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EFCC, Magu get two-week ultimatum to prosecute former Bauchi governor, Abubakar

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The Coalition against Financial Crimes and Injustice has threatened to sue the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the anti-graft commission for not investigating and prosecuting former Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, over fraudulent acts and corrupt practices he allegedly committed while in office.

Chairman of the group, Alhaji Dogo Bibi, who stated this yesterday in Bauchi while interacting with reporters, said, “We have filed several petitions to the commission against various alleged corrupt practices by the former governor. We have many copies of acknowledgement as evidence to show that the commission received our petitions but they have remained silent.”

He said some of the petitions filed by the anti-graft group included the N4 billion, the governor allegedly took without the approval of the state lawmakers, alleged fraudulent act in fertiliser, hajj operations and award of contracts without following due process.

Dogo stated that the contract were awarded when Abubakar had no state executive council, and listed the former governor’s inability to provide the 500 tractors he claimed to have bought for farmers in the state and the 60 buses he claimed to have purchased for the Yankari transport corporation, insisting that the tractors and buses were not delivered.

His words, “We don’t know why the EFCC are still silent over the issue. If they are unable to investigate him because he has immunity at that time, now that he left office, he has no immunity for that he should be prosecuted or else we will be left with no option but to sue the commission and its chairman before the court so that court will compel them to investigate and prosecute the former governor.

“We are not happy with the lukewarm attitude of the anti-graft commission, because their refusal to prosecute the former governor will definitely put a dent and bring disrepute to the President Muhammadu Buhari much-touted anti-corruption fight before Nigerians and the international community”.

Dogo said, “We have given a two-week ultimatum to the EFCC to show cause why they refused to prosecute the former governor in a court of competent jurisdiction without which we will be left no option than to drag the anti-graft commission and its chairman to court.”

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Appeal Court Affirms Ruling Barring VIO from Impounding Vehicles, Fining Motorists

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The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday upheld the judgment that stopped the Directorate of Road Traffic Services and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from seizing vehicles or imposing fines on motorists.

In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, the appellate court found no basis to set aside the Federal High Court’s ruling of October 16, 2024, which restrained the VIO from harassing motorists.

The appeal filed by the VIO was dismissed for lacking merit. Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi delivered in the lead judgment.

The high court had earlier ruled, in a judgment by Justice Nkeonye Maha, that no law authorizes the VIO to stop motorists, impound vehicles, or impose penalties for alleged traffic offences.

The case arose from a fundamental rights suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023) filed by lawyer Abubakar Marshal.

Marshal informed the court that VIO officials stopped him at Jabi in Abuja on December 12, 2023, and seized his vehicle without lawful reason. He asked the court to determine whether their actions violated his rights.

Justice Maha agreed and ordered the VIO and its agents not to impound vehicles or impose fines on motorists, describing the actions as unlawful. She held that only a court can impose fines or sanctions.

She ruled that the VIO’s conduct breached the applicant’s constitutional right to property under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 14 of the African Charter. She further held that the VIO has no legal authority to seize vehicles or penalize motorists, as doing so infringes on rights to fair hearing, movement and presumption of innocence.

Although Marshal, represented by Femi Falana, SAN, requested ₦500 million in damages and a public apology, the court awarded ₦2.5 million.

The Directorate of Road Traffic Services, its Director, its Abuja Area Commander at the time (identified as Mr. Leo), team leader Solomon Onoja, and the FCT Minister were listed as respondents.

They appealed the decision, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

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Tinubu Nominates Ibas, Dambazau, Enang, Ohakim As Ambassadors

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President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State and a former Chief of Naval Staff, as a non-career ambassador.

Tinubu also nominated Ita Enang, a former senator; Chioma Ohakim, former First Lady of Imo State; and Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Minister of Interior and ex-Chief of Army Staff, as non-career ambassadors.

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Senate Confirms Chris Musa As New Defence Minister

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The Nigerian Senate has confirmed General Christopher Musa, the former Chief of Defence Staff, as the country’s new Minister of Defence.

The announcement was contained in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu.

Musa, who retired from the military just 40 days ago, was nominated by President Tinubu on Tuesday to succeed former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down on health grounds.

According to Onanuga’s statement, the Senate approved Musa’s appointment on Wednesday through a voice vote, following a thorough screening session during which lawmakers posed numerous questions.

“Senate confirms Gen. Christopher Musa as Minister of Defence The Senate has confirmed the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, as the Minister of Defence. The Senate confirmed Musa on Wednesday via a voice vote after a rigorous screening session in which lawmakers asked him many questions,” the statement read in part.

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