu was video recorded which was also played in the open court and admitted as exhibits along with his written statement.

However, in his written statement read in the open court by the witness, Kanu admitted fighting for emancipation of his people and that the call for self-determination was his fundamental right and not a crime.

He insisted that his fight for the emancipation of the South East, South South and parts of Benue and Kogi States was his fundamental right and not terrorism as alleged by the federal government.

Kanu, in the statement made to DSS in Lagos on October 15, 2015 made it clear that freedom fighting was not a crime in any part of the world including Nigeria because it was a fundamental right, citing relevant laws in the statement.

 He also wrote in the statement that he made it to DSS without the presence of his lawyer as required by law.

In the statement and video clips, Kanu admitted establishing and operating Radio Biafra in London, where it was registered.

He admitted not registering the radio station with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in Nigeria because there was no need for it having not established in the country.

In concluding his evidence, the witness told the court that Kanu admitted to DSS to be founder and leader of IPOB.

He also said the defendant admitted establishing, operating Radio Biafra and that he did not register the radio station with NBC in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Justice James Omotosho has fixed May 2, 2025 for cross-examination of the witness.

Earlier, the court granted permission to witnesses of the federal government to testify against Kanu, behind camera.

The permission was sequel to an ex-parte application filed by the federal government’s lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, to that effect.

The federal government predicated the exparte application for the protection of the identities of the witnesses on security reasons.

The senior lawyer informed the court that the charges against Kanu bothered on terrorism, hence, the need to protect the witnesses.

He, in addition, asked that the name of the witnesses be shielded from the public for the general reasons of security.

Due to no objection from Kanu’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi SAN, Justice Omotosho granted the request.

Kanu’s lawyer, however, requested for similar cooperation from the federal government when bail application for Kanu would be argued.

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court has warned the federal government and a firm involved in an alleged breach of contract suit against actions that may undermine the proceedings already before the court.

Justice Nwite sounded the warning on Monday, during the hearing of a suit brought against the Federal Ministry of Interior by Anchor Dataware Solutions Limited.

According to the judge, lawyers as ministers in the temple of justice, ought to advice their clients not take any action until the hearing and determination of the matter before the court.

“I am sounding it loud, don’t do anything before the determination of the court,” he said.

Anchor Dataware Solutions Limited, had dragged the ministry and two others to court over the alleged wrongful termination of its contract for the management and maintenance of the e-Citibiz platform – an automation system for processing expatriate quotas, business permits, citizenship administration, and marriage registration.

The Federal Ministry of Interior, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, were listed as first to third defendants respectively in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/770/2025.

The company is seeking several declarations and reliefs, including a pronouncement that the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement signed with the Ministry remains valid and binding.

It also wants the court to declare that the purported disengagement of its services via a letter dated April 15, 2025, was unlawful and in breach of the contract terms.

Anchor Dataware further seeks an injunction restraining the ministry from engaging another service provider, except in accordance with the procedures set out in clause 13.1 of the contract, which requires a three-month notice period for termination.

The firm is also asking for the sum of N20 million as cost of litigation.

Recall that the matter was adjourned on April 24 to enable parties to be put on notice for the hearing of a motion on notice.

At the resumed trial on Monday, defendants’ lawyer, Abiola Olawola, informed the court that the defendants had been served with the plaintiff’s counter-affidavit and were still within the statutory time to respond.

He, therefore, requested an adjournment to enable the defense to file its processes.

Plaintiff’s lawyer, Obinna Amagwula, however did not oppose the application for adjournment but, urged the court to direct parties to maintain the status quo to prevent actions that might undermine the subject of the litigation.

Responding, Justice Nwite, in a short ruling, stressed that justice demands that no party should take steps capable of affecting the subject matter of a suit already before the court.

“This is a court of record. If a matter is before the court, justice demands that, without any pronouncement, parties must stay action on all issues related to the case pending the hearing of the substantive suit,” the judge said.

Meanwhile, Olawola assured the court that the defendants had “submitted to the temple of justice” and would not take any step that could jeopardize the fair administration of the case.

Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter to June 3, 2025, for hearing.

Alex Enumah in Abuja 

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has distanced itself from the appointment of an acting Chief Judge for Imo State.

The body in a statement emphasised that it neither gave approval to Governor Hope Uzodinma to appoint an acting CJ for the state nor was involved in the process that produced Justice Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu, who is the 4th most senior judge as the Acting Chief Judge.

Deputy Director, Information, Kemi Babalola Ogedengbe, who issued the statement yesterday, explained that the NJC was yet to look into the issue of the appointment of an acting CJ for Imo State.

“The attention of the Council has been drawn to the news making rounds that the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, had purportedly appointed Hon. Justice Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu, who is No. 4 in the hierarchy of Judges seniority in Imo State High Court, as the acting Chief Judge of the state, in view of the recent disciplinary action taken against the erstwhile Chief Judge of the State.

“The National Judicial Council by this Press Release wants to clarify to the public that the Governor of Imo State had earlier written to the Council requesting for its approval to appoint Hon. Justice Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu, who is No. 4 in the hierarchy of seniority as acting Chief Judge of the State.

“The Governor in his said correspondence to the Council, gave reasons why in his own view, the three most senior Judges are not appointable.

“The Council is informing the public that the said letter is yet to be considered, as deliberation on the request is slated for the next Council meeting, which is scheduled to hold on April 29 and 30, 2025.

