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  • Buhari to PDP, EU: El-Rufai spoke in national interest

    KADUNA State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has stirred the hornet’s nest, with his warning that foreigners  should not interfere in the conduct of the general elections.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday threatened to pull out of the peace accord it signed with other parties before the National Peace Committee (NPC) chaired by former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

    The opposition party hinged its decision on the “death threats” issued by the governor, according to it, to officials of the United States (U.S.), United Kingdom (U.K.) and the European Union (E.U.).

    But the Presidency dismissed it all as a storm in a tea cup. “There is nothing more to sneeze at”, it said.

    Besides, the governor denied calling for violence.

    Also yesterday, the EU Election Observer Mission (EOM) said its men were in Nigeria on the invitation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and that they will remain in the country to monitor the elections billed for February 16 (presidential/National) and March 2 (governorship/state Assembly).

    Speaking on an NTA live programme El-Rufai was reported to have threatened the foreign nationals who might interfere with Nigeria’s upcoming elections with violent attacks.

    “Those that are calling for anyone to come and intervene in Nigeria, we are waiting for the person that would come and intervene, they would go back in body bags,” he was quoted as saying.

    The governor, however, explained himself yesterday, insisting that his comments were not in any way calls for violence, but a defence of Nigeria’s sovereignty.

    El-Rufai said he merely stood up for Nigeria’s dignity as against those who would traduce their country and reduce it to a colony in their vain quest for power.

    In a statement last night, the Presidency said: “The Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari would cooperate with election observers and would not let the international community down in the conduct of the coming elections.

    “The Presidency assures Nigerians and the international community that the President would do everything within his power to ensure free, fair and credible elections in the country.

    “We have taken note of the clarification to a reported earlier statement by the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufa’i concerning opposition call for foreign interference in our domestic affairs and to say that latest statement by him should rest the issue for good. There is nothing more to sneeze at. The Governor spoke strongly in defense of of national interest. It is clear that El-Rufa’i, our party the APC and all its candidates have reposed their faith in democracy through general elections. They are all of the view that there is no place for violence against local people or foreign citizens in our midst.

    “Opposition PDP ought to own up to the mistakes of their own policies for 16 years which have led the country to a sorry pass that has cost lives, jobs and growth instead of dwelling on diversionary issues.”

    The PDP’s threat was issued at a news conference in Abuja. Its spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan described El-Rufai’s comments as inimical to peaceful, free and fair elections.

    He said: “The PDP is left with no option than to consider a review of its signatory in the National Peace Accord, if no action is immediately taken to curb this trend.”

    But a pro-Buhari group, the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO), said neither the PDP nor its presidential candidate, was genuinely committed to any peace deal.

    According to the BMO, PDP’s presidential candidate signed the peace accord reluctantly.

    The main opposition party called on the international community to immediately impose a travel ban on El-Rufai for what it described as the inciting comments against peaceful elections.

    Ologbodiyan also called on the Gen. Abdulsalami to summon El-Rufai on the threat.

    He said: “The PDP holds that any situation that seeks to allow the APC to abuse the tenets of the accord will definitely force our party to review our signatory to the peace process.

    Read also: Lagos, Kwara, Kogi, others get new police chiefs

    “We therefore call on the NPC to immediately summon El-Rufai on his inflammatory remarks against peaceful election in our country.

    “In that regard, we might have no option left than to allow our members to defend their votes with whatever that is available to them.

    “This country belongs to all of us and no individual or group, no matter how highly placed, can subjugate other citizens, or seek to appropriate any sort of absolutism to himself.”

    The PDP also kicked against what it described as an alleged plot by the police authority to redeploy Kayode Egbetokun as Commissioner of Police to the Kwara State Command.

    The opposition party alleged closeness of Egbetokun to a section of the leadership of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

    This, according to the PDP, might lead to Egbetokun taking sides in the ongoing supremacy tussle between the PDP and the APC chapters in Kwara State.

    Ologbondiyan said: “This is in line with plans by the Buhari Presidency and the APC to effect a mass deployment of top security officers, particularly the police, to intimidate, harass and manhandle Nigerians that will not support the self-succession bid of President Muhammadu Buhari as well as aiding APC thugs to snatch ballot boxes and orchestrate violence in the elections.

