Author: The Nation

• Bars judges from switching from High Court to Customary Court of Appeal
• Recommends elevation of nine judges to Court of Appeal, appointment of new judges
• Dismisses petitions against Justice Odili, 25 others

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has resolved to empanel committees to investigate allegation of misconduct against seven judges from different states.

 The NJC, in a statement by its spokesman, Soji Oye, stated that the decision was taken at its meeting held between June 14 and 15, during which some recommendations were made, including for the elevation of nine judges to the Court of Appeal and appointment of new ones.

The council, which was silent on the names of the affected judges, said the decision was taken after considering the recommendation of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees.

The NJC, according to Oye, also came up with a policy barring judges from switching henceforth from High Court of Justice to the Customary Court of Appeal and vice versa.

 “The only exception allowed is when a new Customary Court of Appeal is established in a state. Judges who indicate interest to go to the Customary Court of Appeal will be allowed to proceed.

“Once established, the candidates for the headship of the court must be drawn from that court only, even if all the judges of the court are junior to their counterparts in other courts,” he said.

Those recommended for elevation to the Court of Appeal are Justices Okon Efreti Abang (of the Federal High Court, Warri division),  Asma’u Musa Mainoma, Paul Ahmed Bassi,

Hannatu Azumi Laja-Balogun, Binta Fatima Zubair, Hadiza Rabiu Shagari, Peter Chudi Obiora, Jane Esienanwan Inyang and Lateef Adebayo Ganiyu.

 According to the statement, the petitions against 26 judges were dismissed for  lack of merit, lack of diligent prosecution, withdrawal of the petition, being subjudice and for the subject judge having retired from service.

The dismissed petitions were written against Justice Mary Peter Odili, Rtd Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justices A. R. Barka, James G. Abundaga, O. O. Olasumbo Goodluck, Ibrahim A. Andetur-Yangsto all of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justices F. O. Liman, A. R. Mohammed, H. A. A. Dashen, Peter Lifu, F. O. G. Ogunbanjo, A. Lewis Allagoa, D. E. Osiagor all of the Federal High Court. Others are Justice Theresa O. Diai, Chief Judge, Delta State, Hon. Justices S. B. Belgore, K. N. Ogbonnaya Jude Onwuegbuzie, Edward Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Hon. Justices Joseph I Acha, Vesty O. Eboreime, both of High Court, Edo State, Hon. Justices Thelma Adanna Achom, Elvis A. Ngene of the Ebonyi State High Court, Hon. Justices A. B. Usman, M. M. Abubakar of Bauchi State High Court and Hon. Justice O. A. Opesanwo of the Lagos State High Court.

 Also dismissed were petitions against  Justice Oladiran Akintola of Oyo State High Court, Justice Gegele A. Hammed of Kwara State High Court, Justice K. N. Udobong of Akwa-Ibom State High Court, Justice B. C. Iheka, Imo State High Court, Justice M. A. Zandai High Court, Borno State, Justice Mohammed Shinkafi of Zamfara State High Court, Justice R. S. Ladoja of the Kaduna State High Court and Justice M. S. A. Mohammed of the High Court of Niger State.

Those recommended for appointment are Justice Dije Abdu Aboki as Chief Judge of Kano High Court, Justice Daniel Iyobosa Okungbowa as Chief Judge of Edo State High Court, Justice Matilda Abrakasa Ayemieye as Chief Judge of Bayelsa High Court, and Justice Catherine Ngozi Ojugbana-Orishedere as President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Delta State.

For the High Court of Benue State, the NJC recommended  Lilian Ngusuur Terseer-Tsumba, Patrick Eka Oche and  Ukande Mvendaga Peter.

 From the High Court of Delta State, it recommended Ossai Rita Ngozi, Aforkeya Obomejero, Adolor Sunny Onorieukuhakpo, Samuel Ifeanyi Okeleke and Umuko Aboyowa Godwin.

The NJC recommended Ovenseri Otamere, Obayuwana Osarenren Mathias, Edoghogho Eboigbe, Ojo Maureen Osa, Bright Eraze Oniha, Ehinon Anthony Okoh, Godwin Jeff Okundamiya and Osayande Ikwuemosi Awawu as judges of the High Court of Edo State.

For the High Court of Katsina State, it recommended Nuradeen Abdulmumeen, Halima Lawal Bagiwa,Abdullahi Bara’u Faskari and Sanusi Ma’aruf Aminu.

The NJC recommended Iortyer Vihilun Fidelis for appointment as a judge of the Customary Court of Appeal of Benue State; Gbakeji Michael Emakpor and Uraih Tracy Patricia Ifeanyi as judges of the Customary Court of Appeal of Delta State, and Sofowora Oriyomi Abiodun for the Customary Court of Appeal of Ogun State.

• …Says further delay in conducting 2023 census may cause loss of resources, data

The National Population Commission (NPC), on Friday explained that the N200 billion spent so far in preparation for  the national population and housing census was between 2014 and 2023.

