A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the State Security Service (SSS) to grant the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, access to his medical records.

Justice Binta Nyako, in a judgment, held that the SSS objections to Mr Kanu’s request were unmeritorious.

Ms Nyako held that Mr Kanu was constitutionally entitled to have access to both the records he requested and medical doctors of his choice.

The judge, however, directed that the independent medical examination of Mr Kanu by his personal physicians should be supervised by the SSS, with the entire process recorded and sealed for security purposes.

Mr Kanu, through his team of lawyers led by Mike Ozekhome, SAN, had filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/ 2341/2022 against the SSS and its director general as 1st and 2nd respondents.

In the suit, the IPOB leader prayed the court for an order granting him leave to, “apply for judicial review in the form of an order of mandamus, compelling the respondents to allow the applicant unhindered access to his medical doctors to enable them conduct an independent examination of his present deteriorating health condition.

“An order of this Honourable Court granting leave to the applicant to apply for judicial review in the form of an order of mandamus, compelling the respondents to avail the applicant with all his medical records, from the 29th day of June 2021, till date.”

Mr Kanu listed some of the records he would require from the DSS, to include; his admission records, medical and clinical notes, nursing notes, observation charts and documentation during treatment or stay-in-hospital, laboratory test results, pharmaceutical records, radiological scans, images and reports, blood transfusion records, physiotherapy and rehabilitative treatment records, clinical findings, as well as diagnosis and treatment prescribed records.

But in a preliminary objection filed by the SSS, the security outfit urged the court to dismiss the suit for want of jurisdiction.

It argued that there was a subsisting judgement of a sister court delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo (rtd.) on June 3, 2022, in suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1585/2021 between Mr Kanu and DG of SSS and two others wherein the court dealt substantially with the issue of allowing the IPOB leader access to his personal physician.

It said the instant suit was similar to the earlier one and that Mr Kanu had filed an appeal against the judgement.

A group, Forum of State Chairmen of Defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), has made a case for former Governor Tanko Al-Makura as the next national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The endorsement is contained in a statement jointly signed by the group’s national coordinator, Kassim Mabo, national secretary, Sulaiman Oyaremi and national publicity secretary, Godwin Erhahon, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The group described the former governor as a unifier and bridge builder, stressing that Al-Makura’s emergence would promote cohesion within the party.

“The Forum for State Chairmen of the Defunct CPC is of the considered opinion that Al-Makura is the best hand for the vacant seat. This is sequel to the recent resignation of the immediate past National Chairman of the APC and the need to search for a capable, experienced and reliable personality to occupy the seat,” the group explained.

It added,

“Apart from his sterling leadership qualities, which is testified to by all party members, he is also one of the four contenders for the position during the last APC National Convention.

“Other three are the immediate past national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who has voluntarily resigned.”

The group also mentioned Saliu Mustapha, senator representing Kwara Central and George Akume, the SGF.

“We urge the party’s leadership to look in this direction in order to promote cohesion within party system,” added the group.

The APC National Working Committee announced the resignation of APC chair Abdullahi Adamu and national secretary Iyiola Omisore.

Their resignation was announced Monday during the NWC meeting by Abubakar Kyari.

Mr Kyari is acting as the APC national chairman, while deputy national secretary Festus Fuanter is acting secretary.

The Niger State House of Assembly has urged the state government to reduce the number of working days for civil servants to cushion the effect of petrol subsidy removal.

The Assembly made the call in a resolution following a matter of urgent public importance raised by Nasir Umar, member representing Paiko Constituency, during plenary on Wednesday in Minna.

Speaker of the House, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, while reading the resolution, called on government to, as a matter of urgency, reduce the number of working days for civil servants.

He also urged the executive arm to put in place necessary measures that would cushion the hardship experienced by residents of the state as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy.

Earlier, Mr Umar explained that the removal of fuel subsidy had brought untold hardship on residents, especially civil servants.

The lawmaker urged the state government to emulate some states that had come up with measures to alleviate the suffering of people.

