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Tag: Aliyu Umar

  • Updated: CCT Chair insists on Onnoghen’s appearance

    *Adjourns to February 13
    *Appeal Court to hear adjourns to Feb 12

    The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal ( CCT ), Danladi Umar has insisted that the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen must appear before the tribunal in person before any further businesses could be conducted in the case pending against him (Onnoghen).

    Umar gave the directive at the resumption of proceedings in the case on Monday, shortly before agreeing to the request by parties for adjournment to February 13.

    He said: “Under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), a defendant, who is served with a charge and represented by lawyers, must take his plea before raising any objection.

    “The defendant has continued to stay away from this tribunal. I am going to grant this adjournment at the instance of the prosecution and defence, but must state that the defendant must attend court at the next adjourned date so that all the issues would be resolved in his presence.”

    The suspended CJN is accused of violating code of conduct for public officers by allegedly failing to declare some of his assets.

    At the commencement of proceedings on Monday, an official of the tribunal noted that the defendant was absent.

    Lead prosecuting lawyer, Aliyu Umar (SAN) said the case was adjourned to February 4 for the arraignment of the defendant and the hearing of pending applications.

    Lead defence lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) said he had a discussion with the prosecutor to allow his application for adjournment in view of some recent developments in the case.

    Awomolo said: “We filed a process this morning, indicating that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) forwarded a petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC). It is the same petition that was forwarded to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) that founded the complaint before this tribunal.”

    He added that the NJC has, in the exercise of its powers, forwarded the petition to the suspended CJN for his comment within seven days. He noted that the seven days, given Justice Onnoghen to respond to the petition, will lapse on this Wednesday.

    Awomolo expressed optimism that the NJC will meet shortly after receiving Justice Onnoghen’s and take a position on the issue.

    Read Also: CCT serves Onnoghen trial notice

    He added: “Our application is that the proceedings be further adjourned to prevent the defendant from suffering double jeopardy. Parties are ready to argue the pending applications, but in the interest of justice and due process, we seek an adjournment to enable the NJC take a decision.

    “No harm will be done to the rest. The integrity of this tribunal will be enhanced if this application is granted and the NJC will be afforded time to take a decision in this matter,” the defence lawyer said.

    Awomolo said an adjournment will prevent a situation where the defendant is made to suffer double jeopardy.
    Responding, Umar admitted engaging in discussion with Awomolo before the tribunal commenced its sitting.
    Umar said he was not opposing an application for adjournment, but that his decision to agree to the defence’s request for adjournment was not because the AGF has forwarded the same petition to the NJC.

    The prosecution lawyer hinted about the possibility of the charge being withdrawn by the AGF, in the exercise of his power. He said it was within the discretion and power of the AGF to discontinue the proceedings.

  • Updated: Acting CJN leads panel at Supreme Court sitting

    *CCT yet to sit at 11am
    *Attendance at CCT shrinks

     

    The Supreme Court resumed normal duties today without signs betraying an immediate change in its leadership
    The court opened for business at its usual time on Monday, while the court’s digital cause list was switched on at a little after 8 am, displaying the about 11 cases scheduled for hearing for the day.

    At exactly 9.13am, proceedings commenced in Court One of the Supreme Court, when a five-man panel, led by the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad began sitting.

    The panel, which included Justices Mary Peter-Odili, Amiru Sanusi, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun and Paul Galinje were hearing cases as at when The Nation left the courtroom at 10am.

    The number of people at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) was unusually low.

    The situation today provided a variant to the usual situation at the tribunal’s sitting venue since the tribunal commenced sitting in the case against the suspended CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen on January 14, 2019.

    Read Also; Supreme Court refuses to hear 14 pre-election cases

    Today major lawyers for the CJN, like Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), and Aliyu Umar (SAN) for the prosecution were not present as at 11 am, a departure from the situation before now.

    The volume of vehicles parked within and around the tribunal’s sitting venue was reduced, leaving vacant space mostly occupied before today.

    Meanwhile, the Ekiti State governorship election petition tribunal has started the delivery of judgment in the petition by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate ‎in the last governorship election in Ekiti State.

    Details later.

  • Alleged non-disclosure of assets: Again, CJN shuns CCT

    *Prosecution seeks interim order against CJN

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen again, stayed away on Tuesday from the proceedings of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) where he is the defendant in the charge of non-assets disclosure.

    This is the second time the CJN would shun proceedings at the tribunal, where the prosecution had planned to commence his trial.

    Justice Onnoghen , first stayed away on January 14 this year, when the case was first mentioned.

