TRUMP SEEKS TO OVERTURN BIDEN’S PARDON OF SON
Dons Eze
- December 4, 2024
- Foreign Affairs
- December 4, 2024
- 66 views
TRUMP SEEKS TO OVERTURN BIDEN’S PARDON OF SON
TRUMP SEEKS TO OVERTURN BIDEN’S PARDON OF SON Donald Trump’s legal team has filed a motion to dismiss his historic criminal fraud conviction, citing President Joe Biden’s recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden. The 69-page filing argues that Biden’s rationale for pardoning Hunter—a claim of selective and unfair prosecution—mirrors Trump’s allegations of politically motivated legal actions by the Department of Justice (DOJ). Hunter Biden was pardoned on Sunday after being convicted of tax evasion and illegal firearm possession earlier this year. President Biden justified the move, stating that his son’s prosecution was politically motivated due to his familial ties. Trump Invokes Hunter Biden Pardon in Hush Money Case Dismissal BidFlanked by his attorneys Todd Blanche, left, and Emil Bove, former President Donald Trump awaits the start of proceedings in Manhattan Criminal Court, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in New York. (Justin Lane/Pool Photo via AP)Trump’s attorneys seized on these remarks, arguing they undermine the credibility of the same DOJ that prosecuted Trump. The brief also cited presidential immunity and the Presidential Transition Act as grounds for dismissing the conviction. In May, Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records. The charges stem from a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence claims of an alleged extramarital affair—claims Trump denies. Manhattan prosecutor Alvin Bragg argued the payments were an effort to protect Trump’s campaign by avoiding scandal, which the jury found compelling enough to convict. The case now lies in the hands of Judge Juan Merchan, who postponed Trump’s sentencing after his presidential election win on November 5. Trump’s team is requesting either a dismissal of the charges or a suspension of legal consequences until after his upcoming presidential term, which begins on January 20. Prosecutor Alvin Bragg has supported delaying sentencing, citing the “unprecedented circumstances” of Trump’s electoral victory. This legal battle underscores tensions surrounding the DOJ’s impartiality, with Trump’s team alleging bias and election interference. Biden’s pardon of Hunter has added a new dimension, highlighting the complex interplay between politics and justice in the United States.
- Foreign Affairs
- December 4, 2024
- 39 views
NAMIBIA ELECTS FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT
NAMIBIA ELECTS FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, from the governing South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo), has been voted in as Namibia’s first female president after last week’s disputed election. The electoral commission said she had won more than 57% of vote, with her closest rival Panduleni Itula, getting 26%. Following logistical problems and a three-day extension to polling in some parts of the country, Itula said the electoral process was “deeply flawed”. His Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) party said it would challenge the results in court. Most opposition parties boycotted the results announcement on Tuesday evening in the capital, Windhoek, the Namibian newspaper reports. Windhoek is reported to be calm on Wednesday, with neither celebrations nor protests and people carrying on with their normal lives. After the announcement of her victory, Nandi Ndaitwah said: “The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability.” Swapo has been in power in the large but sparsely populated southern African country since independence in 1990. A party stalwart, Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is currently the vice-president, is a trusted leader having served in high government office for a quarter of a century. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa extended his congratulations to Nandi-Ndaitwah on X on Wednesday. “Your election as fifth President of the Republic and the first woman in our region to hold this high office is a testament to democracy and its ability to transform our societies,” his statement read. Once sworn in, she will join an exclusive club as at the moment Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan is Africa’s only female president. In the parliamentary elections held at the same time, Swapo narrowly held on to its majority, winning 51 of the 96 elected seats – a loss of 12. The IPC won 20 seats, and will be the official opposition. Tirivangani Masawi, a political journalist based in Windhoek, told the BBC Newsday programme the election was Swapo’s “worst performance since independence”. A trained dentist, Itula is seen as more charismatic than Nandi-Ndaitwah and managed to dent Swapo’s popularity in the last presidential election in 2019, reducing its vote share to 56% from 87% five years earlier. The IPC said it would “pursue justice through the courts” and has encouraged people who felt that they had been unable to vote because of mismanagement by the electoral commission to go to the police to make a statement. Claus Goldbeck, from the IPC, told the BBC voting was an “organisational mess”. Some people were sent home after standing in line for 14 hours because there weren’t enough ballot papers, and scanners broke down at numerous polling stations. “The Electoral Commission of Namibia [ECN] had four years to fix things,” he said. The ECN admitted to failures in the organisation of the votes and ballot shortages. But the chairperson, Elsie Nghikembua, denied any allegations of fraud. “I urge all Namibians to embrace the results with the spirit of unity, diversity, understanding and reconciliation,” she said. Swapo led the struggle for nationhood against apartheid South Africa. Ahead of last Wednesday’s general election there had been some speculation that it would suffer the fate of other liberation parties in the region. South Africa’s African National Congress lost its outright parliamentary majority in May and the Botswana Democratic Party was kicked out of power after nearly six decades following October’s election.
