Tag: Judiciary

Judiciary is the Biggest Threat to Nigeria’s Democracy – Obi

17May

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Elections, Judiciary, Justice, News, Nigeria

Judiciary is the Biggest Threat to Nigeria’s Democracy – Obi

Enugu, May 17, 2024 – Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, has declared the judiciary as the foremost threat to Nigeria’s democracy, rather than the electoral umpire. Obi made these remarks during his keynote speech at the fifth memorial of late Justice Anthony Aniagolu at Godfrey Okoye University in Enugu. In a candid and critical address, the former governor of Anambra State lamented the current state of Nigeria's judicial system, which he described as being plagued by corruption and inefficiency. "Justice in Nigeria goes to the highest bidder and has become commodified," Obi stated emphatically. "While the judiciary, today, still boasts of a few outstanding judges, there is an undeniable decline in our judicial system. This decline ...

Former Aviation Minister and Brother Face Fresh Charges: Abuse of Office Allegations Mount”

13May

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Aviation, Corruption, Finance, Judiciary, Nigeria, Transportation

Former Aviation Minister and Brother Face Fresh Charges: Abuse of Office Allegations Mount”

In the latest twist of events, former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, finds himself embroiled in yet another legal battle, this time alongside his brother Ahmad Abubakar. The duo is set to be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges of abuse of office related to the awarding of contracts within the aviation ministry. The EFCC's decision to arraign Mr. Sirika comes shortly after he, along with his daughter Fatima and her husband, faced similar charges last week. This time, the allegations revolve around fraudulent awards of contracts amounting to billions of naira. Mr. Sirika, who served as the aviation minister throughout President Muhammadu Buhari's two terms, is accused of leveraging his position to improperly award contracts to a company with...

Agbakoba, Others Head to Court Despite FG’s Suspension of Cybersecurity Levy

13May

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Finance, Judiciary, Justice, News, Nigeria

Agbakoba, Others Head to Court Despite FG’s Suspension of Cybersecurity Levy

The Federal Government has quietly withdrawn the controversial 0.5% cybersecurity levy, despite the resentment it generated. Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume praised President Bola Tinubu for listening to the people, ordering a review of the levy, and suspending its implementation. However, the withdrawal has not appeased all critics. Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), BudgIT, and 136 concerned Nigerians have sued the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the Federal High Court in Lagos over its failure to withdraw the circular directing banks to deduct the levy from customers' accounts. Similarly, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Olisa Agbakoba said he would challenge the implementation of the levy in court. Last week, the CBN relied on the Cybercrime Act 2015 (as amended) t...

Bobrisky Sentenced to Six Months in Jail for Naira Abuse

12Apr

By adminNo Comments

Economy, Judiciary, Lagos News, News, Nigeria

Bobrisky Sentenced to Six Months in Jail for Naira Abuse

Popular social media influencer and cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, famously known as Bobrisky, has been sentenced to six months in custody for the abuse of the Nigerian currency, the naira. The verdict was delivered by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos. Bobrisky's legal troubles began when he was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with multiple counts of naira abuse and money laundering. The charges stemmed from incidents where Bobrisky was seen spraying and flaunting wads of new naira notes at various social events. During the trial, Bobrisky pleaded guilty to the charges, admitting to tampering with large sums of Nigerian currency during social gatherings. The judge, after convicting him, emphasized that the sentence was intend...

Chicago State University: Another Classmate Surfaces for Tinubu, Swears Oath in Court

26Sep

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Corruption, Crime, Elections, Judiciary, Justice, News, Nigeria, United States of America

Chicago State University: Another Classmate Surfaces for Tinubu, Swears Oath in Court

The legal battle between President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar regarding Tinubu's academic records from Chicago State University has taken an intriguing turn. Olajide Adeniji, who claims to be a classmate of the former Lagos Governor, has testified under oath in a United States district court that he knows Tinubu and that they contested against each other in the race for the presidency of the Accounting Society Club at the Department of Business Administration/Accounting in the same institution. This development comes just two weeks after another individual, public affairs analyst Durojaiye Ogunsanya, asserted that he was a coursemate of President Tinubu at Chicago State University. Ogunsanya stated during an appearance on TVC's 'This Morning' show that they bo...

National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal Sacks Labour Party Representative

25Jul

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Elections, Judiciary, Legislature, News, Nigeria

National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal Sacks Labour Party Representative

The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Asaba, Delta State, has invalidated the election of Mr. Ngozi Okolie, the member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Constituency at the House of Representatives. Okolie, who was declared the winner of the February 25 House of Representatives election in the federal constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been disqualified and removed from his position. The petition challenging Okolie's victory was filed by the immediate past Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ndidi Elumelu. Elumelu contested the results, arguing that Okolie was not properly sponsored by the Labour Party and that he did not resign from his position as a public office holder, ...

Emefiele: Court Gives DSS 7 Days to Either Charge or Release Him

13Jul

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Judiciary, Justice, Law Enforcement, News, Nigeria

Emefiele: Court Gives DSS 7 Days to Either Charge or Release Him

In a significant development, the Abuja Federal High Court issued a one-week ultimatum to the Department of State Security Service (DSS) on Thursday, demanding that they either charge or release the detained suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. The order was delivered by Justice Hamza Muazu during a ruling on a fundamental human rights suit filed by Emefiele against the DSS and other parties. Justice Muazu acknowledged the constitutional authority of the DSS to make arrests, detain individuals, and combat internal crime. However, he emphasized that such actions must be carried out in accordance with the law. The arrest of Godwin Emefiele by the DSS took place on June 10, shortly after President Bola Tinubu suspended him from his position as the g...

Bulkachuwa Denies Influencing Wife’s Judicial Decisions

18Jun

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Elections, Judiciary, Legislature, News, Nigeria

Bulkachuwa Denies Influencing Wife’s Judicial Decisions

Former Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, who represented Bauchi North during the 9th Assembly, has refuted claims that he had influenced the decisions of his wife, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, the former President of the Court of Appeal. He specifically addressed the incident during the valedictory session in the Senate, where he alleged that he used his position to seek favors for his colleagues from his wife but was interrupted by the former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan. In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Sunday, Senator Bulkachuwa clarified that his words were misrepresented and that he was not given the opportunity to fully express his thoughts. He explained that he had only just begun his remarks during the valedictory session when he was cut off. He had intended to thank his wi...

An Open Letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria on Transparency and Accountability In Court Proceedings – Adebowale Aluko

28May

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Elections, Justice, News, Nigeria

An Open Letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria on Transparency and Accountability In Court Proceedings – Adebowale Aluko

An open letter from a frontline legal practitioner to the CJN My Lord, I write, as a concerned member of the Nigerian bar, regarding a subject which has generated controversy among members of the bar and indeed the larger public in the past week. Confidence in the judiciary is at an all-time low. On 22 May 2023, at the opening ceremony of the annual conference of the National Association of Women Judges, Your Lordship urged judges sitting in election petition matters across the country to do substantive justice and eschew technicalities, in order to restore the confidence of the public in the judiciary. It is against this backdrop that I write in relation to the directive of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), prohibiting mobile phones and other electronic d...

<strong>Appeal Court Judge Collapses, Dies In Akure</strong>

27Feb

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Judiciary, News, Nigeria

Appeal Court Judge Collapses, Dies In Akure

The judge of the Ondo state court of appeal, Ayobode Lokulo-Sodipe, has died. Lokulo-Sodipe who recently celebrated his 67th birthday on February 15 reportedly collapsed in his office while dressing up to attend a court session on Monday. All efforts made to revive him proved ineffective and he died before getting to the hospital. The incident was confirmed by the immediate past chairman of the Akure branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, Rotimi Olorunfemi, in a message. He wrote, “Just confirmed it (the judge’s death); it is true. He collapsed in the office at court of appeal, Akure, this morning. “[He] was rushed to the hospital but confirmed DOA (dead on arrival).” Also, Banji Ayenakin, chairperson of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Akure branch, confirmed the ...