    The CJN, whose legal team is led by former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Wole Olanipekun (SAN), again stayed away today and asked the tribunal to adjourned indefinitely pending the determination of his appeal now pending before the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

    The Prosecution, led by Aliyu Umar (SAN), said although he has the power, under Paragraph 6 of the Code of Conduct Practice Direction, to apply that a bench warrant be issued against Onnoghen, he will not make such a request against the CJN.

    He, however, urged the tribunal to exercise its power by making an interim order. He was silent on what the interim order should be directed at.

    Proceedings at the CCT is still ongoing.

    Details soon.

    Read Also: SANs and Onnoghen circus

    The CJN is absent from Court but prosecution and defence counsels are present.

    Details Soon….

     

  • CJN shuns CCT, queries its jurisdiction

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria ( CJN ), Justice Walter Onnoghen did not attend today’s proceedings at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), scheduled for his arraignment on charges of non-declaration of assets.

    Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who led a team of lawyers for the CJN, said he was not properly served with the tribunal’s summons.

    He also said his client has filed an application, challenging the court’s jurisdiction. He asked that the application be taken without the CJN’s presence.

    Aliyu Umar (SAN), who appeared for the complainant, argued that the information by the tribunal’s registrar that the CJN directed his Personal Assistant to accept the summons on his behalf was sufficient.

    Read Also: Arraignment of CJN stalls judicial activities at FCT High court

    He, however, later suggested that the tribunal direct that a fresh service of the summons be effected personally on the CJN, a suggestion accepted by all.

    Tribunal’s Chairman, Danladi Umar ordered fresh service on the CJN and adjourned to January 22 for the hearing of al pending applications.

     

    Details later.

  • Mummy thought I was dummy, by marathoner

    Marathons are not just keep-fit races; they are big money spinners. In Abuja, a runner, once dismissed by his mother as a blockhead, is a champion marathoner. And he is making good money.

    On December 1, Bodyline Fitness and Gym held its second marathon race in Abuja. The event comprised two activities: a half marathon (21km); and the Abuja Fittest Man/Woman challenge, with first and second winners male and female of each category earning prizes.

    The winner of the half-marathon Aliyu Umar, an Abuja driver, was excited to win the first price money of N750,000.

    Appah Goddey who was the first price winner of the second category, Abuja Fittest Man/Woman challenge, said he gave a huge chunk of his prize money to his mother, to prove her wrong since she never saw any good in him because he was not an intelligent child.

    The 24-year-old winner said, “I like sports and when I see anything sports I have to be there. I have this spirit of not losing, when they say Abuja fittest, I have beaten all the boxers in my weight class, I am the number one and I had to show people that I achieved it through hard work.

    “Most of my prize money went to my Mom because this is the first time in my life giving my mom money but I did it for a reason, I gave most of the money to her because growing up I was a dumb child, I gave it to her to let her know that no child is a waste. I work hard because of that, I don’t know the reason why she did all she did to me but after winning I sent a huge amount to suprise her, to make her know that no child is a waste, that even the child she saw as dumb can amount to something.

    “My advice to boys is to work hard and believe in themselves more than the way they see free money, you work hard even if you don’t see the money today, believe it will come tomorrow.”

    Business Development Manager of Bodyline Fitness and Gym Abuja, Bako Hosea said that they had two major events at this year’s fitlife event, the first was a 21km half marathon race and Abuja fittest which was more of a cross fit challenge, a group of exercises. We have the dead lift, bench press, running a 9.6km from Wuse 2 to Gwarimpa, ride a bicycle back and by the time they got back, there were exercises waiting for them and the person that had the highest point emerged winner.

    He also said: “We have an annual fitness event powered by Bodyline called fitlife. We try to encourage residents of Abuja and Nigeria at large to live a fit lifestyle, we came up with this to encourage people to start healthy lifestyles that will help them stay out of the hospital.

    “So we had the male and female categories, the first prize was N750,000 for first in male and female in the two categories and N250,000 for second place.”

    First prize female winner for Abuja fittest, Uduak Ikara, a fitness trainer, yoga enthusiast and a spin instructor said she trained for 10 days in preparation for the event.

  • FG appoints Aliyu Umar as CEO NCRI, Niger

    The Federal Government has appointed Dr Aliyu Umar as the Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, Niger.

    His appointment is contained in a letter signed by the Director for Human Resources in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs A. C. Bawa on behalf of Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister and dated July 2, 2018.

    “The appointment which takes effect from July 2 will run for a single terms of five years and will lapse as soon as you attain the age of retirement in line with extant rules of institutes or the expiration of your tenure (whichever comes first,” the letter read in part.

    The letter requested him to work in accordance with the extant laws establishing research institutes as well as subsisting circulars issued by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and that of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

    The letter also urged him to work assiduously to reposition and refocus the institute to fulfill the mandate of the Green Alternative Programme (GAP) of the present administration.

