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*Mr. Julius Abure, National Chairman of Labour Party, LP (Nigeria) The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, insisted that Mr. Julius Abure, remains the National Chairman, as it knocked the ruling of Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court in the Federal Capital Territory sacking him (Abure) alongside other national officers. This came as Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State, restrained any body from removing Abure as the National Chairman of Labour Party. NLC President, Joseph Ajaero, in a statement on Thursday, said: “We are alarmed by the decision of Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja via ex-parte to suspend from office the National Chairman, the National Secretary, National Treasurer and the Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Messrs Julius Abure, Alhaji Farouk Ibrahim, Clement Ojukwu and Opara respectively on unfounded/unproven and highly speculative and malicious allegations of corruption, perjury and forgery by ele...

*Eze Ndigbo Fredrick Nwajagu (Nigeria) A Sabo Yaba Chief Magistrate, Lagos, Mr. Peter Nwaka, on Wednesday, remanded in Ikoyi prison for 30 day, Eze Ndigbo Fredrick Nwajagu, who had allegedly threatening to bring members of Indigenous People of Biafra, IpoB, to Lagos. Nwajagu is to be in prison till May 3, 2023, when the court will hear the matter. Nwajagu is charged with conspiracy and breach of public peace, to which his plea was not taken. According to the prosecution, the alleged offences contravene Sections 168 (d) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The prosecution had told the court during arraignment, that Nwajagu and some others at large committed the offences on March 26 at No. 2, Akeem Shitu St., Ajao Estate, Lagos State. Prosecution said Nwajagu put fear in Lagos residents when he threatened to invite IPOB to the state.

*Former Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi. (Nigeria)  A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday ordered the interim forfeiture of N725,345,897.77 and Plot J 37A 218 Close, 2nd Avenue, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, linked to  former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA,  Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi. Trial judge, Justice Tijjani Ringim made the order sequel to a motion ex parte argued by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, counsel, Bilkisu Buhari. Buhari told the judge that the sum was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity, while the property was reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity. The commission also prayed for an order directing the EFCC to publish the interim order in a national newspaper, “for anyone interested in the properties sought to be forfeited to appear before this court to show cause within 14 days why the final o...

A polling unit attacked at closing the close voting during the just concluded general elections (Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to “urgently seek the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral violence and other electoral offences including bribery against any state governors and their deputies during the just concluded general elections.” SERAP also urged him to “promptly and effectively investigate reports of electoral violence and other electoral offences committed during the general elections, and to identify suspected perpetrators and their sponsors, and ensure their effective prosecution, regardless of their political status or affiliations.” In the letter dated March 25, 2023, by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “By allegedly engaging in electoral violence and other electoral ...

* Federal High Court,  Lagos. (Nigeria) The Chief Executive Officer , CEO , of ABD Energy Solution Ltd, Kenneth Amadi, was Monday, convicted, and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, over f his involvement in fraud to the tune of N2.9b illio n. Trial judge, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa sentenced Amadi to 18 months imprisonment, to run concurrently, after finding him guilty of the charge brought against him by the Federal Government ,   through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation , AGF. Specifically, he was convicted for nominating the account of his company to customers, A-Z Petroleum Ltd and Ammasco Ltd, for them to act upon as genuine to the prejudice of EUNISELL Ltd, his employers, where he held sway as the CEO, and failure to make a full and true entry in the books and accounts of the company. Justice Allagoa also held the sentencing is without an option of a fine, and equally ordered that IDID Nigeria Li...

* Abubakar Malami,  SAN (Nigeria) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu , leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, has sued the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice , Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN,  over an alleged defamatory publication. Kanu, through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, stated that the AGF allegedly defamed the IPOB leader when he claimed that the latter jumped bail, and had asked for N20b illio n for damages. Ejimakor, who shared copies of the suit on his Twitter page on Tuesday, noted that Malami’s defamatory publication was injurious to Kanu’s pending cases. The lawyer tweeted, “Last week, I filed a suit against AGF Malami to stop him from making any further defamatory publication that Onyendu #MNK jumped bail. Such publication is highly prejudicial & injurious to MNK’s other cases pending in various courts. It has to stop!” In the suit, dated January 13, Kanu demanded compensation following alleged defamatory and libelous claims against him. The cl...

(Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project , SERAP , has filed a lawsuit against the oil producing states in Nigeria over “their failure to account for the spending of the oil derivation refunds of N625b illio n recently paid to them by the Federal Government, including details and locations of projects executed with the money.” The Federal Government recently paid N625.43 billion oil derivation refunds to the governors of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Ondo, Imo and Cross River states. The payments covered 13 percent oil derivation, subsidy, and SURE-P refunds. The refunds date from 1999 to 2021. In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2371/2022 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to “direct and compel the governors to disclose and widely publish the details of spending of the oil derivation refunds, subsidy, and SURE-P refunds.” SERAP is also asking the court to “compel President Muhammadu Buhari to direct anti-cor...

*Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State (Nigeria) The Election Petition Tribunal hearing the dispute arising from the June 18 , 2022, governorship election in Ekiti State on Thursday upheld the election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji and his Deputy, Mrs. Monisade Afuye. The Tribunal in a judgment dismissed the petition filed by former Governor and the Social Democratic Party , SDP , governorship candidate, Chief Segun Oni resolving all issues in favour of the Respondents. Oni, who was aggrieved with the declaration of Oyebanji, who ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress , APC , by the Independent National Electoral Commission , INEC, filed a petition against the result declared by the electoral agency in the early hours of June 19. In the unanimous judgment read by the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Wilfred Kpochi with the concurrence of the two other members of the panel, Justice Sa'ad Zadawa and Justice J.A. Atsen, the panel held that "head or tail, t...

* IGP ,  Usman Alkali Baba (Nigeria) The Inspector-General of Police, IGP , Usman Alkali Baba, has recommended the immediate suspension of Assistant Superintendent of Police , ASP Drambi Vandi, the officer attached to the Ajah Divisional Headquarters of the Lagos State Police Command, responsible for the shooting and killing of Barrister Omobolanle Raheem while waiting for the detailed report on the incident. Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters , Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement, on Wednesday, said: “ The IGP noted that the recommendation for the suspension of the officer is in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the Force. “ The IGP further noted that the suspension is also expected to create an enabling environment for necessary legal procedures to uphold justice in the case without interference. The suspension is without prejudice to the constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the officer.   “ Meanwhile, the IGP has reaffi...

(Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project , SERAP , has filed a s uit against the government of President Muhammadu Buhari over “the failure to probe the operations of illegal oil pipelines between 2001 and 2022, to name and prosecute those suspected to be involved, and to recover proceeds of crime.” The suit was filed by SERAP, Chief Eric Dooh, (who is suing for himself as a leader of the Goi Community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, and on behalf of the Goi Community), and 15 other concerned Nigerians. The suit followed recent reports of the discovery of at least 58 illegal oil pipelines used to steal the country’s oil wealth. The stealing is reportedly carried out through the illicit pipeline connected to the trunk line via an abandoned pipeline, and linked to a location in the high sea, where they load crude oil into vessels and sell overseas. In the Suit No ECW/CCJ/APP/53/22 filed last Friday before the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja, the...

(Nigeria) A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed December 2, 2022 , for the arraignment of the founding President of the Nigerian Shipowners Association , NISA, Chief Isaac Jolapamo, over alleged illegal possession of firearms. Jolapamo is to be arraigned before   Justice Yelim Bogoro on a 3-count charge bordering on   alleged unlawful possession of guns. Precious attempts to arraign the shipping magnate were stalled due to his absence in court. The last attempt made to arraign him court was stalled was stalled due to alleged ailment. When the matter came up on Friday, Police prosecutor, Anthony Iyeye, informed the court that matter was for arraignment and for the Defendant to take his plea. However, Jolapamo's counsel, Mr. Femi Falana , SAN , told the court that the defendant has been hospitalised, and not in court to take him plea. Fanala also presented a medical report before the court. But, the prosecutor insisted that the defendant would be brought to co...

(Nigeria) A Federal High Court sitting Lagos on Thursday, heard that the All Progressives Congress , APC , candidate representing Surulere Constituency II, Mrs. Mosunmola Sangodara, did not comply with the statutory requirements of the commission. An Independent National Electoral Commission , INEC , officer in charge of Surulere Constituency, Mrs. Erhokpeadmwen Rita Awhefeda, made the allegation as a witness before Justice Nicholas Oweibo. Awhefeda testified as a witness in a suit filed by an APC aspirant, Mr. Olasunkanmi Shittu. Shittu, the plaintiff in Suit FHC/L/CS/1468/2022, is praying the court to disqualify Sangodara and declare him as the APC candidate for next year’s election. INEC, Sangodara and the APC are the 1st to 3rd defendants in the suit. At the resumption of proceedings, Awhefeda was cross examined by plaintiff’s counsel Dr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN. Pinheiro confronted the witness with INEC form EC9 and asked her to tell the court whether all the conditions t...

