DEAF AND DUMB LEADER !! Group asks court to restrain Buhari from appointing 21 ‘unqualified persons’ as judges

A group known as the Justice Reform Project (JRP) has asked a federal high court in Abuja to restrain President Muhammadu Buhari from appointing 21 persons as judges of the federal capital territory.

In April, the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended 33 candidates to the president for appointment as judges of the high court of the FCT.

However, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/602/2020 and filed on June 10, JRP submitted that 21 out of the nominated persons have not “met the criteria nor satisfied the conditions set out in the extant guidelines and procedural rules for the appointment of judicial officers in Nigeria.”

According to the group, the Judicial Service Committee of the FCT “acted improperly, in bad faith and gross abuse of the power vested in it by paragraph 2(a) of part III of the third schedule of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999” when it submitted the names of the 21 persons to the NJC for appointment as judges.

The plaintiff (JRP) prayed for “an order setting aside the recommendation of the 2nd defendant (NJC) to the 1st defendant (President Buhari) for the appointment of the 5th — 25th defendants as Judges of the high court of the federal capital territory, Abuja.”

Also, they prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the president from “giving effect in any manner whatsoever” to the recommendation made to him by the NJC for the appointment of the 21 persons.

Buhari, the NJC, the Judicial Service Committee of the FCT and the attorney general of the federation are the first to fourth defendants.

The recommended candidates who are joined in the suit as 5th to the 21st defendants include Madugu Alhaji, Ogbeide Enobie, Agunloye Kayode, Eneche Eleojo, Nwanbulu Chineze, Abubabakar Babashani, Aminu Abdullahi, Nwecheonwu Elewe, and Ibrahim Mohammed.

Others are  Sadia Mayana, Mimi Katsina-Alu Apena, Indinya Kanyip, Aliyu Shafa, Mohammed Zuberu, Binta Dongoyaro, Christopher Oba, Fatima Aliyu, Aliyu Ahmed, Hafsat Aliyu, Njideka Iheme, Olufolake Oshin.

The suit is scheduled to be heard before Okon Abang, judge of the federal high court on July 10.

- THECABLE

Nigerian celebrities react to video of Hushpuppi’s arrest

The recent video released by the Dubai police disclosing details of the arrest of Raymond Abass aka Hushpuppi has stirred reactions from Nigerian celebrities.

Hushpuppi and his gang allegedly defrauded over 1.9 million victims, through fake emails and diverting payments to their account.

Dubai Police in the video earlier released said the suspects were part of a ring that had executed several scams totaling up to $435.6 million
Some celebrities commenting on Hushpuppi’s arrest expressed shock at the huge amount of money involved.

Rudeboy commenting on the video via his Instagram page described the allegations against Hushpuppi as “scary”

Taking to his Instagram page, he further advised younger generation.

According to him, social media would kill this generation.

In Pidgin English, he wrote: “Abeg una hear de amount of money? oh oh oh social media go kee this generation.”

“Damn, even the commentary is scary.”

Other celebrities including Toolz of Beat Fm, Uche Jombo, and MI Abaga also had something to say about his arrest.

@Toolz wrote: “But two million victims wow!! Imagine someone had saved a nice sum for their retirement and its all gone in a blink of an eye.

“Could push someone to suicide. Dubai used Hushpuppi for promo video.”

Nollywood Actress, Uche Jombo on her Twitter page wrote: “I just watched the Hushpuppi’s arrest video.

“It’s all fun and game. Millions of families and lives ruined, billions stolen.”

Also popular rapper. M.I Abaga took to his Twitter page writing: “1.9 million victims. Wow.

- DAILY POST

How Arsenal offered Willian £250,000-per-week deal

Arsenal were ready to offer Willian a £250,000-a-week contract before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the UK Mirror reports.

The Brazilian is out of contract at Chelsea this summer and it remains to be seen if the Gunners will follow through with a deal for the 31-year-old.

Free agents usually get big deals, but Arsenal may struggle to hit that figure now.

It is believed that contracts for free agents, could drop by 50 per cent and even better ones like Willian, Jan Vertonghen and Adam Lallana could get 25 per cent less.

Willian is represented by super agent Kia Joorabchian, whose influence is growing at the Emirates.

He was on target on Thursday night, as the Blues defeated Manchester City 2-1 to hand Liverpool the Premier League title.

- DAILY POST

Chelsea eager to sign Alaba as Ben Chilwell’s alternative

Chelsea FC are reportedly lining up a stunning bid to sign Bayern Munich’s David Alaba this summer’s transfer window.

According to The Athletic, Chelsea has approached the Bundesliga champions over a shock move for Alaba.

Chelsea views Alaba as an alternative to Leicester City left-back, Ben Chilwell.

The Blues manager, Frank Lampard had been looking to prise Chilwell from Leicester.

But the Foxes’ £70million valuation of the England star has put Chelsea off.

DAILY POST recalls that Alaba had drawn the interest of Chelsea in the past.

Alaba’s current deal at Bayern will expire next summer.

Bayern will consider selling the Austrian international at the end of the season to ensure they get some money in.

- DAILY POST

Lagos estate agent Idris Dauda jailed for forgery

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, has secured the conviction and sentence of Idris Dauda, a fake estate agent, to five years imprisonment for forgery.

He was sentenced by Justice Sherifat Solebo of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja.

The convict was arraigned on July 5, 2019 on a six-count charge bordering on forgery.

One of the counts read: “ That you, Alhaji Idris Dauda, on or about the 3rd day of November, 2015, at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division of this honourable court, knowingly forged the signatures of Deed of Assignment dated 3rd November, 2015 registered as No. 99, Page 99 in Volume 2516 of the Register of Deed, Land of Registry, Lagos purporting same to be signed by Mrs. Jadesola Loluko Sodipe and Miss. Titi Ashamu, the administratrix of the Estate of the late Chief Emmanuel Oyedele Ashamu in favour of Mr. Patrick Uwabunkeonye Asiwa and committed an offence contrary to Section 363(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”

Following his arraignment, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Services, NCS.

