News

Broadcast: Olu-Adegboruwa Accuses Buhari of Contempt of Court

Published

2 years ago

February 16, 2023

Eric

President President Muhammadu Buhari is in contempt of the Supreme Court following his national broadcast Thursday morning on the Naira redesign policy, activist-lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), has argued.

Adegboruwa said by purporting to vary the apex court’s order that all the old notes should continue to be legal tender, the President committed “executive rascality.”

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria slammed Buhari for attempting to “overrule the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

Last Wednesday, the Supreme Court, in a case filed by Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states, barred the Federal Government, acting through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or any other agent, from enforcing the February 10 deadline for the use of old naira notes.

In a unanimous ruling by a seven-member panel, led by Justice John Okoro, it held that the “interim injunction” will subsist “pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiffs/applicants’ motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”

On Wednesday, the court said its February 8 order barring the Federal Government and its agencies from enforcing the February 10 deadline for the use of old 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes subsists.

But, despite touting his administration’s “respect” for the rule of law and admitting in his speech that “the subject matter is before the courts and some pronouncements have been made”, the President still disregarded the apex court’s order in part.

He said: “To further ease the supply pressures particularly to our citizens, I have given approval to the CBN that the old N200 bank notes be released back into circulation and that it should also be allowed to circulate as legal tender with the new N200, N500, and N1000 banknotes for 60 days from February 10, 2023 to April 10 2023 when the old N200 notes ceases to be legal tender.”

Faulting him, Adegboruwa said: “The President cannot overrule the Supreme Court of Nigeria. There is separation of powers in a democracy.

“Under section 235 of the 1999 Constitution, the Supreme Court is the final authority in legal pronouncements in Nigeria.

“Under section 287(1) of the Constitution, the President is statutorily obliged to obey, enforce and give effect to the decision of the Supreme Court.”

Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution reads: “(1) The decisions of the Supreme court shall be enforced in any part of the Federation by all authorities and persons, and by courts with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the supreme Court.”

The senior lawyer said the President’s broadcast “is sad for our democracy. Since he already admitted that the matter is subjudice, the President should not have proceeded to vary the order of the Supreme Court.

“The President and indeed the executive should not give the impression that citizens can brazenly disregard lawful orders of any court, as that will only encourage anarchy and lawlessness.

“It amounts to executive rascality and brazen disregard and contempt of the Supreme Court, for the President to separate the denomination of the old notes for legality. It is not open to the President to choose which portion of the order of the Supreme Court that will be obeyed.”

Adegboruwa advised him to retrace his steps.

“The President should reverse his directive and add the N500 and N1000 old notes, failing which the Supreme Court should overrule the directive of the President on February 22 when the case comes up,” he added.

News

Hardship: Amaechi Dismisses Nigerian Youths As Docile, Says They’re Not Serious About Fighting Their Oppressors

Published

41 mins ago

October 10, 2024

Eric

A former Minister of Transportation, and former Governor of Rivers State, Hon Chibuike Amaechi, has said he is angry with the way Nigerians are responding to the current economic challenges.

Amaechi said this during a TV interview.

The former presidential aspirant also said he expected youths to storm different streets and protest against the high cost of living, but he has not seen anything that shows that they are serious.

“People should be angry because you cannot see a group of people stealing your money without doing anything. I am really angry with the citizens because they are not doing anything.

“Look at what happened in Edo State, should any politician be campaigning in Edo State? See, some of us cannot afford to buy diesel again because it’s costly,” he said.

Amaechi served as the Minister of Transportation for nearly eight years during the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

News

Anxiety As 13 ‘Repentant’ Boko Haram Terrorists Escape with Govt Rifles

Published

5 hours ago

October 10, 2024

Eric

No fewer than 13 repentant Boko Haram ex-fighters have escaped with rifles and motorcycles they got from the Borno State government, which co-opted them to join military operatives in the fight against insurgency in the State.

They are among hundreds of former Boko Haram fighters and their families who surrendered to the government.

Reports said 13 of them attached to the military operatives in Mafa escaped from their camp between September 1 and 2.

Last year, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, said that more than 160,000 Boko Haram members and their families voluntarily surrendered to the military amid a sustained onslaught.

The “repentant” Boko Haram members and their families are being managed under the Borno Model, a post-conflict amnesty programme with a focus on de-radicalisation, rehabilitation, reintegration and resettlement of low-risk persons previously associated with armed groups.

According to reports, nearly 6,000 combatants are awaiting “transitional justice,” and Borno State Government further co-opted some of the ex-fighters into the fight against insurgency, helping the military to penetrate deep into the terrorists’ enclaves.

The “repentant” fighters have become helpful to the military. They are popularly known as “hybrid forces” formed by the military fighting insurgency in Borno State

“Together, they have conducted joint operations to locate and destroy Boko Haram weapons caches, rescue hostages, and fight the remaining jihadists.”

The Director of Defence Media Operation, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, could not be reached for comments.

News

Post-LG Election Violence: Rivers Govt Sets Up Judicial Probe Panel

Published

2 days ago

October 8, 2024

Eric

The Rivers State Government has set up a judiciary of inquiry into the arson, killings, and other forms of violence that occurred in the State on Monday.

The move was after Ikwerre, Eleme, and Emohua local government council secretariats were set ablaze following the withdrawal of the police officers securing the 23 council secretariats on the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

Following the attacks, the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, vowed to take decisive action against those responsible for setting ablaze three local government secretariats.

He pledged that the incident, unlike previous cases, will not be ignored, as his administration will collaborate with security agencies to identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable.

A statement by the Office of the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo on Tuesday, said the setting up of the judicial committee was pursuant to Section 2(1) of the Commissions of Inquiry Law, Cap 30, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.

The statement said, “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Governor of Rivers State, has approved the Setting-up of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the arson, killings, and wanton destruction of property at some Local Government Council Headquarters which occurred on or about Monday, October 7, 2024.”

Members of the Commission are:

(1) Hon. Justice I.R. Minakiri – Chairman

(2) Barr. Felicia Nwoke – Member

(3) Prof. Blessing Didia – Member

(4) Sir Samuel Egbe – Member

(5) Venerable Alex Usifor – Member

(6) Barr. Uzor Ikenga – Counsel to the Commission

(7) Mrs. Inyingi Brown – Secretary

Members of the Commission have been sworn at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt.