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Ganduje’s probe: Court gives Kano Judges 48-hrs deadline to resign appointment

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano and presided over by Justice Simon Amobeda has given 48 hours deadline to two Kano Judges, Justice Farouk Lawan Adamu and Justice Zuwaira Yusuf appointed by Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf to serve as Chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry for the Recovery of Misappropriated Public Properties and Assets, and Chairman of Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate Political Violence and Missing Persons respectively, to resign their appointments.

Justice Simon Amobeda gave the order while delivering his judgment in a case instituted by former governor, Abdullahi Ganduje seeking the court to stop Governor Yusuf from probing his administration.

Justice Amobeda said failure by the judges to comply with the 48-hour deadline, the National Judicial Council (1st Defendant) shall stop forthwith, the payment of any remuneration, allowances and benefits meant for judicial officers from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation to the Judges.

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He said the judges should desist from performing executive functions assigned to them by the Governor of Kano State in Court rooms meant to adjudicate disputes between persons and authorities in Kano State.

Justice Amobeda further said the action by the Governor to set up the commission of inquiries to investigate Ganduje without appealing an earlier court judgment by Justice A. Liman declaring that Ganduje can only be investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), amounts to abuse of office and undermining the sanctity of the judiciary.

According to him, “That, by the combined provisions of Sections 153(1)(i) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, CFRN, 1999 (as altered), Paragraph 21(d) of Part I of the Third Schedule Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered)and sections 1, 3 and 6 of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap. 26, Laws of Kano State, the Governor of Kano State has no power to appoint the 4th and 5th Defendants and administer another Oath of Office on them to serve as Chairmen of Commission of Inquiry constituted by the Governor of Kano State, an office meant for Commissioners of Kano State Government in order to exercise executive powers assigned to them by the Governor of Kano State and stop them from performing their functions as Judges of the High Court of ! Kano State, without recourse to the 1 Defendant.

“That, by the combined effects of the provisions of Sections 6, 84, 153(1)(1), 271(2), 272 together with Paragraph 21(c) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), the 4th and 5” Defendants are not legally permitted, while still purporting to hold the Office of Judge of High Court of Kano State, to accept appointments as Chairmen of Commissions of Inquiry with quasi-judicial powers equivalent powers to that of a Magistrate Court and subject to review by a Judge of the High Court of Kano State.

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“That, by the combined effect of Sections 5 and 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), the action of the Governor of Kano State of appointing the 4th and 5th Defendants as Chairmen of the Commissions of Inquiry pursuant to the provision of Sections 3 and 6 of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap. 26, Laws of Kano State, instead of appointing from amongst the Commissioners of Kano State Government is an encroachment into and undermining the judicial arm of government, a breach doctrine of of the separation of powers, a grave violation of the Constitution, and gross misconduct on the part of the Governor of Kano State and the 3rd Defendant who administered the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance to the 4th and 5th Defendants.

“That, by the combined effect of the provisions of Sections 5, 6, 84 and 271 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered) and Paragraph 21(c) of Part I of the Third Schedule thereof as well as the provision of the Preamble and Rule 3.7 of Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, issued by the 1 Defendant, the 4th and 5th Defendants, having accepted an executive appointment as Chairmen of Commissions of Inquiry, abandoned their judicial functions and turned their Court rooms to a place of performing executive function assigned to them by the Governor of Kano State, cannot simultaneously continue to hold office as Judges of the High Court of Kano State and cannot be entitled to salaries and allowances of Judicial officers, as fixed by the 2nd Defendant and being paid by the 1 Defendant.

“That, in view of the decision of this Honourable Court coram: Hon. Justice A.M. Liman in Suit No.FHC/KN/195/2023 (Between Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje v. Nigeria Police Force & Ors) delivered on 5th day of March, 2024 declaring that the Plaintiff herein can only be investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), it is an abuse of office and undermining the sanctity of the judiciary for the Governor of Kano State to set up a Commission of Inquiry which is inferior to this Court to purport to investigate the administration of the Plaintiff.

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“That, the 4th and 5th Defendants, being serving judicial officers shall respectively resign from the appointment as Chairman of Judicial Commission of Inquiry for the Recovery of Misappropriated Public Properties and Assets, and Chairman of Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate Political Violence and Missing Persons respectively, and shall desist forthwith, from performing executive functions assigned to them by the Governor of Kano State in Court rooms meant to adjudicate disputes between persons and authorities in Kano State.

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“That, where the 4th and 5th Defendants fail to comply with this Order within 48 hours of its service on them, the 1st Defendant shall stop forthwith, the payment of any remuneration, allowances and benefits meant for judicial officers from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation to the 4th and 5th Defendants while they are still holding office as Chairmen of Commissions of Inquiry,” Justice Amobeda stated.

The court however, disagreed with the argument of the plaintiff’s counsel that the judges cease to be judicial officers by accepting to be members of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

Meanwhile, respondents in the suit are: National Judicial Council (1st Defendant), Revenue Mobilization Allocation And Fiscal Commission (2nd), Attorney-General Kano State (3rd), Hon. Justice Farouk Lawan Adamu and Hon. Justice Zuwaira Yusuf as 4th and 5th defendants respectively

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Many Pastors Are Not Enjoying Their Marriages Due To Wives’ Behaviours – Bamiloye

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Renowned Christian filmmaker and evangelist, Mike Bamiloye, has raised concerns about the challenges some pastors face in their marriages, attributing these struggles to the behavior of their wives.

Bamiloye shared that many pastors are unable to fully enjoy their marriages because their wives use their husbands’ pastoral roles against them. He explained that some pastors’ wives feel secure in the knowledge that their husbands, being men of God, are unlikely to consider divorce or other drastic measures. This, according to Bamiloye, emboldens them to act in ways that strain the marital bond.

