House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas has hailed Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike for the developmental projects he has established across the nation’s capital.

He expressed joy about the minister’s performance, saying he had made President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration proud.

Abbas spoke at the official flag–off ceremony of the construction of access road from Rind Road 1 by N16 Judges’ Quarters in Katampe District of Abuja.

The Speaker, who was represented by Deputy Benjamin Kalu, said: “It is common knowledge that Nigeria, like many other developing nations, has an infrastructure deficit.

“According to recent estimates, Nigeria needs to invest about $3 trillion over the next 30 years to close the infrastructure gap and achieve the level of development required for sustained economic growth. The road network, power supply, housing, healthcare, and education sectors are some of the areas in urgent need of attention.

“Here in Abuja, the infrastructure deficit is more glaring as the city’s population continues to grow at an annual rate of 5%. This puts pressure on existing facilities and highlights the need for more access roads, housing, and essential services to cater to the needs of residents.

“Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, there have been commendable initiatives aimed at addressing this infrastructure deficit.

“I would like to take this moment to specially commend the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for his transformative leadership since assuming office. The honourable minister has hit the ground running, initiating projects that address the critical needs of this growing city. From road construction to urban renewal programmes, his dedication to enhancing the infrastructure of the FCT is evident. We have witnessed several flag-offs, not just as ceremonial acts but as milestones in the commitment to make Abuja a world-class city. I commend Wike for his transformative leadership. You have made us proud.

“The ongoing rehabilitation of major roads, the clearing of illegal structures, and the focus on environmental sustainability are all testaments to the honourable minister’s vision of an Abuja that is not only beautiful but functional and efficient. I am confident that with the completion of this access road and other ongoing projects, residents and visitors alike will experience the positive impacts of these developments.

“As the legislature of the FCT, the National Assembly has an important role to play in supporting these development efforts. The 10th National Assembly, which I am privileged to lead, is fully committed to collaborating with the Executive to ensure that the FCT receives the necessary legislative backing to facilitate infrastructure development.

“We are ready to consider and pass laws that will further enhance the governance structure of the FCT and approve appropriations that will make meaningful infrastructure projects, such as this road construction, a reality…

“Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, there have been commendable initiatives aimed at addressing this infrastructure deficit.”

Wike expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for giving him the opportunity to serve the nation.

The minister said the project would be inaugurated as part of President Tinubu’s second year in office.

He declared war on street beggars, saying: “In terms of security, let me say it clearly now. We have declared a war. Abuja is returning to beggars’ city.  I mean, if you know you have a sister, you have a brother who is a beggar on the road, from next week, we will carry them. We will take them out (of the city).

“It is embarrassing that people who come in, the first thing they see are beggars on the road. Sometimes too, they may not be beggars. They may be criminals pretending to be beggars. We will not allow that.”

Three out of the 19 states challenging the constitutionality of the laws that established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Tuesday, informed the Supreme Court of their intention to withdraw from the suit.

Anambra (ninth plaintiff), Adamawa (16th plaintiff) and Ebonyi (18th plaintiff) separately made an application of withdrawal before the court.

The Attorney General of Anambra State, Prof Sylvia Ifemeje, informed the court of her intention to withdraw from the suit, having filed a motion of withdrawal on October 20.

Also, the Attorney General of Ebonyi State, Ikenna Nwidagu, said “My Lord, I filed a notice of withdrawal dated and filed October 21. My Lords, we pray this honourable court strike out the name of the 18th plaintiff.”

The Attorney General of Adamawa State, Afraimu Jingi, said “My Lord, I have filed a notice of withdrawal of suit dated October 14. I am praying this court to allow me withdraw from the suit.”

Unanimously, the seven-man panel of the Supreme Court presiding over the matter granted their requests and struck out their names from the suit, as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, did not oppose.

With their withdrawal, Kogi, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa, Oyo, Benue, Enugu, Plateau, Cross River, Ondo, Niger, Edo, Bauchi, Taraba, and Imo states remain in the suit.

Meanwhile, Osun State Attorney-General, represented by Oluwole Jimi-Bada, told the court he filed a motion to be consolidated in the suit.

The Kogi State counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN), who is the first plaintiff), urged the court to grant all their reliefs.

He stated that that the EFCC was not well founded, stressing that the commission was a product of convention.

“The crux of our suit is the decision of this court. The counsel that represented the appellant in that suit by the rules of this Court Order 4 will be called to address this court. He participated in the bill that birthed the EFCC and ICPC together.

“Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) told this court that it was the convention of the UN that reduced this into law. Section 12, that provision was never followed.

“This fact was not an issue with the case of AG Ondo Vs AG Federation. So there is a specific provision for bringing a convention in. You cannot just be talking about Items 7 of 8.

“We are also challenging the foundation of those laws that created Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, EFCC, etc. in order not to create a constitutional crisis,” he said.

He argued that the EFCC and others were products of convention and not well founded.

“It (EFCC) was never meant to be a law that would be all over the country. It was made to protect our resources from going out of this country. We pray your lordship to allow this suit and award heavy cost in favour of the plaintiff on record,” he said.

The AGF (defendant), in his response, urged the apex court not to deviate from the previous judgment it delivered on same matter which was previously brought before it, stressing that the court had to strike out the suit in its entirety.

