The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Imam Bello

  • The Nation vs Senate: CJ directs judge to deliver verdict

    Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, has issued a fiat directing Justice Mohammed Yunusa to deliver judgment in The Nation’s suit against the Senate.

    Justice Yunusa had adjourned the verdict before he was transferred to Enugu Division.

    Vintage Press Limited (publisher of The Nation), Editor Gbenga Omotoso and a correspondent, Imam Bello are the applicants.

    Through their lawyer Mr Wahab Shittu, they sued the Senate and National Assembly.

    A new judge, Justice Jude Dagat, took over the case, but the plaintiffs applied to the CJ for a fiat to enable Justice Yunusa return to Lagos to deliver the judgment rather than the case starting de novo (afresh).

    The applicants are praying for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Senate from summoning them or compelling their appearance over a story.

    The Senate, last August 4, invited Omotoso and Bello over the story: Motion: 22 APC Northern senators ‘working against Buhari’, which was published last July 30.‎

    The Senate wrote again last August 11 threatening to invoke Section 89 (1) (D) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to compel the applicants to appear.

    But Justice Yunusa made an interim order of injunction restraining the respondents from issuing a warrant to compel the applicants’ attendance before a Senate committee set up to investigate the publication.

    ‎He barred the respondents, their members, committees or agents from summoning the applicants or their agents before any Senate committee.

    In the fiat issued on February 10 and signed by the CJ, he directed Justice Yunusa to return to Lagos to deliver the judgment.

    It reads: “In exercise of powers conferred on me by virtue of Section 19 (3) of the Federal High Court Act 1973 and all other powers enabling me in that regard, I, Ibrahim Ndahi Auta (OFR), Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, do hereby order that the judgments in the civil suits listed in the shedule of this order which were pending before Hon. Justice M. N. Yunusa formerly sitting in the Lagos Judicial Division, be delivered by Hon. Justice M. N. Yunusa sitting in the Lagos Judicial Division.”

    The four cases listed in the schedule are Alhaji Jibrin Okelewu vs IGP, Vintage Press Limited vs National Assembly, Songhai Energy vs Maersk and Valueline Securities vs Bishop David Oyedepo.

    In an application filed last December 1, the Senate prayed the court not to deliver the judgment but to extend the time within which it “may” file and serve its counter-affidavit.

    The Senate sought an order striking out the suit for want of jurisdiction and prayed the court to set aside the proceedings, its orders and decisions.

    In a supporting affidavit, Clerk of the Senate’s Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee, Freedom Osolo, said the National Assembly’s inability to respond to the suit on time “is not deliberate but is due to the non-service of the aforesaid process of this court on the second respondent”.

    In its preliminary objection, the National Assembly sought an order striking out the suit for being “premature, pre-emptive and speculative”.

    It argued that the applicants were attempting to prevent the lawmakers from carrying out their constitutional duties by filing the suit.

    But, the applicants said the Senate’s motion was an abuse of court process because it had ample opportunity to defend the suit.

    Shittu averred that the court adjourned the case severally to enable the respondents file their defence, but they “deliberately failed and neglected” to do so.

    Besides, the applicants’ lawyer said the respondents were served with the processes, which were acknowledged with an official stamp, according to affidavits deposed to by the court’s sheriff.

    According to the proofs of service exhibited before the court, the suit was received by the Office of the President of the Senate last September 1.

    The National Assembly was earlier served last August 27 through the Office of the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly.

    The applicants are claiming that the National Assembly was attempting to gag the press through intimidation and by demanding that they disclose the story’s source.

    But, in its counter-affidavit, the Senate said the letters to Omotoso and Bello were “mere invitation”.

    It said the National Assembly “is not a law enforcement agency that can impede or prohibit the rights of the applicants”.

    The case has been adjourned till May 5.

  • All hail Chief Imam Bello

    All hail Chief Imam Bello

    The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, last Saturday presented the staff and the robe of office to the President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas in the Southwest, Edo and Delta states, Sheikh Muhammad Jamiu Kewulere Bello. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports that the event opened a new chapter for the propagation of Islam.

    A new chapter was opened for Islam in the Southwest, Edo and Delta states on Saturday, November 21, with the installation of the new President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas, Sheikh Muhammad Jamiu Kewulere Bello.

    Sheikh Bello,  who is the Chief Imam of Ado-Ekiti and Grand Imam of Ekiti State was presented with the staff of office and the robe of his new office by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.

    The enthronement of Sheikh Bello was significant in the sense that Muslims are in minority in his home state of Ekiti where it pleases the Almighty Allah to choose the leader of Muslims clerics in the eight states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo and Delta.

    Ekiti Parapo Square located along new Iyin Road in Ado- Ekiti, the state capital, was filled to capacity with the Muslim Ummah streaming into the arena to witness the epoch-making occasion.

    Dignitaries at the event included Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose represented by his wife, Feyisetan; Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko represented by his deputy, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo; Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede; Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Prof. Rasheed Aderinoye; Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Revd. Felix Ajakaye; former Deputy Governor of old Ondo State, Alhaji Musa Ayeni; former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Sikiru Lawal, the Olukare of Ikare Akoko, Oba Akadiri Momoh and founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola, among others.

    Secretary-General of the League of Imams and Alfas in Southwest, Edo and Delta who is also the Chief Imam of Owo in Ondo State, Sheikh Ahmad Olagoke Aladesawe, described turbaning as a “unique Islamic tradition for a distinguished personality within the fold of Islam.”

