A Kano State High Court has postponed the hearing in a high-profile case involving Abdullahi Ganduje, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), his wife, Hafsat Ganduje, and six other individuals, who face allegations of bribery and misappropriation. The case is now scheduled to resume on November 20, 2024.

The Kano State government brought an eight-count charge against the defendants, accusing them of engaging in bribery, misappropriating funds, and diverting public resources worth billions of naira.

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In addition to Ganduje and his wife, the case involves Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, as well as companies Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.

During the latest court session, which took place on Wednesday, the focus was on addressing the preliminary objection of the 6th defendant.

However, the lead prosecutor, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, informed the court that they were unprepared to proceed despite having filed a counter-affidavit.

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A key witness had also arrived from Lagos, but issues with document service caused delays.

Offiong Offiong, SAN, representing Ganduje, his wife, and Umar, requested additional time, citing that they had not received the relevant legal documents, including the preliminary objection and counter-affidavit.

Counsel for other defendants echoed similar concerns. Mr. Taye Falola, representing the 3rd and 7th defendants, stated that he was still waiting for the necessary documents, although he had filed a preliminary objection on October 10, 2024.

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Counsel for the 6th defendant, Nureini Jimoh, SAN, declared readiness to proceed, as his notice of preliminary objection had been filed since July 9.

However, Abdul Adamu, SAN, and Mr. Faruk Asekome, representing the 5th and 8th defendants, also requested more time, noting that their notices were only filed recently, on October 18, 2024.

In response, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu highlighted the importance of ensuring all parties receive proper documentation.

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Due to incomplete service of the required legal documents, she adjourned the hearing to November 20, 2024, when all pending applications will be considered.

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, suspended the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mynin, on Wednesday for participating in a legal challenge against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) without prior consultation with the governor.

This decision came following the Supreme Court’s recent proceedings on the legality of the EFCC, with judgment reserved on a case initiated by 19 states challenging the anti-corruption body’s legal foundation.

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According to reports, three of the 19 states involved—Anambra, Adamawa, and Ebonyi—have withdrawn from the case. The Attorney General of Anambra, Professor Sylvia Ifemeje, submitted a motion for withdrawal on October 20, informing the court of the state’s decision to step back.

Similarly, Ebonyi State’s Attorney General, Ikenna Nwidagu, filed a notice of withdrawal on October 21, asking the court to remove Ebonyi from the list of plaintiffs.

Governor Alia, reportedly surprised by Benue’s involvement in the case, took swift action by suspending Mynin.

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The suspension was confirmed by Kula Tersoo, the governor’s spokesperson, who explained, “It’s true, His Excellency today suspended the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order for joining the suit challenging the legality of EFCC without informing the governor.”

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The Imo State government, on Tuesday, refuted a report alleging that a Supreme Court judge apologized for the ruling on the Imo Governorship five years ago.

The report, labeled as “fake news” by the state, was criticized as both “irresponsible and unreasonable.”

Declan Emelumba, the Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation, and Strategy, addressed journalists in Owerri, condemning the false information circulating on social media.

In his statement, he remarked, “Imo State government has dismissed as puerile, ludicrous, and irresponsible the recent attempt by enemies of the State to rubbish the profile of Governor Hope Uzodimma through fake news.

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“The fake news being circulated in the social media purporting a Supreme Court judge to have apologised to Imo people over the ruling five years ago was one in a series of failed attempts to rubbish the reputation of Uzodimma.”

Emelumba attributed the spread of this misinformation to what he called “The purveyors of fake news,” whom he described as persistent in their unsuccessful efforts to tarnish the governor’s image.

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He asserted, “They appear not to be tired even when they have failed woefully and repeatedly in their satanic mission to destroy the governor politically. We shall continue to counter them lest they get away with these tissues of lies and propaganda aimed at tarnishing the image of the governor, no matter how incredible and ridiculous.”

He further challenged the credibility of the report, saying, “In their haste to impersonate the so-called Supreme Court justice who purportedly apologised, blaming her action on eye infection, no name was given and the place and event where she made the statement were not also given.”

