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NJC Launches New Judicial Policy

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NJC Launches New Judicial Policy

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The National Judicial Council, NJC, has launched a National Judicial Policy, NJP, as well as inaugurated the Ethics Standing Committee.

The aim is to provide an oversight over judicial offices and court staff so as to ensure integrity and strengthen the independence of the judiciary.

Chairman of the NJC and Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Mahmud Mohammed, noted that the policy will serve as a legal backing for the several strategies and guidelines to be developed by the judiciary to continue to rid the sector of acts that are not in line with the rule of law and due process.

He however pointed out that the launch of judicial policy and the decision to set up the ethics committee pre-dates the events of October 7 and 8, when some senior judges’ were raided and arrested by the Department of State Security., DSS.

Mohammed said that he was hopeful that the new policy would go a long way in ensuring discipline among judicial officers and quality justice delivery.

To ensure enforcement of the policy, the CJN inaugurated a 10-man Ethics Standing Committee headed by former CJN, Legbo Kutigi, and comprises of former chief justices as well as the president of the Nigerian Bar Association.

Retired Justice Kutigi noted that the formation of the committee will put to rest a long held belief that the judiciary lacked a far reaching discipline structure.

The policy provides guidelines on judicial discipline, code of conduct, performance, independence of the judiciary, judicial transparency and anti-corruption.

Recall that seven judges, including two of the Supreme Court, were recently arrested by the DSS on allegations of corruption.

The DSS claimed it had overwhelming evidence that the judges had accepted huge sums of money in bribes in order to influence Justice.

They also said that huge sums of money in various currencies were recovered from the judges’ residences.

Full Enforcement Of Speed Limit Device Kicks Off January 1

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Full Enforcement Of Speed Limit Device Kicks Off January 1
FRSC, Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi
FRSC, Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi

Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, has announced that all commercial vehicles coming into the country from January 1, 2017must be fitted with the speed limit device.

Oyeyemi who was represented by the Head of Operations, FRSC Headquarters Abuja, Ojeme Ewhrudjakpor, made the announcement during a routine visit to the Kaduna State FRSC Sector Command.

The Corps Marshal noted that the measure was to ensure safety on Nigerian roads, adding that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, had written to all importers of vehicles to comply with the order.

“This will reduce the pains of buying a vehicle and be forced to spend again to install the device,” Ewhrudjakpor said.

“Currently, some vehicles coming into the country are already fitted with the device; all you need do is to calibrate it.

“But if motor owners insist on buying vehicle without speed limiter, then they will have to fix it or we will impound it,” he warned.

He also said that the FRSC will arrange a meeting with local vehicle assembly plants in order to see how they could install the device as part of vehicles fitted specifications.

The FRSC boss explained that the current enforcement of the speed limit device, which began on October 1, was a persuasive move to give motorist time to comply, adding that, “from January 1, 2017, it is an offence not to have it on commercial vehicles.

“Some of the vendors have agreed to allow vehicle owners pay for the device over time, but from January 1, it is going to be full enforcement, as we will impound your vehicle if you don’t have it.

“There is nowhere in the world where public transport is not regulated.

“If you go the United Kingdom, or the United States, public transports do not go beyond 90 kilometres per hour,” he said.

The Kaduna FRSC Sector Commander, Francis Udoma, reported that out of 3,033 vehicles inspected in the state from October 1 to date, only 51 were found to have installed the device.

He said the command would continue to advise and persuade commercial motorists during the ongoing ember month patrol, to comply and install the device, but as from January 1, there would be no mercy.

Udoma also said that the command would continue to work with security agencies and relevant stakeholders to restore sanity on the roads.

Shiite Crisis: Nigerian Students In Iran  Being Radicalised – Group Says

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Shiite Crisis: Nigerian Students In Iran  Being Radicalised – Group Says

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A group of African students in Cyprus have called on the Nigerian government to stop Nigerian youths from traveling to the republic of Iran to study, saying that most of them end up being radicalized.

