On Thursday, the Senate passed the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) bill during its third reading.

This decision followed the review and approval of a report from the Senate Committee on Special Duties, presented by its chairman, Senator Kaka Shehu.

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The bill, sponsored by Senator Abba Morro, representing Benue South Senatorial District and serving as the Senate Minority Leader, was co-sponsored by senators from the North Central region.

It had previously passed its first and second readings on October 5, 2023, and February 21, 2024, respectively.

Once established, the NCDC will be responsible for managing funds from both the federal government and international donors.

Its primary focus will be on the resettlement, rehabilitation, and integration of victims affected by floods and farmer-herder conflicts.

Additionally, the commission will oversee the reconstruction of roads, houses, and business premises impacted by these disasters.

On Thursday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja annulled a Rivers State High Court order that had restrained Martin Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers from identifying as members of the state assembly.

The appeal, marked CA/PH/198/2024, was brought by the pro-Wike lawmakers who requested the appellate court to stay the execution of the high court’s decision and invalidate all legislative actions taken by the Jumbo-led Rivers State House of Assembly.

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The lawmakers, initially elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on December 11, 2023.

In response, the Rivers Assembly, under then-Speaker Hon. Edison Ehie, declared their seats vacant on December 13.

A three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal, headed by Jimi Olukayode-Bada, ruled that the high court lacked jurisdiction over the case, asserting that such matters are exclusively within the purview of a federal high court.

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Consequently, the appellate court nullified all restraining orders previously issued by the high court against the lawmakers.

The appeal, filed by Amaewhule, the factional speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and 24 others, aimed to overturn the high court’s order preventing them from acting as lawmakers. On May 30, High Court Judge Charles Wali had prohibited the lawmakers in Amaewhule’s faction from conducting legislative sessions, including within the legislative quarters, and restrained Governor Siminalayi Fubara from engaging with resolutions and bills from these lawmakers.

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The original suit was filed by Victor Oko Jumbo, another factional speaker, along with two other legislators, Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Adolphus Timothy, all loyal to Governor Fubara.

The high court had also ruled that any laws passed by Amaewhule and his faction would be invalid until the matter was resolved.

The appellants sought to have the appellate court dismiss the high court’s judgment and nullify the decisions made by Jumbo’s faction. The Court of Appeal’s ruling effectively reinstates the pro-Wike lawmakers’ status and invalidates the restraining orders against them.

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has firmly stated that he has no plans to serve as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the 2027 presidential election.

This declaration came after a group, self-identified as “Diri Angels,” suggested that Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), should consider Governor Diri for the role in 2027.

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Governor Diri, through his spokesman Daniel Alabrah, labeled the group as “faceless” and dismissed their proposal as a “Greek gift” from political opportunists.

He advised his supporters to completely disregard the group’s suggestions.

Diri highlighted that the group’s true intention was to create discord, a scheme he believes has failed.

He emphasized that his political path has always been divinely guided and that he remains steadfast in his principles against any contrary advocacy.

Governor Diri reaffirmed his dedication to fulfilling his duties to the people of Bayelsa State, a trust first given to him in 2019 and renewed on November 11, 2023.

He urged Bayelsa residents to remain focused and not be swayed by “political buccaneers” aiming to cause confusion.

A bill proposing the creation of Etiti State in the Southeast passed its first reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

The bill aims to amend the 1999 Constitution to establish the new state.

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The bill is sponsored by Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, representing Isikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, along with four other representatives from the affected communities: Hon. Princess Miriam Odinaka Onuoha (Okigwe and Onuimo Federal Constituency), Hon. Kama Nkemkama (Ivo/Ohazara Federal Constituency), Hon. Princess Chinwe Nnabuife (Orumba South and North Federal Constituency), and Hon. Anayo Onwuegbu (Oji River/Agwai/Aniri Federal Constituency).

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The proposed Etiti State is to be carved out of the existing Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states. It will comprise 11 local government areas drawn from these five states, with its headquarters at Lokpanta.

The bill seeks to amend three sections of the 1999 Constitution.

It proposes to change the word “36” to “37” to reflect the new state’s inclusion and to insert “Etiti” immediately after “Enugu” in the list of states.

Additionally, the bill aims to adjust the listing of local government areas by transferring the relevant 11 local governments from their current states to Etiti State.

The affected local government areas are Isuikwuato and Umu-Nneochi (Abia), Orumba North and Orumba South (Anambra), Ivo and Ohaozara (Ebonyi), Aninri, Agwu, and Oji River (Enugu), and Okigwe and Onuimo (Imo).

A bill proposing the creation of Adada State, championed by Senator Okey Ezea [LP, Enugu North], has successfully passed its first reading in the floor of the Nigerian Senate.

Titled the “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2024 (SB. 482)”, the bill aims to amend Section 3(1) and the First Schedule, Part 1 of the Nigerian Constitution to establish Adada State.

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This would increase the number of states in the South-East geopolitical zone to six, aligning it with the other regions of the country.

The push for Adada State traces back to 1983, when Engr. Isaiah Ani, the senator representing Nsukka senatorial zone during the Second Republic, first introduced a similar bill.

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The campaign gained momentum following the 2014 Constitutional Conference’s recommendation for an additional state in the South-East.

Despite various proposals for new states within the geopolitical zone over the years, none have materialized.

The passage of this bill through its first reading marks a significant step in the long-standing quest for the creation of Adada State.

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by Michael Onakoya challenging the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold his dethronement as the king and Orijeru of Igbooye land, Epe.

In the case marked SC/CV/969/2024, Justice Adamu Jauro delivered the verdict, declaring the appeal incompetent due to being filed out of the prescribed time frame.

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The judgment stated: “The court observed that the Notice of Appeal on page 442 of the record was filed on June 29, 2020, against the decision delivered by the Court of Appeal Lagos Division on March 26, 2020, which was beyond the time limit prescribed by Section 27 of the Supreme Court Act.

“Although learned Prof. Yusuf Ali (SAN) for the 7th respondent urged the court to hear the appeal, we do not deem it proper to hear an incompetent appeal.

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“Consequently, the Notice of Appeal filed on June 29, 2020, in Appeal No. SC/969/2020 is incompetent, having been filed outside the time prescribed by Section 27 of the Supreme Court Act, and it is hereby struck out. Notice of appeal is hereby struck out.”

Previously, in March 2020, the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal had affirmed the judgment of a Lagos High Court in Igbosere, which had dethroned Michael Onakoya as the traditional ruler of Igbooye land, Epe.

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Unhappy with this decision, Onakoya approached the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn the lower court’s judgment delivered on April 19, 2016, by Justice Iyabo Kasali.

However, a three-man panel of the appellate court, comprising Justice Mohammad Lawal, presiding, Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu, and Justice Jamilu Tukur, unanimously dismissed Onakoya’s appeal, ruling that it lacked merit.

The Supreme Court’s decision thus confirms the dethronement, reinforcing the lower courts’ rulings on the matter.