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He also emphasized that “those who continue to dwell on the Supreme Court judgment have refused to accept defeat even when Uzodimma roundly trounced them in last year’s governorship election.”

Emelumba highlighted that the opposition has remained in denial, ignoring the fact that after the Supreme Court’s ruling, the PDP sought a review only to face a dismissal with significant costs from the Justices.

“Because the opposition continues to live in denial, it has never occurred to them that after the Supreme Court judgment, PDP sought a review where the learned Justices threw the books at them with a heavy cost. They also had another opportunity to test their popularity in another election, yet Uzodimma floored them in all the 27 local government areas of the State. Is it not time for them to go hide their faces in shame?” he stated.

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The Commissioner also criticized social media for enabling the opposition to spread baseless claims, particularly the recent one that seeks to undermine the reputation of a Supreme Court judge.

He noted, “There are basic rules in the journalism profession that were totally violated by those who published that trash. Who said what, when, where, at what occasion, and how were not answered because it was fake news. We are responding for the simple reason that some gullible members of society might believe it to be true.”

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Emelumba affirmed that, “To the best of knowledge of the government, no judge who participated in the ruling, which restored Uzodimma’s mandate, has ever disowned it, talk less of blaming eye infection for it.”

He concluded by attributing the periodic circulation of false news against Governor Uzodimma to those “afraid of his national political visibility, which has dwarfed their local standing.”

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has shifted his stance and now acknowledges the leadership of Umar Damagum, the Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This decision, made public on Tuesday night, comes amid rising pressure and internal disputes within the party.

Previously, a faction supportive of Governor Mohammed had sought a court injunction to prevent both the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission from canceling the scheduled National Executive Council meeting, set for Thursday.

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The legal action, spearheaded by Imam Auwal in the Zamfara High Court’s Gusau Judicial Division, aimed to challenge an earlier ruling from an Abuja Federal High Court that prohibited the PDP from ousting Damagum from his position.

However, during a key stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Mohammed, formally endorsed Damagum’s leadership.

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The meeting aimed to address tensions within the party’s National Working Committee and bring resolution to the ongoing crisis.

At the time of the meeting, only five out of the 13 PDP governors were in attendance, including Bala Mohammed himself, along with Ademola Adeleke of Osun, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Siminalaye Fubara of Rivers, and Caleb Muftwan of Plateau.

This shift followed an announcement from the Reconciliation Committee, led by Olagunsoye Oyinlola, that it had successfully mediated internal conflicts among the National Working Committee members.

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The committee’s efforts were seen as a pivotal step towards unifying the party and strengthening its nation-building agenda.

In his opening remarks at the late Tuesday meeting with the Board of Trustees and former governors, Governor Mohammed underscored the importance of unity.

He stated, “This is a PDP meeting, not governors meeting. It is not a caucus meeting but a meeting of PDP stakeholders. It is a one-item agenda meeting. As you can see, we are all united today under the leadership of Umar Damagum, we are here to discuss germane issues.”

Reaffirming the party’s mission, he added, “We will resist any attempt to make Nigeria a one-party state. We will use our experiences since 1999 to provide Nigerians with an alternative platform.”

Former Federal Commissioner for Information and prominent South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s decision to dissolve the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, asserting that the people of the region will not accept the move.

Chief Clark highlighted the lack of justification for dissolving the Ministry, accusing the federal government of intending to redirect funds from the South-South region to support other regional development commissions.

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Chief Clark, who leads the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), emphasized that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs was originally created by late President Umaru Yar’Adua to foster development in the region, ensure lasting peace, and combat pipeline vandalism.

He expressed disappointment, stating that the government’s current actions appear to undermine these objectives.

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According to Clark, there has been little attention to key projects under the Ministry’s purview, such as the East-West Road, which has now been transferred to the Ministry of Works without concrete plans or funding for completion.

He noted that the federal government’s focus on establishing various regional development commissions has raised concerns about its commitment to the Niger Delta.

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Clark also referenced agreements made during the 2014 national conference, where proposals to increase revenue allocation for the Niger Delta from 13% to 25% were discussed, ultimately settling at 18%.

