….Summon Finance Minister, FIRS, NUPRC, NCC, Customs, NNPC Others
By Ogechi Okorie
The House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations chaired by Rep. Abubakar Bichi on Monday resumed interactive session with GOE’s over the 2024 declaration of revenue target insisting projected revenues is not enough for the country .
He attributed rising inflation to a major problem hence the need for GOE’s to appear before the committee for further interaction.
Bichi noted that reducing the burden of Nigeria’s debt profile, sectoral budgetary allocations, and the dynamics of budget releases, economic diversification strategies, revenue generation forecasts is needed to facilitate the enactment of the bill and effective implementation of the Appropriations Act, 2024.
To this end the Committee chairman summoned Government Owned enterprises to include the minister of Finance, FIRS, NUPRC, NCC, CG Customs, NNPC, NPA, NIMASA, Minister of State for Petroleum, the CBN Governor among others to appear in person on Monday 10am prompt
The committee had turned back representatives of CBN, Customs, FIRS, and demanded their heads to appear.
The interactive session was to discuss further areas where the country could find money to fund the 2024 budget.
According to him, these revenue-generating agencies must come with money because, without money, there is no magic the president can perform to ensure the realization of the Renewed Hope Budget.
He said President Bola Tinubu’s 2024 budget is fantastic, but money is needed to fund the budget.
Bitchi said, “The objective of this engagement is, among others, to provide highlights on some key issues in relation to the preparation, enactment, and implementation of the 2024 budget.”
He said there were concerns about addressing the infrastructural gap in the country, eliminating poverty, and generally achieving the 8-Point Renewed Hope Agenda.
He added that there was a need to ensure that all loose ends to revenue were tied, adding that this could have a gross impact on the government’s ability to implement the 2024 Appropriation Bill when passed.
“While the revised MTEF and FSP showed that revenue-generating efforts by the present administration are already yielding fruit, more needs to be done to ensure that government-owned enterprises optimize their revenue-generating potential.”
Speaking, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, said the interactive session represented a beckon of light.
He said, “Mr. President is ambitious, and he is very clear that Nigeria is not where it is; the revenue we collect is about 10 percent, and the president has directed that we raise it to 18 percent.”
“We understand that the lawmakers are interested in how money is spent. You are also interested in how you can cooperate with the executive to ensure we take Nigeria to a greater height..
He said the 2024 proposal had increased spending, which included infrastructure and education, among others. He added that the budget appropriation had a proposal for $100 billion for the Sustainable Agriculture Fund.
According to him, we also want to ensure that our manufacturing sector will worry less about demand than production. We have provided a total of N50 billion in student loans.
He said these were game-changing moves, which are a product of legislation, adding that “all of us must work together to ensure we interrogate the revenue-generating agencies.
“We need a budget that can be trusted. We don’t have money; we are looking for money, so that is why we need to interrogate the revenue-generating agencies.
By Ogechi Okorie
As a way to further educate Nigerian youth on the positive ways of using social media platforms, and to encourage writing culture; a group, Social Media Digest, on Thursday, organised a social media summit in Abuja.
The event which had dignitaries across the country and various fields of endeavors, also rewarded 3 young Nigerians who stood out in the essay writing competition, while recognizing other Nigerians who are leading lights in the usage of social media platforms for personal development and society’s upliftment.
In the essay writing category sponsored by a Nigerian leading legal icon, Chief Sebastine Tartenger Hon (SAN); Master Isah Kamisu Madachi from Bauch State emerged winner with a prize of N250, 000; a 17 year old Olabisi Juwon from Ondo State came second with a prize of N150, 000 while Benue born Olowe Doosur Victoria came third with N100, 000 prize.
Convener of the Summit, Jacob Aôndoaseer Wuese, while addressing the Press, said the Summit, which was the 4th edition, was organized to project the benefits of social Media to the teaming population of Nigeria and Africa at large.
“Our mission is to promote impactful use of Social Media handles. We intend to optimally, maximize the very many opportunities in social Media and we have so far, reached out to ten thousand (10,000) participants across the country.
“With the above, I strongly believe that our youths will be better placed to harness the numerous opportunities available to them rather than resorting to social vices that are inimical to the growth and development of any society.
