Author: The Nation

The Oyo State Chief Judge, Justice Iyabo Yerima, on Monday swore in 15 new magistrates, saying it would enable the state judiciary to perform better.

Yerina, at the swearing-in ceremony held at the State High Court premises, Ring Road, Ibadan, said that the Oyo State Magistracy had, over time, suffered a shortfall in the number of magistrates.

She said there were only 19 magistrates presiding in the various Magistrates’ Courts, spread over all the magisterial districts in the state.

According to her, there have been circumstances where a magistrate would preside over more than one magisterial district.

She was, however, optimistic that the situation was set to change.

“With the appointment of more qualified legal practitioners as magistrates, I am confident to state that the judicial arm of government will be many steps closer to responding adequately to its statutory responsibilities aggressively.

“This will ensure that justice is not only done, but seen as done to all and sundry,” she said.

The chief judge charged the newly appointed magistrates to exercise their authority with fairness, impartiality, honour and utmost integrity.

“You have the power to shape lives and communities through the decisions you make; with this power comes an even greater responsibility.

Read Also: Internet fraud: EFCC arrests ex-convict, 54 others in Oyo

“Remember that the scales of justice are balanced, and it’s your duty to ensure that they remain so,” Yerima said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new magistrates are: Adebola Adedoyin, Olasumbo Kudirat, Raji Oluwaferanmi Ayomide, Adelabu Olajumoke Victoria, Rufus Adeoluwa, Ige Oladipupo and Jimoh Kazeem.

Others are, Amin Aminat, Adebiyi Aderemi, Atanda Moyosore, Fasasi Kabirat, Oladele Gladys, Ayanfe Kaosarat, Tolani Sofiat and Macus Omolara.

Dignitaries present at the event include the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Mrs Evelyn Akintunde, as well as serving and retired judges.

(NAN)

Osun Assembly on Monday, passed a Bill reverting the name of the state to “Osun State” from the “State of Osun”, given in 2012 by former governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

The Assembly, through a Bill called ‘Osun State Anthem, Crest and Flag Amendment Bill 2023’, reverted the name, flag and crest of the state from what they were.

After the Bill was passed for third reading at the plenary session, Mr Adewale Egbedun, the Assembly Speaker, said the Bill would be forwarded to the governor for assent.

He said the new Bill, after it is assented to by the governor, would replace the Osun Anthem, Crest and Flag Bill 2012.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new Bill, aside from reverting the name of the state, also changes the flag and crest of the state to the Nigerian flag and the Nigerian Coat of Arms.

The State Anthem established by the old Bill was, however, sustained by the new Bill.

The Assembly, thereafter, screened 13 of the 25 commissioner nominees who appeared before it, after the report of the ad-hoc screening committee was adopted.

Read Also: How Egbedun emerged Speaker of 8th Osun Assembly

Mr Akinyode Oyewusi,  the Chairman of the ad-hoc screening committee, while making recommendations, said all the nominees are competent and qualified to be commissioners.

Oyewusi said the nominees met the requirements of the law and that they should be confirmed in line with section 192 (2) of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (amended).

The speaker, Egbedun, however, said the nominees would all be considered for confirmation after the House is through with screening.

(NAN)

A group of lawyers was at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday to initiate contempt proceedings against the Department of State Services (DSS) and its Director General (DG), Yusuf Bichi for allegedly flouting a number of court orders for the release of detained former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

The lawyers are contending that by the subsisting judgments and orders given in separate cases by Justices M. A. Hassan,  Hamza Muazu and  Bello Kawu (all of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory), the DG DSS ought to have since, directed Emefiele’s release from detention.

Led by Maxwell Opara and Ahmed Tijani, the lawyers filed Forms 48 and 49 which they said constitute the initial processes in committal proceedings.

