Imagine It!!!

Nnamdi Felix / Abuja:::::: Thirteen years after he was first docked before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on an alleged abuse of office and non declaration of assets, the trial of former Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Minister, Gen Jeremiah Useni (Rtd), resumed Tuesday before the conduct tribunal. The retired General was alleged to have used his office as the Abuja Minister, to acquire mind boggling landed properties in choice location of the Abuja metroplis. He was the minister of the FCT during the regime of late maximum dictator, General Sani Abacha, under whose regime Nigeria’s commonwealth was personalised and looted with reckless abandon. Useni was also alleged to have failed to declare his assets on assumption of office as well as on leaving office as the FCT minister. The retired General however, did not appear in person as statutorily required in criminal proceedings, and had never appeared before the court at anytime within the thirteen years the matter had l...

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: Nigeria: Man dragged to the gallows will now be executed by firing squad A death row prisoner in Nigeria is due to be executed by firing squad later this week after prison authorities dragged him to the gallows where they hanged four other men on Monday night, Amnesty International has learned. They were the first known executions in the country since 2006. Benin Prison authorities in Edo state had planned to hang the man along with the four others, but halted his execution after they realized his death sentence, imposed by a military tribunal, required that a firing squad carry it out. Amnesty International understands that neither the prisoners nor their families were told of the executions in advance. Secret executions, where prisoners, families and lawyers are not informed beforehand, violate international standards on the use of the death penalty. “Cruel and inhumane do not even begin to describe the nightmare situation facing this man – and...

UK Immigration - Visa Bonds: In response to speculation in the press regarding the possible implementation of ‘visa bonds’ for Nigerian visa applicants to the UK, High Commissioner Dr Andrew Pocock met with Foreign Minister Ashiru on 25 June. Following that meeting High Commissioner Dr Andrew Pocock said: I welcome the chance to set out the facts on so called “visa bonds.” The British Government has announced that it intends to undertake a very small scale trial of the use of financial bonds as a way of tackling abuse in the immigration system (which occurs when some people overstay their visa terms). The details of a pilot scheme are still being worked out. No final decision has been made. If the pilot were to go ahead in Nigeria it would affect only a very small number of the highest risk visitors. The vast majority would not be required to pay a bond. Those paying bonds would receive the bond back, if they abided by the terms of their visa. Let me put this in ...

: By Ruben Navarrette: If I may speak for some of the dads who have spoken to me over time, this year, our kids can skip the ties, golf clubs and fishing poles. What many of us really want for Father's Day is an attitude adjustment for our kids. There's a story that a friend shared a few months ago that really made an impression on me -- as it did a roomful of other middle-aged parents who are struggling with raising their toddlers or teenagers. One day, my friend said, he walked into his house and casually told his teenage son that he needed some help with some minor chore outside. The son, who had been playing video games, was clearly bothered. Exasperated, he said, "Dad, whenever you ask me to do stuff like this, it's just such an inconvenience." Showing more restraint than I would have at that moment, my friend calmly apologized to his son for disturbing him. Then he picked up the phone, and fired his landscaper. Next, my friend sat down at the ...

Following last May's refusal by an Abuja High Court to quash the seven counts charge slammed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, embattled former Chairman of House of Representatives' Adhoc committee on Fuel Subsidy Regime, Hon Farouk Lawan and the Secretary of the Committee, Boniface Emenalo on Wednesday urged the court to stay further proceedings in their ongoing trial pending their appeal challenging the court's refusal to quash the charge. The duo were accused of receiving the sum of $620, 000 from billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, as an inducement to influence the report of the committee in favour of Zenon Oil and Gas Limited. Their lawyer, Mr Rickey Tarfa, a senior advocate of Nigeria, informed the court that they have filed a notice of appeal challenging the court's ruling over their application seeking to quash the charge preferred against his clients. He told the court that the notice of appeal was filed on the...

A criminal charge slammed against four Lebanese arrested in connection with an illegal arms cache discovered in Kano state, Northern Nigeria, was on Wednesday struck out by Chief Magistrate Muyiwa Oyeyepo of Karu Magistrate Court in Abuja. The Department of State Security, SSS, had filed the charge on the 5th of June following the arrest of the Lebanese in connection with the unlawful importation and possession of the large cache of prohibited firearms and other weapons of mass destruction discovered at a residence in Kano. The court also struck out the preliminary objection filed on behalf of the accused persons by their lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji, a senior advocate of Nigeria, wherein he challenged the competence of the magistrate court to handle the matter. The suspects include the co-owner of popular Amigo Supermarket at the Wuse 2 District of Abuja metropolis, Mustapha Fawaz. Others are Abdalah Thaini, Talal Roda and Kossay Nourdin. The prosecutor, Mr. Cliff Osagie, h...