WHAT DELE FAROUNBI WROTE ABOUT AFE BABALOLA
WHAT DELE FAROUNBI WROTE ABOUT AFE BABALOLA This is not a biography for I have painstakingly provided glimpses of my early life in an earlier sequel to my first book. My purpose here is to tell you the story of my sojourn within the Nigerian legal system and to show you how our justice system- the Nigerian justice system is in itself criminal, lending credence to how the criminality of the juthciary is completely reflective of the Nigetian state in its full ramifications and with full evidence of how this rot having become systemic is insidious and reaches to the very top of the juthcial system. I will tell you the story of the complete and total loss of the capacity, to deliver justice against the backdrop of a case that was decided by the Supreme Court and which records are in the public domain. I speak specifically of the case of Major Muritala Gbadamosi 8c Ors v. H.R.H Oba Tijani Akinloye & Ors otherwise known as the Gbadamosi-Eletu case. It is my conternion regarding this case: 1 That Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgment in the service of his clients. The story I intend to tell is wrapped around the above facts and have been carefully espoused to highlight only the facts of the matter. Afterall, of what use is a lawyer without his facts?
OUR GAINS FROM VISIT TO FRANCE, BY ENUGU GOVERNOR, PETER MBAH
OUR GAINS FROM VISIT TO FRANCE, BY ENUGU GOVERNOR, PETER MBAH Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has described President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to France as a significant step toward strengthening bilateral relations and opening new opportunities for subnational governments like Enugu State. Speaking on the sidelines of the visit to reporters in Paris, Governor Mbah, who was on the Nigerian delegation, emphasised the importance of such high-level engagements in driving growth and development at both national and state levels. “This visit demonstrates the strong relationship between Nigeria and France. It’s not just about diplomacy; it’s also about creating opportunities for states like ours to explore trade, investment, and development partnerships,” he said. Governor Mbah highlighted ongoing collaborations with France’s development finance institution, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), which he said, was already partnering with the state to expand Enugu’s urban water scheme. He noted that the visit provided a platform to consolidate existing deals and explore additional areas of cooperation such as agriculture. “For us in Enugu, this is beyond an exploratory mission. It is an opportunity to strengthen and build on partnerships that can directly impact our people through enhanced infrastructure and economic growth,” he stated. He described the state visit to France as “remarkable and consequential,” emphasising its significance as the first such visit in 24 years. Mbah highlighted the warm reception extended by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, as well as the fruitful discussions that underscored the strong bilateral ties between Nigeria and France. “This visit demonstrates the strong bilateral relationship between France and Nigeria. State visits like this further strengthen and build on such relationships, offering opportunities for both nations to explore new trade and investment prospects,” Mbah stated.
