APC Wins Minjibir Constituency By-Election

                          

The Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) in Kano country has declared Alhaji Tasi’u Ibrahim of the All Progressives Congress because the winner of the state house of assembly by-election in Minjibir.

Controversy: Ekweremadu, Falana push for AGF split

 Senator Ike Ekweremadu spoke over the weekend extensively on the importance of splitting the AGF from the Ministry of Justice – The splitting was supported by other members of the National Conference Standing Committee on Law, Judiciary and Human Rights –  Femi Falana gave salient reasons why the split would strengthen justice delivery in Nigeria


Photo of Saraki and Ekweremdu

Senator Ike Ekweremadu has advocated for the split of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) from the Ministry of Justice. The senator, who is the Deputy President of the Senate said this would ensure that justice delivery is strengthened in the country. Senator Ekweremadu also noted that the separation of the two bodies was feasible. He disclosed that the proposal to separate the two offices actually sailed through during the last amendment exercise. However it could not be passed, because the Fourth Alteration Bill was not assented to by the former President, Goodluck Jonathan. He stated that he personally believed in the idea, just as he said that it was a decision for the majority of Nigerians and lawmakers to make. According to Vanguard, while speaking with journalists this weekend during a tour of the construction site of the national headquarters of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja, Ekweremadu commended the Bar leadership, under Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN, for continuing with the project, started by his predecessor. He also explained that the separation of the two offices would make whoever was appointed the AGF, to work for the people and not necessarily the government in power as a cabinet minister, and that it would ensure access to justice by citizens, devoid of any external influence. Ekweremadu said: “I believe in the separation of the two offices. I go for it any time, any day. This is because it will guarantee financial independence, security of tenure, and make the holder of the Office of the Attorney-General at the state and federal levels to be autonomous in thinking and approach to the idea of justice. It will ensure that citizens have access to justice, since the officer will not be dictated to by any external interest or influence. 

READ ALSO: Ekweremadu declares: ‘APC is wasting time trying to sack me’, receives major support

 During the last constitution amendment exercise, we (members Senate committee on the review of the 1999 constitution in the 7th National Assembly) recommend it to our colleagues, based on inputs from Nigerians, and they graciously adopted it. Unfortunately, the last President did not sign it. Although, we will be looking at all the issues again, the decision on the separation, or any other issue for that matter, will depend on what other colleagues and Nigerians would think. But as a person, I strongly believe in it.” When he was asked to speak on the on-going construction of the NBA National Secretariat, which is already nearing completion, Senator Ekweremadu said: “We want to thank the NBA President as well as his team for what he has done, because when people come into power, whether in private or government, they meet projects and abandon it, but he met the project, he has almost completed it. I feel proud today as a lawyer, lawmaker, and ordinary Nigerian, that we will have a good and befitting secretariat at the heart of Abuja. It is also an indication that the Bar has come of age and re-positioning itself for greater role in the dispensation of justice.”  The National Conference Standing Committee on Law, Judiciary and Human Rights had in April 2014 during the National Conference, adopted a recommendation for the separation of the office of Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation. Deputy Chairman of the committee, Prof Auwalu Yadudu who made this known then, had said that the recommendation was to ensure the independence of the office of the Attorney-General from political influence. According to Prof Yadudu, the two offices should not be occupied by an individual in order to ensure justice. He said: “Of course, we have adopted a recommendation that will help, if you separate the office of the Attorney General from that of the Minister of Justice. This will ensure that the person appointed to the office of the Attorney General enjoys sufficient independence and autonomy to do justice to all cases that will come before him.” Another member of the Committee, Femi Falana, SAN, speaking during the conference had said that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Minister of Justice had not worked in the public interest and should therefore, be separated. 

READ ALSO: Saraki in trouble:Read what Senators are planning to do to him over forgery charges 

Falana who noted then that there was no constitutional provision for a Minister of Justice to also serve as the attorney general, had said: “One of the reasons is constitutional. By virtue of Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution, while the President has the power to appoint an Attorney General, it is not required by law that the Attorney-General shall be the Minister of Justice. Section 174 does not say that the Attorney-General shall be the Minister of Justice but by convention over the years, the President has always asked the Attorney General to be the Minister of Justice. But in line with the common trend and based on our experience as a people, the two offices have not worked in the public interest most of the time. We had an attorney general in the recent past who, upon the completion of his term, was suspended as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria because he grossly abused the office and became the defense counsel to accused persons being tried by the government of which he was the chief law officer.” Falana also said that many attorneys general at federal and state levels terminated “serious corruption cases” by filing that government was not willing to prosecute “whereas the public was demanding for justice”. According to Falana, some also terminated cases for which they were the defence counsel before they were appointed attorneys-general. He had said: “because the minister of justice is a member of the government and the President or the governor wants a case discontinued, it is always a very difficult decision to take. We also want to relieve our colleagues of the burden of having to fight with their conscience because the president or governor has insisted that a case be discontinued.” Meanwhile on Thursday, July 22, embattled Senate president, Bukola Saraki might have made a move that will reduce or extinguish the internal opposition that has been raging in the Nigerian senate for weeks.