“The Council is therefore, by this Press Release, informing the public that: The Governor’s request is yet to be considered by the Council, The Council has not given approval to the Governor for the appointment of the Acting Chief Judge The Council is not a party to the process of the purported appointment of Hon. Justice Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu as the Acting Chief Judge” the statement read.

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The federal government has re-arraigned former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd.), over alleged fraud involving N33.2 billion.

Dasuki and three others were re-arraigned on Tuesday before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on a 32-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust and dishonest release of public funds.

The other defendants included former General Manager of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa, as well as two companies – Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.

Their re-arraignment before Justice Charles Agbaza followed the reassignment of the case by the FCT Chief Judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, who was previously handling the matter.

Dasuki was first arraigned on December 14, 2015 before Baba-Yusuf, alongside former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Shuaibu Salisu, on a 19-count charge linked to an alleged N15.5 billion fraud.

The charges were later amended and Salisu’s name was removed.

Subsequently, Dasuki and the others were re-arraigned on May 11, 2018, on a fresh 32-count charge involving N33.2 billion.

However, the trial was stalled after the prosecution presented only one witness – the investigating officer – who was yet to conclude his testimony before the case was adjourned indefinitely.

Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had also filed another charge against Dasuki in 2015, in which he was arraigned alongside former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa; his son, Sagir Bafarawa; and his company, Dalhatu Investment Limited.

They faced a 25-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of N19.4 billion.

The case was recently transferred to Justice Yusuf Halilu.

Both trials suffered multiple delays due to the refusal of the Department of State Services (DSS) to release Dasuki on bail, despite court orders granting him bail.

At the re-arraignment on Tuesday, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the 32 counts read to them.

The prosecution counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, then requested a date to begin trial.

Meanwhile, A. A. Usman and Richard Ibiye, who represented Dasuki and Baba-Kusa, respectively, urged the court to allow the defendants to continue to enjoy the existing bail granted them by the court, assuring that they have always been present for court proceedings.

The prosecution did not oppose the request but stressed the importance of the defendants’ continued presence throughout the trial.

In a short ruling, Agbaza, who held that the defendants should continue on their existing bail, adjourned the trial to July 1.

Alex Enumah in Abuja

A Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, turned down the request of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to strike out a N100 billion suit instituted by Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals, against the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and seven others.

The suit was in relation to the issuance of licence for the importation of petroleum products to NNPCL, Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, and four other companies.

The plaintiff is asking the court to void the import licences issued to the affected oil companies because it is already producing the imported petroleum products without shortfalls.

Dangote Refinery in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024, is also seeking the sum of N100 billion as damages against NMDPRA, for allegedly continuing to issue import licenses to NNPCL, Matrix, and other companies for importing petroleum products such as Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Jet Fuel (aviation turbine fuel) into Nigeria, “despite the production of AGO and Jet-A1 that exceeds the current daily consumption of petroleum products in Nigeria by the Dangote Refinery.”

Other defendants in the suit are NMDPRA, Aym Shafa Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, and 2015 Petroleum Limited.

The plaintiff in its originating summons dated September 6, 2024, through its lawyer, Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, asked the court to declare that NMDPRA is violating Sections 317(8) and (9) of the Petroleum Industry Act by issuing licenses for the importation of petroleum products.

Onoja stated that such licenses should only be issued in circumstances where there is petroleum product shortfall and urged the court to declare that the NMDPRA is in violation of its statutory responsibilities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) for not encouraging local refineries such as Dangote Refinery.

However, NNPCL in a vehement objection against the suit demanded its outright dismissal on the ground that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit as constituted.

In the alternative, NNPCL asked Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo to remove its name from the suit on various grounds.

Among others, NNPCL claimed its real name is Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and not Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited as put in the suit by Dangote Refinery.

Besides, NNPCL claimed that the suit was premature at the time it was filed and that it disclosed no reasonable cause of action for the court to dabble into.

However, Justice Ekwo, in his ruling disagreed with NNPCL, stating that a mere error in the spelling of its name cannot cause any doubt about its identity.

The court subsequently ordered that Dangote refinery represented by Ibrahim George, SAN should amend its originating summons to reflect the correct name of the entity.

Meanwhile the matter has been fixed for May 6 for further mention.

Alex Enumah in Abuja

A Federal High Court in Abuja, has declared that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice does not have the powers to initiate, maintain and prosecute offences under the Electoral Act, 2022.

Justice Inyang Ekwo made the declaration on Monday, while delivering judgement in a suit filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 governorship election in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu and nine others.

Meanwhile, the AGF is the sole defendant in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1038/23.

The plaintiffs had in their Originating Summons prayed the court to stop the office of the AGF from prosecuting them over allegations of vote-buying levelled against Adebutu by the Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Besides, they asked the court to hold that the AGF cannot initiate, commence and continue the prosecution of electoral offences under the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 in view of Sections 153, 158, 160 and Paragraph 15, Part 1, 3rd Schedule of the Constitution.

Among the issues raised for determination are whether the prosecution of electoral offences under the Electoral Act, 2022 is not the exclusive reserve of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in line with Section 145(2) of the Electoral Act and Sections 153, 158, 160 and Paragraph 15, Part 1, 3rd Schedule of the Constitution.

Justice Ekwo, in his judgement, agreed with the plaintiffs that, it is only INEC that can initiate and maintain criminal proceedings for offences under the Electoral Act, 2022.