He pointed out that such behavior not only affects the pastors but also impacts their ministry, as they are expected to maintain exemplary relationships in the eyes of their congregations.

In addressing this issue, Bamiloye emphasized the need for mutual respect, understanding, and open communication in pastoral marriages. He urged pastors and their wives to prioritize their relationship and seek counseling when faced with difficulties.

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“Pastors’ marriages should be a beacon of light and a model for others. When the relationship at home is troubled, it can hinder the effectiveness of their ministry,” he noted.

Bamiloye’s observations have sparked important conversations within Christian circles about the unique pressures pastoral families face. His call to action serves as a reminder of the importance of building healthy relationships and seeking support to ensure that ministry work does not come at the cost of personal happiness and marital stability.

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FG eyes 25,000 jobs from Lagos textile, garment economic zone

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The Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, Dr Olufemi Ogunyemi, has said the Lekki Textile and Garment Special Economic Zone project located in the Eyin-Osa area of Epe, Lagos State, will generate 5,000 direct and over 20,000 indirect jobs when operational.

Ogunyemi made the remarks while disbursing cash compensation to the seven Eyin-Osa families that contributed the 240.09 acres of land for the Federal Government project.

A statement issued by the NEPZA Head, Corporate Communications, Martins Odeh, disclosed this on Sunday in Abuja.

The MD, represented by Mrs. Chika Ibekwe, Director of Zone Operations, said that the community would be continually regenerated, adding that the benefits that would accrue from the gestures would spill over to several generations.

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The beneficiaries included families of Olayinka Salami, Aderenle village, Muhammed Balogun, Bashorun Seidu, Iyanda, Matanmi Mobolaji, as well as the Agara Onileyan respectively.

“The space will generate 5,000 direct and over 20,000 indirect jobs for the country, just as it will serve the export markets of the South-West region.

“There are many benefits to gain from the SEZ, including employment generation, especially to the local community, the opportunity for backward linkage, improvement of infrastructure network around the project, and others too numerous to mention now,” he said.

Ogunyemi further said that the development was in line with the goals and objectives of the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

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He, however, stated that the current administration of President Bola Tinubu is not just interested in attracting Foreign Direct Investments through the Free Trade Zone Scheme but was also interested in the development of all the host communities.

“This exercise is to commence the application of the Authority’s new concept of Community Social Regeneration in order to open a new chapter of cooperation and mutual understanding to foster unhindered progress of the free trade operations across the country.

“NEPZA has since re-aligned its mandate with the administration’s economic policy to deliver the Renewed Hope Agenda of the president.

“NEPZA will not shy away from leading the country on the path of economic growth. The Lekki Textile and Garments SEZ project is already attracting investment interest to this remote area of Lagos.,” Ogunyemi said.

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Ogunyemi also explained that the Federal Government had taken steps to replicate the economic scheme across the six geopolitical zones, adding that more states should leverage the speedy development potentials of the scheme.

According to him, the Lekki Textiles and Garment SEZ will also serve as hubs for Information and Communication Technology, Agro-industries, as well as world-class sports and community development centres.

On his part, the president of Eyin-Osa United Kingdom Development Association, Muftau Shittu, the umbrella association for the host community, said that the area had been occupied by their forefathers for over 500 years.

He said that at the beginning, the enclaves and villages that constituted the community had lived in peace practising economic activities such as farming, hunting, fishing, brewing of hot drinks and timber lumbering.

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Shittu however, said that trouble started in mid-year 2003 when groups of land grabbers started claiming ownership of Eyin-Osa lands from the original and rightful owners.

According to him, in May 2008, without due diligent information, the lands were expropriated to the Lekki Free Trade Zone, and the journey for adequate compensation with the Lagos State Government began.

“We are delighted today for this humane approach of the federal government through NEPZA. The community can only imagine these good gestures as most of the earliest promises were not kept. We now have NEPZA management and government that are serious about regenerating the Eyin-Osa land.

“We are happy to cede the total of 240.09 acres to NEPZA for the economic emancipation of our land. We pray that this cooperation and the steps to regenerate our people become permanent,” he added.

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Lagos seals church, fuel station over environmental violations

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The contractors handling various housing projects on behalf of the Lagos State Government have been warned to deliver all aspects of the projects as scheduled in all contract agreements or have contracts terminated and re-awarded to those who will deliver on time.

The Commissioner for Housing in Lagos State, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, who had earlier expressed his displeasure and dissatisfaction with the level of work done during a routine inspection of Sangotedo Housing Estate Eti Osa phase 2, lamented that the project was yet to get to the expected level despite Lagos State Government commitment and support to the contractors.

The commissioner reiterated his dissatisfaction after an evaluation of the projects, formal briefs from project supervisors, and a follow-up meeting between the Ministry’s technical team and the project contractors at the ministry’s conference room at the secretariat in Ikeja.

He frowned at the slow pace of work witnessed at some of the project sites visited and directed the affected contractors to increase the speed of work or be excused from the sites.

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Akinderu-Fatai said, “Shifting of completion period by contractors will no longer be tolerated because we will not allow you to slow us down, as there is pressure on the government to deliver on all its promises, especially in the housing sector.”

He further expressed the dissatisfaction of the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on the inability of most of the contractors to adhere to the agreed time of delivery on various aspects of the projects.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Abdulhafis Toriola, enjoined the contractors to ensure they deliver every facet of the project as scheduled without compromising quality.

The project review meeting was attended by heads of technical departments and supervising officials.

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The Sangotedo Housing Estates phase 2 after completion will comprise about 43 blocks and is expected to add over 500 housing units to the existing stock.

The first phase of the project consisting of 744 home units was delivered and inaugurated by Sanwo-Olu in December.

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