KANO EMIRATE TUSSLE: WHY ADO BAYERO MAY NOT RECLAIM HIS THRONE
KANO EMIRATE TUSSLE: WHY ADO BAYERO MAY NOT RECLAIM HIS THRONE The appointed Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II and the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, arecboth laying claim to the throne of Kano Emirate. Since May, Emir Sanusi II has assumed duty at the main palace, while the deposed Emir Ado Bayero, leads from the royal house in Nasarawa, another part of Kano city. Justice Abdullahi Liman of the federal high court Kano had ruled that the appointment of Sanusi as emir of Kano was null and void. Although a federal high court in Kano nullified all actions by the Kano state government repealing the Kano Emirates Council Law of 2019, the Abba Yusuf administration said Sanusi remains the Emir. In this report, we look at the reasons why Bayero may find it difficult to reclaim the royal seat from Sanusi. 1) State governments are empowered to appoint and remove traditional rulers By law, the appointment of traditional rulers is the duty of the state government, which, in this case, is in support of Sanusi. The issues surrounding the appointment and removal of traditional rulers are outside the jurisdiction of the federal high court. The institution of traditional rulership is in the exclusive purview of the state government. The control of state governments over their traditional institutions is also to provide checks and balances so that erring traditional rulers can be called to order. Influence of governors over traditional institutions Over the past couple of decades, traditional rulers in Nigeria have seen their influence and powers watered down from the height they occupied in the pre-independence era and immediately after independence. The military incursion in 1966 dealt the first blow to the influence of the traditional rulers. The 1976 local government reforms further stripped traditional rulers of their constitutional role, and the framers of the 1999 constitution did not include the institution in the document. In the last couple of years, there has been a strong clamour from traditional rulers for their inclusion in the constitution. In 2019, the monarchs made a strong push for their inclusion in the constitution. During the last alteration, the traditional rulers, through the coordinating committee of the council, submitted a memorandum to the national assembly. In the memorandum, the traditional rulers, among other things, proposed that “the constitution should recognise the chairmen of the states’ councils of chiefs as members of the council of state as it has been in all the Nigerian constitutions.” However, the lawmakers did not incorporate the recommendations during the last modification. In the absence of constitutional roles, traditional rulers are governed by chieftaincy laws in different states. Often, governors use these laws to influence the selection of traditional rulers or even arbitrarily remove them. 2. Tinubu may not agree to help Ganduje It is a well-known fact that Rabiu Musa Kwankwakso has a personal grudge against the Kano Emirate Council Law 2019. Kwankwaso and Abdullahi Ganduje, the current national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), two former Kano governors, were allies before they fell out a few years ago over political differences in the state.Though Bayero has Ganduje on his side, President Bola Tinubu may not agree to help Ganduje (his top ally) and intervene to support Bayero. This is to avoid political consequences.
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- July 2, 2024
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CHAMPIONS, ENUGU RANGERS, SIGN TEENAGE SENSATION, CHIMOBI IGWILO ON THREE-YEAR CONTRACT
CHAMPIONS, ENUGU RANGERS, SIGN TEENAGE SENSATION, CHIMOBI IGWILO, ON THREE-YEAR CONTRACT The youngster signed from the team’s youth team and would be expected to challenge for a place in coach Fidelis Ilechukwu’s squad to successfully defend the trophy and go far in the CAF Champions League 2024/2025. “It is a dream come true for me as I have been dreaming of putting on the jerseys of the great club, Rangers International F.C,” Igwilo said. “I am humbled by this decision to hand me a contract and I hope to give my best in every situation to ensure that we succeed as a team.” G.M/CEO of Rangers Amobi Ezeaku said the club are excited to sign Igwilo. “Igwilo is a special talent and management is happy to have him put pen to paper for us to showcase his talent to the world,” he said.“He has a lot that will be thrilling to behold when the new season commences.”