The Judge further held that, the initiation, commencement and prosecution of electoral offences under the Electoral Act, 2022 by the office of the AGF and Minister of Justice is a violation of Sections 153, 158, 160 and Paragraph 15, Part 1, 3rd Schedule of the Constitution and Sections 144 and 145(2) of the Electoral Act and the independence of INEC.

In addition, he held that the defendant by exercising the power to prosecute the plaintiffs in a manner not in accordance with the law is ultra vires, adding that, “The power of the AGF to take over any proceedings can be challenged if the exercise of the power is not in accordance with the law”.

The court however did no grant some of the prayers of the plaintiffs, on the grounds that doing so will amount to tampering with decisions of courts of coordinate jurisdiction.

Ekwo subsequently held that, the plaintiff has established his case according to the law and is entitled to justice.

Alex Enumah in Abuja

South Africa’s fiery Politician and Human Rights crusader, Julius Malema has been confirmed as the Keynote Speaker at this year’s Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt in August, 2025.

Julius Malema is the President, Economic Freedom Fighters, South Africa. Born on March 3, 1981, in Seshego, Limpopo , he’s a prominent South African political leader and activist. His political journey spans over 30 years, starting with grassroots activism in COSAS and the ANC Youth League, eventually leading to the formation of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in 2013.

Known for his fearless leadership, Malema advocates for economic liberation, youth empowerment, and social justice. 

Despite controversies and opposition, he remains a powerful voice for the marginalised. 

He holds multiple degrees from UNISA and is pursuing a Master’s degree at Wits University, while serving as a Member of the South African Parliament.

As NBAWF hosts maiden meet and greet picnic

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The State Lead of the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum (NBAWF), Hajia Hadiza Afegbua, has charged female Lawyers to see themselves beyond mere legal practitioners, as persons with special qualities capable of breaking barriers in the legal profession.

Afegbua gave the charge at the maiden meet and greet picnic of the Forum, which held in Abuja, recently. Setting the tone of the meeting, she said, “Today is not a day of suit and stern arguments, it is a day of ease, networking, and shared laughter. Today, we set aside the pressures of the courtroom and the boardroom to simply enjoy each other’s company, in the most relaxed and refreshing way possible”. 

Speaking further, Afegbua attributed the success of the Forum to their collective strength, resilience, and dedication, which according to her, has continued to inspire change within the profession. 

“We are not merely members of the Bar; we are trailblazers, breaking barriers and redefining what is possible for women in the legal sphere. 

“We must continue to support, uplift, and empower one another because when women rise, society flourishes. Beyond the professional accolades and accomplishments that many of us carry with pride, today reminds us that at our core, we are individuals with shared experiences, hopes, and aspirations”, she said. 

The State Lead, reiterated the NBAWF’s commitment towards advancing the interests of female Lawyers under a united fold, advocating for gender parity, and ensuring that the legal profession reflects the values of fairness, excellence, and inclusivity. 

Other Speakers observed that although female Lawyers have made significant strides in the legal profession, they still face numerous challenges. 

They reaffirmed commit-ment towards supporting one another, mentoring the next generation, and advocating for policies that promote gender equality and social justice.

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The immediate past governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel, is currently at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Emmanuel was detained after he honoured the invitation of the anti-graft agency over allegations bordering on N700 billion fraud.

Emmanuel, who was governor of Akwa-Ibom State between 2015 and 2023, had arrived at the Abuja head office of the Commission, yesterday, to answer to money laundering and misappropriation of state funds brought against him by the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT).

The network alleged that the former governor received N3 trillion from the Federation Account during his eight-year tenure but left behind a debt burden of N500 billion and an additional N300 billion in unpaid ongoing projects.

Besides, it was said Emmanuel was unable to account for N700 billion.

Meanwhile, a source disclosed that investigations revealed there was a withdrawal of N31 billion in cash from a single account named “Office of the Governor.”

According to the source, “The money was withdrawn in cash progressively between 2019 and 2023.”

Spokesman of the Commission, Mr Dele Oyewale, has not been available to speak on the issue.

Alex Enumah in Abuja

������Ƶman, Dr. Tunde Ayeni, has dragged an Abuja based lady, Ms. Adaobi Alagwu before an Abuja Customary Court, over the paternity of a child given birth to by the respondent.

The plaintiff is specifically denying being the father of the said child referred to as “X” in the suit.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Counsel to Ayeni, Silas Onu applied to withdraw the earlier suit on the grounds of improper service.

Following the striking out of the first suit, Onu informed the court that a fresh petition had been filed before the court based on the same subject and same properly served on the respondent.

Respondent counsel, who confirmed receipt of service of the suit apologized to the court for the absence of the respondent in court.

He further stated that the respondent is still within time to file her defence.

At this point, the court asked the respondent’s counsel whether he is denying that the sum paid by Dr. Ayeni to Adaobi family has not been refunded to the complainant.

The lawyer, however, answered that the said money has been refunded but added they are yet to file their defense.

Adjourning the matter, the court stressed that the respondent should serve all the process of their reply on the complainant and that parties should be in court at the next adjourned date for trial.

The court subsequently adjourned till February 17 for hearing of the said suit.

Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Dr. Ayeni, who attended the court session with his wife, said, “the matter is about one rabble rouser girl trying to malign me that she has a child for me. Initially, when I thought it was real, I took some responsible steps. But later I discovered that it was all a set up I therefore took immediate steps to reverse those steps.

“The money I paid because of the child has been returned. I just want a clear record to make it convincingly and unambiguously clear that there is no connection between me and the lady. She’s a gold digger but this time, she has met with the wrong person. 

