News
Appeal Court halts Emir Sanusi’s reinstatement
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday halted the reinstatement of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II’s as the Emir of Kano.
A three-member panel of justices led by Justice Okon Abang unanimously halted the implementation of the January 10 judgement, which vacated the nullification of Sanusi II’s appointment by a Kano State High Court, which it held was done without jurisdiction.
The judgement, which was delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, held that the nullification of Sanusi II’s appointment was done without the required jurisdiction and ordered the transfer of the suit to the Kano State High Court.
However, ruling on the fresh applications with numbers CA/KN/27M/2025 and CA/KN/28M/2025, the appellate court agreed that the applications seeking to halt the enforcement of the earlier judgement pending the appeal before the Supreme Court were competent and meritorious.
“The law is settled. The court is enjoined to exercise its discretion judiciously and in the interest of justice,” he said.
Justice Abang also noted that the subject matter before the court needed to be preserved because the applicant had served as emir for five years before his removal, adding that he deserved the right to protection.
On January 10, Justice Kolawole, in vacating the order against Sanusi II’s appointment, held that the matter, being a chieftaincy dispute, ought to have been determined by the high court of Kano State rather than the Federal High Court, which he described as “a grave error”.
The Federal High Court in Kano, presided by Justice Abubakar Liman, had on June 20, 2024, nullified the Kano State Government’s Kano Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024, which reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir.
In the fundamental rights enforcement suit by Aminu Baba-Dan’Agundi, the presiding judge further directed parties, including the Kano State House of Assembly, to maintain the status quo during the reign of Emir Ado Bayero.
However, the appellate court in its ruling, cited Section 251 of the Nigerian Constitution and Section 22(2) of the Federal High Court Act to hold that the matter was a chieftaincy and state legislative dispute and not a fundamental rights matter, and such ought to have been taken before the Kano State High Court or the FCT High Court.
“The proper order to make is to order the 1st respondent (Baba-Dan’Agundi) to transfer the pending suit before the Federal High Court to the high court of Kano State where the chief judge shall assign it to a judge who has not been previously involved in the hearing of the suit,” he said.
The judge awarded the cost of N500,000 against Dan’Agundi and in favour of the Kano State House of Assembly.
However, following the opinions of the presiding justice, Justice Mohammed Mustapha and Justice Abdul Dogo that the right order was to strike out Dan’Agundi’s suit filed at the Federal High Court and not to transfer same, the matter was struck out.
The five appeals — CA/KN/126/2024 between the state assembly and Dan’Agundi; CA/ABJ/140/2023 state assembly and Dan’Agundi; CA/ABJ/142/2024 Kano State Government and Dan’Agundi; CA/KN/200/2024 Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and Attorney General of Kano State; and CA/KN/161/2020 Kano Government and Dan’Agundi emanated from the same issue before the Federal High Court
[Daily Trust]
By Gloria Ikibah
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas has said that Nigeria is taking a frontline role in the push to expand electricity access across Africa, to help power about 300 million people on the continent by 2030.
The Speaker disclosed this while delivering the keynote address at the First Legislative Conference and Expo on Renewable Energy, organised by the House Committee on Renewable Energy, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) held in Lagos on Monday.
The conference brought together lawmakers, industry stakeholders, and development partners to explore renewable energy solutions and legislative frameworks for boosting access and affordability.
Abbas praised President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a $1 billion funding package for Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency in December 2024, and described it as a major boost for energy inclusion.
According to him, Nigeria’s participation in the Mission 300 initiative, a joint effort with the World Bank and African Development Bank demonstrates the country’s growing commitment to clean, sustainable energy for underserved communities.
He said: “This initiative speaks to Nigeria’s readiness to lead by example on the continent. It is about more than power, it is about development, opportunity, and progress.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has dismissed a case brought by lawmakers loyal to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, challenging the positions of 27 State House of Assembly members that defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The ruling was delivered by Justice Emmanuel Obile, who explained that the lawmakers, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, remain valid members of the House.