The students made their opinions known during a march against terrorism and extremism at the University of Nicosia, Cyprus. They said Nigeria faces future security risk if it continues to allow youths travel to countries renowned for radical Islamism.

Jeremiah Omadachi, President of the student group,  said some youths who travel to Iran under the guise of studying, are also shipped off to other countries such as Yemen and Somlia where they are radicalised.

The students cited an example with the current issue of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, whose activities were recently banned in Kaduna State, as well as the cases of Abdul Mutalab, the infamous underwear bomber who is currently serving a life sentence in the United States, and also Aminu Oguche, the alleged mastermind of the 2014 Nyanya bombing.

“As Africans living here in Cyprus, we have followed events in Nigeria and must confess that we have great concerns about the growing sectarian division there,” Omadachi told newsmen.

“The names of several sects are coming up in the daily accounts being rendered online but the name of Shiite sect, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, has remained a constant.

“We are aware through contacts with other communities and nationals here that the cover that IMN and Iran use is to make youths pretend they are travelling to get education.

“The frightening reality, however, is that young Nigerians that travel to Iran end up being radicalised and indoctrinated into extremism.

“There has been indications that they are also getting military training provided by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards,” the student group leader added.

He urged the Nigerian Government and other African leaders to be proactive to prevent Iran from expanding the Middle East crisis to Africa by using IMN as a front.

He said: “Our continent is too dear to us to keep quiet while Iran stokes the fire of sectarian strife.

“We appeal to the Nigerian government to immediately mount an enlightenment campaign that would educate Nigerian youths on the danger of travelling to Iran of all places in the erroneous impression that they will get useful education.

“They must be told of the reality of the harrowing experiences of those that have made the perilous journey.

“Some of the youths who think they will be getting education as professionals have ended up finding themselves as unwilling recruit into the Iranian terror infrastructure.

Omadachi stated that some Africans that had traveled to Iran in the so-called pursuit of Education “have died in the course of being trained as terrorists while those that managed to return home to Nigeria often discover they have been fashioned into misfits.”

Former IGP, Arase, Denies Corruption Allegations

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Former IGP, Arase, Denies Corruption Allegations
Former IGP, Solomon Arase
Former IGP, Solomon Arase

The Immediate past Inspector General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase has denied the allegations that 19 assorted vehicles belonging to the police force were recovered from him.

There had been rumours making the rounds that a police Investigative panel which was set up by the current IGP, Ibrahim Idris, had recovered many vehicles from the former police boss.

However, in a statement he personally signed on Monday, Arase claimed that some people were bent on tarnishing his image.

He denied taking any police vehicle with him outside of what he was entitled to.

He further threatened to seek legal redress if those he said were desperate to tarnish his image did not to desist.

“It is embarrassing for me to wake up on Monday morning to be inundated with calls and messages on purported 19 vehicles recovered from me,” Arase’s statement read.

“I wish to reassure the general public that there was nothing like that.

“Like I said in July, I did not take any police vehicle with me outside what I am entitled to, and so, there couldn’t have been any vehicle recovered from me.

“If there was any such, those behind this campaign of calumny should please make the number plates of the vehicles public and where they were recovered from,” he stated.

The Former IGP, Arase, retired in June this year, having served in the Nigerian Police Force for 35 years.

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Adamawa Council Boss Cries For Help

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Adamawa Council Boss Cries For Help
Madagali, in Adamawa State, was one of the worst-hit towns during the Boko Haram insurgency
Madagali, in Adamawa State, was one of the worst-hit towns during the Boko Haram insurgency

Chairman of Madagali Local Government Council in Adamawa State, Yusuf Mohammed, has called on the federal government to assist in the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure which was destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents.

Muhammed made the appeal during a chat with newsmen on Monday in Gulak, the council’s headquarters, adding that life was very difficult for returnees in the area which was one of the communities liberated from Boko Haram by the Nigerian military.