Mr Umar also moved a motion calling on the house to direct the state Ministry for Education and the state Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB) to take measures to avert the collapse of the UK Bello Memorial Primary School in Paiko.

He said that the one-storey building primary school, which comprised eight classrooms, was poorly constructed and was on the verge of collapse.

Mr Umar noted that if nothing was done to avert the impending disaster, the lives of about 2, 300 pupils and 84 teachers were at stake.

He stated that the head teacher of the school had raised several compliant to NSUBEB through the education secretary over the deplorable condition of the building to no avail.

He, however, urged the house to direct the concerned authorities to act with immediate effect in order to avert collapse of the building.

The Senate has urged employers of labour in the country to de-emphasise age requirements as a precondition for employment in Nigeria.

The Senate resolution was sequel to the consideration and adoption of a motion at plenary on Wednesday.

The motion titled “Age Requirement Precondition for Employment in Nigeria, Urgent Need for Intervention” was sponsored by Senator Abba Moro (PDP- Benue).

Mr Moro, in his debate, said the age limit as a precondition for employment violates chapter 4, section 42(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which guarantees every citizen the right to freedom from discrimination.

He said the provision of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) had defined employment discrimination in economic terms as a violation of human rights that entails a waste of human talents with detrimental effects on productivity and economic growth.

Mr Moro said it also generated socioeconomic inequalities that undermined social cohesion, solidarity and acted as a brake on reducing poverty.

He said it was pathetic for a graduate in Nigeria who could not get a job upon graduation and decided to return to school, hoping that a higher qualification, vis-a-vis a second or Master’s Degree, could give him a better employment opportunity.

“It is ironic that a graduate in this country can serve in the National Youth Service Corps programme at age 30 but cannot be gainfully employed, thereafter on the fact that he/ she is now above 30 years, a situation that is a flagrant breach of his fundamental rights.

“The circumstances described in the foregoing present the predicament of the Nigerian youth who has the requisite qualification, knowledge, and skills and is ready to work but disqualified or excluded on the sole and unjustifiable ground that he/she is above the age limit by reason of his/ her birth,” the senator said.

Mr Moro said the sad situation had led many to commit age fraud by falsifying their age to remain within the age limit of employability in the Nigerian Civil Service and all other employers of labour in the country.

In its resolution, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity, and other relevant agencies to restrict and discourage public and private employers from depriving millions of job seekers of employment opportunities merely for not meeting age requirements.

It urged the ministry to immediately draw up policies that relate to equality of opportunity and treatment in access to employment at all levels.

The Nasarawa House of Assembly Service Commission has commenced the screening of over 100 casual workers of the state legislature for absorption into the mainstream of the state’s civil service.

Yusuf Ibrahim, a commission member, confirmed this during the exercise in Lafia on Tuesday.

Mr Ibrahim said Governor Abdullahi Sule had approved the absorption of over 100 casual staff into the civil service, hence the need for the screening.

He assured that only casual assembly workers would be given the appointments as directed by the speaker of the parliament, Ibrahim Balarabe.

“I want to assure you that only the casual staff will be absorbed into the mainstream civil service. We are here to screen the casual staff by screening their credentials, among other requirements,” Mr Ibrahim explained.

“His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule has approved the absorption of the casual staff into permanent and pensionable appointments.”

He added,

“And the Rt. Hon Speaker, Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, has given us go ahead to carry out the exercise, warning strongly that only casual staff of the House should be screened. There is no outsider that is here for the screening, people that you are seeing here are all casual staff that are working with the State House of Assembly.”

The commission’s secretary, Mohammed Musa, assured that only casual staff would be given permanent and pensionable appointments.

Mr Musa urged the beneficiaries to justify their appointments and reciprocate the gesture through a commitment to duties and hard work if finally engaged.

The Senate has urged the federal government to direct the federal ministry of works and housing to begin repairs and reconstruction of damaged portions of the Onitsha-Owerri federal road.

It urged the ministry to begin repairs on the sections between Upper Iweka Roundabout in Onitsha, in Idemili South Local Government of Anambra state that spanned 6km.