“That is why I brought her to court here so that matters are laid to rest once and for all.

“I have records of all the events, and we are ready to prove our case.”

•Idahosa faults PDP’s over-voting claims

Alex Enumah in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, yesterday, closed his defence of his victory at the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, after calling just one witness.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mr Asue Ighodalo, had since challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Okpebholo as governor.

According to INEC, Okpebholo secured a total of 291, 667 votes to emerged winner, while Ighodalo came second with a total of 247, 655 votes.

But, the petitioners disagreed with INEC alleging over-voting and wrong computation of results at the collation centers.

In prove of their allegations, the petitioners tendered several documents and called in 19 witnesses, beside the 153 Bimodal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) machines tendered by INEC on the orders of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

Also, the tribunal had last week adjourned to February 10, for the governor to come up and defend allegations against his victory, after the electoral umpire opened and closed its defence last week without calling a single witness.

However, when it was the turn of the governor yesterday, his lawyer, Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, after the end of cross-examination of their first witness announced that the governor, who was the 2nd respondent in the case would be closing his defence.

The witness, Usman Majek, who claimed to be a Polling Unit (PU) agent of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was led by Ikpeazu to adopt his written statement as his testimony before the tribunal.

However, under cross-examination by Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, representing the petitioners, the witness agreed that there was over-voting in his polling unit.

He also affirmed that in his unit, accreditation and voting took place simultaneously.

Majek told the tribunal that he complained to the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about the result he entered on the result sheet after he signed it.

When Oyeyipo confronted the witness with exhibit PBA40; a copy of his PU results, the witness acknowledged it and admitted signing it.

At the end of cross-examination, Ikpeazu informed the court that the 2nd respondent would like to close his defence.

The petitioners, however, did not object to the request, which was accordingly granted by the chairman of the three-member panel, Justice Wilfred Kpochi.

However, before adjourning the matter, the tribunal had ordered the 3rd respondent, APC, to open its defence on February 12.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Dennis Idahosa, has dismissed PDP’s petition over alleged over-voting in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State.

Speaking after the tribunal session, in Benin City, Idahosa, who is from Ovia South West LGA, criticised the PDP for filing petitions without verifying facts.

He stated that results from areas affected by over-voting were already cancelled, making the opposition’s claims baseless.

“In Unit 4, Ward 7, Usen, the results were cancelled due to over-voting, as required by law. Yet, PDP petitioned against these results without knowing they were never included in the final tally,” he explained.

The Edo Deputy governor, pointed out that the APC witness confirmed in court that cancelled results were not computed, so, “Why would PDP challenge results that do not exist? It shows they do not understand the process,” Idahosa said.

According to him, the Electoral Act 2020 (as amended) clearly stated that over-voting leads to automatic result cancellation, eliminating the need for further disputes.

“The onus is on PDP to prove their case, but their witnesses have contradicted themselves in court. Our legal team may not even need to call any witness,” he added.

Idahosa accused PDP of treating the tribunal like a media campaign, rather than focusing on legal facts.

He maintained that the party’s case lacked merit and expressed confidence in the judiciary to uphold the election of Okpebholo as duly elected in the September 21, 2024 governorship election.

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Lawyer and human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, has slammed a $5 million suit against a United States of America-based organisation, Meta Platforms Inc., over alleged invasion of his privacy.

The suit filed at a High Court of Lagos State was brought pursuant to Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and section 24(1)(A) and (E) & Section 34(1)(D) of Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, Order 2 Rule 1 Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules, 2009.

Falana, in the suit filed by his lawyer, Olumide Babalola, alleged that the organisation invaded his privacy, when it published motion images and voice captioned: “AfriCare Health Center,” in their website to the effect that Falana has suffered a disease known as ‘Prostatitis’.

According to the rights activist, the publication constituted an invasion of his privacy as guaranteed by Section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

Besides, the senior lawyer submitted that the publication and the video as released through the organisation’s platform –, was “false, inaccurate, misleading and unfair to the Applicant and thereby violates the provision of section 24(1)(a) and (e) of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.”
Among the reliefs he sought from the court was an order declaring that the “Respondent’s continued publication of the Applicant’s name, still and motion images and purported voice on a page and video captioned “AfriCare Health Centre on their platform –  to the effect that the Applicant suffered from a disease known as ‘Prostatitis constitutes an invasion of the Applicants privacy guaranteed by section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.”

He also prayed the court for an order mandating the “Respondent to forthwith remove, erase and delete the video captioned “AfriCare Health Centre on their platform – .”

In addition, Falana urged the court to order the respondent to pay him the sum of $5 million as compensation for damages suffered as a result of the said publication and a consequential order that the court may deem fit to grant in the circumstance.

In the affidavit deposed to in support of the suit, the applicant claimed that the published false video about his health status, which was his private life, has rubbished his image and the name he built over the years.

He argued that the publication by the Respondent which was false, offensive and disturbing, painted him in a false light, that has caused him mental and emotional disturbances.

Alex Enumah in Abuja

A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Salawu Gana yesterday, contradicted himself when he informed the court that a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele did not influence the award of a car contract to a firm called April 1616.

The witness, who in his evidence in chief alleged that the process of the award of 45 contacts was guided to favour April 1616, a firm linked to a staff of the CBN, during cross-examination by Emefiele ‘s lawyer, Mr. Mathew Burka, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), failed to tell the court how Emefiele influenced the process.

