The 12-month suspension follows the controversial judgement delivered by the judge in respect of John Yusufu who was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over an alleged N32.8 billion Police Pension Fraud.

Mr. Yusufu, who pleaded guilty to three-counts of theft of the pension funds, was jailed two years on each count; but asked to pay a fine of N250, 000 on each. He paid the fine and was set free although the EFCC later re-arrested him for another charge.

The commission later said Mr. Talba violated an agreement all parties had that Mr. Yusufu was to be jailed without an option of fine.

Culled from Premium Times

The treason charge against them was initiated by the Federal Government in 2005. A five-man panel of the Supreme Court unanimous agreed, in their judgment that the appeal by Uwazurike and others was unmeritorious and designed to defeat the course of justice. The apex court, however, ordered that their trial should be promptly commenced and be conducted with dispatch.

Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, in the lead judgment, observed that the appeal, filed by Festus Keyamo for the MASSOB members, amounted to “a waste of precious judicial time since all the information imaginable that the appellants would need for their appeal has been available to them before they appealed to the Court of Appeal.” Other MASSOB members affected in the trial include Ambrose Anyaso, Augustine Ihuoma, Chibuike Nwosu, Kelechi Ubabuike, Chimankpa Okorocha and Benedict Alakwem.

The seven MASSOB appellants were first arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on November 8, 2005 on a four-count charge of conspiracy, treason, belonging to a militant group, MASSOB Army, and belonging to an unlawful society, MASSOB. They pleaded not guilty and applied that they be granted bail. Not satisfied, they approached the Court of Appeal, Abuja. The appellate court gave its judgment on May 15, 2008 granting only their prayer for bail.

They headed for the apex court, complaining, among others, that the charges against them were improper because there was no proof of evidence accompanying the charge. Justice Rhodes-Vivour, in his lead judgment, described the suit as frivolous. He held that the accused persons were provided with more information in relation to the charge, more than what they were entitled to under Section 33(1) and (2) of the Federal High Court Act.

He declared: “Though the appellants are not entitled to know the nature of evidence against them, the learned trial judge ordered the nature of evidence (information) served on the appellants, and this was done before their appeal in the Court of Appeal. “The argument that the charge should be dismissed because it was not accompanied by proof of evidence is a mere technicality designed to defeat the course of justice.

“In the light of the fact that the proof of evidence has been filed and is available to the appellants, trial should proceed with dispatch. The result is that the two issues urged in this appeal, on behalf of the appellants, fail and the appeal must fail as there is no merit.”

Culled from The Sun

The body, according to report, has intensified effort to bring to fore, the alleged inimical roles played by the senior advocate, with a view to recommending suitable punishment to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Kalejaiye was part of the legal representation of the former governor, in the State of Osun, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, before the panel constituted in 2007 to hear the post-election matters between the former governor and the incumbent governor in the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

The council in its report issued, affirmed to the fact that truly Kalejaiye lured the dismissed Justice Thomas Naron, the chairman of the election petitions tribunal to accept bribe through telephone conversations, as revealed through a call-log issued by the MTN, a tele-communication company.

Early in the month, NJC’s recommendation for Naron’s retirement was approved by the Plateau State governor, Mr Jonah Jang.

Findings revealed that should the lawyer be found guilty of the allegations, he could be stripped of his SAN status or have his certificate withdrawn.

Justice Agwu Kalu held that the prosecution proved that the gunshots fired at one Cpl. Clement Amechi, at close range by Muhammed killed the deceased.

The court held that the action was an offence punishable under Section 319, Cap 1 of the Criminal Code applicable in the state, under which the offence was committed.

The court held that the accused deserved no sympathy and ordered that he should be hanged by the neck until he die.

NAN reports that Muhammed did not show any sign of remorse after the death sentence was passed on him.

He also refused to be handcuffed before he was taken away by the prison warders that brought him to court.

Mr. Muhammed of the Nigerian Police, Abia Command, and attached to Abia Government House, had on July 19, 2011, killed Mr. Amechi.

Mr. Amechi was said to be watching a movie in the room they shared when Mr. Muhammed went berserk and started shooting sporadically and incidentally killed his roommate.

Mr. Muhammed was later dismissed from the service after an orderly room trial and handed over for prosecution.

Culled from Premium Times

The workers who stormed Abuja in their numbers under the aegis of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JASUN, brandishing several placards, equally blocked the entrance gates to both the Appeal and Federal High Courts where they sang and danced till the close of work.

I n a bid to forestall the possible hijack of the protest by hoodlums, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, promptly positioned armed military men at the entrance to the Aso Rock Villa where the Supreme Court is situated, just as anti-riot police squads manned sentry within the various courts that were besieged by the protesters.