    “Nigerians are aware of how CP Kayode Egbetokun was posted to Lagos State by the former Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, to serve the same partisan interest and how that posting was stopped by the new IGP Adamu Mohammed. Now, he is being redeployed to Kwara State for the same ignoble plot.

    “It is necessary to state that the PDP is a party of peace and we are committed to the peace accord. However, the deployment of Kayode Egbetokun as Kwara CP directly negates the principle of the Peace Accord and can only hurt the fragile peace that currently exists in Kwara state.

    “We wish to remind the acting Inspector General, Adamu Mohammed, that his acceptability among Nigerians across party line was based on the pedigree, which was presented to Nigerians before his appointment.

    “These pedigree and exposure place on his shoulders, the responsibility to be just, firm, equitable and professional in the discharge of his duties. We therefore urge him not to allow his reputation to be mired in controversial political activities.”

    The party called on the National Peace Committee to note the alleged infractions by the APC and its leaders to the peace accord.

  • El-Rufai clarifies his comments

    Following the reactions triggered by his statement, Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai yesterday clarified his position.

    He described the reactions as false outrage, which he said, must stop.

    In a statement by his media aide Samuel Aruwan, El-Rufai insisted that he never called for violence, but put up a powerful defence of Nigeria’s sovereignty as a patriotic Nigeria.

    The governor said he merely stood up for Nigeria’s dignity in the wake of those who would traduce their country and reduce it to the status of a colony in their vain quest for power.

    The statement reads: “A notorious trait of the characters that constitute the opposition in Nigeria is the manufacture of outrage on flimsy grounds. However, contriving anger on false premises and summoning a din of feverish commentary will not alter the facts. Election season is regarded as silly season in some quarters, but it is a very serious moment.

    “When Mallam Nasir El-Rufai appeared on NTA’s Tuesday Night Live, he made comments every patriot can understand. He stood up for Nigeria’s dignity in the wake of those who would traduce their country and reduce it to the status of a colony in their vain quest for power.

    “The video of his comments is in circulation. Any fair-minded person with modest familiarity with the English language and unimpaired comprehension can understand it.

    “It does not contain any call for violence. What it is is a powerful defence of sovereignty. Are some sections of our political class implying that they will acquiesce in or collaborate with foreign intervention in our country?

    “Affirming that a country will defend itself against needless intervention is the kind of statement you expect to hear from a patriot. It is not a call for violence. Warning about the consequences of meddling in another country’s affairs is legitimate.

    “Non-interference in the affairs of other countries is a basic principle of international law. Threatening to intervene in another country implies the use of force. Those who are basing their electoral calculations on foreign intervention need to be discouraged. Only the lawful votes of the Nigerian people should make or unmake governments.

    “Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has issued a powerful call for vigilance and a clear notice that other countries should not mistake the supine posture of the opposition for national weakness.

    “Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has stood firmly against those who have been trying to divide Nigerians on ethnic and religious lines. He is resolutely opposed to violence, and firmly committed to peace and harmony.

    “Let the false outrage stop.”

  • I did not call for violence, says El-Rufai

    …says, trailing reactions are false outrage

     

    Following massive reactions that greeted his statement, Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has clarified his comments, saying the reactions that followed his comments were false outrage, which he said must stop.

    In a statement he issued through his media aide, Samuel Aruwan, El-Rufai insisted that his comments were not call for violence, but a powerful defense of Nigeria’s sovereignty.

    The Governor said he merely stood up for Nigeria’s dignity in the wake of those who would traduce their country and reduce it to the status of a colony in their vain quest for power.

    According to him, “A notorious trait of the characters that constitute the opposition in Nigeria is the manufacture of outrage on flimsy grounds. However, contriving anger on false premises and summoning a din of feverish commentary will not alter the facts. Election season is regarded as silly season in some quarters, but it is a very serious moment.