He said government facilities such as schools, hospital and markets were no longer functioning.

“Gulak town, the headquarters of the local government, is about 15 kilometres from Sambisa forest, the den of the insurgents,” Mohammed said.

“The destruction of schools, health facilities, markets, houses, places of worship and community civic centre, is beyond imagination.

“The council secretariat has been completely vandalised and there is no single infrastructure left,” he lamented.

He added that bridges along federal roads linking Madagali to other parts of the state and neighbouring Borno state had all been destroyed.

Mohammed said that economic activities in the area have been crippled as a result of the level of destruction in the area, and life for the returnees has been very difficult.

Senate Summons Budget Minister Over Budget Proposals

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Senate Summons Budget Minister Over Budget Proposals
Minister of Budet and National Planning, Udoma Udo-Udoma
Minister of Budet and National Planning, Udoma Udo-Udoma

The Senate has invited the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo-Udoma to throw more light on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, which formed the basis for the formulation of the 2017 – 2019 budget proposals.

This was contained in a letter signed by Senate Leader, Ali Ndume.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had forwarded the MTEF document to both the Senate and the House of Representatives for consideration and approval.

The letter sent to the budget minister read in part, “To enable the Senate objectively review the MTEF from a wholistic fiscal perspective, we deem it necessary to invite you to a meeting to brief the leadership of the Senate on Tuesday, 1st November, 2016, at the National Assembly by 2pm.”

The senate requested Udo-Udo to furnish it, ahead of the meeting, with the following documents: “The Medium-Term Development Plan (even a draft copy) upon which the 2017-2019 MTEF is founded; a comprehensive report on the implementation of the 2016 budget (as at third quarter, September 30); all fiscal rates, taxes, charges, etc., used to derive the projected revenue in the 2017-2019 MTEF; and a report on the structure/composition of the debt, funding sources, how the borrowed funds are to be spent as well as repayment plan and schedule.”

Ndume also noted that Senate’s debate on the MTEF had been postponed until next week; it was earlier scheduled for this week.

NJC Tightens Regulations, Bars Judges, Court Staff From Accepting Gifts

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NJC Tightens Regulations, Bars Judges, Court Staff From Accepting Gifts

 

Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, NJC
Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, NJC

Following recent developments in the Judiciary with regards to allegations of corruption among top judicial officers, the National Judicial Council, NJC, has announced a new set of regulations, barring judges and other court staff from accepting any form of gift from the other arms of government.

The new rule is part of measures to ensure and enhance the independence of the judiciary, and curb corruption and other unethical conduct among judicial officers and other court staff.

A new National Judicial Policy, NJP, wherein contain the latest rules guiding the nation’s judiciary will be launched by the NJC on Monday in Abuja.

Already, the existing Code of Conduct for judicial officers provides that “a judge and members of his/her family shall neither ask for nor accept any gift, bequest, favour, or loan on account of anything done or omitted to be done by him in the discharge of his duties.

But the provision in the new policy particularly bars judges and other court staff from accepting gifts from other arms of government, and also made compliance mandatory.

Section 2(3)(2) of the new policy states: “The Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers and Code of Conduct for Court Employees, with the amendment discouraging acceptance of gifts from other arms of government, should be such as would be adequate. Compliance with their provisions shall be mandatory.”

With regards to the Judiciary’s relationship with other arms of government, the new policy stipulates that “the judiciary shall not resort to lobbying in ensuring that the legislature and the executive perform their constitutional responsibilities.

“All arms of government should respect the doctrine of Separation of Powers as enshrined in the Constitution,” it added.

The policy also introduced measures to further keep complaints against judges and other court staff from the media and public domain.

Part of the policy read: “It shall be the policy of the judiciary on complaints of misconduct against judicial officers or employees of the judiciary shall not be leaked or published in the media.