The NPC was reacting to narratives by some media outlets (not The Nation) that the commission had squandered N200 billion in just one year (2023).

Recall that in May, the Chairman of the NPC, Nasir Isa-Kwarra, in a meeting with media executives in Abuja, announced that N200 billion had been spent on the conduct of the census.

However, the NPC at a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, said it was true that N200 billion had been spent on census but that the money expended was between 2014 and 2023.

The Director Public Affairs, NPC, Dr Isiaka Yahaya, while briefing reporters said part of the N200 billion was expended before the coming of the present commission, which was inaugurated twice between 2018 and 2020 and even before the inception of the Buhari-led administration.

This was as he urged the Nigerian media to be objective in their reports and join hands with the commission in disseminating correct information.

He also assured the citizens of the commission’s loyalty in delivering to them  a credible national census devoid of errors and corrupt practices.

Yahaya said: “It has become necessary to set the records straight and put into proper context the expenditure of 200 Billion Naira by the National Population Commission in preparation for the 2023 Census. Consistent with global practice and inspired by an unswerving commitment to positively rewrite the history of census in Nigeria, the commission opted to conduct a digital census deploying technology on a massive scale.

“In a country struggling with acute infrastructural deficit, this massive undertaking cannot come cheap but at a huge cost. Yes, it is true that N200 billion has been spent on preparations for the 2023 Census so far. However, this fund was not expended in the last few weeks, months or years but rather since 2014 when preparations for the 2023 Census actually began.

“Indeed, part of the N200 billion was expended before the coming of the present Commission, which was inaugurated twice between 2018 and 2020 and even before the inception of the Buhari administration.

“Even before the conduct of the census, the outcome of the preparatory activities is already yielding dividends that are far in excess of the N200 billion spent so far. The Commission generated the largest volume of geospatial data from the EAD in which every building in Nigeria has been captured and geo-referenced.

“The monetary value of this data alone runs into trillions of Naira. This has also provided Enumeration Area frames that can be used for future censuses and surveys. Through the recruitment exercise for the census, the Commission has generated a data base of young persons who applied for the census jobs with information on their names, ages, qualifications, addresses, phone numbers and account numbers. These are valuable information that can be used for youth empowerment programmes and other social welfare programmes.

“The skewed media narratives behind the N200 billion expended in preparation for the forthcoming census is an attempt to divert national attention from the great work the Commission has done and is doing to deliver a world-class census data for development planning.

“The items for which the sum of N200 billion was expended are available, verifiable and remain useful for the next census anytime it is to be conducted. The scope and quality of arrangements put in place will not only be useful for the next census but also makes future censuses less expensive. The Commission wishes to assure Nigerians and indeed development partners of its irrevocable commitment and competence to deliver credible, reliable and acceptable census data.

“I wish to state unequivocally that the Commission has nothing to hide as regards the preparatory activities for the Census. The implementation of the Census project is being carried out in a professional and transparent manner; therefore, the Commission is open to inquiry and is ready to offer clarification if the need arises.

“Let me use this opportunity to appeal to the Nigerian media who are our strategic partners to join hands with the Commission in realizing the dream of providing the needed demographic data that will facilitate and place our country on the pedestal of sustainable development.

“Our expectation is that you will continue to report the 2023 Census truthfully and professionally in order to positively sensitize the general populace for a successful and fulfilling national assignment “.

Meanwhile, the NPC  has warned that any further the delay in the conduct of the  census could lead to loss of resources and erode preparations already made before the postponement of the exercise.

The NPC Federal Commissioner in Ekiti State, Hon. Ayodeji Ajayi said if the census was not carried out  within the shortest possible time, information that had been gathered would become stale.

Ajayi who stated this in Ado Ekiti during a parley with media executives, said the commission had made some significant progress in its preparation towards the conduct of the exercise.

He listed activities already carried out by the NPC to include the demarcation of the enumeration areas, the conduct of first and second pre-tests, recruitment and training of ad hoc workers, procurement of Personal Digital Assistants amongst other equipment.

Ajayi said that the conduct of the census should be hastened so that preparatory activities, information gathered as well as the money already spent before it was postponed would not be a waste.

The NPC federal commissioner  noted that since the census had been planned already,the best option was to proceed with the exercise in view of the huge financial resources that have been spent so far on the project.

He added that over N140billion had been expended on procurement of technology and equipment preparatory to conduct a hitch-free first digital population census in the country.

“The census must be held within the shortest time possible. We have gathered information across the country. If we don’t use them within the next 12 months, they will become stale. We conducted Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) three years ago and by the time we start afresh, we had to go back to redo the EAD because so many people have migrated and so many houses have been built.

“We don’t want to start all over again. However, we cannot shy away from it if the Federal Government says so. But because of the huge finances that have been committed to this exercise, the best thing for us is to move forward and deliver the census.

“Actually, this government will need the data that we are going to produce for them to plan for this country, whether at national or sub-national level. So, the best thing is to march forward, hoping that the Federal Government will make the proclamation.