    “When Malam Nasir El-Rufai appeared on NTA’s Tuesday Night Live, he made comments every patriot can understand. He stood up for Nigeria’s dignity in the wake of those who would traduce their country and reduce it to the status of a colony in their vain quest for power.

    “The video of his comments is in circulation. Any fair-minded person with modest familiarity with the English language and unimpaired comprehension can understand it. It does not contain any call for violence. What it is a powerful defense of sovereignty? Are some sections of our political class implying that they will acquiesce in or collaborate with foreign intervention in our country?

    “Affirming that a country will defend itself against needless intervention is the kind of statement you expect to hear from a patriot. It is not a call for violence. Warning about the consequences of meddling in another country’s affairs is legitimate.

    Read Also: Poll: EU replies El-Rufai, says observers invited by FG

    “Non-interference in the affairs of other countries is a basic principle of international law. Threatening to intervene in another country implies the use of force. Those who are basing their electoral calculations on foreign intervention need to be discouraged. Only the lawful votes of the Nigerian people should make or unmake governments.

    “Malam Nasir El-Rufai has issued a powerful call for vigilance and a clear notice that other countries should not mistake the supine posture of the opposition for national weakness.

    “Malam Nasir El-Rufai has stood firmly against those who have been trying to divide Nigerians on ethnic and religious lines. He is resolutely opposed to violence, and firmly committed to peace and harmony.

    “Let the false outrage stop,” El-Rufai said.

  • El-Rufai: our local govt reforms bearing fruits

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has said the reform of local government administration and restructuring of the traditional institutions have freed up resources in al the 23 local government areas of the state.

    The governor spoke yesterday at a stakeholders’ meeting at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Kaduna.

    He said the 23 local government areas had become financially buoyant enough to execute capital projects after paying salaries and overhead costs.

    The governor, who addressed representatives of Kaduna North and Kaduna South local government areas, said the reform involved the reduction of 390 districts to 77 districts, which existed before Year 2000 and reduction of local government workers.

    El-Rufai recalled that the state government was giving financial bail-out to eight local government areas every month to pay their salaries when he assumed office in 2015.

    The governor also said the combination of a bloated local government workforce and a proliferation of districts placed a heavy financial burden on the local government areas, so much that they could not pay salaries.

    He added: “In Kaduna North and Kaduna South, every big man wanted his wife or relative to teach in primary schools because they are located in urban centres. No one wanted his relative to go to the villages to work or teach.

    “In Zaria Local Government Area, there used to be more that 1,100 workers. Looking at the secretariat, there is no way it can accommodate that number of workers. Clearly, most of the names on the pay roll were those of ghost workers. Some council chairmen padded the payroll with the names of members of their families.”

    El-Rufai said his administration was called names when he embarked on the local government reform.

    The governor said the people had begun reaping its benefits.

    According to him, the state government will not shy away from doing the right thing for fear of losing elections.

    He said almost all former governors knew about the problem but swept it under the carpet.

  • Onnoghen: Even Dangote can’t forget $1m in his account — el-Rufai

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Friday advised suspended Justice Walter Onnoghen to resign as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

    He gave the advice when members of Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in the state took their protest to the Government House in Kaduna.

    El-Rufai, who received the protesters’ solidarity letter to President Muhammadu Buhari on the suspension of the CJN, said with just over 20 years in public service, Justice Onnoghen possibly has more money than Aliko Dangote, the richest African.

    According to him, the suspension of Onnoghen was in order, saying that even Dangote cannot forget one million dollars in his bank account.

    “The case of Justice Onnoghen is the case in which somebody who has worked in government for past 20 years suddenly has millions of dollars in his account.

    “He has admitted, but says he has forgotten about them.

    “I want to express happiness to all of you for coming together to convey this very clear statement from the people of Kaduna State that in Kaduna we do not support corruption, in Kaduna we do not support injustice, in Kaduna State we are 100 per cent behind the integrity of our president.

    “I can assure you that the message you have given to me will be delivered to the president today.

    “The case with Justice Onnoghen is a very sad one. Othman Dan Fodio, the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate, wrote that the worst form of corruption you can find in any public service is judicial corruption.