VETERAN PRESIDENTIAL CONTESTANT, ATIKU ABUBAKAR, MAY RIDE ON BUHARI’S BACK TO CONTEST 2027 ELECTION
VETERAN PRESIDENTIAL CONTESTANT, ATIKU ABUBAKAR MAY RIDE ON BUHARI’S BACK TO CONTEST 2027 PRESIDENCY Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President of Nigeria, may ride on the wing of the current hardship, occasioned by the removal of subsidy on petrol and other harsh economic policies of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government to stand as a major contender for the presidency in 2027 — if he decided to seek office for the seventh time. Atiku had in the last 20 years attempted — albeit unsuccessfully — to become Nigeria’s president. He contested against Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola in the famous June 12, 1993 presidential primaries, where Abiola and Babagana Kingbe emerged as candidates of the then Social Democratic Party (SDP). In 2003, Atiku contested on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Later in 2011, he vied for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primaries against President Goodluck Jonathan and in 2015 he contested against Buhari at the general election and lost. In 2019 and 2023, he was the PDP presidential candidate and lost the main elections. In this report, we consider why Atiku may ride on the back of former President Buhari to seek to contest the 2027 election. 1) Northern alliance Atiku’s recent visits to past Nigerian presidents from the north are most likely part of a plot to unseat President Tinubu in the 2027 poll. Politically, the North is unarguably the most powerful region in Nigeria. It is the premise on which the amalgamation of Nigeria was founded. The North was to have political power while the South had economic/commercial power. Thus each divide (North/South) have found a way to consciously or unconsciously perpetuate this over the years. Atiku had in the last three weeks visited former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Buhari. The series of visits by Atiku had political undertones, as it was the commencement of a plot to remove Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. 2) Tinubu’s government blame game Tinubu’s government had faulted Buhari for the state of the nation, particularly the current economic crisis. A former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole (now a senator representing Edo North senatorial district), is also of the view that Nigerians are currently suffering from what he described as “reckless policies” of former President Buhari. Oshiomhole, who spoke in an interview with a television station, said the current hardship being witnessed under the current administration was the long-term consequences of policies of Buhari’s administration. Some supporters of the Tinubu administration like the Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II and pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, have also blamed Buhari for the country’s current woes. This would not sit well with him (Buhari) and his staunch supporters. 3) Tinubu’s seeming lack of confidence in Buhari’s appointees On June 19, 2023, President Tinubu fired all service chiefs appointed by his predecessor. Other influential principal officers who served under the Buhari administration disengaged by President Tinubu include Godwin Emefiele, Abdulrasheed Bawa, Babagana Monguno, and Lauretta Onochie..
STOP USING MY NAME – ALISON MADUEKE WARNS EX-WIFE, DIEZANI
STOP USING MY NAME – ALISON MADUEKE WARNS EX-WIFE, DIEZANI Rear Admiral Alison Amaechina Madueke has petitioned the court for an injunction restraining his ex-wife, Diezani Alison-Madueke, from using his first name (Alison) and surname (Madueke) following the dissolution of their marriage. He prayed the court to grant an order directing the respondent (Diezani) to adopt and revert to her pre-marital surname (Agama), and issue publications in newspapers of national circulation in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom of a notice of her discontinuation of the use of the petitioner’s first name and surname. The petition, in the high court of Lagos, suit no LD/15144HD/2024, sought that the ex-wife desist from using the petitioner’s name, which poses a significant risk of legal and financial harm to the petitioner as the respondent faces criminal trials in Nigeria and UK. The petition stated that they had stopped living together in May 2015 after her ministerial appointment. He further stated that in November 2021, Diezani filed a petition for dissolution of marriage (Suit No. NSD/MG345/2021) at the High Court of Nassarawa State, Nassarawa Judicial Division, sitting at Mararaba Gurku, and on April 13, 2022, judgment was delivered in Suit No. NSD/MG345/2021 by Hon. Justice A.A. Ozegya, dissolving the marriage between the Petitioner and the Respondent on the ground that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. The retired naval officer in his petition, also stated that the respondent faces public allegations of corruption and financial misconduct, for which trials are ongoing for both. The persistent portrayal of the respondent as the spouse of the petitioner is creating embarrassment, a misleading impression and tarnishing the reputation, integrity, and public image of the petitioner. Even though the marriage has been dissolved and is now legally finalized, the respondent, more than two years later, continues to use the Petitioner’s first name (Alison) and surname (Madueke) as her own without any justification or consent from the Petitioner, which falsely suggests to the public continuing relationship between the parties, though same has since legally ended. According to the statement, the petitioner instructed his solicitors to address a letter to the respondent, requesting her to cease the ongoing use of his first name and surname.Messrs Foundation Chambers had sent a formal letter, dated 14th December 2023 urging the Respondent to revert to her pre-marital name (Diezani Kogbeni Agama) following the legal dissolution of the marriage.