“This programme has particularly targeted the youths who are the vulnerable group regarding social media challenges. To encourage them further, an essay competition has been organised courtesy of my mentor and sponsor of this programme, Chief Sebastine Hon, SAN, FCIArb., DSSRS”, he said.
On his part, the Senior Legislative Aide to Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives on New Media and one of the Awardees, Prince Yemi Itodo, described Nigerian youth as very active social media users.
Itodo, however, called for constant social media summits across the country, to educate the youth on the positive use of social media platforms and how to legitimately make earnings therefrom.
He said, “the idea of being active on social media for the sole aim of insulting elders or being used as cyber terrorists to attack perceived political enemies of one’s principal or Boss, should be discouraged”.
Itodo, while commending the organisers, also called on government at various states to use the opportunity provided by the group, in organizing social media or New Media Summit for their social media influencers and media Aides of public office holders in the State.
The event was attended by representatives of Their Excellencies, Shehu Shema and Samuel Ortom, former Governors of Katsina and Benue States respectfully; Chief Hon (SAN); Keynote Speaker and Zonal Director of NTA, Makurdi Network Center, Mr Pam Dung Nyam; Prince Itodo; Dr Jimmy Ajim; Nollywood stars, Barr. Kenneth Okonkwo, Monalisa Chinda; amongst others.
ABUJA- The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Friday awarded N50 million in damages against Gov..Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, and six others for failure to pay the outstanding balance of N3,374,889,425.60 (N3.4 billion) from the N4,874,889,425.60 (N4.9 billion) debt, arising from a May 7, 2021 judgment of the Supreme Court.
A three-member panel of justices, in a unanimous judgment, condemned Makinde’s conduct, which it described as disrespectful of the nation’s judicial system.
The court affirmed the April 27 decision of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ordering the state governor to paid the outstanding balance.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the N4.9 billion debt arose from the judgment of the Supreme Court given against Makinde, the state’s Attorney-General (A-G), Accountant-General and four others in an appeal by chairmen and councillors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but sacked on May 29, 2019, by Makinde, upon assuming office.
In the judgment, the appellate court upheld the arguments by the lawyer to the ex-council chiefs, Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, resolved the two issues, identified for determination, against the appellants and dismissed the appeal filed by Makinde and six others for lacking in merit.
The court awarded N50 million cost against Makinde and co-appellants, to be paid to the ex-council chiefs led by Bashorun Mojeed Bosun Ajuwon.
The judgment was on the appeal marked: CA/595/2023 filed by Makinde, the Oyo State’s A-G, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Accountant-General of Oyo State, Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, the House of Assembly and Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC).
In the lead judgment, Justice Danlami Senchi held that, as against the contention by the appellants, there was no dispute in relation to the amount that constituted the judgment debt.
The judge referred to a letter written on Dec. 13, 2021, by the A-G of Oyo State, where the state put the salaries and allowances due to the ex-council chiefs at N4,874,889,425.60 and pledged to pay everything within six months.
He said the court could not allow Oyo State Government and its officials to approbate and reprobate; blow hot and cold at the same time by claiming the amount constituting the debt was not ascertained despite the letter by the A-G and the fact that the appellants took steps to settle the debt by making part payment.
Justice Senchi also faulted the appellants’ contention that the ex-council chiefs failed to first obtain the consent of the Oyo State A-G before initiating a garnishee proceeding to seize the state’s funds to settle the judgment debt.
The judge said asking the ex-council chiefs to first seek and obtain the consent of the Oyo A-G, who was one of the judgment debtors, amounted to making him to be a judge in his own case, “which requirement is unfair to the judgment creditors.”
“The ex-council chiefs were in order to have initiated the garnishee proceeding, because there was a judgment debt to be paid by the appellants by virtue of the judgment of the Supreme Court,” he said.
The Supreme Court had, in its May 7, 2021 judgment, declared the action of the ex-council chiefs, who sued through 11 representatives, led by Bashorun Majeed Ajuwon, as lawful and ordered the Oyo State Government to compute and pay them their entitled salaries and allowances within three months of the judgment.
Rather than comply with the judgment, the Oyo State Government paid only N1.5 billion, prompting the judgment creditors (the ex-council chiefs) to initiate a garnishee proceeding against Makinde and others before the High Court of the FCT.
In the April 27 ruling, Justice A. O. Ebong of the High Court of the FCT issued a garnishee order absolute, directing Makinde and others to pay the balance of the judgment debt on instalment basis, begining with N1,374,889,425.60 to be paid immediately.