In a document filed with the forms, the lawyers stated that Justice Hassan, in his judgment,  restrained the respondents in that suit, particularly, the DSS  from arresting, detaining, or interrogating Emefiele in respect of offences relating to terrorism financing, money laundering, round tripping, financial crimes of national security dimension, among others.

They added that in spite “of the clear and positive orders of Justice Hassan, the State Security Service still went ahead to arrest and detain Mr. Emefiele and has so detained him for well over a month, while shopping for evidence which does not exist.”

Speaking after filing the relevant documents in the court’s Registry,  Opara assured that his group of lawyers  “will pursue the matter to its logical conclusion and ensure that the DSS DG is Bichi is sent to prison.”

Opara said such development will serve as a lesson to other heads of security agencies and top government officials that contempt of court and gross abuse of their offices for personal vendetta will no longer be tolerated.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to sack the DSS DG for allegedly misleading the President to think that  Emefiele committed heinous crimes against the state.

Read Also: Reactions greet Emefiele’s charge

“Is it not now clear enough to Nigerians that that the SSS is persecuting Mr. Emefiele if after holding him for five weeks they can only file a ridiculous charge of possessing a validly registered pump action gun?” 

“If possessing a validly registered pump action gun is a crime worthy of being held in perpetuity, what has the SSS done to the person threatening Nigerians from a particular section of the country with an assault rifle? 

“This clearly shows that the travail of Mr. Emefiele is more for political reasons than for any other,” Opara said.

The National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Iyiola Omisore is not part of the ongoing National Working Committee (NWC) meeting of the party.

The NWC meeting, which started at the office of the Deputy National Chairman, Senator Abubakar and Kyari, moved to the NWC Hall in the secretariat without the National Secretary.

The Nation gathered that members of the NWC are mounting pressure on the Secretary to resign with the chairman.

Omisore, who arrived the office around 11:20 am, went straight to his office while other members of the NWC were deliberating at the Deputy National Chairman’s office.

The Secretary, after staying less that an hour, left the office without joining his colleagues in the NWC meeting.

Read Also: Akeredolu will resume soon, says Omisore

Accosted by newsmen when he was about leaving for update on the leadership crisis, the former Osun Deputy Governor said: “I am going to check on the National Chairman. I don’t know why he is not in the office today.”

When asked if he will be returning to join others in the meeting, Omisore said: “Yes, I am coming back. I just going to see the chairman.” He headed straight for his car.

The President of Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, says the 10th Assembly will pass quality legislation that will raise the standard of education in the country.

Akpabio made the pledge during the 10th National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS)/ University of Benin (UNIBEN) Matriculation ceremony for Post Graduate programmes in Abuja on Monday.

“I am very much aware of the current state of education in the country, and I wish to assure you all that this administration is committed to addressing the nagging issues that bother on education instability and restiveness in our tertiary institutions.

“This is evident with the recently- assented Students Loan Act by President Bola Tinubu, to ensure access to education for all.

“I wish to equally assure Nigerians that the 10th Assembly shall have as her fulcrum part of its legislative agenda boost for educational development, as we believe that our growth and development as a nation is proportional to the quality of our educational system.

“Therefore, the 10th Assembly will pass quality legislation, which its implementation will raise the standard of education service delivery Nigerians expect from us,” he said.

Represented by the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Jibrin Barau, Akpabio implored the matriculating students  to see the opportunity of their admission as a great privilege as the knowledge they will acquire cannot be found in conventional universities.

He said that the programmes would  offer the matriculants the needed knowledge to contribute to the nation’s democracy and national development.

Also speaking, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, said that the imperatives of research, training and education in fostering a strong, virile and vibrant democracy could not be over-emphasised.

Represented by the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, Abbas commended NILDS for equipping lawmakers, policymakers, and the general public with the necessary skills to navigate the complexities of legislative and democratic processes.

“However, you are reminded of the huge task at your hands given the composition of the 10th Assembly which has nearly 70 per cent new membership.