    “This is because when the president is corrupt or the governor is corrupt, it is to the judge that ordinary people can take their case to. When the judge himself is corrupt, it is the highest form of corruption and must never be condoned.

    “The president did the right thing by asking him to step aside pending investigation. It is the proper thing to do. It is what is done in every organised and civilised society.

    “Unfortunately, some people in Nigeria are trying to make white black and black white. They are using technicalities to delay bringing this man to Justice.

    “Mr President did not remove Onnoghen from office. He said in honour of the Judiciary, he should step aside so that the charges against him can be investigated and prosecuted,” the governor said.

    Leaders of the Civil Society organisations, Messrs Zubairu Muktar and Abubakar Abubakar, said all well-meaning and focused Nigerians interested in the progress of the country must continue to support the anti-corruption war of this administration.

    They commended Buhari for taking the decisive step to restore the lost glory of the judiciary by rejuvenating our nascent democracy.

    “It is indeed a step very timely and commendable,’’ Muktar said.

    “As a coalition of more than 150 CSOs, we wish to convey to our President that we will continue to stand firm, straight and tall with him as he continues to purge out corruption embedded in the Nigerian system which has become a hindrance to the economic, political and social development of our dear nation,’’ he added.

  • 2019: I’ve met security chiefs over threats – El-Rufai

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has assured that he has met with the nation’s security chiefs in Abuja in order to ensure peaceful elections in Kaduna state.

    Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting at Kafanchan town, headquarters of Jema’a local government, the governor disclosed that recent intelligence reports have indicated that some people want to foment crisis in Southern Kaduna before or during elections.

    According to him, the reports show that the planners want the violence to spread to other parts of the state because they have sensed defeat in the coming general election.

    “I have met with the Chief of Defence Staff (General Abayomi Olanisakin), the Chief of Army Staff (Lt General Tukur Buratai) and the Inspector General of Police (Mohammed Abubakar Adamu) on the issue and they promised to strengthen security in Kaduna state before and during elections,” the governor revealed.

    El Rufai further said that the security chiefs have assured him that they will deploy new personnel to tackle the security threats.

    The governor advised parents to warn their children to be of good behaviour, adding that they should not carry weapons on election day.

    “Tell your children and wards that the only thing that they should carry with them on election day to the polling unit is their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs). The police will arrest them if they carry weapons,” he warned at the meeting.

    El Rufai further said that he has met with traditional rulers of Southern Kaduna yesterday to reiterate the warning.

    The governor, however, enjoined the people of Kaduna state to come out and vote for their preferred candidates as adequate security will be provided on election day.

    According to Governor El Rufai, election is about voting for ones preferred party or candidates and therefore there shouldn’t be a problem with this.

    “But there are some people who bring ethnicity and religion on the issue. In spite of what the government has done for the people of Southern Kaduna, they have vowed not to vote for us because they say that our party is out to Islamize Nigeria,” he argued.

    The governor pointed out that Architect Barnabas Bala Bantex has been his deputy for close to four years but he has not Islamised him.

    El Rufai also said that his administration has executed projects throughout Kaduna state, irrespective of whether or not the local governments or senatorial districts voted for All Progressives Congress(APC) in 2015.

    “Like I always say, after elections, public servants should cease to be partisan. They belong to everybody and so, they should be fair to all irrespective of whatever differences. This is what we have been doing since we assumed office,” he said.

    The governor who said that the difference between APC and PDP votes in Southern Kaduna in 2015, was just 12,000 votes, promised that the coming election will not be easy for the opposition in the area as they assume.

    The APC campaign trail went to the Kafanchan township stadium after the meeting, where Architect Barnabas Bala Bantex, incumbent Deputy Governor and APC senatorial for Zone 3, and Dr Hadiza Balarabe, El Rufai’s running mate addressed supporters at a rally.

  • El-Rufai’s controversial re-election politics

    CITING what he described as a scientific research finding, Kaduna governor Nasir el-Rufai has suggested that his decision to choose a Muslim running mate was a ploy to take religion out of the state’s acrimonious politics. If he had chosen the Pope himself, argued the governor recently, Christians in the state would still not vote for him. He, therefore, does not see his choice of a Muslim/Muslim ticket as aggravating religious politics.