The Senate resolutions followed the consideration and adoption of a motion at the plenary on Tuesday.

The motion, titled “Urgent Need to Control the Erosion Ravaging Onitsha-Oba Section of the Onitsha-Owerri Federal Highway in Anambra State,” was sponsored by Victor Umeh (LP Anambra).

Mr Umeh, while presenting his motion, decried the devastating effects of the ravaging gully erosion and landslide on Onitsha-Owerri Federal Road, between electrical parts market and Metallurgical Training Institute, Obosi in Idemili North local government, and Oba Junction, near Rojenny games village along Onitsha-Owerri Federal Highway.

He said one lane of the affected road had been cut off by the gully erosion at the Oba junction.

He also added that the second lane was under serious threat of imminent collapse while buildings and factories within the vicinity were on the verge of collapsing into the gully.

He expressed concern that the erosion and landslide were creating traffic gridlock along the sections of the Onitsha-Owerri highways.

Mr Umeh further expressed concern over the menace of the gully erosion, stating that if the landslide was not urgently controlled, those sections of the road would completely cave in.

This, he said, is leading to a total disconnection of the highway with severe consequences and cutting off vehicular movement to Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Cross River states.

He said the Onitsha -Owerri Federal Highway was a gateway to business activities and other relationships between the Western states and South-East and South-South states.

He added that the magnitude of the menace was beyond the control of the state government.

The Senate, further in its resolution, urged the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure regular surveillance of federal highways to identify and nip erosion threats to federal roads in the bud.

It also urged the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to join in the detection and prevention of erosion menace on the highways.

The Senate urged the federal ministry of works, environment and the Ecological Fund Office to also urgently fix the erosion challenges in Obom in Abia state.

It further urged the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) to evolve workable measures to solve the erosion challenges in the country.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said the Senate could do a holistic analysis of erosion in the country and bring the report to the attention of relevant authorities to proffer a solution.

Aconstitutional lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, has urged President Bola Tinubu to align the salaries of judges in Nigeria with that of senators. Mr Ajulo said this in a statement on Monday.

He decried the disproportionate remuneration of the judiciary compared to the other two arms of government despite the significance of its works.

He said judges’ social and welfare security should also be critically addressed, including fair and improved salaries and emoluments.

Mr Ajulo drew attention to the 2022 judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which called for a substantial increment in the salaries of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and other judges.

“It is unacceptable that judges’ salaries have remained stagnant since 2008, and this necessitates immediate action,” he noted.

Mr Ajulo underscored the crucial role of the judiciary in upholding democracy and serving as the common man’s refuge in governance, stressing that despite shouldering the burden of political irregularities and providing justice for politicians, the judges’ wages do not reflect the significance of their work.

“With less than 300 federal judicial officers compared to over 400 politicians at the national assembly receiving substantial salaries and emoluments, it is imperative to ensure that judges receive salaries commensurate with their indispensable role.”

The salaries of Nigerian judges have remained stagnant since 2008, when they were last reviewed.

Judges receive about N4 million per annum, considered far below what their counterparts earn in other countries.

Nigeria’s anti-corruption group, Human and Environmental Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the tenure of the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, over several allegations of corruption and abuse of office against him.

In a four-page petition document signed by HEDA’s chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, and issued as a statement on Sunday, HEDA decried the lack of any investigation or report by anti-corruption agencies of some allegations as conveyed by media reports and documentary evidence in total disregard for the rule of law while Mr Malami was Minister of Justice.

HEDA, in its petition, which was copied to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, also cited several corruption allegations against Mr Malami.

The group mentioned ten alleged corrupt practices connected to his name, including distributing 30 cars worth over N1 billion as gifts to his supporters in Kebbi State.

The group said the cars, widely reported by PremiumTimes in May 2022, included 14 Mercedes Benz, 8 Prado SUVs, 4 Toyota Hilux and 4 Lexus LX and the beneficiaries were social media influencers, executive members of Mr Malami’s foundation and women support groups.