Gana during the continuation of his evidence which started on October 21, narrated how RT Briscoe, Globe Motors and April 1616 bided for the supplies of vehicles to the CBN.

“Out of the 45 contracts all were in favour of April 1616,” he had said, “Rt Briscoe and Globe Motors did not win any.”

However, under cross-examination by Emefiele ‘s lawyer, the witness admitted that he never indicated in his statement to the EFCC that Emefiele guided him to choose April 1616 as the preferred bidder in the 45 vehicle contracts.

Gana, who claimed to be the Head of the Procurement Office at the time the said contracts were awarded and also admitted that the award of the contracts followed due process of procurement laws and CBN guidelines.

Besides, Gana who testified as the 10th Prosecution Witness (PW10), admitted that of the three companies that bided for the 45 contracts, the price offered by April 1616 was the lowest, hence the award of the contract to the firm.

Emefiele’s lawyer: the reason given by CBN was because their bid was the lowest?

Witness: Yes

Emefiele’s lawyer: You were part of the process that made that recommendation?

Witness: Yes.

The witness also told the court that Emefiele only approved the contract after all the subordinates, including the witness recommended April 1616.

Emefiele’s lawyer: the governor only acted based on the recommendation of the other officers?

Witness: Yes.

Gana, further agreed before the court that since April 1616 supplied the said vehicles the former CBN governor was right to approve for their payment.

Emefiele’s lawyer: would you say the defendant did the right thing?

Witness: Yes.

Also answering further questions, the witness informed the court that he never saw any documents that showed that Emefiele was a director, shareholder or a signatory in April 1616.

He also stated that he has never seen any document where money was paid into the account of Emefiele in respect of the contract awarded to April 1616.

He also stated that he never received any instruction either by phone calls or sms messages from Emefiele that the contract be processed in favour of April 1616.

According to the witness, he has three other superiors he reported to as Head of Procurement Office, but none of the three superiors including himself are standing trial in any court over the award of the 45 contracts to April 1616.

He noted that the invitation for the bid was done through the motor vehicle team, adding that no member of the team is standing trial over April 1616.

“April 1616 was awarded the contract after going through the evaluation process”, he said.

Meanwhile, Emefiele through his counsel, Matthew Burka has applied to the court to prohibit EFCC from calling additional witnesses after the 10 witnesses listed on the proof of evidence have already testified.

Burkaa while moving the application argued that the anti-graft agency had tendered all necessary documents relating to the alleged procurement fraud charged against his client, adding that permitting them to go for additional witnesses would over reach the court.

The application was, however, vehemently opposed by EFCC’s lawyer on the grounds that the right of EFCC to fair hearing would be violently breached.

He therefore pleaded with the court to reject the application in the interest of justice.

Meanwhile, Justice Hamza Muazu has fixed March 20 for ruling on the application.

Emeifele is standing trial on a- 20-count amended charge, preferred against him by the EFCC.

He was alleged to have engaged in criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and obtaining money by false pretence, when he served as the apex bank’s boss.

Among the allegations was that the former CBN boss forged a document titled: Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions dated January 26, 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 and purported same to have emanated from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (AGF).

He is also accused of using his office as CBN governor to confer unfair and corrupt advantage on two companies; April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd in a charge marked: FCT/HC/CR/577/2023.

•Opens defence Wednesday as Ighodalo closes case

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, tendered five additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, used in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

The electronic devices, were tendered by a Senior Technical Officer, Mr. Anthony Itodo, in the ICT Department of INEC.

This is as INEC is due to open its defence before the election tribunal on Wednesday.

Following a subpoena order of the three-member panel led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, INEC had last week tendered 148 BVAS machines used in 133 polling units in the September 21 governorship election.

The petitioners had anchored their claim against the outcome of the election on the alleged wrongful computation of results during collation at the ward and local government levels.

After taking five witnesses last Friday, the tribunal currently sitting in Abuja, adjourned to yesterday to enable the petitioners continue their case challenging the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo as governor.

However, at the resumed hearing, the petitioners expressed satisfaction that they had established their case against the respondents, going by the testimonies of their witnesses and the plethora of documentary evidence brought before the three-member panel of justices.

Lead counsel to the petitioners, Mr. Robert Emukpoeruo, SAN, had informed the tribunal that they would be closing their case against the respondents.

Although INEC, Okpebholo and the APC opposed the admissibility of the five BVAS machines, the tribunal accepted them pending its ruling on their relevance to the case.

In all, the petitioners called 19 witnesses, which they saidwas very sufficient in establishing their case. Five of the witnesses gave their evidence of alleged over-voting after INEC brought in BVAS used in the areas where election results were being disputed.

Meanwhile, the tribunal has fixed Wednesday for INEC to open its defence.

In a related development, the Edo State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Anthony Aziegbemin, has expressed confidence that the petitioners through their lawyers had done justice to the case.  “We think the case is pretty straight forward. We think it is documentary-based. We think it is specific. We think the judiciary will give it some judicial cognisance of what we tendered before them.

“We believe that they have all they need from us and all what we should produce, I think we have given it to them. And we expect them to look at them and see how it goes. But suffices to say that it is not a petition as we used to have it in the country where you call a lot of witnesses.

“We didn’t need to call a lot of witnesses, we called the witnesses that we needed, to prove our case and make our case more solid,” Aziegbemin.

Alex Enumah in Abuja 

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal yesterday  resumed hearing in the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the return of Senator Monday Okpebholo as winner of last year’s governorship poll.