This follows an earlier Supreme Court decision in February that had also refused Governor Fubara’s push to remove the defected lawmakers.
Governor Fubara’s legal team, headed by Yusuf Ali, had already withdrawn the appeal at the Supreme Court, stating that new developments had overtaken the matter.
The Rivers Assembly, represented by Wole Olanipekun, did not oppose this withdrawal.
The case at the Federal High Court was filed by three pro-Fubara lawmakers — Victor Oko-Jumbo, Adolphus Orubienimigha, and Sokari Goodboy Sokari — who asked the court to declare the seats of the 27 lawmakers vacant since they left the PDP, the party under which they were elected.
But the court ruled that their defection did not break any constitutional rule that would force them out of office.
“This court cannot close its eyes to the binding precedent of the Supreme Court, which in February recognised the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly under Speaker Martins Amaewhule. That decision, being from the apex court, is final and conclusive,” Justice Obile ruled.
Speaker Martins Amaewhule reacted positively to the judgment, saying it confirmed their right to stay in the Assembly.
Meanwhile, Governor Fubara’s supporters were disappointed by the decision.
This ruling marks another chapter in the political struggle between Governor Fubara and the pro-Wike faction of the Assembly, a conflict that has been ongoing since the December 2023 defections.
For now, the pro-Wike lawmakers have secured some breathing room, even as tensions continue between both camps.
…says we can’t standby watch state agencies abuse their powers
The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has condemned in the strongest terms the arrest and continued detention of social campaigner and activist, Martins Otse, popularly known as Very Dark Man (VDM), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement jointly signed by the HoR caucus leaders, Rep Kingsley Chinda, Leader, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ali. Isa J.C Minority Whip, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Madaki., Deputy Minority Leader,,Rt. Hon. George Ozodinobi
Deputy Minority Whip, the opposition leaders declared that:
“The disturbing trend of security and law enforcement agencies deploying their powers arbitrarily against citizens exercising their rights to free expression poses grave threats to our democracy.
“We must state clearly that such acts, cloaked in the guise of enforcement, erode public confidence in the rule of law and undermine the principles of accountability and transparency.
The caucus insisted that: “The arrest of Mr. Otse which reportedly took place without the issuance of a warrant is a direct violation of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) that guarantees the liberty of the citizen except in accordance with the due process of law. Sections 35(1) and 35(3) of the Constitution stipulate the conditions under which a person may be deprived of their liberty and require that any person arrested must be informed promptly of the reasons for their arrest and any charges against them.
“The EFCC, like every other agency of government, is bound by these constitutional provisions and must not act outside their bounds.
“Moreover, the continued detention of Mr. Otse beyond the constitutionally permissible period of 24 to 48 hours without being charged to court is not only an abuse of power, it is also a blatant affront to the principles of natural justice and fair hearing.
“The Constitution, under Section 35(4), provides that a person who is arrested or detained must be brought before a court of law within a reasonable time, which, in the case of an arrest without a warrant, shall not exceed two days.
“Any deviation from this is a breach of the citizen’s fundamental rights and a descent into lawlessness.
“As the voice of the opposition in the National Assembly, the Minority Caucus calls on the EFCC to immediately release Mr. Otse or charge him to court in accordance with the law.
“Arbitrary arrests and prolonged detentions of citizens for expressing dissenting or unpopular views must have no place in a democratic society.
“The preservation of liberty, due process, and respect for constitutional rights remain the bedrock of our republic. We will not stand idly by while state agencies abuse their powers to suppress voices that challenge the status quo in line with the laws.
Nigeria Targets Electricity Access for 300 Million Africans by 2030 – Speaker Abbas
Court delivers another judgement in favor of Amaewhule, others on Rivers Assembly crisis
Reps Minority Caucus condemns unlawful detention of VDM, demands his immediate release
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