“Illegal auctioning of sea vessels holding crude oil seized by the Federal Government, violating Section 31(2) and (4) of the EFCC Act 2004 and assuming the role conferred on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission as reported by The Cable Newspaper on the 13th July 2020.

“Alleged duplicity of payment of $16.9 million fees to two friends as new lawyers for the recovery of the loot traced to a former Nigerian Head of State, Sanni Abacha, after a Swiss lawyer, Enrico Monfrini, hired and fully paid by the previous government, to help in the recovery had completed his brief as reported by PremiumTimes on the 10th of April, 2018.

It was alleged that Mr Malami undertook the action with the intention of kickback from the deal.

“Allegedly seeking the withdrawal of cases against Bello Adoke, Diezani Alison-Madueke, Abubakar Aliyu and others involved in the Malabu scandal through his letters to former President Buhari on the ground of lack of significant evidence to prove allegations of sharp practices against prominent players in OPL 245 oil deal.

As reported by PremiumTimes on the 18th of February, 2018.The group is also asking the anti-corruption agency to investigate the returns of looted funds of $78 million to Nigeria and how his office instituted cases on behalf of Nigeria in Italy and the United Kingdom against the same suspects.

HEDA said that Mr Malami confessed to a conflict of interest in his recent book, “Traversing the Thorny Terrain of Nigeria’s Justice Sector; My Travails and Triumphs” (page 30) that “Muhammad Adoke, former Attorney-General, gifted some books, an office desk and chairs while setting up my new office.

“Though a friend to my principal, Mr Adoke and I had developed a direct relationship and because of how frequently I was in court, Mr Adoke gave me files to handle….”. This personal and conflicted relationship with Mr Adoke was never disclosed while pretending to discharge his official functions over the matter.”

“Reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) into the Federal Civil Service under a controversial circumstances defying due process, and indicating compromise of Malami by Maina after his dismissal in 2013 for corruption and declared wanted by EFCC as reported by Daily Trust Newspaper of April 3rd, 2018.

“This was after Malami admitted before Senate ad hoc Committee that he met with Maina in Dubai, at a time when Maina was wanted by the EFCC for over N2billion corruption.

“Mr Malami also displayed his unpretentious hatred for the fight against corruption by writing a letter dated 16th December 2016 to withdraw the case of fraud filed against Mr. Godsday Orubebe, the former Minister of Niger Delta, filed by the ICPC in a case involving over N1.97 billion, on the ground that, in his opinion, there was no basis for filing the charges.

“Meanwhile, HEDA said it strongly believes that those allegations are too serious to be ignored or allowed to go without investigation and therefore demanded thorough, immediate, and urgent investigation of Mr Malami for the sanity of the public office and image of the country.

The anti-corruption group also says it believes in the prevalence and sanctity of the rule of law, and due process.

It, therefore, asked the ICPC for diligent investigation and timeous action to restore the sanctity of the commission’s core mandate, which it said is on the verge of collapse due to the alleged abuse of power and office by public officeholders.

“We shall monitor developments on this petition and look forward to your timely response on actions embarked upon by your commission within reasonable time, considering the alleged former officer had exposed the country to unprecedented opprobrium with these and other condemnable mismanagement of his office and affairs of the country.”

The federal government has called on the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), to ensure prompt remittance of revenues to the consolidated revenue fund (CRF) by all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Zacchaeus Adedeji, special adviser on revenue to President Bola Tinubu, made the call during a visit to the chairman, FRC, Victor Muruako, on Saturday in Abuja.

Mr Adedeji said that the call was in line with Mr Tinubu’s quest to improve the revenue generation architecture of the country.

He said that the current administration was determined to ensure all revenues of the federal government were properly articulated and remitted timely into the CRF.

He stressed the need for inter-agency co-operation amongst all government-owned enterprises to ensure optimal results in revenue remittance.

The special adviser said that the Tinubu-led administration would continue to take proactive measures in ensuring that basic revenue framework of the government was adequately secured.