Justice Ebong ordered them to subsequently pay the remaining N2b billion at N500 million quarterly, with the first instalment payable on July 31, a decision Makinde and others challenged at the Court of Appeal.
NAN reports that it was the April 27 ruling by Justice Ebong that the Court of Appeal affirmed in the judgment delivered on Friday.(NAN)
LAGOS- Human rights activists, under the platform of Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) have described Chief Frank Kokori’s demise as a huge loss to the entire human rights community.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Kokori, a former labour union leader, died on Thursday in Delta.
Reacting, the CHSR President, Mr Alex Omotehinse told NAN in Lagos that the activists would forever remember Kokori for his contributions in the struggle for democracy.
Omotehinse said the late former General Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) was a legend many young activists were looking up to before his death.
“It is a huge loss to the entire human rights community. He gave up his life for democracy to return to the country, we will forever miss him.
“Frank Kokori was a legend and a veteran in the struggle. Some of us looked up to him. It is unfortunate that Nigerians allowed his sickness to deteriorate before intervention.
“It was at the die minute that the Delta government came to his aid which was already late. We will miss him,” he said.
NAN reports that the former NUPENG general secretary was 80 years old
He died after a month-long battle with a kidney-related ailment.
Kokori, also an APC chieftain, died on his birthday at a private hospital in Warri at 1:30a.m.
He received attention from dignitaries and officials during his illness, including the Delta Governor, Mr Francis Oborevwori.
Kokori was part of the June 12 struggle. He contributed to the movement against the nullification of the June 12 presidential election which MKO Abiola was widely believed to have won. (NAN)
ABUJA- The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has denied being part of the newly formed Coalition of Concerned Political Parties (CCPP).
Mr Alfa Muhammad, the SDP National Publicity Secretary said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
Seven opposition political parties on Wednesday formed CCPP to strengthen democracy in the country.
The coalition comprised of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Social Democratic Party(SDP),Peoples Allied Movement (PDM), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Young Progressives Party (YPP)and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
But Muhammad said that the SDP was shocked at the mention of its name in the coalition, as it was
represented by a faction, without followership.
“The SDP wishes to clarify its position regarding recent reports circulating in the media suggesting that the SDP alongside other major opposition parties in Nigeria, is involved in forming a coalition against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“We acknowledge the existence of a substantial conspiracy, reportedly backed by influential opposition figures and certain private sector entities.
“This conspiracy aim is to establish a formidable coalition, including opposition parties, trade unions, and civil society organizations to turn public opinion against the current government, potentially leading to its undemocratic removal.
“However, the SDP firmly distances itself from such unpatriotic and undemocratic political tactics.
“To eliminate any confusion, it is important to note that the mainstream SDP is currently embroiled in a legal struggle against certain illegitimate factions,” he said.
Muhammad said that the party would not get itself involved in schemes aimed at destabilizing the government or distracting its focus.
He said However, that the party was ready to engage with President Tinubu’s administration in a constructive manner toward Nigeria’s development.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and discerning in the face of potential harmful propaganda and provocative statements from the opposition.
He said any tactics designed to erode public confidence in the President and the ruling political class, jeopardizing the integrity of Nigeria’s hard-fought democracy should be disregarded.(NAN)
ABUJA- The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has called on African leaders to create quality jobs for their teeming unemployed youths, to stem the trend of brain drain bedevilling the continent.
Adesina said in Abuja on Friday at the Second Veritas University Digital Innovations Exhibition and 12th Convocation Lecture, that Nigeria was losing its best brains to Japa syndrome.
The former Minister of Agriculture, who spoke on the convocation lecture theme: ” Africa, It’s Your Time”, tasked Nigeria to turn its huge youth demography into an asset and not a liability.
The former Minister of Agriculture who was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by the institution, announced that Nigeria had been listed among 10 other African countries to benefit from the Bank’s $20 billion Desert-to-Power initiative.
He noted that the power project was conceived to develop 10 GW of solar power, being the largest solar zone in the world when completed.
He listed other countries to benefit from the initiative as Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, the Gambia, Guinea, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Eritrea, and Senegal.
He also announced AfDB’s adoption of the Veritas University as a Centre of Excellence for Computer Coding for Employment.