Crisis as return of Ribadu, Gundiri tears Adamawa APC apart

  Crisis seems to be brewing in the All Progressives Congress camp following the return of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to the party 
  A statement made by the chief of staff to Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla, while kicking against Ribadu’s return, is alleged to have started the impending crisis – Ribadu made a return to the APC after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party



Following the return of Malam Nuhu Ribadu and Marcus Gundiri to the All Progressives Congress (APC), there has been unease in the Adamawa state chapter of the party. According to Daily Trust, a statement made by the chief of staff to Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla, Abdurrahman Abba Jimeta while kicking against the move, started the impending crisis.



 READ ALSO: Ribadu makes striking return to APC

 A party chieftain who craved anonymity said the presidency had directed the Adamawa state chapter of the party to organise a grand reception for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate and that of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who lost to the incumbent governor during the 2015. Babachir David Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who hails from the state, reportedly issued a letter conveying the directive. It was gathered that some party chieftains wondered why Ribadu would be allowed to return, one year after the party wrested power from the PDP. The chief of staff addressing party supporters during the flag-off of the construction of the 37- kilometer Kiri-Shelleng road, said the plan to receive Ribadu was a waste of resources and unnecessary glorification of party deserters. 

He insisted that the returnees should follow the due process for registration, their statuses notwithstanding.   Speaking during their reception at the state secretariat of the party in Yola on Saturday, July 23, both Ribadu and Gundiri said they did not return to the APC to hijack it from Governor Jibrilla. They promised to work with the governor and other chieftains of the party to move the state forward. Gundiri  said he simply wanted to contribute more to the development of the party as a founding member. The acting chairman, Adamawa State chapter of the APC, Ibrahim Bilal, said the matter had been resolved, adding that government officials only had problem with the timing of the rally, not the return of Ribadu and Gundiri. He also denied reports that the party had been embroiled in crisis involving the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar and Governor Jibrilla on one side, and Babachir and former Governor Murtala Nyako on the other. He said they remained as united as ever, adding that the party would always welcome new members to its fold. 

READ ALSO: Atiku Abubakar protests as Ribadu returns to APC 

Announcing his return to the party on his facebook page, Ribadu stated that some of the issues that led to his exit in 2015 had been addressed in the last 15 months.
 Ribadu, a former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) boss, was a presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) before the party fused into the APC. Ribadu then left to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under which he contested for the Adamawa state governorship election but lost at the primary. Both the former EFCC boss and former governorship aspirant, Gundiri, reportedly received letters from the Adamawa chapter of the APC to enable them return to the party with their supporters. 

Source:Premium Times  

TAX SUIT AGAINST GOVERNOR IKPEAZU :FRIDAY NWOSU FILES A NOTICE OF APPEAL

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirants in Abia State, in the December 8, 2014 primaries, Mr. Friday Nwosu, has filed a notice of appeal over the judgment of the Federal High Court, Owerri, which dismissed his suit against Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu. Mr. Friday Nwosu had accused Ikpeazu of submitting a forged tax certificate and declaring false information to the PDP and INEC.

 However, the Federal High Court, Owerri, presided over by Justice Lewis Allagoa, on July 8, ruled that Nwosu failed to prove a tax forgery case against Ikpeazu and dismissed the suit. A notice of appeal on Suit no. FHC/OW/CS/191/2015, FHC/UM/CS/64/2015, FHC/CS/184/2015, filed at the Federal High Court, Owerri, between Sir Friday Nwosu(appellant) and PDP, INEC, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah, as respondents, Nwosu sought 7 reliefs: “ An order which set asides the judgment and decision of the Court delivered on July 8,2016. An order which also grants the appellant necessary consequential order including an order for the plaintiff to be returned as the duly elected governor of Abia State and an order which also grants the reliefs sought by the appellant in the originating summons.” Others include; an order which directs INEC to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued the 3rd respondent (Dr.Okezie Ikpeazu) as the elected Governor of Abia State by virtue of the April 2015 governorship election held in Abia State, an order directing the 2nd respondent (INEC) to issue a fresh Certificate of Return to the plaintiff as the elected governor of Abia State and an order allowing the appeal, among others. More so He also outlined 26 grounds of appeal and particulars of error on which the court occasioned a miscarriage of justice. According to him, “The trial Judge erred in law when he held that the plaintiff did not prove a tax forgery case against the 3rd defendant, even when information on the face of the document speaks out for themselves”.