    Here is how he put it: “What if I tell you that no matter who I choose as my running mate, even if I choose the Pope, 67 percent of the Christians in Southern Kaduna have made up their minds that they will never vote for me. This is what the polls show. So for me, that is not the issue. The issue is this: Kaduna State is divided; it needs to be united. The way to begin to unite it is to take religion or ethnicity off the table. Since 1992, every deputy governor of Kaduna has been a Christian. What has it done for the state? Has it united the state? Has it assuaged the feelings of the Christian minority that they are part of the government? My current deputy governor is a Christian and I didn’t pick him because he is Christian, I picked him because we were colleagues from university and I know him to be a brilliant, focused and just man; but did that change anything? In fact, what it did was to bring disrespect to him. No one respected him in Southern Kaduna because he is in what they call an Islamic party. So, there are complicated issues in Kaduna which people sitting from a distance will not understand.”

    In case you miss the point, Mallam el-Rufai is saying that his political principles are flimsy and dependent on the reaction of his opponents. He has no sensible idea of how to resolve the state’s religious dichotomy, and does not really think he must stay faithful to the state’s cardinal principle of reaching out consistently to other faiths in a state polarised by bigotry and intolerance. He wondered why choosing a Christian deputy since 1999 never changed anything in the state. Why didn’t he wonder why having Muslim governors since 1999 also failed to change anything. He has for a long time spoken intolerance; now he acts it with exuberance. He should not be permitted to put the blame on his intransigent opponents who think his sanctimoniousness and haughtiness must not be tolerated. He cannot fool anyone by pretending to solve the problem of hate and division in the state when he is in fact nurturing it.

  • Oshiomole, El-Rufa’i, rap Atiku over US trip

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Governor Nasir El-Rufai of  Kaduna State, yesterday derided the celebration in the  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the US trip of its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    Oshiomhole and El-Rufai said in Kaduna that instead of the celebration, Atiku should explain to Nigerians why he could not go there over the last 12 years.

    They both spoke at the presidential campaign of the APC.

    El-Rufai said: “It is disturbing that, people in the PDP are celebrating instead of crying.

    “So, all of a sudden, going to America is now an achievement. Mr. President, I first went to America when I was 22 years old. So, it is not an achievement.

    “Nigerians will not vote those who will take their money to America. Nigerians will not vote those who will go to America to seek Trump’s blessing before they will come and contest in Nigeria.

    “In fact, he should come and explain to Nigerians why he could not go to America in the last 12 years.”

    On his part, Oshiomhole hoped Atiku’s US trip is not about selling NNPC if he wins the presidential election.

    The party chairman said: “The fundamental issues of the campaign are the pronouncements by the PDP presidential candidate to sell the NNPC just as they sold out NITEL, NEPA, Nigerian Airways and other government agencies.”

    Read also: FG to quiz Atiku

    Oshiomhole alleged that “it was under the watch of Atiku as Nigeria’s Vice President that all the textile and other factories in Kaduna closed down. He has even said that, if he is elected, he will sell NNPC refineries.

    “He thinks Nigerians are stupid, but we are not,” he said.

    El-Rufai  promised President Muhammadu Buhari 90% votes in the forthcoming general elections.

    ‘In Kaduna in 2015, the President got over a million votes but the masses will give the President 90% votes this year by God’s grace. The 16th of February is my birthday, therefore I urge you all to present me with votes for the President as my gift,’ he said.

    “PDP will be happy if you make mistakes during the polls. President Buhari has lived all his live a hero and you owe him that duty of returning him to power,”Amaechi said.

  • El-Rufai urges CJN Onnoghen to resign

    KADUNA State Governor Nasir el-Rufai yesterday joined the push for Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen to step down.

    He knocked his Southsouth counterparts for backing the CJN after admitting the errors in the assets declaration forms he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

    El-Rufai said it was  complimentary for  President Buhari to have had no knowledge of the CJN was being investigated by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

    He said that the President’s decision not to interfere with the activities of institutions was a plus for him.

