The Ebonyi government has ordered former Governor David Umahi’s commissioners two weeks to quit their state-owned residential quarters in Abakaliki.

The notice is contained in a statement signed by the secretary to the state government (SSG), Grace Umezurike, on Thursday night. Ms Umezurike, in the statement, said the measure is in line with Governor Francis Nwifuru’s directives.

“All residents of the commissioners’ quarters are hereby requested to vacate their premises. This is to facilitate the entry of the new commissioners into the quarters. We apologise for any inconvenience caused,” the statement said.

The statement urged the affected persons to comply accordingly.

In apparent anticipation of the measure, Mr Umahi had approved specified amounts of money for the commissioners to build or get new apartments.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has commended President Bola Tinubu for signing the student loan bill into law.

Mr Sanwo-Olu gave the commendation on Thursday at the 26th convocation and 40th anniversary of the Lagos State University (LASU).

Mr Tinubu, on Monday, June 12, signed the bill into law, establishing a Nigerian Education Loan Fund, from which interest-free loans would be given to poor students.

The president said the bill would provide opportunities for children of people experiencing poverty to realise their dreams of acquiring tertiary education.

The governor, therefore, urged all Nigerians, especially the intended beneficiaries, to embrace the opportunity in good faith.

According to him, the Lagos government is focused on assisting students in government tertiary institutions within the state to discover their talents, harness their potential and refocus toward excellence, entrepreneurship and self-sustenance.

“As a government, we are not unaware that university operations are service-oriented, and as such, the need to continually improve on quality benchmarks is a continuum,” explained Mr Sanwo-Olu.

“Very importantly, we are also not unaware that sustaining an effective university that can compete favourably on a global stage requires huge financial investments.”

The Lagos governor added that while “we are committed to the aspirations of the founding fathers of the institution, we are resolved to surpass the gains of yesterday by setting a new narrative” for the institution.

He stated,

“In line with this commitment, our administration has ensured that most of the legacy projects it initiated on the institution’s campus have either been completed or are near completion.”

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the projects included the university’s main library, the faculty of education annexe, the faculty of management sciences building, the Lagos State University technology hub and the “ultra-modern” hostel facilities.

The Zamfara House of Assembly has established six special and 23 standing committees.

A statement issued by its spokesman Nasiru Biyabiki said the formation of the committees was announced by the speaker, Bilyaminu Moriki, at Wednesday’s plenary, following a motion moved for the adoption of the committees by the majority leader, Bello Mazawaje.

Mr Mazawaje called on the lawmakers to consider the adoption of the composition of the committees.

According to him, the formation of the committees is in accordance with sections 103 (1), (2) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Order VIII, Rule 4 (a), (b) and (c) of the Zamfara State House of Assembly Standing Orders, 2012.

After unanimous approval of the motion, the lawmakers pledged to work towards achieving the aims and objectives of the committees.

While adopting the committees, the speaker said the parliament would ensure a successful people-oriented legislature.

“We will continue to observe our fundamental responsibilities in the lawmaking process, representation and oversight assignments. I am calling on the committee chairmen and members to justify the confidence reposed on them,” Mr Moriki stated.

“You have to work hand-in-hand with your secretaries and relevant MDAs for you to succeed in your respective assignments.”

Governor Abba Yusuf has approved the reinstatement of Muhyi Magaji as the chairman of Kano’s Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) to complete his tenure.

This is contained in a statement issued by the governor’s press secretary, Bature Tofa, in Kano on Wednesday.

The statement recalled that Mr Magaji was suspended from office by former governor Abdullahi Ganduje-led administration.

Mr Magaji had sued the Kano government in court, which ordered the reinstatement to complete his tenure.

The court also ordered the government to pay his outstanding salaries since the period of his suspension.

“The reinstatement is with immediate effect and in compliance with the court order,” Mr Tofa added.

Days after visiting President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Asari Dokubo, former Niger Delta militant, brandished an Ak47, issuing threats against Igbos.

