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NJC recommended Onnoghen’s compulsory retirement – Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari has finally opened up on the National Judicial Council’s recommendation on the erstwhile Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

The court documents filed on behalf of the Federal Government, Attorney General of the Federation and Buhari revealed that the NJC recommended  Onnoghen’s compulsory retirement.

The documents obtained  on Monday, stated that Onnoghen was recommended for compulsory retirement based on a petition by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission “alleging financial impropriety and infidelity to the Constitution”.

This is contrary to speculation of the NJC’s offer of “voluntary retirement”  of  Onnoghen, following the refusal of the council to make public its recommendation of  April 5, 2019.

The documents were filed by the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr Dayo Apata, on behalf of the three out of a total of seven defendants in opposition to a suit instituted by Malcom Omirhobo Foundation.

The plaintiff in the suit dated April 8, 2019, sought an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja stopping the confirmation and appointment of acting CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, in a permanent capacity.

It faulted Buhari’s unilateral suspension of then-CJN on January 25, 2019 without the input of the Senate and  NJC.

The defendants to the suit are the NJC,  FJSC, Justice Muhammad,  Federal Government, Buhari,  AGF and  Senate.

Apata filed a response comprising a counter-affidavit along with a written address and a notice of preliminary objection.

In the court documents, the trio, apart from confirming that the NJC recommended Onnoghen’s compulsory retirement they also confirmed officially for the first time that Onnoghen, subsequently on April 6, 2019, submitted his voluntary letter of resignation to Buhari.

Both the NJC’s recommendations and Onnoghen’s voluntary retirement came less than two weeks to the judgment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal,  convicting Onnoghen and ordering, among others, his removal from office.

The documents were however silent on the action the government had taken on Onnoghen.

The defendants’ counter-affidavit read in part, “That the 1st defendant (NJC), after deliberating on a petition by the EFCC alleging financial impropriety and infidelity to the Constitution against the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, recommended his compulsory retirement.

“That the Chief Justice subsequently turned in his letter of resignation letter to the 5th defendant (Buhari).”

In their written address, they said the contention by the plaintiff that Onnoghen was removed by Buhari on January 25, 2019 was wrong.”

They stated that Onnoghen was only suspended.

They also reiterated the point that the NJC recommended Onnoghen for compulsory retirement in the written address.

They concluded that the NJC’s recommendation, his subsequent voluntary resignation and his conviction by the CCT ordering his removal from office on April 18, 2019, showed that the  ex-CJN was merely suspended as of January 25.

Apata stated, “To further buttress our contention that it was not a removal but a suspension, three developments stand to support our position.

“First, after the suspension, the NJC  sequel to a petition by the EFCC  which they found to be meritorious, recommended compulsory retirement of Justice Onnoghen on April 5, 2019.

“Secondly, Justice Onnoghen himself subsequently tendered his resignation from service.

“Thirdly, the CCT eventually ordered his removal from office and cessation to hold public office for 10 years.

“All the three developments referred to above could not have happened if Justice Onnoghen had been removed and his seat declared vacant by the 4th and 5th defendants (the Federal Government and Buhari) on January 25, 2019. We submit and urge my lord to so hold.”

Onnoghen was suspended by Buhari on the basis of an ex parte order issued by the CCT where charges of false and non-declaration of assets were instituted against him on January 11, 2019.

Justice Inyang Ekwo on Monday fixed Friday for the hearing of the suit.

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Army Buries 17 Personnel Killed in Okuama Community

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The 17 military personnel killed in Okuama community in Delta on March 14 have been laid to rest.

The corpses of the soldiers, which arrived at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja at about 2:26 pm on Wednesday, were committed to mother death after burial rites were observed.

President Bola Tinubu, Service Chiefs and other dignitaries were in attendance at the burial ceremony.

DAILY POST recalls that the troops of 181 Amphibious Batallion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, while on a peace mission to Okuoma Community were ambushed and killed by some irate youths.

The incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call following a communal crisis between Okuoma and Okoloba communities in Delta State.

The personnel comprised one Lieutenant Colonel, two Majors, one Captain and 13 soldiers.

The officers are Commanding Officer 181 Amphibious Battalion, Lt. Col. A.H Ali; Maj S.D Shafa (N/13976); Maj D.E Obi (N/14395) and Capt U Zakari (N/16348).

The soldiers are SSgt Yahaya Saidu (#3NA/36/2974); Cpl Yahaya Danbaba (1ONA/65/7274); Cpl Kabiru Bashir (11NA/66/9853); LCpl Bulus Haruna (16NA/TS/5844); LCpl Sola Opeyemi (17NA/760719); and LCpl Bello Anas (17NA/76/290).

They also include LCpl Hamman Peter (NA/T82653); LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi (18NA/77/1191); Pte Alhaji Isah (17NA/76/6079); Pte Clement Francis (19NA/78/0911); Pte Abubakar Ali (19NA/78/2162); Pte Ibrahim Adamu (19NA/78/6079) and Pte Adamu Ibrahim (21NA/80/4795).

DailyPost

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Thomas Yormah Emerges As New WAEC Chairman

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By Eric Elezuo

The West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) has a new Chairman, he is Prof. Thomas Brima Rick Yormah, a former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Fourah Bay College and former Pro ViceChancellor, University of Sierra Leone as the 21st Chairman of Council.

According to a statement signed by Demianus G. Ojijeogu, the Head, Public Affairs, WAEC Headquarters, Accra, Ghana, Yormah was elected during the just concluded 72nd Annual Council Meeting of the body, held in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He succeeds Prof. Ato Essuman from the Republic of Ghana.

The highpoint of the week-long Council meeting was the recognition and honoring of three Ghanaian candidates with the WAEC International Excellence Award for their outstanding performance in the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2023. They were Master Amo-Kodieh Leonard Kofi, (1st Prize), Master Dzandu Selorm, (2nd Prize), and Master Asenso-Gyambibi Daniel (3rd Prize). The three candidates were selected from 2,327,342 who sat the examination in The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

In the same vein, the Augustus Bandele Oyediran Award for the Best Candidate in West Africa, 2023 also went to Master Amo-Kodieh Leonard Kofi. In addition, two candidates from the Republic of Sierra Leone were honoured with the National Distinction, while one candidate received the National Merit Award. They were Miss. Mammah E. A. Raymonda, (1st Prize), Master Bangura Joshua, (2nd Prize), and Master Fillie Sahr Edward (Merit Award).

While the 71st edition of the Council meeting was hosted by Gambia, the next edition, which will be the 73rd in the series, will be hosted by Liberia.

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Kidnapped Edo PDP Chairman Regains Freedom

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The kidnapped chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, has been released.

Dr. Aziegbemi, who was set free by his abductors in the early hours of Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Report has it that he got to his Benin City residence at about 3am to the waiting arms of family and close friends.

“I am back home with my family. I am fine. I am just trying to rest and will talk to you later,” he was quoted as saying.

Dr. Aziegbemi, a former member of the House of Representatives, who represented Esan North-East/Esan South-East federal constituency of Edo State, was kidnapped on Friday, March 15, 2024 when his abductors who rode in two Toyota Corolla cars, trailed him after he left a meeting.

The gunmen overtook Aziegbemi’s sports utility vehicle (SUV) at a speed break as it slowed down along Osaro Street, off Country Home Road, close to his house at about 11pm on Friday night before seizing him.

It is not clear yet if a ransom was paid for his release as the abductors had reportedly demanded a sum of N50 million before setting him free.

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