“What Africa lacks is not money. What Africa lacks is lack of bankable ideas. Remember, money will always follow great ideas,” he said.
“As you join the workforce, technology and Artificial Intelligence will play a big role in your lives and in your enterprises.
“I expect to see many of you provide creative solutions to many of our challenges through analytics and data aggregation. There are huge opportunities in smart and digital economies of the future.
“All this matter to me personally because I do not want to see the continued exodus of young people who risk their lives to dangerously cross land and sea to go to Europe at all cost.
“The fastest way for Nigeria to dramatically expand the wealth of its economy, create jobs and provide decent work opportunity for its youth is to implement bold, effort-oriented, industrial manufacturing actions.
“This will rapidly expand foreign exchange earnings, boost income per capita and provide quality and well-paying jobs for millions of its young people,” he added.
Adesina charged the youth, both in Nigeria and Africa as a whole, to dream again while urging Africa to make us of the largest reserves of cobalt, lithium, diamonds, cocoa, nickel, copper, platinum and uranium in the world.
According to him, those resources could boast of 65 per cent of the world’s arable land and the largest deposit of solar potentials but has not materialised into wealth for the continent.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Hyacinth Ichoku, revealed that the institution’s undergraduate enrollment had increased from 1,200 in 2018 to over 6,000.
Also, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the institution, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah urged the graduating students to be good ambassadors of the institution.
Kukah, in a bid to give back to the institution, announced a donation of N3 million to three students who demonstrated their ideas to the gathering. (NAN)
OSOGBO- The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses (ICPC) has solicited support of the media in the fight against corruption .
Mr Demola Bakare, the Osun Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner of ICPC, made the call at a media parley organised to commemorate 2023 International Anti-corruption Day on Friday in Osogbo.
Bakare appealed to the media to join hands with the commission to sensitise the public on the negative effects of corrupt practices, especially embezzlement of public funds.
“ICPC regard you as partners in progress in the crusade against corruption in relation to media support and reportage to expose the extent of damage corruption has cost the society and the efforts being made to reverse the situation.
“You should not just report that N5 billion was stolen, embezzled or recovered, you should explain what the stolen funds would have provided for the people.
“Explaining what the funds would have provided or resolved will let the people know the magnitude of the crime committed”, he said.
Bakare, who noted that International Anti-Corruption Day is observed every Dec.90, said that the negative impact of corruption could be felt globally.
He said the corruption had contributed greatly to the problem of bad governance , denying citizens the benefits of democracy.
On the various activities of ICPC in the country , Bakare said that the commission had successfully helped the government to recover funds and also move contractors back to site to complete abandoned contracts.
“To further promote good governance and accountability from lawmakers, ICPC initiated constituency and executive project tracking in 2019.
“This has led to the recovery of government funds and property, identification of fictitious contracts and projects and ensuring better budget and qualitative project implementation.
“The project tracking exercise was carried out nationwide and the commission is now in the fifth phase of the exercise” he said.
On the activities of the commission in Osun, Bakare said that the commission organised a debate on the fight against corruption among selected secondary schools , in commemoration of 2023 Children’s Day.
He said the debate served as an avenue for the secondary schools children to contribute their quota to the campaign against corruption, while a one-day workshop was held for religious leaders in the state.
The ICPC boss said that the essence and the ultimate aim of the commission was to enthrone a Nigeria glowing with integrity, transparency and accountability.
Bakare also said that a total of 78 sensitisation sessions, covering television, radio and visitations to Ministries Department and Agencies of government had been carried out by ICPC in the state to encourage public support and reportage of corrupt practices in the society.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for this year’s global Anti-Corruption Day is “Uniting the World Against Corruption for Development, Peace and Security”.(NAN)
MAKURDI- The Benue House of Assembly on Friday, passed a vote of confidence on Gov. Hyacinth Alia for being a workers’ friendly governor.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Mr Simon Gabo (Mata/PDP) at plenary.
Presenting the motion, Gabo said that Alia had been faithful in the payment of workers salaries as it was always paid on the 25th of every month since his assumption of office on May 29.
He said the governor had also been faithful in the payment of pensions and gratuities of retired workers since he assumed office.
“Father Alia has been faithful in the payment of salaries and pensions to the extent that he has been nicknamed Mr 25th.