‘IF YOU’RE ANGRY, GO HANG YOURSELF ON A TRANSFORMER’ – WIKE TO SENATOR KINGIBE
‘IF YOU’RE ANGRY, GO HANG YOURSELF ON A TRANSFORMER’ – WIKE TO SENATOR KINGIBE The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has told the Senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, to go and hang herself on a transformer if she is not happy with what he is doing in the FCT. Wike also declared that he is not asking to be anybody’s friend, but his focus is on doing the job for which he was appointed by President Bola Tinubu. The Minister said this on Monday in response to an earlier claim by the Senator that FCT residents are not impressed with Wike’s performance. She had alleged that Wike is out of touch with the needs of the FCT residents. According to her, the FCT has no schools, no hospitals and lacks potable water. However, Wike, in response, told her that he is not in office to please her, adding that he has done well within the short time of his appointment. He also questioned the contributions of Senator Kingibe to the welfare and development of the FCT/Abuja residents since she assumed office as their legislator in the National Assembly. Wike went ahead to challenge Kingibe to contest the FCT seat again in 2027 if she thinks she’s popular.A confident Wike assured that she would lose the election, saying what happened the last time would not repeat itself.
DISQUIET IN DSS AS DIRECTORS ALLEGEDLY RETIRED SINCE 2020 REMAIN IN OFFICE COLLECTING SALARIES
DISQUIET IN DSS AS DIRECTORS ALLEGEDLY RETIRED SINCE 2020 REMAIN IN OFFICE, COLLECTING SALARIES There are concerns among workers and officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) following discoveries that a number of directors in the secret police have refused to vacate their offices despite retiring from the service. Such practice of remaining in office after retirement is reportedly common among DSS directors against the public service rules. Sources told SaharaReporters on Monday that the development was causing internal wrangling in DSS as workers and officials of the Nigerian security outfit were said to be demotivated and angry about it. “There are three notorious cases involving Adeleke S. Ayodele, Mohammed Al Hassan Ndatsu, and Kamba Damana, as directors who have chosen to retain their offices years after their retirement,” one of the sources said. Records showed that Adeleke S. Ayodele was enlisted in the service in August 1984 and retired in 2019 after 35 years of service. Staff are, however, surprised that Ayodele is still serving as the Commandant, National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) owned by the DSS. Another case is that of Mohammed Al Hassan Ndatsu, who was enlisted in the service in October 1988 and retired in 2020 after attaining 60 years old. But Ndatsu is still serving as the State Director of Security (SDS) in Kano State. Also another case of Kamba Damana, who joined the service in April 1990 and retired on 25th June 2020 was said to be baffling as he continues to serve as the director of DSS Ikoyi Office. It was gathered that the practice had portrayed the DSS in bad light as it was said to be stifling growth, promoting mediocrity and demotivating workers. “This is a flagrant abuse of internal processes, laid-down procedures and rules of engagement. They are doing it without anybody challenging them. “It is killing the morales of other officers, who are aspiring to reach the pinnacle of their careers in the service”, one of the officials said. Some of the officers called on President Bola Tinubu to compel the DSS management to sanitise its records by immediately sending the retired directors out of the system. They also demanded that all the salaries and allowances paid to them from the year of their retirement till date should be retrieved to act as a deterrent for others plotting to do the same.SaharaReporters’ efforts to get the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, have not been successful as of press time.
HOW TINUBU LED FEDERAL GOVT PAID OVER N800M INTO PRIVATE ACCOUNTS IN CONTRAVENTION OF LAW
HOW TINUBU-LED FEDERAL GOVT PAID OVER N800M INTO PRIVATE ACCOUNTS IN CONTRAVENTION OF LAW Available government data from Govspend.ng portal has showed that over N809 million was paid into individual bank accounts by the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government as humanitarian interventions among others. According to checks, the money was disbursed in over 65 payments made into individual accounts by the government in contravention of the law. The monies were paid under items such as; engagement of Internally Displaced Persons, Needs assessment of humanitarian interventions, proposal of technical dialogues, renewal of rents, stipends among others . These monies were paid by the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry, the Presidency, the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, among others The following individuals were tracked in the analysis; Abbas Haruna (N10 million), Ogun Cletus (N7.9 million), Kaosindinma Chinyere (N25.6 million), Gana Ahmed (N5.1 million) Joseph Sunday (N5.3 million) Rabiu Ramala (N5.5 million), Amaefule Ann (N8.3 million), Abubakar Isa (N7.4 million), Chidi Stephen (N19.6 million), Abubakar Auwal (N5.3 million), Agbim Bariya (N19.6million), Oshamo Titilayo (N9.1 million), Abdullahi Bala (N5.7 million), Prof Hassan Usman (N7.0 million), Usman Garba (N14 million), Oteri Bala (N8.2 million). Adekan Kazeem (N10.5 million), Muktar Badayi ( N9.7 million), Ojo Olaoluwa N6.6 