Judiciary

Thugs or Doctors: NMA and Another Challenged System
Judiciary, Justice, News, Nigeria

Thugs or Doctors: NMA and Another Challenged System

It would seem a familiar scene in Nigeria to witness a squabble and exchange of punches in a motor park. But the events that took place at Michael Okpara Square in Enugu on Thursday took a different dimension, as medical doctors who ought to be life savers ended up injuring one another. The case of Nigeria can best be related to that of a patient with varied organ challenges. Nigeria is like a patient whose body system needs urgent medical attention but the physicians who ought to attend to the patient are instead chasing after rats in the bush. The Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) made a mockery of the medical profession and lent credence to the urgent need for institutions in Nigeria to be put under intensive care, when it turned its supposed election in...
NDDC Issues Senator Two weeks Ultimatum to Refund N2.5bn for Failed Contracts
Corruption, Crime, Economy, Education, Finance, Judiciary, Legislature, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria, Press Statement

NDDC Issues Senator Two weeks Ultimatum to Refund N2.5bn for Failed Contracts

Case pending before two courts, letter has not reached me – Nwaoboshi The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has hit back at the Nigerian Senate, asking Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger-Delta, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, to refund N2.5n for contracts his companies failed to deliver. The commission failed to mention the names of the concerned firms in the letter written to the lawmaker. The commission gave Nwaoboshi a two weeks ultimatum to refund the funds to its account. NDDC in a letter signed by the Director, Legal Services, Peter Okoro, dated July 5 asked Nwaoboshi to return to its coffers fund earmarked for the supply of plastic chairs and desks for primary and secondary schools in the Niger Delta region in 2017. The letter read, “Instead of supplying the cha...
   FCT Mobile Court Fines Naira Marley Over Jabi Lake Mall Concert
Covid-19, Judiciary, Music, News, Nigeria

  FCT Mobile Court Fines Naira Marley Over Jabi Lake Mall Concert

Nigerian musician Azeez Fashola, who goes by stage name Naira Marley has been fined N200,000 by an Abuja mobile court over his June 13 concert at Jabi Lake Mall in violation of COVID-19 lockdown measures. The fine was pronounced under heavy security at the Eagles square, Abuja. He pleaded guilty to four count charges of breach interstate movement put in place by the Presidential Task Force (PTF), no- wearing of face mask, social gathering and violation of curfew imposed by the FCT Administration. The fine comes after the singer and his manager, Seyi Awonuga had earlier been fined N100,000 each by the State Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile) Court. Recall that African News Today had called for the trial of the singer for the sake of rule of law.
Buhari Reacts to NDDC, EFCC Probes, says it’s an Abuse of trust
African Development, Corruption, Crime, Economy, Finance, Human Rights, Interview, Judiciary, Justice, Legislature, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria, Press Statement, Religion

Buhari Reacts to NDDC, EFCC Probes, says it’s an Abuse of trust

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday reacted to corruption allegations rocking the Niger Delta Development Commission and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He said that some of his appointees have betrayed the trust reposed in them. The president disclosed this in a chat with reporters after observing Eid Mubarak prayers at the forecourt of the presidential villa.   He said, “There has been abuse of trust by people trusted by previous administration and this administration.” Ibrahim Magu, suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has being quizzed by a presidential panel over allegations of corruption and abuse of power. The interim management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) led by Kemebradikumo D...
Obaseki Felicitates with Akpata on Emergence as NBA President
African Development, Judiciary, Justice, Legislature, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Obaseki Felicitates with Akpata on Emergence as NBA President

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has felicitated with Olumide Akpata on becoming the new President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). In his congratulatory message, Obaseki described Akpata as a lawyer who has achieved tremendous feat and is worthy of the new position Obaseki said in his statement, “I congratulate Olumide Akpata on his emergence as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association. A versatile lawyer, Akpata is sure to bring to the leadership of the Bar his unique acumen and zest as a lawyer to steer the Bar to glorious heights. “There is no denying that different professions face quite peculiar challenges with the advent of Information Communication Technologies and the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, but I am confident in the capacity of Akpata to depl...
Bayelsa Election: Supreme Court Upholds Governor Duoye Diri’s Candidacy
Judiciary, News, Nigeria