“The institute must quickly come up with programmes to fill the capacity gaps not only among our new colleagues and some of their legislative aides, but the entire staff of the National Assembly.

“It is hoped that your quick intervention in this regard with targeted  programmes will enhance efficiency and productivity of members and staff of the National Assembly,” he said.

In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Benin (UNIBEN),Prof. Lilian Salami ,congratulated the students on their admission to study the various programmes in the institute.

Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Prof. Ray Ozoluwa, Salami said that a total of 107 students were admitted to study various programmes as against the 80 students in the last session.

She said that the programmes included  Master’s in Elections and Party Politics, Legislative Drafting, Parliamentary Administration and Legislative Studies, as well as Post- graduate Diploma in Elections and Party Management,

According  to her, the courses  are rare and special programmes,that are hardly offered elsewhere else.

Salami said that the university and the institute would  not rest on their oars but would  continue to impart sound quality knowledge to students and keeping up with latest trends internationally.

She urged the students to be disciplined and focused and shun all vices and embrace only what is good to be found be worthy of the Post graduate degree or Diploma of UNIBEN/NILDS, earned based on learning and character.

In his remarks, the Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, said that the collaboration between NILDS and UNIBEN had proven to be productive over the years.

He assured the commitment of the institute to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the institute and the university.

Sulaiman urged the matriculants to attend lectures promptly as a minimum attendance of 75 per cent is required to sit for exams.

Read Also: Akpabio urges scrabble federation to win world championship

He said continuous assessment must be taken with all seriousness as it constitutes 30 to 40 per cent of examination.

“Upon your successful completion of the programme, you would be awarded certificates by the University of Benin; the best students’ amongst you would also be recognised and offered an award of excellence.

“The pillars of the NILDS- UNIBEN Post Graduate programmmes is anchored on discipline and dedication; you are therefore expected to exhibit high sense of discipline while running the programme.

“The Post Graduate programme will not award its degree to students who are found wanting in character and in learning

“I wish to state that your choice of the NILDS- UNIBEN Postgraduate programmes is a wise one and we are committed to seeing that we impart to you all the necessary skills you deserve,” he said.

(NAN)

Troops of 192 Battalion, Ikorodu, Lagos have uncovered an international ammunition smuggling syndicate whose latest consignment loaded in a truck heading to Anambra State was intercepted. 

The truck load of ammunition was intercepted on Saturday along Ajilete-Owode Road in Yewa North LGA of Ogun State, the Nigerian Army said on Monday.

Army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the troops acted on credible intelligence and conducted a rigorous stop and search operation along that route where the truck with registration number ENU 697XY loaded.

He said the truck was loaded with 720 packets of Red Star Cartridges of 12 Calibre, containing 25 cartridges per packet, totalling 18, 000 cartridges and an additional 250 packets of live (black) cartridges containing 10 packets each, totalling 2500 cartridges of  same calibre.

“The suspects, identified as Mr. Eric Seworvor, a Ghanaian national, and the driver, Mr Lukman Sani, have been taken into custody and are helping with ongoing investigations. 

“Information gathered during preliminary investigation revealed that the ammunition, which were surreptitiously concealed in a supposed empty truck were imported from Mali, via Idiroko International Border,  where the criminals had successfully beaten several other checkpoints en-route their final destination in Onitsha, Anambra State, where they intended to deliver the illegal ammunition,” Nwachukwu said. 

Read Also: Gunmen flee as Police recover stolen 1,000 bags of cement in Anambra

He said timely intervention by the vigilant troops thwarted the chaos that such volume of ammunition would have unleashed on innocent members of the public, if the criminals had succeeded. 

“The Nigerian Army  therefore appeals to all law abiding citizens to continue to support the troops and other security agencies with credible and actionable information, as they combat security challenges across the country. 

“The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja has commended the troops for their commitment and urged them not to relent as they strive in synergy with other services and security agencies to provide safe and secure atmosphere for all Nigerians and socio economic development across the country,” he added.