Osinbajo: Appointment of judges in Nigeria is influenced by the elite

 Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says the appointment of judges in Nigeria is influenced by the elite.

During a webinar tagged, ‘Selection and appointment of judges: Lessons for Nigeria’, which was organised by Justice Research Institute (JRI) on Saturday, Osinbajo said Nigeria’s justice administration “is under severe pressure from the elite who want to get ahead at all cost”.

“We have an elite and when I speak of elite, I speak of the Nigerian elite both political, religious, commercial/business etc. Everyone wants to get ahead, we want to own things, we want to control things and we want to own the judges too,” he said.

“The Nigerian elite want to be sure of all the outcomes and they want all the outcomes to favour them. That is the same pressure that we have with respect to the federal character.

“So the federal character is no longer necessarily seen as choosing the best from a particular zone or a particular state; it is the interest in that state or that zone who want to further their own purposes that would want to come together to ensure that the person who is appointed is not necessarily the best, but he is the one that is most suited to their own purposes. This is the problem that we have.

“And I want to say that this is a natural human feeling. Most people in the world would rather have a situation where everything worked in their favour.

The vice-president said every nation makes up its mind at some point to create the best environment and circumstances it needs to succeed.

He said there must be a honest conversation among the legal profession, the judiciary , the executive, the legislature and the elite on why it is important to appoint the best judicial officers.

“If we leave it to the system that is going on at the moment; we are clearly headed in the wrong direction because interest whether private, political or group influences how judges are appointed,” Osinbajo said.

“We must agree to an objective process to rigorously examine, test and interview all of those who want to come forward as judges.”

He also said it is important to pay attention to the welfare of judges by providing adequate remuneration in order to shield them from corruption.

Amina Augie, a justice of the supreme court, also decried the process of lobbying in the appointment of judicial officers.

She said: “There are people who are passionate who can do the job but they are sidetracked by that pressure of people who know people that have gotten there.”

She recommended that justices should be elected or elevated not just based on the quantity of their output but on the quality of their work as well as their personal character.

- THECABLE

 

The world may end before next RCCG convention – Pastor Adeboye

 The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has told his church members that the world may come to an end before the 69th convention.

He stated this on Friday during the 68th Annual Convention of the church, which held virtually because of the lockdown occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.

The renowned cleric, however, stated that he does know when the Lord will return but urged his members whom he often refers to as “my children” to prepare for the end.

During the program themed, ‘Wonderful’, Adeboye, who preached on the topic, ‘Seven Wonderful Things About God’, implored his church members and thousands of viewers from all over the world to turn away from sinful lifestyles because “Psalm 7:11 says God is angry with the wicked every day.”

The 78-year-old preacher said, “Don’t say I didn’t tell you, my children, I don’t know which convention will be the last one.

“The Lord may return before we have another convention. I don’t know when Jesus may return, but if any of you fails to make it to heaven, it will not be because I didn’t tell you the whole truth. God can be wonderfully angry.

“Watch your steps those of you who are playing games with the all-seeing God. God is angry with the wicked every day.

“Your life is in His hands and He can decide your last breath. But if you surrender your life to Him today, God can still save your soul and give you a brand new beginning.”

According to him, the size of God is wonderful, His love, mercy, glory, name, and anger are all wonderful.

Adeboye noted that the wrath of God could be dangerous, saying, “There is always one prayer I always pray. That’s my secret I’m telling you now.

“I’m not asking for money, I’m not asking for clothes, I know my God is more than sufficient.

“Only one prayer I pray: God, don’t let me ever annoy You.

“And He has proved to me that the more He loves you, the more you must be careful.”

Continuing, the pastor said, “It doesn’t matter what anybody may tell you, my God is not a Father Christmas.

“Oh yes, He is love and His love is wonderful. But, according to Hebrews 12:6, the Bible says whomsoever He loves, He chastens and scourges every son He receives.

“If He loves you and you are special to Him, be careful, don’t toy with Him. In Revelation 3:19, He says, as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. He says be zealous and therefore repent. Don’t mess with God.

“If God loves you, He will not leave you on your own. He won’t allow you to go ahead and do whatever you want because it is written in Proverbs 29:15 that a child left to himself will bring shame.

“Hebrews 12:29 made it clear, yes, God is love but He is also the consuming fire. Hebrews 10:31 says it is a very dangerous thing to fall into the hands of the living God,” he added.

- PM NEWS

Andrea Pirlo replaces Maurizio Sarri at Juventus

 

Former Italy and Juventus star Andrea Pirlo was Saturday named as the Italian champions’ new coach, just hours after Maurizio Sarri’s sacking.

Sarri, 61, leaves Juventus after just one season, a day after the Turin giants crashed out of the Champions League in the last 16 to French club Lyon.

The 41-year-old Pirlo, who has no previous top-level coaching experience, has signed a two-year contract until June 2022.

He had recently been appointed coach of the Juventus U23 side, who play in the third division.

“Pirlo has had a legendary career as a player, winning everything from the Champions League to the World Cup in 2006,” Juventus said.

“In his four years at the centre of the Juventus midfield, Pirlo won as many league titles, a Coppa Italia and two Italian Super Cups.

“Today, begins a new chapter of his career in the world of football, as it was said almost a week ago: from Maestro to Mister.

“From today he will be THE coach for everyone at Juventus, as the club has decided to entrust him with the technical leadership of the first team, after having already selected him for Juventus Under 23.

“Today’s choice is based on the belief that Pirlo has what it takes to lead from his debut on the bench, an expert and talented squad to pursue new successes.”

Pirlo began his playing career at his hometown team, Brescia, in 1995 and went on to play for Inter, AC Milan and Juve from 2011 before moving in 2015 for two seasons with New York City FC in the MLS.