Abolition of Governor's Forum: Governors Fail to Stop Suit: Published by pmnews: By Nnamdi Felix: Fictionalized Nigerian Governors' Forum, NGF, on Tuesday failed in its bid to stall hearing of a suit challenging its legitimacy and seeking its de-registration. A Federal High Court siting in abuja and presided by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, refused to entertain NGF's application for a stay of proceedings in the matter. The forum's lawyer, Mr. Okunade Olorundare, a senior advocate of Nigeria, had applied for his preliminary objection to be heard first before the substantive matter or alternatively, for his application for stay of proceedings pending appeal to be heard first. These were rejected by the court in a ruling. The court had earlier fixed the hearing of all pending applications, particularly the preliminary objection and originating summons, for today. Parties were expected to argue both applications, but Olorundare and Mr. Nasiru Tijani, who represent...

Embattled Kogi state lawmaker who was docked before an Abuja Magistrate Court over illegal possession of arms was granted bail on Tuesday. The lawmaker, Friday Sani, also known as Makama was allegedly arrested while in possession of illegal firearms. He was granted bail in the sum of N5 million with one surety who must be a resident of Abuja and must be a grade level 15 officer and above. The court also granted Sani’s co-accused, Job David bail in the sum of N1 million and one surety in like sum. The lawmaker's joy over the bail granted him was however short lived as the court further made an order for his re arrest and remand following a further allegation by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Simon Lough, that the police had arrested two armed robbers who made confessional statements to the fact that the lawmaker supplied them with arms and ammunition. “I will admit the two accused persons to bail but the 1st accused person will be remanded until Friday June 14 t...

Ahead of the forthcoming Anambra state governorship election and the crisis of leadership rocking ruling All Progressive. Grand Alliance, APGA, civil society groups under the auspices of Abuja Civil Society Forum, ACSF, on Monday called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, to investigate Justice Hope Ozor of the Anambra State High Court over allegations of abuse of office and subversion of justice. At a media briefing in Abuja, the group applauded the CJN over her declaration that there was no more room for any form of judicial rascality in the country. The Coordinator of the group, Hon. Oyetakin Ebenezer, stated that the CJN, alongside the National Judicial Council, NJC, has demonstrated commitment to this stance with the sanctions that had been handed down to erring judges in addition to the promptness with which petitions against judges are now treated. "We strongly believe that Nigerians owe ...

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has cautioned the National Judicial Council, NJC, against taking further steps on the probe of former Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Lawal Hassan Gummi. The embattled former Chief Judge who recently resigned from office to assume office as the Emir of Gummi, in Zamfara state, had dragged the NJC to court following stes taken by the Council to probe him over petitions brought against him. He is challenging the legality of that probe panel set up by the NJC for his probe. The presiding judge, Justice Adamu Bello, ordered parties in the suit to respect the principle of les pendis (pending matter before the court), as anything or decision reached during the pendency of the suit can be reversed or quashed as it will amount to subjudice. "I remind parties in this suit to respect the principles of les pendis, as the court has powers to reverse and quash any decision taken during the pendency of the case", the ...

Controversial and flamboyant President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, on Tuesday called for the arrest and investigation of former Head of state and Presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), following what he considers as inflammatory statement credited to the former Head of state which was reported in the media recently. In a press release made available to newsmen in Abuja by Mr. Kenny Ashaka, the Special Assistant on Media and Public Affair to the Pastor Oritsejafor, the CAN President noted that he has read another divisive and inflammatory statement by Muhammadu Buhari, where the General was widely reported by several national newspaper correspondents and commentators, who monitored the Liberty Radio's 'Guest of the week' programme, where Buhari questioned the “special treatment” given to the Niger-Delta militants by the Federal Government while the Boko Haram members we...

Nnamdi Felix / Abuja: A five-man panel of the Supreme Court on Friday in Abuja dismissed an appeal instituted by sacked former governor of Ekiti state, Segun Oni of the Peoples Democratic Party wherein he sought for the apex court to upturn the Court of Appeal’s decision that sacked him from Ekiti state Government House. The former governor had hoped to cash in on the judicial crisis that rocked the nation’s judiciary when Justice Ayo Isa Salami was suspended from office. He thereafter appealed to the Supreme Court alleging likelihood of bias in his appeal following his defeat at the Ekiti Election Appeal. Oni relied on section 36 of the constitution which guarantees right to fair hearing and had asked the apex court to revisit the judgment of the Court of Appeal which removed him from office. Governor Kayode Fayemi opposed the appeal and contended that as at the time the governorship election was conducted in 2007, that the Court of Appeal was the final court empowered to ...

Nnamdi Felix / Abuja: Senator Margery Okadigbo, wife of late former Senate President,Chief Chuba Okadigbo, on Friday floored Senator Alphonsus Uba Igbeke at the Supreme Court over the legal battle dogging the contest for Anambra North senatorial district. The Court of Appeal had in July, 2012 declared Lady Okadigbo as the validly nominated flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party and winner of the senatorial election to represent Anambra North in the Upper Legislative Chamber. The apex court in a judgment delivered Friday, held that Senator Igbeke has not used the process of the court in good faith and that his appeal amounted to inviting the court on appeal against its earlier decision where the court declared Lady Margrey winner of that election. In the lead judgment read by Justice Suleiman Galadima the court held that “in the instant appeal SC/179/2012 the appellant’s issue set out in paragraph 30.0 PP.11-12 of his brief distilled from the grounds of appeal are ident...