The tribunal was relocated from Benin City to Abuja, few days ago as tension continued to rise between supporters of the governor and the PDP.

The relocation, however, affected the day’s proceedings as the petitioners could not call most of their scheduled witnesses due to fatigue.

According to the lead counsel of the petitioners, Mr. Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, most of their proposed witnesses, “suffered travel disruptions.”

Meanwhile, continuing his evidence, the 12th witness of the petitioners (PW12), Mr. Oseyili Anenih, alleged widespread irregularities in 765 polling units during the September 21, 2024 governorship election poll won by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to Anenih, there were discrepancies in the Certified True Copies (CTC) of results and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) accreditation reports obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) IREV portal. 

However, under cross-examination, the witness, who told the tribunal that he served as the Director of Research and Strategy for the PDP, admitted that he could not visit all the polling units during the election.

Anenih also noted that most of the evidence the petitioners’ relied on were based on reports that were submitted by agents and experts.

He further told the tribunal that most copies of the results that agents of the party made available to him at the Situation Room were not signed. 

The witness, however, maintained that if lawful votes that were cast at the election were sincerely collated, his candidate, Ighodalo, would have emerged victorious.

When cross examined by the governor’s lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, the witness admitted that though they did not have any physical access to the BVAS Machines that were used for the election, they however got some screenshots of it, which they tendered in evidence.

Anenih explained that they had since subpoenaed INEC, to make the machines available before the tribunal.

Under cross examination by counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, the witness confirmed that he was not trained by INEC to play any role during the election. 

He further admitted that none of the polling unit results was handed over to him personally by agents of the party. 

However, while answering another question, he said: “Some of the local government collation agents brought their results straight to me because they were not allowed access to the State Collation Centre.

“Some copies of election results in the Form EC8A that were handed to the agents were not legible. 

“It is,however, not correct that majority of the results that were brought by our agents were not stamped by INEC, though some of them were not,” he said.

When he was handed one of the Exhibits to look at, the witness confirmed to the tribunal that out of 16 copies of the results in the bundle, only three of them were stamped.

“To us, that three that were stamped was significant enough. It represents almost 20 per cent ,” the witness insisted.

At the end of his testimony, the witness was then discharged from the witness box.

Petitioners’ lawyer subsequently sought for a short adjournment to enable them call other witnesses.

“We urge your Lordships to give us another date. 

“We undertake that on the next date, we will bring as many witnesses as may be convenient for the tribunal. 

“We will also work assiduously to prime down our witnesses,” Oyeyipo, SAN, pleaded with the tribunal.

Although, chairman of the three-member panel, Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led expressed disappointment that the proceedings is being called off after the taking of just one witness, he, however, granted the request and fixed January 30 for the petitioners to call additional witnesses in support of their case.

•Supreme Court fixes February 10 for hearing in five separate appeals over Rivers crisis

•HURIWA warns FCT minister’s camp undermining Tinubu’s peace accord

Alex Enumah in Abuja and Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Chairman, Board of Trustees of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Adolphus Wabara, has said he would not join issues with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, despite his disparaging outburst against him.

Wabara made the statement in Umuahia while fielding questions from journalists.

The PDP BoT chairman’s comments came as the Supreme Court, yesterday, adjourned to February 10 for hearing in five different appeals in respect of the Rivers State political crisis.

But Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), yesterday, came down heavily on Wike for accusing Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara of violating a presidential peace accord.

Wike had weekend, during a live television interview, said he would have disowned Wabara if he were to be the former senate president’s father or even a relative.

However, speaking with journalists, the PDP BoT chairman said he would rather restrain himself as an elder statesman instead of exchanging words with Wike, who had established himself as an ill-mannered person.

Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers State, had not hidden his disdain for Wabara for not supporting him in his feud with his successor, Fubara.

Answering a question on the crisis in PDP, the FCT minister had blamed Wabara, saying, “It’s unfortunate they have a man they said is a former senate president (as) the man leading PDP BoT.”

He alleged that Wabara was corrupt, declaring, “No wonder President Obasanjo made a presidential broadcast under his tenure about corruption.”

But Wabara stated that as an elder statesman, who had been privileged to be Nigeria’s number three citizen, it would be unbecoming of his status to start speaking like a loose cannon, as Wike was wont to do.

According to him, joining words with Wike would only dignify the FCT minister, who had no dignity and was bereft of decorum.

The former senate president said he had expected Wike to refrain from wallowing in unguarded utterances, if not for self-respect but for the position “he occupies as a Minister of the Federal Republic, and as a former governor”.

Wabara said, “I will expect a man of his calibre and status to mind his language and words. He should be sure of his facts. But I don’t want to join issues with Wike and dignify him.”

Supreme Court Fixes February 10 for Hearing in Five Separate Appeals over Rivers Crisis

The Supreme Court, yesterday, adjourned to February 10, for hearing in five different appeals in respect of the political crisis in Rivers State.

A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji, ordered adjournment to enable parties file and serve necessary court documents in the separate appeals.

However, the court ordered consolidation in four of the appeals, following request by appellants’ counsel, Chief Joseph Daudu, SAN.

The four appeals wherein the court ordered consolidated hearing were SC/CV/1174/2024, between Rivers State House of Assembly and another against the Rivers State government and nine others; SC/CV/1175/2024 between Rivers State House of Assembly and another against the Rivers State governor and nine others.

Others were SC/CV/1176/2024 between Rivers State House of Assembly and another against Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and nine others; and SC/ CV/1177/2024 between Rivers State House of Assembly and another against Accountant General of Rivers State and nine others.