    El-Rufai, who made his views known on a Channels Television Programme, “Sunrise”, said:  ”All the arguments being made that the allegations against the CJN should first go to the National Judicial Council (NJC) are wrong.

    “I presented a paper at the Bisi Akande Colloquium on restructuring. I believe that we should look at our federation. Constitutional restructuring is one thing, restructuring our minds to be objective about what is right is another.

    “I am extremely sad about this Chief Justice matter; if I am the Chief Justice, and write and say, ‘yes I have these bank accounts but I did not declare them’, I will not even allow the CCB to file charges, I will resign there and then to protect the institution.

    “The admission that I did not declare my assets, that infraction alone, is enough for him to step down and protect the institution. All these court orders and lawyers are not helping the judiciary or the legal practice and are not helping Nigeria.”

    The governor said it was not obligatory for the President to know about the prosecution of any Nigerian, including the CJN.

    He said: “Why should the President know about the prosecution of anyone? Let us please stop personalising institutions. Won’t you be worried if the President is worried about prosecution? Institutions should be allowed to function.

    “I am the governor of Kaduna State. The constitution requires that I declare my assets before being sworn in. Also, the constitution states this specifically, in plain language. This is not law; we don’t need law to tell us this.

    “I don’t have to know if the Attorney-General of Kaduna State goes and murder or rape someone, and the police arrest him; I don’t need to know. They should charge him to court. Institutions should be allowed to work, and we should stand up to protect the integrity of institutions.

    “Saying that the President doesn’t know, I think it is a compliment to the president; it shows that he does not interfere with institutions and doesn’t get involved in it.

    “What is right is right, and what is wrong is wrong; I think we should stand up for that, we should seize being ethnic and religious, otherwise this country will not go anywhere.

    ”The man has admitted that ‘I did not declare my asset, I forgot’. If the matter was simply that the Code of Conduct Bureau has made an allegation and filed charges in the tribunal, I will presume innocence, but I have seen a written statement by the Chief Justice saying that ‘…yes I have these accounts, yes I did not declare them, but I forgot’. Forgetting is not a defence in law.

    “The constitution is very clear; if the matter has to do with Code of Conduct of public officers, the only court, the only tribunal vested with the power to consider the violations of that code is the Code of Conduct Tribunal. It can try anyone, including the President.

    “The NJC is supposed to take petitions on the professional misconduct of Judges; if a Judge kills or steals, it is not NJC, it is the regular court. You cannot say the NJC is a self-appointed court, a special court that will first have to clear judges before they go to regular court.

    ”It is saying that Judges have immunity that the constitution has not contemplated. It is only the President and the governors that have immunity in the constitution.

    “For me, that is not even the issue, the issue is this, the Code of Conduct for public office requires you to declare your assets – all of us, have you declared your assets? Yes! Have you declared all your assets? No, I have not! The Chief Justice has admitted it; his defence is ‘I have forgotten’, that is not a defence in law.”

    Faulting the Southsouth governors for backing the CJN on ethnic basis without addressing the issue at hand, the Kaduna governor said: “What is worrying for me is that – one, all of a sudden we have no regard for institution; political parties are getting involved in issuing statements.

    “My colleagues – governors that ought to know better are issuing statements based on where the Chief Justice came from. That is wrong. That is sad.

    “Leaders should advance the course of institutions and unite us. You cannot say that he is my kin, so he should be let go. This is the attitude in Nigeria that has the capacity to destroy the country. If Babachir Lawal, as SGF, was being investigated, and all the facts about his conducts, and Northeast governors met and issued a statement that yes he has done that but he is from Northeast and should be left to go, where will Nigeria be?

    “If we continue to apply these standards, what if Southwest governors met, and said, well ex-minister Kemi Adeosun made a mistake and presented a fake certificate, but she is from Southwest, so, she is immune from being asked to resign, what will Nigeria be like?

    “My concern is that Nigeria elites should have a consensus about the sanctity of institutions. We should all protect our institutions, even when they seem to be against us.”