    The Asiwaju Musulumi of Yoruba land, Alhaji Badmus, who was represented by Senator Bayo Salami said the convergence of Muslims from all over the country on Ekiti symbolised unity in the Islamic faith.

    He explained that the League of Imams and Alfas had endured in the region for 50 years; paying tributes to the late revered Islamic scholar, Sheikh Adam al-Ilory, for the roles he played in the formation and sustenance of the body.

    Sultan Abubakar described the installation as a “history-making event”, expressing his delight that many non-Muslims were present at the event.

    The monarch, who is also the President-General of NSCIA and Amir Mumeen in Nigeria, called for unity and harmony among adherents of different religions.

    The Sultan expressed delight with the appearance of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, who, although is a Christian, joined the Muslim faithful at the city’s Central Mosque to observe Jumat prayers on Friday.

    Governor Fayose, who spoke through his wife, called for unity among people of different religious persuasions in the state.

    He said: “Let brotherly love continue in Ekiti State. Let us love one another and let us continue to coexist with one another. I pray the peace of God will continue to reign in Ekiti State and Nigeria.”

    President of the Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN), Alhaji S.O. Babalola, congratulated Sheikh Bello and prayed for his successful tenure.

    Delivering a lecture at the event, Sheikh Abibulahi Adam al-Ilory, said Sheikh Bello, with his investiture, had become the first among equals in the fold of clerics in his domain, saying the office requires qualities of a good leader.

    The Sultan, thereafter, presented the new President-General of Imams with his staff of office at exactly 12:50 p.m. He was also presented with the certificate of office by the Ewi, Oba Adejugbe.

    Speaking shortly after his installation, Sheikh Bello paid tributes to all his predecessors and expressed gratitude to his colleagues in the League in all the eight states under his domain.

    He promised to justify the confidence reposed in him and build on the foundation already laid to promote Islam and inter-religious harmony.

  • Senate served with order in The Nation‎ editor’s suit

    The National Assembly has been served with the interim order of injunction restraining the Senate from compelling The Nation’s Editor Gbenga Omotoso and a correspondent Imam Bello to appear before its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions over a story.

    A proof of service filed by a Federal High Court bailiff, Lambo Moshood, shows that the Senate was served on August 27.

    In an Affidavit of Service which he swore to, the bailiff said a Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly who gave his name as Martins received the processes.

    The bailiff said he met Martins at the National Assembly Complex, Three Arm Zone, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja at about 2.14pm on August 27.

    Among processes served are a copy of the court order, a Motion on Notice, an Originating Motion, Written Addresses and affidavit exhibits.

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa made the order on August 21 following a motion ex-parte moved by the applicants’ lawyer, Mr. Wahab Shittu.

    Vintage Press Limited (publisher of The Nation), Omotoso and Bello are the applicants, while the National Assembly and the Senate are the respondents.

    The Senate had, in an August 4 letter, invited Omotoso and Bello to appear before it unfailingly over the story: Motion: 22 APC Northern senators ‘working against Buhari’ published on July 30.

    The Senate wrote another letter on August 11, threatening to invoke Section 89 (1) (D) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to compel the applicants’ appearance.

    But Justice Yunusa granted an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, whether by themselves, their members, committees or agents from summoning or directing the appearance of the applicants or any of their agents before any Senate Committee.

    The court barred the lawmakers from requesting the applicants to produce any papers, notes or other documents in respect of the story.

    The judge also restrained the respondents from issuing a warrant to compel the applicants’ attendance before the Senate Committee set up to investigate the publication.

    The order, the judge held, is to remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the applicants’ motion on notice.

     

  • Court bars Senate from summoning The Nation over report

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday granted an interim injunction restraining the National Assembly from compelling The Nation’s Editor Gbenga Omotoso and a correspondent Imam Bello to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions over a story.

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa made the order following a motion ex-parte moved by the applicants’ lawyer, Mr. Wahab Shittu.

    Vintage Press Limited (publisher of The Nation), Omotoso and Bello are the applicants, while the National Assembly and the Senate are the respondents.

    The Senate had, in an August 4 letter, invited Omotoso and Bello to appear before it unfailingly over the story: Motion: 22 APC Northern senators “working against Buhari.”

    The report said that 22 Northern senators elected on the All Progressives Party (APC) platform have been identified as “teaming up with the opposition to work against President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling party.”

    The Senate wrote another letter on August 11, threatening to invoke Section 89 (1) (D) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to compel the applicants’ appearance.

    Justice Yunusa granted an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, whether by themselves, their members, committees or agents from summoning or directing the appearance of the applicants or any of their agents before any Senate Committee.

    The court barred the lawmakers from requesting the applicants to produce any papers, notes or other documents in respect of the story.

    The judge also restrained the respondents from issuing a warrant to compel the applicants’ attendance before the Senate Committee set up to investigate the publication.

    The order, the judge held, is to remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the applicants’ motion on notice.

    Shittu, in a supporting affidavit to the motion ex-parte, said unless the respondents were restrained, there is a great likelihood of the breach or threatened breach of the applicants’ fundamental rights to receive and impart information as guaranteed by the Constitution.

    The applicants said the content of the publication has not been disputed or challenged, nor has the National Assembly issued a rejoinder to the story or made a formal complaint over the publication.

    According to them, the laws of libel and slander are available to anyone who feels aggrieved by any offensive publication, an option that is also available to the Senate.