Earlier, following a request for the withdrawal of a cross appeal filed on November 18, 2024 in SC/CV/1071A/2024 between Rivers State House of Assembly and another against the National Assembly and 16 others, Aba-Aji, announced that hearing had been fixed for February 10, 2025.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court had in a judgement delivered on January 22, 2024 faulted the presentation of the 2024 budget to four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the governor.

Omotosho, in the judgement, then ordered the governor to represent the budget to the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Assembly loyal to Wike.

Flowing from the judgement of Omotosho, a sister court in the Abuja division under Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, had ordered the stoppage of release of allocations from the federal government to Rivers State until the governor presented the budget before the Amaewhule-led Assembly.

However, while the appellate court affirmed the judgement of Omotosho, it upturned that of Abdulmalik.

Similarly, the appellate court, in another judgement, upturned the judgement of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which had ruled against the conduct of the October 5, 2024 local government election in the state.

HURIWA Warns Wike’s Camp Undermining Tinubu’s Peace Accord

HURIWA came down heavily on Wike for accusing Fubara of betraying a presidential peace accord.

The rights group, in a statement, claimed that it was Wike, not Fubara, who sabotaged the accord brokered by President Bola Tinubu, labelling Wike’s actions as a breach of trust and an affront to the principles of governance.

HURIWA said Wike’s claim of Fubara’s alleged betrayal was unfounded and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. It added that Fubara demonstrated good faith and loyalty to the presidential directive by withdrawing a sensitive court case he was well-positioned to win.

HURIWA said, in the statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, “It is hypocritical for Wike to accuse Governor Fubara of disloyalty, when the minister himself has actively sabotaged the accord.

“While Fubara complied with the president’s directive and withdrew a critical legal matter, in a gesture of reconciliation, Wike continued to pursue multiple suits in various courts, culminating in a controversial judgement declaring his factional speaker as legitimate.

“This is the ultimate betrayal of the accord and an insult to the president’s efforts to mediate peace.”

Alex Enumah in Abuja

More trouble seems to be brewing for recently impeached Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, as a document, which surfaced on the social media, reveals that his name is not in the record of legal practitioners in Nigeria.

The document, a response by the Supreme Court to a verification request on the status of Obasa as a lawyer, was dated July 24, 2020 and signed by one Gertrude Karenton-Mordi on behalf of the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court.

Titled, “Re: Verification of Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” the apex court, according to the document, advised the impeached speaker to come to the apex court with relevant documents for enrolment, as his name was not found in the apex court’s records.

The document read, “We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 23rd July, 2020 and on the above captured subject matter.

“This is to inform you that we have checked our records and cannot find the name: MUDASHIRU AJAYI OBASA on the numerous Rolls of Legal Practitioners kept in this Honourable Court.

“MUDASHIRU AJAYI OBASA is at liberty to come to this Honourable Court with his Call to bar and qualifying certificates for enrolment. If he has done a change of name, he is expected to show proof of same.”

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Supreme Court, Dr Fetus Akande, confirmed the document, acknowledging that, “It emanated from our office.”

Obasa had claimed to have received a bachelor’s degree in Law from Lagos State University, Lagos, in 2006.

However, an anonymous person on July 23, 2020 wrote the apex court seeking to confirm if the name of Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa was contained in the Rolls of Legal Practitioners at the apex court.

Obasa was on Monday impeached as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, paving the way for the first female speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda. His offences bordered on gross misconduct and abuse of office.

Alex Enumah in Abuja

A Federal High Court in Lagos has held that defamation is not one of the items over which jurisdiction is conferred on the court by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the Rules of the Federal High Court.

Justice Akintayo Aluko made the declaration while delivering ruling in a preliminary objection filed by one Chizorom Ofoegbu in his trial for alleged conspiracy, cyber stalking, and defamation.

But the court assumed jurisdiction on another count, which bordered on cybercrime based on the amendment of the Cybercrime Act, 2024.

The police had last year arraigned Ofoegbu before the court for allegedly using his social media handle to cause hate and damage the reputation of one Evangelist Ebuka Obi.

However, Ofoegbu, through his lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, filed a preliminary objection to the charge, claiming, among others, that the main offence of the trial was unknown to law.

Delivering ruling in the preliminary objection last July, Aluko dismissed two of the counts for being incompetent and ordered the defendant to stand trial on the remaining count.

In the first count, which bordered on conspiracy, the court agreed with the defendant that the count of conspiracy was illegal because the defendant could not conspire against himself.

Besides, Aluko held that a person could not be charged with conspiracy to commit an offence, which was not known to the law.

On the third count, which bordered on defamation, the court held that by the community reading of Section 251 (1) (S), (3) of the CFRN and Section 7 (1) and (2) of the Federal High Court Act, it had no jurisdiction to try the offence of defamation.

The court, however, ruled that the offence of using social media handle to make online publication with the intention to cause hatred and damage the reputation of any person was an offence under the Cybercrime Act of 2024.

As such, the court held that it had jurisdiction to try the offence of cyberstalking vide online publication against the person of the evangelist, which put him to fear of death under sections 24 (2) (c) (i) (ii) and (3) of the Act as amended.

The section provides for the offence of cyberstalking where a person knowingly or intentionally sends a message by means of computer systems or network that is pornography or which he knows to be false for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order, posing a threat to life or causing such message to be sent and where a person knowingly or intentionally transmits or causes the transmission of any  communication through a computer system or network to bully, threaten  or harass another person, where such communication places another person in fear of death, violence or bodily harm to another person.