Meantime, efforts to pacify the aggrieved workers to allow the judges to access their offices proved abortive, a situation that culminated to the CJN directing the Chief Registrar of the apex court to quickly conduct a holistic investigation into the root cause of the crisis.

Speaking to Vanguard, the National Chairman of JASUN, Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu said the association’s action was sequel to federal government’s failure to issue a circular for the implementation of Consolidated Judicial Salary Structure, CONJUSS, that was approved for judiciary workers since 2009.

He noted that a 21-day ultimatum issued by the union had since elapsed without any feedback from the government despite several correspondences between the two sides.

Meanwhile, the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. Sunday Olorundahunsi, has appealed to the striking workers to go back to work.

A statement issued by office of the Chief Registrar, a copy of which was made available to Vanguard by the media aide to the CJN, Mr Ahuraka Isah, read: “Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr Sunday Olorundahunsi has appealed to members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN to return to work on the grounds that their grievances are being addressed at the highest levels of authorities concerned alongside with the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.”

Culled from Vanguard

Ritual Kingdom (2013)
iROKOtv brings you this fascinating movie featuring some of Nollywood’s legends: Olu Jacobs, Clem Ohameze, Jibola Dabo and a host of others.

From the blues, he suddenly has a change of heart raising a lot of questions in the Kingdom.

Plot
A proud king adamantly rejects a young man put forward for a chieftancy title by the elders and refuses to state his reasons. Confusion ensues when the king later backpeddles and bestows upon the same man an honourable title. Olu Jacobs, Clem Ohameze, Jibola Dabo (2013)

Cast
Olu Jacobs, Clem Ohameze, Jibola Dabo, Chika Anyanwu, Micheal Godson, Leo Ewuzie

Director: Don Single

Executive Producer: Chigbo Onyemasili

Click HERE to watch the full movie

This week, iROKOtv proudly presents another beautiful and talented actress Chika Ike. She has featured in countless Nollywood movies and amongst her artistic performance, we present

Fashion Parade:
A wannabe socialite cooks up elaborate stories of meetings with designer Calvin Klein and extravagant trips to Harrods in London, all the while stealing her roommate’s clothes to parade at the trendy parties that she attends. Oge Okoye, Tonto Dikeh, Chika Ike (2011)

Girls Cot Season 2:
The abandoned illegitimate daughter of a powerful top politician uncovers her father’s shady dealings and uses the information to blackmail him into obeying her orders. His legitimate family are left mystified as to his odd behaviour. Mercy Johnson, Funke Akindele,Chika Ike (2012)

My Best Enemy:
A bitter lady is back home on a revenge mission against her ex-boyfriend for abandoning her in a foreign jail for a long time after getting her into the mess. Mercy Johnson, Muna Obiekwe, Chika Ike (2011)

The seeker:
Best friends since childhood share everything including men. Their close relationship starts to break down when one of them keeps secret an affair that she is having with a dashing young man. Mercy Johnson, Chika Ike, Olu Jacobs (2011)

Tears For Lisa:
Several futile attempts to terminate a pregnancy result in the birth of an abnormal child. Chika Ike, Muna Obiekwe, Maier Johnness(2012)

Hidden Princess:
A princess has been betrothed by her father to a prince from a neighbouring Kingdom. Enraged that she was not consulted about the decision she refuses to have anything to do with the prince, forcing her father to resort to extreme measures. Chika Ike, Mike Ezuruonye, Yvonne Nelson (2010)

Jealous Princess:
A married man’s desperation to be financially stable leads him into the tempting hands of a materialistic lady, who offers to help him but ends up causing more pain and misery in his life. Van Vicker, Oge Okoye, Chika Ike (2008)

Have a splendid weekend y’all and do not forget to visit iROKOtv.com for FREE African Movies

Nigeria’s Justice Minister, Mohammed Adoke, has spoken of his “embarrassment and shock” after a senior official of the ministry told lawmakers on Wednesday that the government was “confused” with investigations into the killing of Olaitan Oyerinde, former aide to Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole.

Mr. Adoke, on whose behalf the official spoke, on Thursday scrambled a letter to the House of Representatives Public Petitions Committee, which is investigating the matter, denouncing his staff, the Deputy Director, Public Prosecution, O. T. Olaitigbe’s comments.

“I am shocked, embarrassed and utterly disappointed by the representations reportedly allegedly made on my behalf by Mr.Olaitigbe,” Mr. Adoke wrote in a sternly-worded dispatch.

He vowed sanctions against the official, or any other, found to have deliberately provided “false” testimony about the case to the lawmakers.

“I have accordingly instituted an internal investigation to unravel the mystery and appropriate measures will be taken to discipline any officer found wanting in this deliberate propagation of falsehood,” the minister said.