million, Quadri Taiwo N8.1 million, Ahmed Bomai N26.9 million, Umar Idris N5.3 million, Balogun Taiwo N10.8million. Others were; Dr Suleiman Abubakar N12.7 million, John Bello N5.5 million, Ahmed Abdullahi (N9.1 million), Ambi Bulus (N7.8 million), Jacob Jonathan (N6 million), Micheal Sunday (N5.5 million ), Sarki Haruna (N5.5 million), Adigwe Augustina ( N5.5 million), Usifoh Sunday (N5.5 million), Taiwo Ademola (N7 million), Muhktar Badayi (N7.1 million), Uko Charles (N12 million), Iyanda Abiodun (N6.3 million), Ngene Bashir (N8.4 million), Umar Idris (N9.9 million), Attahitu Aminu (N6.3 million), Musa Lawal (N6.5 million), Balogun Micheal (N10.7 million), Balogun Taiwo (N6..8 million) and Pam Dauda (N6.5 million). The office of the Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs also paid significant amounts into individual accounts. The following persons received monies into their accounts from the office of the special assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs. They were; Olu Akanni (N38.4 million), Felix Bonny (N25 million), Chief Biba Piri (N13.3 million), Sylvester Tambo (N9.1 million ), Joseph Evah (N22.4 million), Odiki Jacob (N33.2 million), Reuben Wilson (N26.6 million), Sobamabo Jackrich (N13.3 million), Abraham Ibitari (N19.8 million), Joseph Evoh (N21.9 million), Felix Bonny (N24.5 million), Odua Jacob (N32.5 million), Ebika Bowie (N78.9 million). Section 713 of the financial regulations act of the federal government notes that; “Personal money shall in no circumstances be- paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private bank account. An officer who pays public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intention.” Based on the law, payment of public money into personal account is a contravention and under no circumstances should public funds be paid into private account. There have been corruption allegations in Nigeria. Recently, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, was suspended by the federal government and one of the allegations was that monies in the ministry was paid into personal account.Nigeria also ranks 145 out of 180 countries by the transparency international corruption perception index, with a score of 25 out of 100 points.
NEPOTISM: LIKE BUHARI, LIKE TINUBU
NEPOTISM: LIKE BUHARI, LIKE TINUBU Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, a fortnight ago, approved the appointment of Katsina State born Tanimu Yakubu as the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, following the expiration of the tenure of Mr. Ben Akabueze. Yakubu and Edo State born Ms. Patience Oniha, who was appointed Director-General of DMO on July 1, 2017 by Yemi Osinbajo, former vice president, are presently the two names in Nigeria’s economic circle, who are not from President Tinubu’s native South West geopolitical zone, as the former Lagos State governor has since assuming office on May 29 last year, pursued what some critics have described as “nepotism pro max.” Tinubu’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari got a lot of flak for pursuing what many observers variously concluded was Islamization or Fulanization agenda. Buhari had favoured his native North West geopolitical zone in much of his strategic appointments, to the chagrin of many, who insisted that it was a breach of the constitution. But whatever anyone thought was wrong with Buhari’s appointments, Tinubu has replicated, strangely, without much outcry from Nigerians. A critical look at key appointments made by Tinubu, particularly in the strategic areas of economy and security, shows an overwhelming dominance of people from the South West geopolitical zone, including family members and very close associates. The appointment, earlier this month of 85-year-old Bisi Akande, former Osun governor and ex- interim national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to chair the University of Ibadan’s governing council, and Wole Olanipekun, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who led his defence team in the presidential petition last year, as the chairman of the University of Lagos council, among others, appear to follow a pattern of Tinubu using his office to reward associates and loyalists. The President had also last week, appointed Tunji Bello, who was in his cabinet while he was governor, as the new Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice-Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), after firing Babatunde Irukera, who is alleged to be loyal to Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. Similarly, following the push back that followed an alleged attempt by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to influence the appointment of his loyalist, Chukwuemeka Woke, as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA), the President settled for Adedeji Ashiru for the role and put Woke as the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA). Earlier in May, the President appointed Olufemi Akinyelure, son of his political ally, Chief Pius Akinyelure, whom he had appointed as the Chairman of NNPCL board, to the position of Head of Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project. Indeed, Mr. Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, as well as Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were in the Tinubu cabinet when he was governor of Lagos. And although both men’s pedigree and qualifications for their roles can hardly be questioned, their appointment, like many others, have led to allegations of the president running a South West government. “There is an on-going policy of caging the financial sector by a single geopolitical zone in the country for its pecuniary gains.The total taking over of the CBN is the latest in a series of policy steps tailored to complete the total annexation of all major economic institutions by a single ethnic group in the country. “Even the policy of seeing Lagos as the financial headquarters of Nigeria is questionable. Why only Lagos? What of Port-Harcourt or Owerri as oil headquarters of Nigeria?” wondered Chief Abia Onyike, secretary of Alaigbo Development Foundation. “The South West agenda of economic hegemony corresponds to the control of AMCON, NDIC, FIIRS etc. by the…