“The governor has also constructed many Makurdi metropolitan roads, he is presently renovating our house of assembly complex and has distributed official vehicles to the state legislators for the smooth running of their legislative activities,” Gabo stated.
He appealed to his colleagues to support the motion to pass a vote of confidence on the governor.
Seconding the motion, Mr Peter Ipusu (Katsina-Ala West/APC) said the motion was in order, saying that Alia was the first Benue governor who had been utilising the state resources to execute projects without resorting to borrowing.
In a unanimous decision, the house passed the vote of confidence on the governor to spur him to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people.
Ruling, the Speaker, Mr Hyacinth Dajoh said the governor deserved a vote of confidence considering the gains accruing to the people since his assumption of office.(NAN)
ABUJA- Molly Phee, United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, is set to travel to Nigeria on Friday.
Ms Phee would also be visiting Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, during her trip to engage regional leaders gathering for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State Summit.
The gathering, slated for December 10, would also afford Ms Phee to meet the ECOWAS leaders to discuss issues concerning Niger Republic.
“During her visit, she will consult with West African leaders on how the United States can best support regional efforts to return Niger to a democratic path and to promote security, stability, prosperity, and democracy in the Sahel,” a statement from the U.S. Department of State said.
Her visit to Nigeria came four months after the coup in Niger Republic as the military junta continues to cling to power after toppling President Mohamed Bazoum.
Western countries have condemned the military action and thrown their support behind efforts by the African Union and ECOWAS bloc led by Mr Tinubu.
Niger holds strategic economic and geopolitical significance internationally considering its two natural resources of uranium and oil, which is south after in the international market.
Junta leaders have justified toppling the democratic government of Mr Bazoum, who was accused of not containing the incessant insecurity situation in some parts of the country.
IBADAN- One of the sons of the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Prince AbdulFatai Adeyemi, is dead.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adeyemi, popularly known as D-Gov, died at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, in the early hours of Friday.
NAN also that the Oyo prince, who was the immediate past Chairman of Oyo State Local Government Pension Board, died few hours to his 47th birthday.
The Public Relations Officer of UCH, Mrs Funmilayo Adetuyibi, confirmed the death of the late Alaafin’s son, saying that he died at the hospital on Friday morning.
Adetuyibi told NAN that AbdulFatai was brought to the hospital around 12.05 a.m. on Friday and died at exactly 3:50 a.m.
She, however, declined when asked about the disease that the late Oyo prince was suffering from which eventually resulted in his death.
“I can’t disclose his diagnosis or what killed him because it is against our professional ethics,” the UCH spokesperson said.
Another source from UCH also spoke about the death of the late Alaafin’s son.
“Fatai Bayo adeyemi, one-time Secretary of Atiba Local Government, died this morning (Friday). He was married with children. He was reported very ill sometime last year but survived,” the source said.
NAN reports that AbdulFatai had contested the House of Representatives seat in Oyo Federal Constituency on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019.
He, however, lost to his brother, Prince Akeem Adeyemi, popularly known as Skimeh, of All Progressives Congress (APC).
AbdulFatai’s death, it was gathered, has thrown the family of the late Oba Adeyemi and the ancient town of Oyo into mourning. (NAN)
OWERRI- The Police Command in Imo has announced the arrest of 15 suspected members of Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The Spokesman of the Police Command, ASP Henry Okoye, said in a statement issued in Owerri on Friday that the arrest was sequel to confessions by some members of the group earlier arrested by the the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad.
He said that in the follow-up operation, the squad led by CSP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa, arrested the 15 suspects at their hideouts in Obiangwu and Logara Forests in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, an AK47 riffle loaded with 21 rounds of live ammunition, charms, one cut-to-size double barrel short gun, four locally made short guns, three rounds of live ammunition and illicit drugs and substances were recovered from the suspects.
“One militia camouflage T-Shirt, one Improvised Explosive Device, one guinea fowl with fetish items on it, one POS machine used in extorting money from their victims and various denominations of Biafra currency were equally recovered.
“The suspects will be arraigned in court upon completion of a comprehensive investigation,” the command spokesman added.
Okoye reiterated the pledge of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Aboki Danjuma, to ensure adequate security during the yuletide, as well as intensify the clamp down on subversive and unrepentant criminals across the state.