“Where complaints on allegations against judicial officers and court employees are submitted for investigation, the complainant or complainants shall be made to give an undertaking not to do anything to prejudice investigation or actions that may be taken.

“The institutions of the judiciary concerned with investigation or/and implementation of decisions taken on such complaints shall be obliged to cease further action where such complaints are leaked or discussed in the media.

“Where such a leakage is occasioned after the submission of a complaint, then all investigations on the complaints shall be suspended, the leakage investigated and if such leakage is from the complainant or through other parties known to such a complainant, such a complaint should be discarded.

“Where such leakage is occasioned prior to the presentation of the complaint and the source of the leakage is found to be the complainant or through other parties known to and connected with the complainant, then such complaint shall not be accepted, upon submission, by the appropriate disciplinary body.

“On conclusion of investigation, the disciplinary bodies may allow public disclosure of their findings, subject to following the proper channels.”

Fulani Cattle Breeders Tackle Fayose Over ‘Arrest’ Of Cows

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Fulani Cattle Breeders Tackle Fayose Over ‘Arrest’ Of Cows

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The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, has condemned Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State over the introduction of the Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals, EGEM, a vigilante group whose job is to ‘arrest’ cows that were allegedly damaging farms in the state.

The association said Fayose’s action was not well thought through and was targeted at “our members who are bonafide Nigerians.”

Spokesman for the group, Othman Ngelzarma, said in a statement accused the newly-formed group of having “shot five cows and carted away the meat but the herdsman was able to flee with the rest of his cattle.”

He added: “As far as we know, Ekiti State is not an island of its own, but a state within the Federal Republic of Nigeria and while the governor is permitted to carry out actions geared towards protecting the interest of Ekiti State, such actions should follow the rule of law.

“We deplore this act of brigandage and call on Governor Fayose to offer an unreserved apology to MACBAN, and equally set machinery in motion with a view to compensating our members who lost five cows in this primitive adventure.”

Ngelzarma also pointed out that the actions of the vigilante group, popularly known as ‘Anti-malu’ is even outside the term stipulated by the Ekiti State anti-grazing act, “if the law exists at all”.

He called on the federal government to look into the actions and activities of the group “because we cannot fold our hands while the only means of survival of our members is taken away and destroyed.”

“We are hereby constrained to implore the Federal Government through its security agencies to wade into this unprovoked and primitive aggression against our members, before this incident develops into unquenchable inferno involving our members and Ekiti State government,” the group warned.

MACBAN, however, sympathized with the government of Kaduna State, and the people of Kaduna South over the recent attack on Godogodo community by people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

Gov. Dickson Threatens 2012 Flood Victims With Eviction, Arrest

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Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson
Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson

The Bayelsa State government has threatened to arrest and prosecute some  victims of the 2012 flood disaster in the state, if they refuse to vacate the original site of the Bishop Dimeari Grammar School, BDGS, Yenagoa, where they had occupied since after the disaster.

This was made known in a statement issued on Sunday by the state commissioner of Educational, Markson Fefegha.

The statement urged staff and students of BDGS to begin moving back to its original site in Yenagoa Local Government Area as from October 24.

Government had blamed the inability of the school to move to its original site on the presence of the flood victims whom the commissioner described as ‘illegal occupants’.

The premises is presently being occupied by the Law Faculty of the state-owned Niger Delta University, NDU, and some of the flood victims who have refused to return to their homes for fear of another disaster.

Fefegha warned the trespassers to vacate the premises or incur the wrath of the law.

“All illegal occupants of buildings in the premises of BDGS Yenagoa, are by this statement advised to vacate the premises on or before Sunday, 23rd of October, 2016,” the statement read.

“The State Ministry of Education has served enough notice and delayed the return of the school, on sympathy grounds.

“However, the government shall be compelled to invite the law enforcement agencies to effect the arrest and prosecution of all illegal occupants that will be found from Monday, 24th of October, 2016.