POLICE ARRAIGN DELE FAROUNBI OVER ALLEGED DEFAMATION OF AFE BABALOLA
POLICE ARRAIGN DELE FAROUNBI OVER ALLEGED DEFAMATION OF AFE BABALOLA Human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has been arraigned before an Ekiti State Magistrate Court. Farotimi, who was arrested in Lagos on Tuesday by operatives of the Ekiti state police command was brought to the court at about 10:25am Wednesday. The activist lawyer is being prosecuted on a 16-court charge of defamation of character against a legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola SAN. He was accused of having malign and defame the character of Afe Babalola in his recently published book titled, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’
TINUBU ORDERS REVIEW OF TAX REFORM BILLS AS PROTEST PERSISTS IN NASS
TINUBU ORDERS REVIEW OF TAX REFORM BILLS AS PROTEST PERSISTS IN NASS Following the controversy trailing the Tax Reforms Bills, President Bola Tinubu has directed the Ministry of Justice to work closely with the National Assembly to address the concerns raised by Nigerians. The President, who is in South Africa, handed down the review order on Tuesday as some northern youths stormed the National Assembly in support of the bills. The bills – the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill – have generated hot debates and contention across the country with northern governors and lawmakers opposed to their passage. Critics argue that the reforms could disrupt the balance of fiscal federalism, potentially centralising tax authority and diminishing state revenues. However, in a move to assuage the high emotion over the reform bills, Tinubu directed the Federal Ministry of Justice and relevant officials who worked on the draft to collaborate with the National Assembly to address all genuine concerns before the bills were passed. This was contained in a statement signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, titled, ‘President Tinubu committed to accountability on tax bills, directs Ministry of Justice to work with NASS on concerns.’ Tinubu’s directive The minister said, “In line with the established legislative procedure, the Federal General welcomes meaningful inputs that can address whatever grey areas there may be in the bill. “In this vein, President Tinubu has already directed the Federal Ministry of Justice and relevant officials who worked on the drafts to work closely with the National Assembly to ensure that all genuine concerns have been addressed before the bills are passed.” Notably, at a meeting on October 28, governors of the 19 Northern States, under the platform of the Northern Governors’ Forum, rejected the new derivation-based model for Value-Added Tax distribution in the tax reform bills. They argued that the changes might adversely affect their regions’ financial autonomy. Three days later, the National Economic Council, comprising all 36 state governors, asked the President to withdraw the Tax Reforms Bill from the National Assembly for comprehensive consultations. However, the President said there would be no need to withdraw the bill from the National Assembly. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State warned that while the President could deploy his executive powers to pass the tax bills, there would be consequences for millions of Nigerians. Zulum added that the proposed VAT-sharing model will only benefit Lagos and Rivers states. But Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and many other northern leaders endorsed the bills. Nonetheless, the Senate passed the bills for a second reading, a move that has been met with harsh criticisms. In its statement on Monday, the Presidency said most reactions from political leaders and commentators “are not grounded in facts, reality, or sufficient knowledge of the bills.” It said the tax bills will not enrich Lagos or Rivers at the expense of northern states. Corroborating the Presidency’s stance, the information minister said, “The fiscal reforms will not impoverish any state or region of the country, neither will they lead to the scrapping or weakening of any federal agencies.” The Federal Government welcomed the nationwide debate on the bills saying, “This is the very essence and meaning of democracy.” Protest in NASS Meanwhile, Some youths from the North, on Tuesday, staged a protest at the National Assembly in support of the tax reform bills. Bearing placards mostly with the inscription, ‘Leave Senator Barau alone,’ the protesting youths described critics of the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, over his support for the reform bills as “enemies of the North, enemies…
IF YOU CONTINUE THIS WAY YOU WILL MILK NIGERIA TO DEATH – OBI OF ONITSHA TO POLITICIANS
IF YOU CONTINUE THIS WAY, YOU WILL MILK NIGERIA TO DEATH – OBI OF ONITSHA TO POLITICIANS The Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe has warned the political class over the increasing level of corruption in the country. The monarch urged those in leadership to put public interest above personal and individualistic desires, insisting that this is the only way Nigeria will grow. He shared his concerns over the economic situation in the country in Abuja at the public presentation of a book,’Bold Leap’ authored by Senator Chris Anyanwu. His Royal Majesty warned that with the increasing level of corruption in the country which is akin to milking a cow, the cow would soon die if incorruptible milking was not stopped. He condemned the attitude of the political class towards accountability and good governance, likening it to the ignoble attitude to milking the cow continuously without replenishing and sustaining it. The Obi of Onitsha said: “Should we continue milking the cow, it will die. In this country, since independence, we’ve been talking and talking and talking and talking and talking. I think it’s time we begin to think about doing something because we have two alternatives. Keep milking the cow until it dies, because of our sectional interests, which we tend to protect, and our personal interests. People go into public service, not to serve the public, but to serve their interests. “Either we keep doing that and milk the cow to death, or we do the opposite and place Nigeria above everything else. “And I would like to add that time is not too much in our favour. It’s either we milk the cow to death very, very fast, or we can turn around the country very, very fast.” Bold Leap, which had a gathering of Nigerians made up of former Presidents, ex- Presidents of the Senate, past and present senators, and former governors is an autobiography of Senator Anyanwu with 600 pages, three parts, and 19 chapters. President Bola Tinubu was represented by the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Zaphaniah Jisalo, the Chairman of the event and former President Olusegun Obasanjo was represented by former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark; former President Goodluck Jonathan was represented by ex-President of the Senate, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Jaja of Okpobo, former Senators, former Anambra State governors, Chris Ngige and Peter Obi, Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF’s spokesperson, Dr. Obiuwevbi Ominimini, Senators, Captains of Industry, among others were present at the event.
UK TO DEPORT NIGERIAN PASTOR OVER ALLEGED FRAUD
UK TO DEPORT NIGERIAN PASTOR OVER ALLEGED FRAUD A Nigerian pastor whose church was shut down over an alleged £1.87 million fraud has lost his fight against deportation, despite claiming it would breach his human rights, News360 Nigeria reports. An immigration tribunal has ruled that Tobi Adegboyega, 44, the cousin of John Boyega, the Star Wars actor, should be deported back to his native Nigeria after investigations, including by The Telegraph, exposed misuse of funds by his church. Mr Adegboyega was head of SPAC Nation, a controversial church shut down after failing to properly account for more than £1.87 million of outgoings and operating with a lack of transparency. He claimed deportation would breach his right under the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) to a family life – having married a British woman. He also said the attempt to remove him by the Home Office failed to take account of his community work with SPAC. Describing a “charismatic” community leader of a large, well-organised church, his legal team claimed that he had “intervened in the lives of many hundreds of young people, predominantly from the black communities in London, to lead them away from trouble”. He claimed his work had been “lauded” by politicians including Boris Johnson and senior figures within the Metropolitan Police, although no testimony by them was submitted to the court. He said that without his personal presence in London, projects that he had masterminded would fall apart or reduce in size. However, the tribunal was told the Home Office contended “all is not as it seems”. “Various manifestations of [Mr Adegboyega’s] church have been closed down, by either the Charity Commission or the High Court, because of concerns over its finances and lack of transparency,” according to the judgment. ‘Selling their own blood’ “Former members of the church have alleged that it is a cult, in which impoverished young people are encouraged to do anything they can to donate money, including taking out large loans, committing benefit fraud and even selling their own blood. “It is alleged that the church leadership lead lavish lifestyles and there have, it is said, been instances of abuse. The [Home Office’s] case before us was that all of this needs to be taken into account when evaluating whether [Mr Adegboyega] is in fact of real value to the UK.” Mr Adegboyega has lived in the UK unlawfully since overstaying on a visitor’s visa that allowed him to enter Britain in 2005. In 2019, he applied for leave to remain under ECHR’s right to a family life. His application was initially dismissed by a first-tier immigration tribunal before he appealed. In the tribunal, he maintained no one had ever faced criminal charges over his church’s finances, that many of the attacks on him and SPAC Nation were politically motivated and that claims it was a cult were unfounded. However, the tribunal was told the Charity Commission concluded “there had been serious misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration of the charity which was sustained over a substantial period of time”. The tribunal also found Mr Adegboyega’s evidence to be “hyperbolic in many instances” and had “sought to grossly inflate his influence”. “We find it to be implausible that he has the time to undertake all of this work personally,” it said. The tribunal concluded: “We are not satisfied that the good work that SPAC Nation undertakes generally would collapse or even significantly suffer should the Appellant be required to leave the UK. “Weighing all of the foregoing in the balance we conclude that the decision to refuse leave to remain was wholly proportionate. “[Mr Adegboyega] seeks to rely on family and private life relationships, all of which have been established whilst he was in…
NORTHERN SENATORS DEMAND SUSPENSION OF ACTION ON TAX REFORM BILLS
NORTHERN SENATORS DEMAND SUSPENSION OF ACTION ON TAX REFORM BILLS Northern senators have called for the suspension of further legislative action on the controversial Tax Reform Bills, which recently passed second reading in the Senate. The lawmakers made this demand during a meeting on Monday, citing potential adverse effects on northern states. The House of Representatives had at the weekend announced that it has suspended debate on the bills due to public outcry and resistance from some northern lawmakers. The proposed tax laws, submitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the parliament, have sparked heated debates nationwide. Group gives police 48 hours to explain death of ex-NLC bossSuspend planned retirement of 1,000 staff, Reps tell CBNCritics, including northern governors, traditional rulers, and lawmakers, had urged the president to withdraw the bills for broader consultation. But the president insisted that the bills should be allowed to undergo legislative process. Senator Buba Umaru Shehu, All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi State, who revealed the outcome of the northern senators’ meeting in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service yesterday, said northern senators from both the ruling APC and the opposition parties agreed on the need for the suspension of action on the proposals. “These bills are complex and