Okoye urged members of the public to support the police with timely and actionable information through: 08034773600 and 08098880197, to stem criminalities across the state. (NAN)
ABEOKUTA- The Ogun Government has announced a reward of N50 million for any information that could lead to the arrest of the killers of Director of Finance and Administration (DFA) attached to Gov. Dapo Abiodun’s office, Mr. Taiwo Oyekanmi .
Mr Tokunbo Talabi, the Secretary to the State Government, announced the reward in a statement in Abeokuta on Friday.
According to the statement, Information provided would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
” Such information can be sent to the underlisted telephone numbers:
08037441955
08033074371
08081775020
08034062773
08032136765. ”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that suspected armed robbers on Nov. 29 shot dead Oyekanmi, and carted away government funds.
Oyekanmi had cashed an undisclosed amount of money from a branch of Fidelity bank in Abeokuta, and was heading back to the office when he was waylaid by the gunmen.
According to source, the gunmen, about five of them, shot the accountant dead at Kuto bridge in Abeokuta and went away with the government’s money.
It was gathered that Oyekanmi and other aides who sustained gunshot injuries during the attacks, were rushed to the State General Hospital, Ijaye, where the accountant later died.(NAN)
OSUN- The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the compulsory retirement of Justice S.O. Falola of Osun State High Court.
The NJC announced this in a statement on Thursday.
It said the recommendation followed the findings of an investigation committee in a petition written against the judge by Dapo Olowo and Polaris Bank.
Mr Falola had granted a garnishee order absolute against the bank for N283,174,000.00 in a “questionable and strange manner.”
The embattled judge equally endorsed the order, attaching the account of the garnishee with another garnishee and not the judgment debtor’s account, who had the legal obligation to pay the supposed judgment sum.
The committee found out that the judge misconducted himself by entertaining suit No HIK/41/2018 when there was no evidence of a judgment of the Kwara State High Court before him, nor was there a certificate of registration of same in Osun to confer jurisdiction on him.
It was further found that the conduct of the subject judge travelled to Lagos to visit the bank’s counsel in his chambers on the garnishee proceedings, unbecoming of the standard expected of a judicial officer.
Consequently, the council recommended the judge’s immediate compulsory retirement to Governor Ademola Adeleke.
It said in the exercise of its disciplinary powers under the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the NJC suspended Mr Falola from office pending the governor’s approval of the recommendation of his compulsory retirement.
The council also considered the reports of other investigation committees that had concluded their sittings and dismissed the petitions written against some judges for being unmeritorious or for withdrawal of petitions by the petitioners.
They are Justices Ekaete F. F. Obot (chief judge of Akwa Ibom), Benson C. Anya (Abia High Court), Z. B. Abubakar (Federal High Court), Opufaa Ben-Whyte and Augusta Uche K. Chuku (Rivers High Court).
However, Justice A. I. Akobi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory will be issued a letter of guidance to take proper charge and control of his court.
The plenary also considered the report of its three Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees on 51 fresh petitions written against federal and state judicial officers.
It decided to constitute 11 panels to investigate petitions with merits and dismissed the remaining petitions for being subjudice, having been withdrawn, and the subject judges having retired from service.
The council also resolved to report A.A. Aribisala to the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) for investigation and disciplinary action for the unpalatable and derogatory remarks he made against a judicial officer and, by extension, the NJC in his petition to the council.
It considered and declined the request of Mr Adeleke to swear in the next most senior judge in Osun in an acting capacity, following allegations levelled against Justice Adepele Ojo, the Osun chief judge, and the resolution of the State House of Assembly to suspend him.
The council affirmed that Mr Ojo remains the recognised chief judge and would not work on the resolution of the Osun parliament, as it is the only body constitutionally empowered to investigate judicial officers and recommend the same for any action to the governor, charging Osun to revert to status quo.
It also received notification of the retirements of seven judicial officers and notification of the deaths of six serving judicial officers of the federal and state courts.
(NAN)
LAGOS- The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Agriculture, Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola, has identified inconsistent rainfall pattern as the major factor affecting rice production.
Fashola made this known in an interview with newsmen in Lagos on Thursday, while reacting to the consistent hike in the cost of local rice.
He added that intermittent drought, high cost of fertiliser, flooding, insecurity, reduction in land cultivation, poor irrigation system and diesel were contributing factors affecting rice production.
Fashola said land areas being used for rice cultivation in 2023 had reduced at production level leading to increase in price.
