News
Kano Emirate: Falana speaks on jurisdiction of Federal High Court, Industrial Court
Human Rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, on Tuesday, said the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court have no jurisdiction to determine chieftaincy matters.
Falana, in a statement he personally signed, which was obtained by our correspondent in Abuja, accused both courts of separately conferring, “jurisdiction on themselves to determine chieftaincy matters.”
Falana described both decisions as, “highly erroneous” as they cannot be justified under sections 251 and 254(C) of the Constitution. Adding that both courts conveniently overruled the judgments of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal on the subject matter.
He said, “The intervention of the Federal High Court in the dispute arising from the deposition of Emir Ado Bayero & Co. as well as the restoration of Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is a brazen repudiation of the decision of the Supreme Court in the celebrated case of Tukur v Government of Gongola State (1987) 4 NWLR (117) 517 where it was held that “The question raised in this claim is not a fundamental right question.
“As in the first prayer, the right to be Emir is not guaranteed by the Fundamental Rights provisions of the Constitution and the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction whatever in the matter. The Court of Appeal was, therefore, not in error of law to hold that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction to grant the two reliefs.
“Since the apex court has said that the right to be an Emir is not a fundamental right under chapter four of the Constitution, the Federal High Court sitting in Kano ought to have declined jurisdiction to continue to entertain the dispute over the chieftaincy matter in Kano. In any case, the allegation of infringement of the fundamental rights of the Applicants is an ancillary claim to the substantive reliefs emanating from the deposition and reinstatement of the embattled emirs.”
In FCMB Plc v Nyama (2014) LPELR-23973 AT 19-20, the Court of Appeal held that: “Now it is settled that where an application is made under the fundamental Right (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, a condition precedent to the exercise of the court’s jurisdiction is that the enforcement of fundamental rights of the securing of enforcement thereof should be the main claim and not the accessory claim. Where the main or principal claim is not the enforcement of fundament right, the jurisdiction of the court cannot be properly exercised under Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules.”
A Federal High Court in Kano last week ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear the human rights violation case filed by the dethroned Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, and senior councillor, Aminu Dan’agundi, following the reinstatement of Emir Muhammad Sanusi II.
The court issued an ex-parte order preventing Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano from reinstating Sanusi until a substantive suit against the reinstatement is resolved.
The order also opposed the abolishment of four emirates—Bichi, Gaya, Karaye, and Rano—under a bill previously passed by the state House of Assembly.
Ending his submission, Falana said, “I submit, with profound respect, that section 254(C)(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended has not conferred jurisdiction on the National Industrial Court to hear and determine chieftaincy matters.
“However, a traditional ruler who was deposed by a state governor without fair hearing is not without a legal redress.”
By Ojomah Austin.
The APC suit filed at the federal high court in Abuja seeking to oust Ighodalo from the gubernatorial race was dismissed on Friday evening by Justice Peter Lifu.
An eleventh-hour attempt by the All Progressives Congress, APC to get the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Asue Ighodalo disqualified from the Edo State Governorship election has been dismissed.
The Judge agreed with Ighodalo’s lawyer, Chief Akinlolu Kehinde that the suit was frivolous, baseless, and unwarranted and was thrown out.
In his judgment in the suit, Justice Lifu rejected the prayer of the APC to use another judgment of the same court that had queried the validity of the primary election that produced Ighodalo to kick him out of the race.
In a suit marked THC/ABJ/CS/165/2024, Justice Inyang Ekwo had on July 4 held that PDP was wrong in excluding 378 delegates from its February 22 primary election that produced Ighodalo.
Although Justice Ekwo did not categorically declare the primary election invalid, the APC cashing in on Ekwo’s finding, filed a fresh suit to disqualify Ighodalo on the strength of the alleged unlawful exclusion.
However, Justice Lifu upheld the submission of the senior lawyer that the federal high court cannot sit as an appellate court in its own judgment.
The Judge also agreed that APC was a busybody and meddlesome interloper by dabbing into the internal affairs of PDP.
Besides, Justice Lifu also upheld the argument of Kehinde SAN that the high court judgment being used to press for Ighodalo’s disqualification had since been voided and set aside by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
The Judge subsequently dismissed the APC’s disqualification request on the ground that it lacked merit and substance.
The APC had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Asue Ighodalo and PDP as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.
By Ojomah Austin.
A large number of officers from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been mobilized across the city, causing traffic congestion in several areas.
Security personnel were spotted at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Benin, securing strategic locations, with some awaiting further deployment to other parts of the state.
This follows the recent deployment of 35,000 police officers to maintain law and order during the elections, With less than 48 hours to the Edo State governorship election.
The NSCDC also deployed 6,433 officers, while the Defence Headquarters has stationed soldiers to ensure a safe environment for voters.
In addition, authorities have implemented a “show of force” with security agents patrolling key areas.
In anticipation of the election, the Edo State Government declared Friday a work-free day to allow voters to travel to their polling units.
Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) held a prayer session in Benin, calling for peace and the election of a credible leader who will govern with integrity.
INEC has also commenced the distribution of sensitive electoral materials to all 18 local government areas, ensuring readiness for Saturday’s vote.
……“E remain small make breeze blow am away”
By Ojomah Austin.
Nigerian singer, Zinoleesky stirs a buzz online due to a recent video of him circulating on social media.
In the video, Zinoleesky dons a white shirt alongside black trousers as he brags about being worthy to be used as a Valentine’s gift.
Reacting to the video, netizens commented on his skinny appearance.
Famous musician, Oniyide Azeez, better known as Zinoleesky trends online due to a new clip serving the rounds on social media.
In the video, the ‘Element’ hitmaker is spotted wearing a white shirt and a stylish black trouser. While being filmed, Zinoleesky bragged mightily about his looks.
He reiterated that he could be used as a Valentine’s gift to any girl.
The video generated a buzz online with a large number of netizens commenting on his thin body shape. Some swiftly leveraged it to make fun of the artiste.
One @janicekate_x wrote: “E remain small make breeze blow am away 😂.”
soromotoochukwu wrote: “I like how music can take you to another place. For example, this restaurant is playing Zinoleesky so now I’m going to a different restaurant.”
dave.dexter27 wrote: “Make breeze sha no blow as we wan deliver the valentine gift😂😂😂.”
oluwatamilore_xx wrote: “Bro,drank all the whole slimming tea and nothing is left to slim down.”
isco_west_whil wrote: “Chaii dem don set this Guy up for dragging again😂😂.”
scheargoon wrote: “Try put stone for your pocket guy”
bouncequotes wrote: “My boy 😂😂😂😂 slim daddy for dem girls.”
just_eniola_olayemisi wrote: “No be your fault zino, u no just get choice that to continue to dey craze 🥺 I feel for u my bro.”
zaza_mula112 wrote: “Zino Dey enjoy, while seyi vibe Dey cry under record label 😂😂.”
jamesmike7837 wrote: “See person be like broom stick😂.”
sheis_shuga wrote: “Who Dey decive you werey 😢😢see as u slim like who get HIV 😢😔🙄🥺Dooh.”
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