require thorough review by tax policy experts,” he said. He criticised the perceived haste in advancing the bills, which were deliberated on for only a few days. Senator Shehu said northern lawmakers strongly oppose the proposed “derivation” formula in the value added tax (VAT) distribution system, arguing that northern states would be unfairly impacted. He warned that passing the bills without careful review could have long-term consequences. Also confirming their decision to Daily Trust yesterday, Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno) said the northern senators met with their governors and other leaders where they agreed to advise for the withdrawal of the tax reform bills for further consultations and buy-in. He said this was in line with the suggestions of traditional rulers and the National Economic Council (NEC), adding that state assemblies in the region would also voice out their objections soon. He equally said some provisions in the bills clashed with the Nigerian constitution and would not stand. “I am surprised that the motion which we agreed was not mentioned today (Tuesday) at the plenary, but I am hopeful that tomorrow (Wednesday), the Chief Whip of the Senate (Tahir Monguno) will bring a motion for the withdrawal of the bills as agreed in that meeting. “This is not the first time such a thing has been done; some good examples include the water resource bill when our friends from the South raised concerns and it was withdrawn. We had the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which was withdrawn on several occasions in the House of Representatives and the Senate before it was finally passed after more than ten years. “As I said before and I will repeat it, why the hurry? This is something that should be done after wide consultation because it requires the buy-in of all stakeholders,” he said. Ndume also dismissed the claim in some quarters that they were using the tax reform imbroglio to play politics ahead of 2027. “No; somebody has to be principled. Politically, I am the second oldest legislator in the National Assembly. I am used to saying it as it is. I am not playing the script of anybody. If I have any political leader today, (former president, Muhammadu) Buhari is supposed to be number one and then President Tinubu. I cannot speak against them but I can disagree with them,” he said. In the House of Representatives, where the deliberations on the proposed laws have been suspended, Rep. Muhammad Bello Shehu Fagge said “We’ve observed the public’s anger over the…
BISHOP KUKAH TUTORS TINUBU’S SPOKESPERSONS ON COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES: IT’S NOT ABOUT INSULTING PEOPLE
BISHOP KUKAH TUTORS TINUBU’S SPOKESPERSONS ON COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES; ITS NOT ABOUT INSULTING PEOPLE Founder of The Kukah Centre, Bishop Mathew Kukah, has emphasized the need for better communication strategies from President Bola Tinubu’s Spokespersons, urging them to focus on effectively conveying the government’s message rather than resorting to insults or dismissing differing opinions.Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, Kukah called on the administration to engage Nigerians constructively, especially during a time of widespread poverty and economic hardship. He stressed that clear communication is essential for reassuring the public and fostering patience as the government works through its proposed reforms. Bishop Kukah said, “What I can say is that this government must respond urgently to the issues of the day. They are issues of massive impoverishment in Nigeria. You can see the frustration on the faces of people, husbands, wives and children. “I am convinced that this government has lofty ideas, but there is a total absence of a constructive strategy of engagement.” He urged government officials to communicate effectively, stating, “This government needs communication strategies. The Nigerian government needs to convince Nigerians that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and encourage them to be a little patient. “I see the conversation around local government autonomy, tax reform bills and others. But the government has to communicate with the people. So when people call themselves government spokespersons- it is not about insulting people, or thinking others can’t have different views. But their job is how the ideas of the government are communicated. We need to have an idea of the government reforms. “We are happy to hear of the return of Port Harcourt Refinery. And the government needs to tell people what and what to expect at so-so time.” Bishop Kukah also cautioned against the government’s tendency to blame predecessors for current challenges. “By now, Nigerians are tired of hearing the government saying “we didn’t think things were this bad”. They must have had an idea of what was going on before contesting. So, when they say we have $30 million in our reserves. They should know the money should increase before they leave office. People come into government to solve problems and not to compound them. And you must have round pegs in round holes. “Government must not take the loyalty of people for granted. Winning elections isn’t about getting into power and then waiting to win another one,” he added.