*Matthew Pwajok (Nigeria) A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos Tuesday ordered the arrest of the Director-General of the National Airspace Management Authority , NAMA , Mr. Matthew Pwajok for alleged disobedience to a court order. Justice Babs Kuewunmi made the order following an application by counsel to the third and eighth defendants, Mr. Olalekan Ojo , SAN, at the resumption of a N6.95billion fraud charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes , EFCC , against a former NAMA managing director, Ibrahim Abdulsalam, and 11 others. Ojo, in the application, alleged that Pwajok shunned a July 2 , subpoena issued by the court commanding him to appear and produce the documents requested by both defendants. In a short ruling, Justice Kuewunmi directed the Commissioner of Police, Lagos and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to ensure Pwajok is brought to court. The judge adjourned further proceedings till January 10 and 11, 2023. The EFCC , is prosecuting Abdulsalam and...

(Nigeria) Two seperate Kaduna State High Courts,  sitting in Kaduna,  have convicted and sentenced five internet fraudsters to different terms of imprisonment.  Trial judges in the cases are Justices A.A Bello and Darius Khobo. The convicts: Vincent Solomon, Godwin Uchechukwu, Miracle Festus, Chibueze Michael Joseph and Danjuma Samuel Enoch,   were jailed on September 26,   2022,   after pleading guilty to one-count separate charge,   bordering on internet fraud, upon their arraignment by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The one count charge reads: "That you, Vincent Solomon, 'M' sometimes in July, 2022, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this court, did attempt to commit an illegal act by using Austin Sparky Renforth of United States of America Infantry Marine, a false identity on Instagram account with the intention of defrauding unsuspecting persons and you thereby committed an offence contrary ...

*Lagos State House of Assembly (Nigeria) The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday passed a bill to protect witnesses and victims in the state. The 'bill for a law to provide for the rights and entitlements of victims and protection of witnesses and for connected purposes' was passed during plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa. The bill stipulates provision of assistance and protection to victims and witnesses who have vital information that could help ensure effective prosecution of cases, but who face intimidation due to their cooperation with the prosecution or law enforcement agencies. A part of the bill further states: "Every person, including security agents shall render assistance to victims of accidents or crimes and ensure that such persons are taken to the nearest hospital for immediate care and treatment. "A public or private hospital shall provide immediate and adequate treatment to an accident victim or any ...

(Nigeria) Workers and Youths Solidarity Network , WYSN , has condemn ed the ruling of Justice Hamman of the National Industrial Court, who ordered the Academic State Union of Universities, ASUU , to return to classes with immediate effect. Secretary of WYSN , Damilola Owot , in a statement on Thursday, said: “We condemn in totality the ruling of Justice Hamman, a vacation judge, who ordered ASUU to resume work, even when the purported case hasn’t passed through the Industrial Arbitration Panel, IAP, before landing at the National Industrial Court . “ We also hold the court ruling lacks every moral ground to compel the striking union to resume work, when there is no concrete plan to resolve all of the contradictions that led to the strike. As a way forward, ASUU needs to outrightly reject and defy the court ruling and take the struggle beyond the mere sit-at-home strike and engage in nationwide protests and stoppages. We also call on the National Labour Congress to declare a 3-...

  NICN – JUDGMENT   IN THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COURT OF NIGERIA IN THE ABUJA JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT ABUJA   BEFORE HIS LORDSHIP, HON. JUSTICE P. I. HAMMAN (VACATION JUDGE) DATE: 21ST SEPTEMBER, 2022                      SUIT NO: NICN/ABJ/270/2022 BETWEEN: 1 . FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA      - CLAIMANTS/ APPLICANTS 2 . MINISTER OF EDUCATION       AND ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF UNIVERSITIES (ASUU) - DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT RULING 1.0. By a letter dated 8th of September, 2022 the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment forwarded to this Court a Referral Instrument in respect of the trade dispute between the parties for adjudication pursuant to section 17 of the Trade Disputes Act, Cap. T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004. The questions for determination and the reliefs soug...