During his four seasons with Juventus, he won Serie A four times and one Italian Cup.

Capped 116 times for Italy, Pirlo was a key figure in the team that won the 2006 World Cup.

He also won two Champions Leagues and two league titles with Milan during his 22-year playing career.

AFP/NAN

Customs officer allegedly shoots NURTW member over bag of rice in Oyo

 A yet to be idetified officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Oyo/Osun command has allegedly shot a member of the proscribed National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oyo State.

DAILY POST gathered on Saturday that the incident occurred at Moniya park in Iseyin town, one of the towns in Oyo State, Friday evening.

It was learnt that the officer shot the executive member of the proscribed NURTW, identified as Mr. Lateef Aboki at the Moniya park in Iseyin.

The said officer was among three others in mufti and in a private Lexus Jeep.

They were said to have gone to the park while chasing a public transport vehicle to the park on suspicion of the vehicle carrying a bag of foreign rice.

The customs officers immediately left the scene when Aboki was hit by a bullet.

Aboki was later rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

The Lexus Jeep belonging to the Customs Officer has been towed to the Police station in Iseyin by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the town for further investigation, DAILY POST learnt on Saturday.

DAILY POST gathered that the shot NURTW member is responding to treatment at the hospital as of the time of filing this report on Saturday.

Head of the park, Mr Lateef Shittu, confirmed the incident to journalists on Saturday.

Shittu said that he got a call that one of his executive members was shot by a customs officer at the park.

He said that he immediately contacted the Divisional Police officer (DPO) in Iseyin, who got to the spot immediately to take control of situation before it degenerated to chaos.

Shittu said, “I was called around 4pm that some customs officers in mufti chased a vehicle which they believed was carrying a bag of rice to our park and in the process, hit one of our buses.

“They were asked to identify themselves as they wore no uniform and were in a private Lexus Jeep and instead of doing that, they started shooting, unfortunately one of the bullets hit one of my executive members, named Lateef Aboki in the chest.

“We thank God that he is responding to treatment and we also call on the authority to warn the Nigerian Customs officers to apply decorum and professionalism when doing their job.

“The vehicle they chased did not carry any rice when they eventually searched it, why chasing vehicles with private vehicle and in mufti? Do they even need to chase vehicles in the town and be shooting when they know there are many people walking by or those unknowingly driving by”.

However, all efforts made by DAILY POST to get reaction of the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Oyo/Osun Command of the NIS, Mr. Abdullah Lagos proved to be abortive as several calls made through his telephone lines were not answered.

Similarly, an SMS sent to Mr. Lagos by DAILY POST reporter, asking him for reaction has not been replied as of the time of filing this report on Saturday.

- DAILY POST

FLASHBACK: How ex-NDDC chairman ‘squandered N1bn on juju’ in 2008

 

Like the drama that played out when the current acting managing director (MD) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) slumped at a house of representatives hearing, events at the commission 12 years ago also looked like a scripted Nollywood movie.

But it was indeed a true story.

In 2008, Sam Edem, then NDDC chairman, allegedly spent N1 billion on black magic popularly known as “juju” — to help him secure government contracts.

Edem was alleged to have diverted the money from government coffers to hire a sorcerer for rituals to aid his success in the contracts.

He was said to be pursuing the contracts from the Akwa Ibom state government at the time.

In addition to the N1 billion, the former NDDC boss also allegedly burnt N270 million in a ritual after which he rubbed the ash on his body.

The ritual, said to have taken place at a midnight ceremony in a Port Harcourt cemetery, was to “help secure his position (at NDDC) and attract more patronage from the authorities”.

According to the police, Perebakowe Ogah, the sorcerer who was reportedly contracted by Edem, said he was given money to cast a spell that would kill Timi Alaibe, Edem’s rival at the NDDC.

The police had said Ogah also confessed to performing the ritual at the Port Harcourt cemetery.

Although Edem denied the allegations, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, president at the time, suspended him from office and ordered a full scale investigation into the allegations.

The police later arraigned him in court and said they believed that “this is money from the Nigerian government, money that should have been used to develop the Niger Delta.”

Twelve years down the line, allegations bordering on corruption and mismanagement of public funds are still rocking the NDDC.

Both chambers of the national assembly are currently probing the alleged mismanagement of N81 billion by the interim management committee (IMC) of the commission led by Kemebradikumo Pondei, NDDC acting managing director.

- THECABLE

Edo: PDP exposes why ‘Tinubu is bitter with Obaseki’

 

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Saturday pointed reasons Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, is “bitter” with the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

PDP alleged that Tinubu and some APC “cabals” are bitter with Obaseki because he refused them access to the state’s treasury.

The party stated this in a series of tweets on its verified Twitter handle.

It also charged the former Lagos State governor to stop “whining” over his failure to allegedly take over the Edo State House of Assembly.”

The tweet titled: “PDP expose why Tinubu is bitter with Obaseki,” reads: “The @OfficialPDPNig National Campaign Council for Edo state governorship election counsels the former Governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to stop whining over the failure of the coup against the Edo state House of Assembly by the @OfficialAPCNg

“The @OfficialPDPNig Campaign said the whining by Asiwaju Tinubu has further validated allegations that the horrendous attempt to seize the Edo legislature has the fingers of the @OfficialAPCNg leadership for their personal reasons. 

“Our Campaign notes that Asiwaju’s position also confirms allegations that some people in the @OfficialAPCNg are bitter with @GovernorObaseki because he (Obaseki) refused to allow the @OfficialAPCNg cabal to have access to Edo treasury as well as his refusal to foist illegal levies and taxes on the people.”

Recall that Tinubu had said Obaseki would be defeated during the September 19 governorship election in Edo State.

The APC National Leader said Obaseki will be voted out due to his woeful failure as governor.

- DAILY POST