In a viral video on social media, Mr Dokubo, wearing a T-shirt with ‘American Eagle’, said,

“The Igbo people do not know their roots. They don’t have respect for who bought their father. You think every Kalabari man is a Kalabari man. Igbos I don’t know them. If not for British intervention I will still be selling them the way my father sold them.”

He added, “See how the Igbo people are dying. They keep saying that I have run away. Look at me; I’m here. E be like say una dey look for who go look for una finish una. Look for una everywhere finish una.”

Mr Dokubo’s threat came after the Indigenous People of Biafra berated him for saying Mr Tinubu should not release IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.

Alex Ogbonnia, spokesperson for Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, said Mr Dokubo’s rant would not be dignified with a response.

“Asari Dokubo does not deserve a response from the National Executive Committee of Ohaneze Ndigbo,” Mr Ogbonnia told Peoples Gazette on Wednesday.

He added, “Rather, we have a youth wing that will respond to him. I’ll be lowering the office of the NEC of Ohaneze to respond to Dokubo. It doesn’t fit it.”

The police did not immediately reply to The Gazette’s request for comments.

Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson for the police, did not pick his calls neither he did respond to messages sent to him regarding Mr Dokubo’s inciting comments.

Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, on Tuesday, swore in no fewer than 35 newly appointed commissioners in the state.

Swearing the Commissioners in at the Executive Council Chamber, Centenary City, Abakaliki, on Tuesday, the governor charged them to be innovative and strategic in the discharge of their duties, noting the governor said their appointments were not based on political patronage.

He also swore in his Chief of Staff, Prof. Emmanuel Echiegu and Deputy Chief of Staff, Engr Timothy Nwachi; newly appointed Senior Special Assistants; Special Assistants; and Personal Assistants.

Addressing the appointees, he enjoined them to join hands with him to transform the state, adding that his administration will not tolerate indolence.

He said,

“As you all know, this is a call to serve, while I congratulate you, I implore you to take your duties seriously and I say it clearly, the appointments are not for political patronage.

“If I see lapses in your office, you are leaving the next minute and I can never call you back.

“Our state is very charged waiting for our leadership style and we must show them what we have for them and show them that we have the capacity to deliver.”

While thanking Ebonyians for their patience with his administration, he assured them he would hit the ground running to deliver on his campaign promises.

“We are grateful to Ebonyians for their patience especially when it comes to the environment and by the grace of God we will deliver.”

Some of the Commissioners sworn in were Works and Transport, Engr Lebechi Mbam; Finance, Dr. Leonard Uguru; Lands and Survey, Dr. Matthew Nwobashi; Tertiary Education, Prof. Omari Omaka (SAN); Market Development and Parks, Prof. Nwogo Obasi; Skill Development and Job Creation, Elijah Oko-Udu; Internal Security, Prince Etta Ude; Environment, Hon. Victor Chukwu; Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor; Commerce and Industry, Oguzor Offia Nwali; among others.

On Monday, Governor Yahaya Bello’s government announced plans to raise N15 billion to establish a third state university in Kabba.

Wemi Jones, education commissioner, disclosed this while briefing journalists shortly after the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting in Lokoja.

Mr Jones said the SEC had already approved the memo containing the bill to establish Kogi State University, Kabba.He said the attorney general had also been directed to transmit the bill to the Kogi House of Assembly for consideration and passage.

“We are very much aware that a Faculty of Law is one of the prerequisites for the National University Commission (NUC) to recognise and approve any request for a private university in Nigeria,” the commissioner explained.

“Therefore, the Kogi state government is working towards ensuring that before the end of the coming weeks, NUC will have given approval to the state university.”

Mr Jones added,

“In fact, the recently inaugurated implementation committee chaired by Prof Olu Obafemi is working alongside other stakeholders to speed up the process.”

The commissioner used the opportunity to clarify the rumour over alleged plans to convert the College of Education (Technical), Kabba, into a site for the university.He said the news was false and “unauthenticated information.”

However, the commissioner explained that the committee, after several considerations, concluded that it was expedient to start the Kogi State University, Kabba, at the College of Education (Technical) Kabba while the college of education would be relocated.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has made a personal donation of N1.5 million and hundreds of mattresses to the three special schools in the state in fulfilment of his earlier promise to support the students with needed facilities.