In his response, Mr Muruako said that the commission had, over the years, developed a culture of blocking all leakages of revenue due to the federal government.

While congratulating Mr Adedeji on his appointment, the chairman assured him of the full co-operation and maximum support of staff and management of the FRC.

The federal government had in 2022 directed the FRC to ensure 100 per cent remittance of revenue generated by fully funded agencies, departments, and commissions into the CRF.

Mr Muruako told journalists, on the sideline of the visit, that the commission was doing its best, noting, however, that task was not easy.

He said that although the commission has recorded significant improvements in compliance to the directive, much still needs to be done to improve.

“We were able to improve the nation’s independent revenue as a commission, but it was not easy getting agencies and government-owned enterprises to remit all revenues due to the government.

“In line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, MDAs are expected to ordinarily remit their internal and independent revenues to the CRF.

“However, we are in a situation where some of the MDAs are not complying and we have to keep urging them,” he said.

He commended the Senate committee of finance and House of Representative committee on finance, for assisting the commission to improve the remittance of revenue generation to the CRF.

Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto state has inaugurated a six-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the sales, auction and allocations of government assets by the immediate past administration of former Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

The commission has retired Justice Mu’azu Bindiga, a former acting Chief Judge of Gombe state, as Chairman and a lawyer Nasiru Binji as Secretary.

Other commission members are Jecob Ochidi, Ibrahim Dingyadi, Usman Abubakar and Lema Sambo.

Addressing the gathering on Thursday, Governor Aliyu reiterated his commitment to ensure maximum transparency and equitable dealings in his government.

He said the commission would look at land allocations, sales and auction of government houses, official vehicles, plants and machineries and related assets.

“I made a pledge during my campaign and inauguration as elected governor, my administration will ensure justice and accountability in all dealings.

“I acted on the grievances expressed by people of Sokoto state on the suspicious nature of dealings with government belongings, and lawful powers conferred on me as a Governor to checkmate excesses,” Mr Aliyu said.

The governor said members of the commission were chosen after a transparent process, adding that the chairman was from faraway Gombe, having no affiliations and knowledge of the happenings and situations in the state governance.

Speaking to reporters after the swearing in, Justice Findiga said the commission will work within the ambits of law and will be guided by the constitution and stipulated mandates.

He said their mandate covers the quantity and valuable nature of assets, sales and accrued revenues as well as whereabouts within the stipulated period of two months.

The Katsina government has set up a committee to investigate the killing of the Dabaibayawa village head in Batagarawa local government area of the state.

Isah Miqdad, an aide to Governor Dikko Radda, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Katsina, saying the incident happened about two weeks ago.

“Enraged by the kidnapping and subsequent murder of the Dabaibayawa Village Head, the government set up a committee to investigate the flagitious act.

“The committee would be chaired by the deputy governor, Malam Faruk Lawal-Jobe,” according to Mr Miqdad.

Inaugurating the committee on Thursday, the deputy governor directed them to investigate the kidnapping and murder of the village head, and fish out the culprits.

The deputy governor said the committee comprised representatives of the Police, State Security Service, and Nigeria Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Others are from the Ministry of Justice, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the Katsina Emirate Council.

He also clarified that the committee has two weeks within which to submit its report for subsequent consideration by the government.

The Katsina Emirate Council thanked the governor for constituting the committee and assured of its support to achieve the objectives behind the committee formation.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno has approved the appointment of Barkindo Saidu as Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

The governor also appointed Abdulkadir Harun as Executive Secretary of the Borno State Arabic and Sangaya Education Board (BOSASEB).

The two appointments are contained in a statement issued by Mr Zulum’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Isa Gusau, on Friday in Maiduguri.

Mr Barkindo, 54, hails from Gwoza local government area of the state, while Mr Harun, 59, hails from Ngala local government area.

Until his appointment, Mr Barkindo was the Executive Secretary/Programme Manager of Borno State agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS & Malaria (BOSACAM).

He holds a PhD in Strategic Management from the International Business Management Institute in Berlin, Germany, which he obtained in 2019.