MANY INJURED AS EXPLOSION HITS ZUNGERU HYDRO DAM, NIGER STATE
MANY INJURED AS EXPLOSION HITS ZUNGERU HYDRO DAM, NIGER STATE An explosion has occurred at the Zungeru Hydro Electricity Dam in Niger State, leaving several workers injured and some installations damaged. The dam, yet to be officially commissioned by the Federal Government, is the fourth in the state, following Jebba, Kainji, and Shiroro. According to a reliable source, the explosion happened early morning today, with the cause still unknown. The source confirmed that many workers on duty sustained various degrees of injuries and are receiving treatment at nearby hospitals, while those critically injured have been rushed to Minna, the state capital, for further medical attention. An eyewitness reported seeing a severely injured foreign worker, believed to be Chinese, being taken to Minna for treatment.
FG TERMINATES ROAD CONTRACTS OF THREE COMPANIES OVER ALLEGED NON-PERFORMANCE
FG TERMINATES ROAD CONTRACTS OF THREE COMPANIES OVER ALLEGED NON-PERFORMANCE The Federal Ministry of Works has terminated contract numbers 6,136, 6,137 and 6,138 with Mothercat Ltd, Dantata & Sawoe Construction Ltd and RCC Ltd, respectively. The projects affected by the termination are the dualization of Obajana – Benin road, section II (Okene – Auchi) in Kogi/Edo State; the dualization of Obajana – Benin road, section III (Auchi – Ehor) in Edo State and the dualization of Obajana – Benin road section IV (Ehor – Benin) in Edo State. This is contained in a statement released by Orji Uchenna Orji, Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of Works on Monday. According to the statement, the termination became necessary in view of the alleged inordinate delay by the affected companies in job performance and their failure, neglect and refusal to fulfill their contractual obligations as required by the Standard Conditions of Contract. Orji stated that this had affected the timely completion of the projects and thus resulted in the expiration of the contracts by effluxion of time. The statement read: “The projects which were awarded on 3rd December, 2012, were advertently abandoned by the contractors and no genuine commitment or good faith was shown towards executing the projects after accepting the considerations offered by the Federal Government and thereby exposing the road users to untold hardship due to the deplorable condition of the projects. “The Honourable Minister has therefore directed the engineers in charge to take necessary steps to enter upon both the site and the works and take the same over from the affected companies. “He further directed the engineers concerned to, upon doing the needful, arrange with the affected companies for a joint measurement of work so far done by the said companies preparatory to taking over the sites from the said companies. “He warns that the Federal Ministry of Works under his watch will not condone acts of unseriousness and sabotage by contractors whose plan is to become a clog in the wheel of progress of the Renewed Hope administration which is determined to change the ugly narrative of Nigeria’s road infrastructure. “He further warns that going forward, the government will not hesitate in terminating all projects that are funded but are non-performing.” The affected contractors are yet to respond to the allegations. At the same time, the Federal Government has suspended approval for the construction of new road networks across the country. This was revealed by the Minister of Works, David Umahi on Sunday in Calabar, at the Federal Ministry for Works convened a stakeholders engagement on the proposed alignment for sections 3A and design for about 97km Spur of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project with a segment from Cross River State to South-east and North Central part of Nigeria. According to him, the decision was a result of a directive by President Bola Tinubu, adding that the ministry will be prioritising the completion of ongoing projects in the country in the 2025 budget. He explained that the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway has section 3A, about 38km, joining from the Akwa Ibom axis through Cross River State. He added that there will be a spur of the same coastal highway, about 92km in Cross River State, making it a total of 130km to be constructed within Cross River State. According to the minister of works, the 92km spur in Cross River State will cross Enugu State, Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Abuja and Lagos states. The minister frowned at the poor handling of the existing contract of Odukpani-Itu federal road, directing that the first warning will be issued to contractors to return to the site or risk revocation of their contracts. On the Lagos – Calabar coastal highway project, Umahi, described the project…