He said, “from 2022 to early this year, Lagos sold Eko rice at N33,000 per 50kg bag but now, it is N43,000.
“From last year to early this year, we are buying a tonne of paddy at N240,000, now we are buying a tonne of rice paddy at N430,000.
“The cost of diesel has risen from N750 to between N1,300 and N1,500 in the north and production of paddy has reduced considerably.
”Before the insurgent came in 2018, we were already hitting 12 million tonnes of paddy, but now, we barely do eight million tonnes and the number of mill has increased.
“Lets say in 2018, the number of functioning mill in Nigeria are barely about 70. Right now, we have over 200 mills and the one functioning ones are more than 100,” he said.
The governor’s aide noted that paddy was not an imported rice but locally produced.
He said that in Nigeria generally, rice was being cultivated in one production cycle as against three circles due to lack of proper irrigated system.
”The production of paddy has reduced considerably, we do not have irrigation system and we now have inconsistent rainfall pattern as well as intermitted drought that affects rice production.
“Apart from that, we now equally have security issues. So, we have shrunk in our production level.
“The land area that we’re growing rice in 2023, right now its production level has reduced.
“Our land level has returned to what we had in 2015 and 2018 because of insecurity, drought and flooding,” he explained.
Fashola expalined that the above factors had contributed to high cost of production in addition to the increased cost of fertilizer.
“Farmers cannot even afford fertiliser. Fertilisers that used to be between N10,000 and N15,000 is now about 40,000 per bag.
“There are issues with our production and that is shrinking our production system,” he said.
Fashola said that lot of farmers in Lagos State cultivated Ofada rice, adding that the government was gradually winning them into doing the kind of rice that was obtainable in it rice mill.
”Lagos farmers are still growing when it comes to rice production; the farmers are still developing, so right now, what we get from them is just about one per cent.
“This year, we bought about two trucks from Lagos farmer which is about 60 tonnes. Lagos rice farm is divided into Ofada and the medium grain.
“Ofada is popular because of the cost, a 50kg bag of Ofada is N60,000. We are gradually winning them into doing the kind of rice we want,” he said.(NAN)
ABUJA- Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and his counterparts from other states on Thursday bagged the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) Distinguished Honour Awards.
The award was conferred on the governors by Chief Olusegun Runsewe, Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), during the awards presentation segment of the maiden edition of the National Stakeholders Conference on review of NAFEST.
Each state commissioner received the awards on behalf of their governors.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four-day conference held in Abuja, had no fewer than 28 states in attendance.
Some of the states are: Gombe, Rivers, Ekiti, Kwara, Jigawa, Kebbi, Borno, Katsina, Kogi, Osun, Bayelsa, Kano, Oyo, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Enugu, Anambra, Cross River, Yobe, Kaduna, Delta, Ogun, Ondo, Bayelsa, Taraba and the FCT.
Runsewe said that the awards was to appreciate the governors for their immense contributions toward sustaining and upholding NAFEST in its 35 years of operations.
He gave special recognition to Gov. Sanwo-Olu and former governor of Rivers, Nyeson Wike, who he said played key roles in upscaling the annual festival when it was hosted in their states in 2022 and 2018 respectively.
“NAFEST has been held for 35 editions, we are appreciating the governors who have been instrumental to the success of the festival over the years. We appreciate them all,” he said.
Also, Rivers, Kaduna, Bayelsa, Yobe, Ogun, Benue states and the FCT bagged awards as most consistent states in participation and entries, while Kebbi, Zamfara, Oyo, Sokoto, Enugu and Borno states won most consistent states in discipline and good conduct.
The most consistent states in colourful costumes awards went to Rivers, Bayelsa, Gombe, Taraba, Ogun, Delta, Imo and Adamawa.
For innovative packaging and creativity, Ekiti, Kano, Ondo, Bauchi, Osun and Katsina states won.
Kaduna, Rivers, Lagos, Delta, Yobe states and the FCT bagged most consistent states in NAFEST in size of contingents.
For children’s participation, Benue, Ogun, Ekiti, Anambra, Ebonyi, Bayelsa and Nasarawa states won.
In impressive hosting of NAFEST, Rivers, Lagos, Niger, Kaduna, Plateau, Ogun, Ekiti, Ebonyi and Cross River states emerged winners. (NAN)
