The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammad Tanko

  • NJC issues fresh query to Acting CJN

    *Gives him 7 days to respond
    *Sets up 5-man panel to further probe allegations against Onnoghen, Muhammad

    The National Judicial Council ( NJC ) rose again from its meeting on Wednesday and resolved to direct the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad to respond within seven days, to a fresh petition written against him by the Action People’s Party (APP).

    The NJC also elected to set up a five-man investigation committee to further look examine the allegations against the suspended CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen and Muhammad. The committee is headed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice S. A. Akintan.

    It was learnt that all the members of the new committee are members of the NJC.

    A statement issued by NJC’s spokesman, Soji Oye reads: “In continuation of its Emergency Meeting, the National Judicial Council accepted the result of the preliminary assessment of the petitions against Hon. Mr. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, GCON and Hon. Mr. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR that the petitions were worthy of further investigation and should not be terminated under Rule 17 of the Judicial Discipline Regulations of the Council.

    Read Also: NJC gives Onnoghen seven days to defend himself

    “Consequently, the council constituted a five-member Investigation Committee pursuant to Rule 20 (1) of the Judicial Discipline Regulations under the Chairmanship of Hon. Mr. Justice S. A. Akintan, CON, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

    “A new petition against Hon. Mr. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR, by the Action People’s Party (APP) was referred to the Hon. Mr. Justice for his comments within an abridged 7-days.

    “Council directed the Investigation Committee to work expeditiously, determine all the petitions and responses and report to Council for a final decision.”

  • ‘Don’t give Justice Tanko’s appointment religious colouration’

    The Kaduna State chapter of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria, (SCSN) has warned against giving the appointment of Justice Muhammad Tanko a religious colouration.

    Justice Muhammad Tanko became the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) following the suspension of Justice Walter Onnonghen for non-declaration of his asset.

    In a press conference led by its Chairman, Sheikh Sambo Rigachikun and the Secretary, Engr. AbdurRahman Hassan in Kaduna, the SCSN warned that further agitations against the suspension of justice Onnonghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) could polarize the fragile country, rather than uniting it.

    The Muslim body also called on the South-South governors and the Coalition of United Political Parties, (CUPP) among others agitating over the suspension of Justice Walter Onnonghen to exercise absolute restrain and let justice prevail on the matter.

    While urging the Federal government not to succumb to any form of pressure from ‘some quarters,’ that may amount to breakdown of law and order and do all it could within the constitutional provision to bury the issue, the Muslim body said it is expected of the National Judicial Council, (NJC) to discharge its duty at all cost by making appropriate decision against any judicial officer that is unfit and improper to be a judicial officer in the land, as the trust is on them.

    They cautioned those attempting to give the appointment of Acting Chief justice,  Tanko Muhammad and other happenings in the judiciary a religious colouration to be mindful of the fact that; “it is a costly trend, it’s an ill wind that will blow no one good, in this country.”

    Read Also: Tanko Nuhu buried in Nasarawa

    According to SCSN: “It is disheartening that the same Senior Advocates that saw the suspension and removal of Justice Salami are now faulting the similar action against Justice Onnonghen. How can a Senior Advocate will degrade himself to think within the whim of his ethnicity and religious sentiment?  This is unfortunate.

    “It is quiet fresh in our memory when the then President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami faced the same fate of suspension and removal not on allegation if corruption from his side under the Jonathan’s administration, but because he tried in his own way to uphold justice, unfortunately it did not go down well with the then administration.

    “It is a fact that the same administration also suspended the then CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for whistle blowing on some missing funds.  Heavens did not fall. No any Muslim protested that his own was removed illegally, simply because he acted patriotically in favor of our dear nation,” the Muslim body recalled.

    The council however urged all Muslims and the public in general, to be law abiding and pray fervently for peaceful coexistence in the country.

  • Farmers, herders in Kachia resolve to sustain peace

    Farmers and cattle herders in Kachia, Kachia Local Government area of Kaduna State have pledged to maintain peaceful coexistence amongst themselves.

    The resolution was reached on Tuesday at a meeting held under the auspices of Kachia All Tribes Association held in Kachia.

    Leader of the organising committee, Malam Yusuf Garba said the event, organised in partnership with Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, was to further strengthen ties between the farmers and herders.

    Garba said the meeting was against the backdrop of the approaching rains which marked the commencement of farming activities.

    “This meeting would promote mutual trust and understanding with a view to ensuring harmony among all communities in Kachia local government,” he said.

    Garba commended the participants for demonstrating resilience and willingness to sustain mutual understanding and tolerance among them.

    In a remark, the Administrator of the Local Council, Hajia Zulai Jaafaru said the council welcomed the initiative targeted at promoting peace in the area.