The benefiting schools are Government Special School for the Physically Challenged and Mentally Retarded, Ido Ekiti; Government Special School for the Deaf, Ikoro Ekiti; and Government Special School for the Blind, Ikere Ekiti.

His wife, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, who made the donation on the governor’s behalf, said the gesture was borne out of compassion toward ensuring the well-being of students living with disabilities in the state.

The governor’s wife said the visit was also to ensure an on-the-spot assessment of the school’s facilities and to determine the welfare and well-being of the special students.

While encouraging the students to reciprocate the present administration’s love and kindness by being obedient and paying more attention to their education, Oyebanji also charged the teachers and other workers to continue to show love to the students, promising that there would be regular visits to the schools to ensure that proper attention is given to the students.

She told the students,

“You are special and dear to the heart of the governor and the government of the state. That is why particular attention is being paid to your welfare and well-being. I want you to reciprocate this by focusing on your education, which will prepare you for a great future.She urged them to see themselves as a special creature of God with a purpose to fulfill.

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION, MR YAKUBU CHONOKO MAIKYAU, OON, SAN, ON THE COMMENTS BY SENATOR ADAMU MUHAMMAD BULKACHUWA ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE ON MONDAY, 12 JUNE 2023

14 June 2023.

My attention was drawn to a viral video clip on the social media, of the comments made by Senator Adamu Muhammad Bulkachuwa on the floor of the Senate on Monday, 12 June 2023, at the valedictory session of the Senate of the 9th Assembly, before he was interrupted and stopped by the then Senate President Ahmed Lawan.

Senator Bulkachuwa, in his remarks, amongst other things, referred to “confidential dealings” he had had with some of his colleagues in the Senate, and went on to say:

“I look at faces in this chamber whom have come to me and sought for my help when my wife was the President of the Court of Appeal, and I’m sure…In his concluding remarks, he said: And I must thank particularly, my wife, whose freedom and independence I encroached upon while she was in office, and she has been very tolerant and accepted my encroachment, and extended her help to my colleagues…”

All these were amidst several interjections by the Senate President. Probably, if the Senate President had not interrupted Senator Bulkachuwa, he would have made more vital/useful revelations that would have provided specific details of the “confidential dealings of one sort or the other” he allegedly had with some of his colleagues in which according to him, “I did my best and in most cases I succeeded.

Notwithstanding however, given the office held by his wife which he clearly mentioned in his remarks, no one would be left in doubt as to the sort of help he either succeeded or did not succeed in securing for his colleagues, with whom he had since become good friends and still remain good friends.

These colleagues, according to him, only “thanked me for what I have done with words of mouth, that was all.”

The statements were clearly admissions by the Senator, that he did attempt to, and/or actually perverted the course of justice/interfered with due administration of justice, which makes him liable to be investigated and prosecuted even on his admission.

That this came with a huge negative impact on the integrity and the independence of the Judiciary can only be an understatement. At the 102nd meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC) held today, 14 June 2023, I took the liberty of my membership of the Council to complain about the rather disgusting and despicable conduct of Senator Bulkachuwa, which was a direct attack on the integrity of the Judiciary.

The NJC condemned the actions of the Senator in the strongest terms as an affront on the integrity and independence of the Judiciary. I made it clear to the Council that, while the NBA will at all times rise to the defence of the honour, integrity and independence of the judiciary, we shall not hesitate to take on anyone, either within or outside the legal profession, who takes steps or makes statements that are capable of undermining the independence of the judiciary and the impartiality judicial processes.

It is in this regard that I call on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to immediately invite Senator Ahmad Muhammad Bulkachuwa for interrogation and proceed to prosecute him accordingly.

I shall write a letter to both the IGP and the ICPC Chairman in this respect.We reiterate our commitment to the maintenance and defence of the integrity and independence of the Judiciary in Nigeria, within the bounds of the law, irrespective of the personalities involved.

Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN PRESIDENT