However, before the commencement of trial, the convict, through his counsel, approached the Commission with a letter dated September 30, 2019 seeking a plea bargain.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, the defendant pleaded guilty to the amended five-count charge.

The prosecution counsel, M.S. Owede, during the proceedings, reviewed the facts and tendered documents before the court that were admitted in evidence.

After listening to both parties, Justice Solebo, found the defendant guilty on all counts and sentenced him to one year imprisonment on each count.

The sentences are to run concurrently commencing from when the convict was remanded in the NCS.

- PM NEWS

Amnesty: We uncovered 82 cases of torture, execution by SARS operatives

Amnesty International has accused the police special anti-robbery squad (SARS) of torturing and killing people on at least 82 occasions since January, 2017.

In a new report shared with TheCable on Thursday, the international rights watchdog alleged that SARS uses torture and ill-treatment “to execute, punish and extract information” from suspects, some of whom it said end up dead.
Over the years, SARS has been notorious for alleged violation of human rights in the course of its operations which often leave a trail of dead bodies.

Amid campaigns to scrap the police unit, the police have on at least two occasions said it has reformed the unit — but reports of human rights violations persist.
AI accused police authorities of failing to address the abuse, saying no SARS official has been prosecuted. TheCable contacted Frank Mba, police spokesman, to confirm or deny this, but he has not responded yet.
The watchdog said SARS’ “horrific violations were carried out under the supervision of high-ranking police officers”.

“The systemic use of torture and other ill treatment by SARS officers for police investigations and the continued existence of torture chambers within the Nigerian Police Force points to an absolute disregard for international human rights laws and standards,” the organisation said.

“In many cases, Amnesty International bore witness to the scars, bruises, and dried blood on victims’ bodies. Many of them were subjected to beatings with sticks and machetes and denied medical care.
“The victims of the police unit, set up to fight violent crimes, are predominantly male between the ages of 18 and 35, from low-income backgrounds and vulnerable groups.”

Osai Ojigho, AI country director, said: “The complete failure of Nigerian authorities to bring an end to the gross human rights violations perpetuated by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad or to bring any SARS officer to justice is shocking and unacceptable.”

AI recounted the case of one Miracle who, in March 2017, was reportedly arrested and detained by SARS officers in Neni, Anambra state, after being accused of stealing a laptop.

“He was tortured and given hardly any food during the 40 days he was in detention before he was charged and brought before a court,” the group said, quoting the victim as saying the police officers used “all manner of items to beat me, including machetes, sticks, inflicting me with all kinds of injuries”.

Another victim, AI said, was one Sunday Bang who was arrested in his home in Abuja and accused of robbery.

“He was held in detention for 5 weeks without access to family, lawyers or medical care – and was not charged in court,” it said of Bang who “suffered bone fractures and other injuries due to torture and other ill treatment” while in SARS detention.

Ojigho decried “impunity” in the operations of the police squad, saying: “The Nigerian authorities must go beyond lip service to ensure there is real reform within the Nigeria Police Force with an emphasis on SARS.”

- THECABLE

NCDC announces 594 new COVID-19 cases, infections surge in Delta

Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases escalated to 22,614 on Thursday with 594 new cases announced.

The big surprise was Delta, where new infections surged to 106, in the last 24 hours.

Delta was 9th on the cumulative leaderboard with 609 cases, before today’s tally.

With 709 cases, it will now leapfrog Kaduna to claim the 8th position behind Ogun.

Ogun recorded just 12 cases on Thursday, taking its tally to 733 cases.

According to figures announced by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control(NCDC), Lagos recorded the highest cases of 159.

Ondo came next to Delta with 44 cases.

The FCT Abuja and Edo were tied with 34 cases, while Oyo, where there has been a flare up of the virus, recorded 33, along with Kaduna.

Katsina is back on the leaderboard with 25 cases.
,
Here is a breakdown of the 594 new cases:
Lagos-159
Delta-106
Ondo-44
FCT-34
Edo-34
Oyo-33
Kaduna-33
Enugu-28
Katsina-25
Imo-22
Adamawa-15
Ogun-12
Osun-11
Abia-8
Rivers-6
Nasarawa-5
Bauchi-5
Niger-5
Kebbi-4
Ekiti-3
Plateau-1

Taraba-1

22,614 confirmed
7,822 discharged
549 deaths

- PM NEWS

DECEPTION !!! Ajimobi died when we needed him – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed sadness over the death of Abiola Ajimobi, former governor of Oyo State.

Ajimobi died on Thursday after battling coronavirus related health complications.

Ajimobi had been appointed the APC Acting National Chairman after the Court of Appeal upheld the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

On Friday, Mai Mala Buni, Chairman APC National Caretaker Committee, spoke glowingly of the deceased.

Buni, the Governor of Yobe State, assumed the position on Thursday.

He said Ajumobi’s death came “at a crucial time the party is looking up to our well-meaning leaders to champion the needed reforms and reconciliation moves to be undertaken by the newly-appointed caretaker committee”.

Buni noted that the APC had lost a decent man who in spirit and character embodied its progressive mantra.

He recalled the “fond memories and indelible strides Senator Ajimobi left behind”.

“We will always remember a loving father, husband, gentleman, astute administrator, patriotic Nigerian, fine politician who was exemplary in all his private and public endeavors.”

APC sent condolences to the immediate family, the government and people of Oyo State, and the APC family.

The party prayed to Almighty Allah to be merciful and grant Ajimobi Al Jannah Firdaus.

- DAILY POST