    Represented by Muhammad Tanko, the Secretary in the local government, Jaafaru urged the people to continue to be agents of peace for meaningful development.

    The traditional ruler of Agom Adara, Chief Maiwada Galadima, commended the people of the chiefdom for the peace being enjoyed and urged them to sustain it.

    Represented by Mr Moses Stephen, a Council member of the Chiefdom, Galadima enjoined the people to always monitor and report movements of people with questionable character in their midst to appropriate authorities.

    NAN

  • KASU secures NUC’s accreditation for 20 programmes

    The Kaduna State University ( KASU ), Kaduna, has secured National Universities Commission’s ( NUC ) accreditation for 20 programmes.

    The university’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Adamu Bargo, said in a statement in Kaduna on Friday that 19 of the programmes were fully accredited, while one was given an interim accreditation.

    Bargo explained that the development was the outcome of the NUC’s accreditation carried out in May, June and November, 2017 for the affected programmes.

    The PRO said that the 20 included 16 undergraduate programmes and four post-graduate programmes.

    He listed the 16 undergraduate programmes with full accreditation as B.A. History, B.Sc. Chemistry, B.Sc. Industrial Chemistry, B.Sc. Architecture, B.Sc. Environmental Management, B.Sc. Estate Management and B. Agriculture.

    Others are B.Sc. Accounting, B.Sc. Business Administration, B.Sc. Mass Communication, B.Sc. Sociology, B.A. Arabic, B.A. Islamic Studies, B.Sc. Physics, B.Sc. Computer Science, while B.Sc. Quantity Survey got an interim status.

    He added that the fully accredited four post-graduate programmes were M.Sc. Accounting, M.Sc. Business Administration, Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and Masters in Industrial and Labour Relations (MILR).

    He explained that with this development, all programmes being run by the university had acquired full accreditation from the NUC.

    Bargo expressed hope that Quantity Surveying with an interim status would be fully accredited in no distant time.

    “The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Muhammad Tanko, thanked NUC for its support and promised to tackle all observations raised.

    “He also thanked the staff and students of KASU for their commitment and dedication to service which contributed to the huge success of the exercise.

    “The vice-chancellor assured members of the university community that no stone would be left unturned to ensure that the course with interim status secured full accreditation,’’ Bargo said.

    NAN

  • Protesters give Senate three days to recall Ndume

    Protesters give Senate three days to recall Ndume

    Some persons protesting the suspension of Sen Ali Ndume by the Senate on Tuesday gave the upper legislative chamber three days to recall him or face difficult times.

    The protesters, who included some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), barricaded the main entrance to the National Assembly as early as 8:00 a.m., chorusing pro-Ndume songs.

    They displayed placards with different inscriptions such as “Ndume Again Insha Allah”, “Who is Afraid of Ibrahim Magu,” “Stop Undermining PMB”’ and “Saraki is a curse”.

    They called for the removal of President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, for suspending Ndume (Borno-APC) for six months.

    One of the leaders of the protesters, Mr Joseph Okwuama, told newsmen that if the lawmaker was not recalled, they would stage several protests across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for seven days.

    Okwuama, who is the National Coordinator, All Progressives Congress (APC) Movement, said the suspension of Ndume, who was also removed as Leader of the Senate late last year, was uncalled for.

    “We are talking about corruption in the country. As Nigerian youths, we have to work together in support of the anti-corruption war.

    “Corruption is not all about money. What the National Assembly did is corruption; the suspension of Ndume is corruption.

    “Ndume’s suspension did not follow due process. The man did not do anything.

    “We are giving the National Assembly three days and if they refuse, Nigerians will go to the streets of Abuja and protest for one week,” he said.

    Muhammad Tanko, who led indigenes of Borno South, Ndume’s constituency, to join others in the demonstration, said that the constituency could not afford not to have representation in the senate for six months.

    “The suspension of our senator for six months is illegal when the Constitution allows for the suspension of only 14 days.

    “Saraki must go. He knows what Ndume did for him before he became President,” Tanko said.

    A female protester, Mrs Naima Sale, wife of the Chairman, IDPs in Karama Jiji Camp in Abuja, said that the lawmaker had been of help to IDPs and should not be made to suffer for nothing.

    Ndume was suspended on Wednesday by the Senate for calling for the investigation of alleged fake customs papers in the importation of a vehicle for Saraki and certificate forgery against Sen. Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi).

    An online platform had accused Saraki of importing a Range Rover SUV without paying appropriate imports duty and attempting to clear the vehicle with falsified papers.

    Melaye was accused of falsely claiming to have graduated from Ahmadu Bello University.

    The senate dismissed both allegations and sanctioned Ndume by suspending him for six months for raising the alarm.