    The governor said it was wrong to claim that the NJC ought to have looked into the allegations against the CJN before arraign him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    He added: “They are wrong. I think again, depending on which side you want to be, Nigerians can be morally flexible.  The constitution is clear – as far as the violation of the code of conduct of a public office is concerned, the only institution allowed to investigate violations in the Code of Conduct Bureau, the only institution allowed exclusively is the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

    Read also: I always feared I might not live long, says Akande

    “The case they are referring to is the case of judicial misconduct; it is the case of a judge that violated the code of conduct of judges and was taken to court because the disciplinary committee of judges is vested by the same constitution of the NJC.

    “So, if a judge engages in judicial misconduct, in the course of his duty as a judge, you should first send him to NJC because it is easier for Judges to determine if his conduct is above or below the standard before referring him to a regular court.”

    Also yesterday, a Federal High Court in Abuja restated its order restraining the Attornery-General of the Federation (AGF), the CCT and some others from proceeding with the planned arraignment of Justice Onnoghen.

    Justice Evelyn Maha restated the order at the resumed hearing of the suits brought by two groups, who are challenging the propriety of the charge brought against the CJN before the CCT by the CCB.

    The first suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/27/2019 was filed by the Incorporated ‎Trustees of the Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative (CJPI), while the second, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/28/2019 was by the Incorporated ‎Trustees of the International Association of Students Economists and Management (IASEM).

    Listed as defendants, in the first suit, are: the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), CCT Chairman, the NJC, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and President of the Senate.

    The second suit has, as defendants, the AGF, the CCT Chair, the CCT, the CCB, the Chairman of CCB and the IGP.

    When the first case was called yesterday, plaintiff’s lawyer, Rafiu Lawal-Rabana (SAN) said the court had, at the last proceedings on January 14, 2019, adjourned to January 17 for hearing of the plaintiff’s motion on notice.

    Lawal-Rabana said all the defendants have been served with the processes filed by the plaintiff and the enrolled order of the court’s ex-parte ruling of January 14, 2019. He said it was only the Senate President that has not been served.

    Lawal-Rabana sought a short adjournment to enable the plaintiff serve the Senate President as required.

    Lawyer to the 4th defendant, NJC, Garba Tetengi (SAN) said his client was served.

    Tetengi, who represented the only defendant that turned up in court on Thursday, said he would not object to the request for a short adjournment.

    Ruling, Justice Maha ordered proper service of the court processes on the defendants.

    Justice Maha adjourned the second case to January 28.

     

  • Buhari, el-Rufai will return to office—Kaduna deputy gov

    President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Nasir El Rufai will win the coming presidential and gubernatorial elections respectively, deputy governor of Kaduna State, Arc Barnabas Bala Bantex has predicted.

    Bantex who spoke at a stakeholders meeting at Zonkwa, headquarters of Zangon Kataf local government yesterday, advised the people of Southern Kaduna to join the mainstream of Nigerian politics.

    Bantex who is also a senatorial candidate in the coming election, said that “as someone from Southern Kaduna, I don’t want us to spend another four years outside government.”

    According to him, the Malam Nasir El Rufai-led administration has been equitable to every local government in the state, in spite of political differences.

    “We have been fair and just to everyone in the last three and half years and we have been governing with the fear of God in our hearts since we assumed office,” he added.

    The senatorial candidate advised the people of Southern Kaduna to turn a new leaf and vote for APC in the next elections in order to return Buhari and El Rufai to office.

    According to Bantex, mischief makers want to put a wedge between the APC-led government and the people of Southern Kaduna, by spreading lies and rumour against it.

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    The deputy governor also promised that the administration will continue with the good work that it is executing in Southern Kaduna and the entire state if it is returned to office.

    The senatorial candidate further said that the difference between the present administration and previous ones is that PDP executed projects with an eye to winning elections. “On the other hand, we are working for the future generation,” he said.

    The deputy governor said that the present administration has been working to solve the insurgency in Southern Kaduna, which predates it. “However, mischief makers keep saying that we are the source of the crises”, he lamented.

    Bantex recalled that even before they were sworn in, El Rufai had been meeting with security chiefs to find out the real nature of the crises.