He said, “I adopt and rely on my processes and urge your Lordship to strike out the plaintiff’s originating summon.

“In respect of the case of Joseph Nwobike, it is noted that Nwobike’s case in action or inaction of the former AGF Kanu Agabi (SAN) has no place at all in this case.

“The UN Convention may have expired but we did not do it because the UN convention asked us to. Section 15 sub-section 5 says ‘The state must abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.’ There is no indication that your lordship should deviate from what you already said.

“This suit should be struck out from its stems, branches and roots. I urge your lordship to dismiss the suit.

“The implication your lordship if you grant the relief of the plaintiff is that the public will say the Supreme Court is supporting corruption.”

After the parties made their arguments, Justice Awani Abba Aji announced that the suit would be reserved for judgment at a date to be communicated to the parties.

Nasarawa and Ogun states with separate request were also joined in the general suit.

Nineteen state governments had come together to contest the constitutionality of the laws that established the EFCC in the country, although Nasarawa and Ogun specifically challenged the NFIU cash withdrawal limit guidelines.

The state governments argued that the Supreme Court, in Dr Joseph Nwobike Vs Federal Republic of Nigeria, held that it was a United Nations convention against corruption that was reduced into the EFCC Establishment Act.

They held that in enacting the law in 2004, the provision of Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, was not followed.

They argued that in bringing a convention into the Nigerian law, the provision of Section 12 must be complied with.

According to the plaintiffs, the provision of the constitution necessitated the majority of the states’ houses of Assembly agreeing to bringing the convention before passing the EFCC Act and others, which was allegedly never done.

The argument of the states was that the law, as enacted, could not be applied to states that never approved of it, in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian constitution.

Barely four days to the Kano Local Government election, a Federal High Court in Kano, on Tuesday, disqualified Prof Sani Malumfashi as the chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission.

The presiding Judge, Simon Amobeda, in a ruling in a matter filed by Aminu Aliyu Tiga and the All Progressives Congress, held that the chairman was a political party card-carrying member.

The court also sacked five members of the commission for their ties with a political party in the state.

The plaintiff had alleged that the commission chairman and the members were card-carrying members of the New Nigeria People’s Party.

Following the ruling, there was anxiety over the likely conduct of the local government election on Saturday, October 26.

The electoral body had fixed October 26 to conduct the council polls in the 44 local government areas of the state.

Efforts to reach the sacked chairman through his telephone by The PUNCH failed as of the time of filing this report, as his telephone line was switched off.

Also, attempts to get the reaction of the state government, the NNPP and even the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party on the development were not fruitful.

The defendants in the suit are KANSIEC, Kano State House of Assembly, the Attorney General, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Director, Department of State Services, Commissioner of Police, Kano command, State Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kano State Command, Anas Muhammad Mustapha, Mukhtar Garba Dandago, Isyaku Ibrahim Kunya, Kabir Jibril Zakirai and Amina Inuwa Fagge.

The court ordered that the ninth to 14th defendants, being card-carrying members of the NNPP and in partisan politics, contrary to Section 197(1)(b) and Section 200 (1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 4 of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001, were not qualified to be the chairman and members of the first defendant.

The court restrained the first defendant from conducting the 2024 local government election in respect of 44 local governments in Kano State until and unless qualified persons were duly and legally appointed as chairman and members of the first defendant.

It ruled that the ninth defendant, not being an officer in the Kano State Civil Service not below the rank of director before he was appointed secretary of the first defendant, was not qualified to be appointed to the position, under Section 14 of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001.

“That, the 1st defendant, whose composition of members was made in contravention of constitutional provisions of section 197 (1) (b) and section 200 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 4 of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001, cannot validly and Competently conduct Local Government Election 2024 in respect of 44 local governments in Kano State until and unless qualified persons are duly and legally appointed as chairman and members of the commission in line with relevant extent law,” the court ruled.

“That, whatever the first defendant did or has done or is doing in preparation for the 2024 local government election in Kano State, such as issuance of election guidelines, circulars, screening of candidates, sale of nomination and expression of interest forms, whichever and howsoever, are null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

“That the 9th-14h defendants are forthwith disqualified and removed from their positions as chairman and members of the defendants.

“That the first defendant is forthwith restrained from conducting the 2024 local government election in respect of 44 local governments in Kano State, until and unless qualified persons are duly and legally appointed as chairman and members of the first defendant,” the court further ruled.

Justice Amobeda also ruled that the fourth defendant was forthwith directed not to release/issue register of voters or any electoral material or materials in respect of the 44 LGs in Kano State to the first defendant for the purpose of conducting 2024 LG election in the state until and unless the provisions of sections 197(1)(b), 199(2) and 200(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Sections 4(b) and 14(1) of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001 are fully complied with in appointing qualified persons as chairman and members of the first defendant.

“Similarly, the court ordered that, where the fourth defendant has already released or issued a register of voters or any electoral material or materials in respect of the 44 LGs in Kano State to the first defendant for the purpose of conducting 2024 Local Government Election in the state, the fourth defendant shall forthwith recall or retrieve such register of voters or electoral material or materials from the first defendant, and custody same until the first defendant is properly constituted in full compliance with the provisions of sections 197(1)(b), 199(2) and 200(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Sections 4(b) and 14(1) of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001,” he added.