    Read Also: Plateau seeks God’s intervention in killings

    The position became vacant following the death of the late Acting Director, Dr Samuel Agboireso.

    Dr Agboireso acted for three years before his demise on June 7, 2018.

    Agboireso took over from Dr Lawrence Ogunremi, who also acted for a period of two years.

    Born in 1963, the new executive director took appointment as a Research Officer 2 and rose through the ranks until he became Director, Research Outreach Department, the position he occupied until his present appointment.

    Umar has served as the Head of stations in Uyo, Akwa Ibom and Amakama, Abia states respectively.

    He is age 54 and a native of Bida Local Government area of Niger.

    The new executive director holds Ph.D in Soil Science from the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna.

    NAN

  • ‘New Taraba’ endorses Umar for 2019 governorship

    One of the strongest political groups in Taraba State, the New Taraba Agenda, on Friday endorsed Alh. Aliyu Umar, a retired director, national boundary service commission, to run for the 2019 governorship election.

    The endorsement took place at Fast Track Hotel, Jalingo -the Taraba State capital.

    In attendance were leaders of the group and supporters of Umar from the state’s 16 local government councils and 168 wards.

    The endorsement took the form of a parliamentary sitting. Former Speaker, Hamidu Suleiman, moved the motion for the endorsement of Umar to run for the governorship in APC as a representative of the New Taraba Agenda.

    Alh. Baba Muhammed, former House of Assembly Majority Leader, seconded the motion. Former Speaker, Ibrahim Useni, who presided over the proceedings, asked the delegates (congress) and they all agreed that Umar was the right candidate.

    Read Also: Nine killed in Taraba attack, say police

    The convener, Kabiru Jalo, a former federal House of Representatives, in a press conference, said the New Taraba Agenda had, for long, been observing the state of affairs of Taraba State and the situation was “horrible.”

    “Taraba State is in a horrible state. And we have looked and analyzed the situation; how we can get out of here.

    “Today we have come to a conclusion, and I can tell you on good authority that we have zeroed down on the right person, Alh. Aliyu Umar. Taraba State has been backward in development and Umar is the right person for the job.

    “We have therefore, assembled all our representatives across the state to endorse him for the governorship election come 2019.

    “He (Umar) is a local, national and international breed, who understands the socio-economic and political landscape of the State,” the convener said.

    The group said it will shun “politics of religion, regionalism and ethnicity,” but present a Taraban and Nigerian, and sell his “confidence” for the election.

    “It’s about Taraba, not a one person project. We are going to do it differently, not the way people politick,” Jalo said.

    The group allayed fears on the factional camps within the APC in Taraba. “We are going to collaborate and Umar will come out victorious with the APC ticket, without rancour. And together, the APC will win the governorship in Taraba State.”

  • ‘New Taraba’ endorses Umar for 2019 governorship

    One of the strongest political groups in Taraba State, the New Taraba Agenda, on Friday endorsed Alh. Aliyu Umar, a retired director, national boundary service commission, to run for the 2019 governorship election.

    The endorsement took place at Fast Track Hotel, Jalingo -the Taraba State capital. In attendance were leaders of the group and supporters of Umar from the state’s 16 local government councils and 168 wards.

    The endorsement took the form of a parliamentary sitting. Former Speaker, Hamidu Suleiman, moved the motion for the endorsement of Umar to run for the governorship in APC as a representative of the New Taraba Agenda.

    Alh. Baba Muhammed, former House of Assembly Majority Leader, seconded the motion. Former Speaker, Ibrahim Useni, who presided over the proceedings, asked the delegates (congress) and they all agreed that Umar was the right candidate.

    The convener, Kabiru Jalo, a former federal House of Representatives, in a press conference, said the New Taraba Agenda had, for long, been observing the state of affairs of Taraba State and the situation was “horrible.”

    “Taraba State is in a horrible state. And we have looked and analysed the situation; how we can get out of here.

    “Today we have come to a conclusion, and I can tell you on good authority that we have zeroed down on the right person, Alh. Aliyu Umar. Taraba State has been backward in development and Umar is the right person for the job.

    “We have therefore, assembled all our representatives across the state to endorse him for the governorship election come 2019.

    “He (Umar) is a local, national and international breed, who understands the socio-economic and political landscape of the State,” the convener said.

    The group said it will shun “politics of religion, regionalism and ethnicity,” but present a Taraban and Nigerian, and sell his “confidence” for the election.

    “It’s about Taraba, not a one person project. We are going to do it differently, not the way people politick,” Jalo said

    The group allayed fears on the factional camps within the APC in Taraba. “We are going to collaborate and Umar will come out victorious with the APC ticket, without rancor. And together, the APC will win the governorship in Taraba State.”