Bayelsa Election: Supreme Court Upholds Governor Duoye Diri’s Candidacy

Nigeria’s apex court has upheld the candidacy of Duoye Diri as the legitimate candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 2019 primary election in Bayelsa state. Timi Alaibe, his rival at the elction, had approached the court challenging his candidacy in the election but the supreme court threw out the petition. Diri’s candidacy had been upheld by the Federal High court and the Court of Appeal but Alaibe took the case to the supreme court seeking to reclaim his stake as the legitimate candidate of the ruling party in oil rich, Bayelsa state. The supreme court however dismissed his petition on Tuesday, on the basis that it was a pre-election issue. Source: ChannelsTV
EFCC Saga: IG of Nigerian Police Force Withdraws Officers Attached to EFCC, Magu’s Security Details
Corruption, Crime, Judiciary, News, Nigeria, Security

EFCC Saga: IG of Nigerian Police Force Withdraws Officers Attached to EFCC, Magu’s Security Details

Mobile Police officers attached to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been withdrawn on the order of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu. The order was communicated through a communique to the Inspector General, Police Mobile Force, PMF Squadrons one to 79, Force Secretary and Commissioners of Police of all state commands and the Federal Capital Territory (EFCC), also instructed that the equal number of personnel withdrawn be replaced. The IGP in the order said, “Only staff of EFCC should be allowed access into the premises while withdrawn police personnel from PMF 21, 44, 45, 46 and 50 must report to the Force Headquarters by 8am on Monday.” It was also reported that personnel of the police force manning the residence of the ousted Acting EFCC bo...
5 Facts about Hushpuppi’s Counsel, Gal Pissetzky
Corruption, Crime, Judiciary, News, Nigeria

5 Facts about Hushpuppi’s Counsel, Gal Pissetzky

Pissetzky & Berliner on its website boasted to be “experienced criminal defense attorneys defending clients nationwide” 2. According to the firm, “Clients come to us when they want a bulldog in the courtroom. Our Chicago criminal defense attorneys take on serious criminal cases. We handle federal charges, white collar crimes, large-scale drug crimes, sex offenses, violent crimes, and more.” 3. Describing its track record, the firm boasted; “We have obtained reduced charges, dismissals, and acquittals in high-profile cases that were deemed unwinnable by many attorneys.” 4. The defence practice areas of the law firm include: Federal Crimes, Sex Offenses, Violent Crimes, Murder, Gun Crimes, White Collar Crimes and Money Laundering, and Crimal Appeals. 5. In a case at UNITE...
Ondo Deputy Governor Issues 21 days Ultimatum to Akeredolu to Handover Power to him
Covid-19, Judiciary, News, Nigeria

Ondo Deputy Governor Issues 21 days Ultimatum to Akeredolu to Handover Power to him

Deputy governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi has charged the state Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu who is battling COVID-19, to temporarily handover governance of the state to him in acting capacity pending his recovery from the disease. Akeredolu had personally confirmed his positive coronavirus status on June 30 and proceeded on self-isolation in line with stipulated guidelines and pledged to discharge his duties virtually. Ajayi’s media adviser, Allen Sowore in a communique on Saturday said the delay by Akeredolu to transfer governance of the state amounts to blatant contempt for the country’s constitution. He said that the governor by virtue of his profession as a lawyer should be on the side of the law by ensuring timely transfer of power instead of delaying and negatively impacti...
Lazarus Chakwera- The New Face of Democratic Struggle in Africa
Africa, Judiciary, Malawi, News

Lazarus Chakwera- The New Face of Democratic Struggle in Africa

Leadership in Africa has been unique with its abundance of long serving leaders most of whom could be adjudged to have lost passion for delivering dividends of democracy to citizens. Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera by virtue of his swearing in as the sixth president of Malawi set an unprecedented record in the history of the continent as the first ever President to unseat a sitting president after court annulled election. The events that played out in Malawi were reminiscent of that of Kenya which was the first ever presidential election annulled by election tribunal. While Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya went on to defeat opposition candidate Raila Odinga in the boycotted election in 2017, Chakwera claimed 58.57% of votes cast to unseat incumbent Arthur Peter Mutharika. An insight into the eve...