Mr. Olaitigbe’s remarks were the highlight of Wednesday’s hearing that drew several testimonies exposing how frustrated the police and justice officials have been in investigating Mr. Oyerinde’s killing.

The police have been accused of conducting a staged investigation, and parading fake suspects and weapon drawn from its custody to soothe the public.

Its suspects were different from those presented by the Department of State Security, SSS, which also probed the case.

A previous report by PREMIUM TIMES highlighted how the probe was fabricated by the police.

At the hearing on Wednesday, the force representative, Peter Gana, a Deputy Inspector General, DIG, of Police, who supervised the investigation, gave insights that somehow affirmed those findings.

The investigations were carried out without autopsy, and without ballistic tests, Mr. Gana said. He admitted the force had conducted its examination unprofessionally, but blamed the lapses on low-ranking officers who investigated the case.

In a detailed account, the Justice Ministry representative, Mr. Olaitigbe, spoke of how the ministry became “confused” and could not commence prosecution when separate reports were sent in by the police and the DSS.

Mr. Adoke said Mr. Olaitigbe strayed from his brief on the matter; a comment suggesting the ministry may have intended for a coated presentation certainly different from the truth.

“I wish to completely disassociate myself from the comments purportedly made on my behalf by Mr. Olaitigbe as the comments were at best, a figment of his imagination and very far from the truth,” Mr. Adoke said.

He claimed his instructions to the director were to inform the lawmakers the ministry considered it the responsibility of the police, not the SSS, to investigate murder.

Again, the ministry would not act, he said, since the case concerned, was under state edicts, and in this case, was receiving attention from the Edo State Government.

Neither the Edo State Government nor the Federal Government has filed charges on the case since the impasse of different suspects between the police and the SSS.

Mr. Adoke’s letter did not mention any briefs or instructions from President Goodluck Jonathan, who ordered the probe.

Still, without progress on the case nearly a year after, he assured the House committee and the public, “that my office was never at any material time confused as to the steps to be taken in this matter.”

“I sincerely regret the misrepresentation and the apprehension that it has generated in the minds of Honourable Members of the Committee, as well as the general public,” the minister said.

Culled from Premium Times

This came as the House of Representatives is getting set to investigate allegations of bribery and outright sale of job slots in the Federal Civil Service.

The suit, filed by one Mr. Ezugwu Emmanuel Anene, has as respondents President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President David Mark; the House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; the Attorney General of the Federation and the Clerk of the National Assembly.

The plaintiff, in the originating summons to the suit dated February 1, said the 1999 Constitution stipulated in section 4 (2) 5 (1) that the National Assembly should make laws and legislation for peace, order and good governance of the federation and therefore by giving zero allocation to SEC, the legislature has failed to make laws for peace, order and good governance.

He also urged the court to hold that the zero allocation to SEC violated sections 1 (1) 8 (2) 13, 19, (1) (2) of the Investment and Security Act.

Among questions he is seeking answers from the court are whether the 2013 Appropriation Bill passed with zero allocation to SEC, a body established by the Act of the National Assembly is constitutional; and if no, whether the 2013 appropriation bill is inchoate?

He averred that if the court should consider the bill inchoate, it should decide on whether the president could assent to an inchoate bill; and if the answer is no, the court should rule on whether the National Assembly has by its action had repealed SEC.

He is also asking the court to decide whether the Director General of SEC, Ms. Arunma Oteh, could be removed by a resolution of the House of Representatives and whether the failure to remove her in line with the resolution of the House is enough grounds for the National Assembly to give zero allocation to SEC.

The plaintiff is also seeking reliefs from the court, which include a declaration that the National Assembly has no constitutional powers to give zero allocation to SEC and a further declaration that by the zero allocation to SEC the 2013 Appropriation Bill pending before the president for assent is inchoate.

He argued that the president “cannot assent to an inchoate bill, as doing so in the instant case will technically repeal SEC, a body established by an act of the National Assembly.”

He is also seeking a declaration restraining Jonathan from assenting to the bill and another declaration that the House has no constitutional powers to ask the president to remove Oteh.

The suit is expected to be assigned tomorrow to a judge for hearing.
Meanwhile, the lower chamber of the National Assembly had last December passed a resolution mandating its Joint Committee on Public Service Matters, Employment Labour and Productivity, Anti-corruption, National Ethics and Values to investigate allegations that recruitment into the civil service had become a matter of cash and carry.

Chairman, House Committee on Public Service Matters, Hon. Andrew Uchendu (PDP/Rivers), said yesterday in Abuja that the investigation would be directed at the recruitment rackets in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to unearth to who have compromised merit and the quality of service delivery in the federal bureaucracy for pecuniary benefit.

Uchendu said already members of the joint committee had held preliminary meetings and decided to invite memoranda from the MDAs and the Federal Civil Service Commission on the issue.