“The general public and especially staff and students of BDGS should please take note and comply,” the commissioner added.

However, the flood victims have severally lamented that the over N 600 million intervention funds donated to them through the State government have been allegedly embezzled by governor Seriake Dickson, thereby leaving the victims to their fate.

Reports said that Chairman of Globacom, Mike Adenuga, had also presented a cheque of N 500 million to governor Dickson in 2016 for victims of flood disaster.

But chairman of the Flood Management Committee, Francis Doukpola denied involvement in the alleged diversion of funds, saying that his committee only received a paltry sum of N10 million which included its running cost.

The Committee was supposed to be a permanent one, due to the fact that Bayelsa State, being a riverine state, was prone to incidences of flooding, but reports suggest it is no longer operational due to the fact that the governor would not release funds for its operations.

Recently, in September this year, some Bayelsa Communities were reported to be severely affected by floods while residents of Ogbia local council area were cut off.

Hundreds of victims of the 2012 flood disaster have remained refuge in the BDGS premises since 2012, refusing to vacate the school even after the flood had receeded.

Acting Public Relations Officer of the Niger Delta University, NDU, Ingezi Idon, however said  that the eviction order was not applicable to the Law Faculty of the University.

“The eviction order does not affect the Faculty of Law, rather it affects illegal occupants that occupied the premises during the 2012 flood of the premises.

One of the victims taking refuge in the school premises, who pleaded anonymity said that they were compelled to remain in the school as government had not done anything to help them.

“Where do they want us to go, they diverted the flood intervention fund and now they are bent on evicting us from this place, let them go ahead but they should remember that there is God,” he said.

Police Arrest Robbery Suspects In Kaduna, Enugu

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Police Arrest Robbery Suspects In Kaduna, Enugu

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The Kaduna and Enugu State Police Command said  some armed robbery suspect terrorizing residents of Kaduna and Enugu States have been arrested.

Police Public Relations Officer of the Kaduna  command , Aliyu Usman, told Newsmen on Saturday that seven suspects were arrested at Unguwar Sarki and Narayi all in Kaduna metropolis.

Usman said the police got a report on October 8 and quickly swung into action which led to the arrest of the seven suspects between October 13 and 14, by the command’s Intelligence Bureau.

He added that one of the suspects is still at large and efforts are on to arrest him and other accomplices.

“Four plasma television sets and three mobile phones were recovered from the suspects,” the police spokesman said.

“The suspects confessed to have committed the crime. Investigation is still ongoing and they will be charged to court for prosecution.”

Usman assured citizens 0f the state of their safety, saying that the police were committed to protecting the lives and property of everyone.

“We call on the public to give the security operatives maximum cooperation in the fight against crime and criminality in the state,” he said.

In a related development, the Police in Enugu State also disclosed that it has smashed a highway robbery syndicate that terrorized the Nsukka axis of the Enugu-Makurdi road while disguising as military officers.

Ebere Amaraizu, the spokesman of the Nigerian police in Enugu, told journalists that two double barrel guns fabricated as AK 47 rifles, money, a pair of boots and torches, were recovered from the gang.

He said: “The Police Counter Terrorism Unit Axis received a distress call on Thursday that hoodlums had blocked the road by Inyi in Igboeze North and (were) wreaking havoc on their victims.

“The unit swung into action promptly which resulted in exchange of fire.

“One of the hoodlums was fatally injured and later confirmed dead by a doctor.

“Another hoodlum identified as Godwin Okpe from Ogbadigbo in Benue dressed in camouflage is also fatally injured and being revived to aid operatives in their investigation.

“Others escaped with bullet wounds’’, Amaraizu added.

He appealed to members of the public particularly hospital operators to watch out for any one with suspected bullet injury and report promptly to any nearby police station.

Commissioner of Police in Enugu state, Emmanuel Ojukwu, applauded the effort of the policemen, and added that the command would continue to maintain functional security for members of the public as well as motorists in the state.

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