He obtained an M.Sc. in Information Technology (IT) Project Management from the Royal Academy of Economics and Technology in Switzerland in 2013.

Another M.Sc in Ecology & Environmental Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria (2012) and another M.Sc in Medicinal & Poisonous Plants also from Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria (which is in View).

Governor Zulum said that Mr Barkindo’s appointment was based on excellent credentials and an impressive record of public service.

He congratulated the two appointees and said he looks forward to their continued service with excellence to the people of Borno and humanity.

The immediate past Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola, has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to link voters’ registers with the National Identification Number (NIN) database in order to maintain the integrity and transparency of the country’s elections.

He went on to explain that by doing so, the era of underage voting and numerous registrations would come to an end.

Aregbesola, made the remarks while presenting the lead paper, “Towards Free, Fair, and Credible Elections,” at the 7th International Conference of the Professional Statisticians Society of Nigeria (PSSN) at Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

“I am suggesting a more seamless registration system that will be continuous and terminate only a few weeks before the election, to allow for compilation and printing of cards. This registration should be synced with the NIN.

“It will automatically eliminate underage voters and the possibility of multiple registrations. More importantly, people should be able to do the registration online, on their own, just like most application processes we have today.

“They should only go to the INEC office for biometric data capture and card collection only,” the former governor said.

According to him, the second factor in the electoral process, “is the delineation of voting constituencies and polling units. This should be population-based.

There is also always chaos on election day as voters will be running helter-skelter, trying to find their polling units.

“There should be a system of notification or personal checks to avoid this confusion,” he added.

The former governor of Osun also advised INEC to train political parties on the precise roles they wou play in elections, as well as to ensure smooth and seamless distribution of electoral materials.

A federal capital territory high court has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to charge Godwin Emefiele, suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to court if they have criminal allegations against him.

The presiding judge, Hamza Muazu, said the former CBN governor should be released on bail if he is not taken to a competent court within one week.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu suspended and asked Emefiele to transfer his responsibilities to Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, deputy governor, operations directorate on June 9.

The day after, the DSS announced that Emefiele was in its custody for “some investigative reasons”.

Through his lawyer, Joseph Daudu, Emefiele filed a suit against the DSS and the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) seeking to enforce his fundamental rights.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday asked the Kano State Governorship Election Tribunal to allow it to take the 21 BVAS machines it brought as evidence back for recharging.

An INEC employee, Mr Ocheka, told the court that the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System machines required protection because when their batteries run down codes would have to be sent from China before they could be reactivated.

“Owing to safety reasons, let me go back with the BVAS to INEC office and whenever the court needs them I will bring them back,” Mr Ocheka told the tribunal.

The BVAS machines were used in 21 polling stations in 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs), namely Tudun-Wada, Gaya, Gezawa, Bunkure, Bebeji, Ungogo, Ajingi, Warawa, Karaye and Garko.

The petitioner, the All Progressives Congress (APC), on April 9, filed a petition challenging INEC for declaring Abba Kabir-Yusuf of the NNPP the winner of the March 18, 2023 gubernatorial election.

The respondents are INEC, Governor Kabir-Yusuf and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

Recall that the tribunal on June 6 granted leave to the petitioner to access and inspect the BVAS machines used by INEC in the governorship election.

At the resumed sitting, counsel to INEC, E.A. Oshayomi led Mr Ocheka to present the machines to the court.

Counsel to the petitioner, Nureini Jimoh, tendered the 21 BVAS to the tribunal to support their petition and objected to the machines being returned to INEC.

Counsel to Mr Kabir-Yusuf, R A Lawal, and Counsel to NNPP, John Baylesha, did not object to the admissibility of the BVAS machines in evidence.

“Once the petitioner tendered the machines, it is now left for the tribunal to decide where to keep them for safety reasons,” he said.

The petitioner has so far presented 18 witnesses to testify before the court to prove its case.

The three-man panel led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay adjourned the matter until July 12 for the continuation of hearing.

Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State, on Tuesday, solicited for partnership with the Nigerian navy to tackle the menace of insecurity in the state and the South East.

Mr Mbah made the call during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja.

He said the visit was to identify with the naval chief who is from the state as well as appreciate President Bola Tinubu for the honour of appointing a son of the state as CNS.

He said his administration had outlined measures to achieve exponential growth in the state through sound economic policies, adding that such policies could only succeed in a secured and peaceful environment.

The governor called on the Nigerian navy to expand its operational activities to the state, adding that his administration was ready to partner with the navy and other security services to put an end to insecurity in the South East.

“If we must deal with the root causes of insecurity, we must adopt both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to dealing with insecurity and we felt that the big elephant in the room was to address those activities that may be an inhibition to bringing in investors to our state.

“We felt that it was a clog in the wheel of our continued development, which was why immediately I took over as the governor, I convened the security council meeting.

“Following from that we made an announcement that we wanted the Monday sit-at-home to end, because we have zero tolerance to that.

“We needed to heighten our security architecture and to mobilise all the security agencies in our state to be able to deal with this, and thus far we are getting the required support we need from the various security agencies.

“We are also hoping that we are going to invite the Navy on board to join hands with us to be able to deal with these big elephants in the room,” he said.

Responding, the CNS, Mr Ogalla, said that the relationship between the Nigerian navy and other stakeholders like state governments had been instrumental to the successes they have been achieving.

Mr Ogalla said the current security challenges facing the country required the whole government approach, adding that the navy had extended its operations to cover a good part of the region.

He said the naval base and the special forces deployed in the South East had been contributing to the security apparatus in the region and promised to extend those operations further.

The CNS said the navy would continue to partner with state governments and other stakeholders to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive for the overall economic well-being and progress of the country.

“I want to assure you that the Nigerian navy will continue to support and collaborate with you for mutual benefits and progress of our dear country, Nigeria and Enugu State,” he said.

The Sokoto State House of Assembly confirmed on Tuesday the appointment of 17 special advisers to Governor Ahmad Aliyu.

At a plenary session, the Speaker of the House, Tukur Bala, presented the governor’s letter requesting the House to approve and confirm the appointment of his aides.

According to him, the request is in accordance with Section 196 and other relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

“This is on the appointment of any person to the post of Special Advisers, following due consultations in line with relevant procedures as contained in the enabling regulations.

“This is also in consideration of the government’s desire to fast-track developmental programmes across the state, which will require more hands of assistance,” he added.

The lawmakers, thereafter, adopted the request when the speaker put the matter to a voice vote.

The federal government has outlined its plan to make use of technology to monitor revenue collection in real time. 

Zacchaeus Adedeji, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Revenue disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television.

He said they will be integrating the activities of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other revenue collection agencies.

Adedeji also said they will be able to increase the country’s total annual revenue which is currently below N15 trillion, without imposing extra taxes.

He said; 

“The current administration needs to increase the nation’s revenue not through taxation but by addressing indiscipline in national spending and technologically monitoring revenue collection when agencies like FIRS and Nigerian Customs are harmonised.

“The law is very clear as to how to collect revenue. In Section 162 of the Nigerian Constitution, it is clearly stated that there shall be an account called the Federation Account and all government revenue must be put into that account.

“When we talk about harmonisation, we are just saying integration of all collecting agencies, that on one platform, we can know what is happening in NIMASA, NPA, NCC, Customs, Federal Inland Revenue (Service)…We will make use of technology to know everything going on in realtime.”

Adedeji who also disclosed that the harmonisation or integration exercise does not mean the Tinubu-led administration will merge revenue collection agencies, added; 

“We are not collapsing. NNPC will be NNPC because it is limited, Federal Inland Revenue (Service) will be but the collection of all revenue will be technologically driven by data…Why there seems to be government within government is because of the law because there is no real law that specify what they should do.”

Adedeji also sympathized with Nigerians over the hardship caused by the removal of petrol subsidy, while further revealing that the economic pain and inflation currently suffered by Nigerians is for a short while.