“We have done a random sampling of organisations and agencies in the federal public service and we have requested them to send us memoranda detailing all the recruitments they have undertaken between 2007 and 2012 as well as the procedures they adopted in these exercises.

“The fact is that a number of Nigerians have written petitions complaining that they have been shortchanged in various recruitment exercises into the public service.
“We want to take a second look at some of our key policies such as federal character, quota system and zoning because experience has shown that they have become indirect ways of enthroning mediocrity in the polity.

“We think that it is time for Nigeria to go back and enthrone meritocracy in the conduct of all our affairs, particularly in the civil service, which is the engine room of governance,” Uchendu said.

The lawmaker recalled that in recent years, the civil service has been criticised over how it was discharging its core duties.

He explained that it has become a national consensus that the civil service has lost its pride and become a major contributor to poor service delivery and bad governance in Nigeria.

According to him, the problem of the civil service starts with recruitment just as he accused the Federal Civil Service Commission of promoting mediocrity and incompetence during the recruitment into the service.

The bribe-for-job scandal reached a head on January 15 when some MDAs tacitly admitted before the Senate Committee on Federal Character that they were involved in the practice as none of their heads could categorically denied that their organisations do not take money from applicants before giving them jobs.

Senator Uche Chukwumerije during a session involving the Senate Committee, Federal Character Commission (FCC) as well as MDAs, had asked the representatives of the agencies to boldly raise up their hands if they knew they were not taking bribe before recruiting employees into their organisations.

Except the representative of National Security for Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who raised up his hands, others who had earlier boasted of observing merit in their recruitment processes could not summon courage to raise up their hands.

culled from This Day

General Carter Ham, head of US Africa Command, met President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, where Islamist extremist group Boko Haram has been carrying out a deadly insurgency in the country’s north and centre.

Ham recently spoke of concerns over indications of collaboration between Boko Haram and an Al-Qaeda affiliate in northern Africa, which he warned has found a safehaven in northern Mali, where Islamists have taken control.

A statement from Nigeria’s presidency said Jonathan discussed issues including Boko Haram and asked for US support in resolving such problems.

“President Jonathan also briefed General Ham on his visit to Mali and the efforts by ECOWAS to resolve the conflict in that country, adding that the situation could still be contained if the right steps are taken quickly,” it said.

Jonathan attended an October summit in Bamako to discuss winning back northern Mali from the Islamists.

ECOWAS, a 15-nation regional bloc, says it wants to deploy 3,300 troops to reclaim northern Mali and is waiting for approval from the UN.

Meanwhile, Malian Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra quit Tuesday under pressure from influential former putschists who are opposed to a military intervention.

Ham recently told an audience in Washington that he was concerned about indications of growing links between African extremist groups that could pose a threat across the continent as well as to Europe and the United States.

“We have seen clear indications of collaboration amongst the organisations,” he said.

“In one instance … we believe and have seen reports that Boko Haram is receiving financial support, probably training, probably some explosives, from Al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb, and in a relationship that goes both ways.”

There has long been intense scrutiny over whether Boko Haram is forming operational ties with other extremist groups.

Diplomats have said previously that there has been evidence of Boko Haram members seeking training in northern Mali, but not of operational links.

The US has declared three Nigerian extremists “global terrorists,” but has declined to label Boko Haram as a whole a terrorist group due to its nebulous nature and domestic focus, among other factors.

It is believed to include various factions with differing aims, in addition to imitators and criminal gangs that carry out violence under the guise of the group.

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer. Its 160 million population is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south

culled from Vanguard

It was at the “1st Emergency Preparedness Summit for Southwest states and Edo’’, held at the Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC), Magodo, a Lagos suburb.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, who spoke at the opening of the two-day summit, stressed the importance of preparing for emergencies, which according to him are inevitable in the course of human interactions.

He said the two broad seasons in Nigeria’s climatic condition – raining and dry, expose the environment to flood and fire disasters.

He said: “The rainy season has the potential for flooding, brought about by both human and natural activity. The dry season on the other hand generally tends to record a higher number of fire outbreaks due to the increased number of highly and easily inflammable materials around us.

“The economic situation has not helped. Lack of power has meant that people tend to improvise, often by employing potentially dangerous methods of generating electricity.”

The governor cautioned the public to be wary of trooping to disaster sites.

He noted that haphazard physical development in flagrance disregard to extant planning laws has created a potpourri of possible accident and disaster situations, for which the government must be held accountable.

Fashola told participants that the government in Lagos was trying its best at boosting safety and emergency response capability in the Centre of Excellence.

In his opening remark, the Commissioner for Special Duties in Lagos, Dr. Wale Ahmed, said the summit offered a rare privilege for experts in safety and emergency management.

source:the nation