He criticized the government’s failure to implement related decisions, such as allocating a portion of the Federation Account to regions affected by conflict and to the development of mineral resources.

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Calling for transparency, Clark urged the federal government to engage with leaders from the Niger Delta and the South-South region.

He warned against the dissolution of the Ministry without a clear replacement plan, expressing concerns that funds designated for the South-South might be diverted to other regions.

He emphasized the need for a government that prioritizes the people’s needs and operates with their consent, rather than acting unilaterally.

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The Federal Executive Council, led by President Tinubu, had on Wednesday announced the dissolution of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Ministry of Sports Development.

The announcement was confirmed by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has announced an increase in the minimum wage to N80,000 for state government employees.

To facilitate the implementation of this adjustment, the Governor has set up an Implementation Committee tasked with developing a detailed execution plan within a month.

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The committee, led by the State’s Head of Civil Service, includes key members such as the State Accountant General, the State Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, and representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees.

Ini Ememobong, Akwa Ibom’s Commissioner for Information, confirmed the new wage as a testament to the government’s dedication to enhancing workers’ welfare.

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Meanwhile, in Kebbi State, Governor Nasir Idris has also raised the minimum wage, setting it at N75,000 for the state’s lowest-paid civil servants.

Governor Idris formalized this decision by signing the state’s minimum wage edict into law during a ceremony at the state house.

The event was attended by national leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), including President Joe Ajaero.

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Governor Idris’s firm stance on the new wage structure has been pivotal, especially when many other state governors expressed concerns over affordability.

He maintained that the state governments could meet the wage demands, highlighting his commitment to workers’ rights and welfare.

President Bola Tinubu has restructured his cabinet, retaining key figures like Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, Solid Minerals Minister Dele Alake, Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo.

These officials remain in their positions amid the latest adjustments.

The shake-up, aimed at enhancing the administration’s effectiveness, saw five ministers dismissed while seven new appointments were made.Advertorial

In addition, some ministers received new assignments, while others kept their existing roles.

President Tinubu expressed appreciation to the departing members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), acknowledging their dedication and wishing them success in their future pursuits.

He urged both newly appointed and reassigned ministers to view their roles as a serious responsibility, emphasizing that they must embrace the administration’s commitment to steering Nigeria towards sustainable progress.

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Tinubu called on all appointees to fully dedicate themselves to achieving the government’s key objectives.

The much-awaited cabinet reshuffle of President Bola Tinubu began on Wednesday with the sacking of five ministers and the nomination of seven new ones for Senate confirmation.

The President also re-assigned 10 ministers to new ministerial portfolios and appointed seven new ministers for Senate confirmation.

Aside the appointment of Ojukwu’s wife, Amb. Bianca Onoh, Tinubu nominated Nentawe Yilwatda as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, officially bringing an end to the tenure of suspended Betta Edu.

The President also nominated Maigari Dingyadi as the Minister of Labour and Employment, Jumoke Oduwole as the Minister of Industry, Idi Maiha as Minister for the newly created Livestock Development Ministry, Yusuf Ata as the Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development, with Suwaiba Ahmad as Minister of State Education.

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The President sacked Uju-Ken Ohanenye as Minister of Women Affairs; Lola Ade-John as Minister of Tourism; Tahir Mamman as Minister of Education; Abdullahi Gwarzo as Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development; and Jamila Ibrahim as Minister of Youth Development.

He then charged the newly appointed ministers as well as their reassigned
colleagues to see their appointment as a call to serve the nation.

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He added that all appointees must understand the administration’s eagerness and determination to set Nigeria on the path to irreversible growth and invest the best of their abilities into the actualisation of the government’s priorities.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dismissed at least five ministers as part of his ongoing cabinet reshuffle, aimed at bringing fresh energy and focus to his administration.

The latest shake-up includes the removal of Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, who previously held the position of Minister of Women Affairs, and Prof. Tahir Mamman, who was in charge of the Ministry of Education.

In a statement, President Tinubu expressed his gratitude to the outgoing ministers for their contributions to the nation, acknowledging their efforts and wishing them success in their future endeavors.

Stay tuned…