The court held, “Coming from the forgoing, the preliminary objection is upheld over count one and three, while same is overruled on count two of the amended charge.

“Accordingly, count one and three are out on grounds of incompetence while count two is sustained.”

It was the court’s position that the alleged offence of cyber stalking in count two was committed in February 2024, the same time the Cybercrime Act was amended.

Alex Enumah in Abuja

A social rights group has described as illegal and unlawful planned moves by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to collect revenues on behalf of the six Area Councils of the FCT.

According to the group, Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy, the move contravenes the Constitution as well as the law which established the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT -IRS).

In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja by its Head, Legal Unit, Mr. Kalu Agu Kalu, the group clarified that the FCT-IRS Act, 2015, limits the powers of the service to collect revenues to the FCTA.

“For the purposes of clarity and emphasis, the six area councils are not departments of Federal Capital Territory Administration, but a 3rd tier of government, constitutionally enshrined and established, and whose functions and powers are delineated by the same Constitution.

“While the Supreme Court had granted autonomy to Area councils/local governments, it is laughable that Mr. Michael Ango, the Acting Chairman of the FCT – IRS seeks to undermine the pronouncement of the Supreme Court by usurping the powers and functions of the of the Area council, with a total disregard to the Constitution and the law”, the group said.

The acting Chairman of the FCT -IRS, Mr. Michael Ango had announced at the 2024 end of year media briefing in Abuja, that FCT-IRS will be responsible for the collection of all revenues on behalf of the six area councils of the FCT in 2025.

Ango said the goal was to ease compliance by taxpayers in the FCT and improve transparency and accountability for all revenue collection.

He said that a similar arrangement was being worked out with the various Secretariats, Departments and Agencies in the FCT Administration.

He explained that the decision was in compliance with the directive of the FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike.

But while reacting to the announcement, the advocacy group said: “There is no provision in the FCT – IRS that empowers the FCT – IRS to collect revenues on behalf of the six (6) Area Councils on the “directive” of the FCT minister.

“Maybe Mr. Michael Ango does not know that all the revenues he intends to collect on behalf of the six Area Councils … are functions of the provisions of the Fourth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered), which were undoubtedly donated to the six Area Councils.

“May we, at this juncture, advert the attention of the Acting Executive Chairman of the FCT – IRS to Section 2 of the Taxes and Levies (approved list for collection) Act, LFN, 2004, which makes the collection of revenue by an unauthorized person as a criminal offence.

“The said Taxes and Levies Act clearly sets clear boundaries on revenues the Acting Executive Chairman of the FCT – IRS and Wike should collect and should not in any guise dive into other revenue collection not donated to the Federal Capital Territory.

“Let us also use this medium to place it on record that the Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy had already filed a civil suit against the FCT IRS at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, seeking injunctive reliefs against the FCT – IRS from collecting any revenue on behalf of the six Area Councils.

“Since this matter is sub-judice, Mr. Michael Ango, the Acting Executive Chairman of the FCT – IRS should respect the law and maintain Status Quo pending the hearing and determination of the said case.”

Meanwhile, Kalu disclosed that if Ango thinks otherwise, the group shall be left with no other option than to commence a private criminal prosecution against him for collecting revenue which the law does not support.

Besides, Kalu advised the business community in the Federal Capital Territory to disregard the press statement by the FCT – IRS boss on his purported plans to take over collection of revenues constitutionally donated to the six Area Councils, because such plans are not only unconstitutional, but unlawful, illegal and criminal.

The group warned that anyone paying revenue meant for the Area Councils to the FCT IRS is doing so at their own peril and should be ready to pay the Area Councils when they come for the collection of their revenues.

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in the quest to enforce integrity and rid its fold of fraudulent elements, dismissed 27 officers from its workforce in 2024. 

The officers, according to a statement, were dismissed for various offences bordering on fraudulent activities and misconduct. 

The statement released by Head, Media and Publicity, Mr Dele Oyewale, on Monday, disclosed that the affected staff were relieved of their appointments following the recommendation of the Staff Disciplinary Committee of EFCC, which was ratified by the Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede. 

The statement said, “Olukoyede reiterated the commitment of the commission to zero tolerance for corruption, warning that no officer is immune to disciplinary measures.

“Every modicum of allegation against any staff of the commission would always be investigated, including a trending $400,000 claim of a yet-to-be-identified supposed staff of the EFCC against a sectional head.

“The core values of the commission are sacrosanct and would always be held in optimal regard at all times.”

Meanwhile, EFCC alerted the public to the sinister activities of impersonators and blackmailers using the name of its executive chairman to extort money from high-profile suspects being investigated by the EFCC.

Oyewale said two members of an alleged syndicate, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, were recently arraigned before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, for allegedly contacting a former Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Mohammed Bello-Kaka, and demanding $1 million from him for “Olukoyede to give him soft landing” on a non-existing investigation.

While stating that such characters were still on the loose seeking victims, the anti-graft agency maintained that Olukoyede remained a man of integrity that could not be swayed by monetary influences. 

EFCC urged the public to always report such disreputable elements to the commission.

The statement added, “Additionally, the EFCC is aware of moves being hatched in some quarters to blackmail officers of the commission through unwholesome means.

“Suspects being investigated for some economic and financial crimes who have failed to compromise their investigators would always clutch at any straw.  Such blackmailers should not be accorded any form of attention.”