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Court Adjourns Indefinitely Over Kanu’s Absence

*FG: He Refused To Appear For Re-Arraignment

THE trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been stalled, as the court on Monday, November 24, adjourned indefinitely following his non-appearance.

  The Federal Government explained that Kanu alleged refused to present himself before the Federal High Court in Abuja for his planned re-arraignment.

  Kanu, currently in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS), is facing an amended seven-count terrorism charge.

  A team of government prosecutors, led by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr. M.B. Abubakar, told Justice Binta Nyako that Kanu declined to be brought before the court for trial.

  The Judge had, after the case was called, enquired about the defendant, to which Abubakar replied: “My lord, I understand that the defendant declined to come to court today.

  “As at last week, the defendant was intimated of this sitting and he did not object. However, when I called the office this morning, I was informed that the defendant woke up and declined to come to court.

  “All entreaties and pleas were made, but he refused to come to court.”

  But Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Kanu’s Lead Counsel, told the court that the allegation was strange to him, noting: “My lord, this is totally strange to me because this is a person that has never hidden his intention to always be in court. In fact, even in processes we filed at both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, the defendant said he would want to be present in court for hearing of all the matters.”

  He further notified the trial Judge about the judgment of the Court of Appeal that quashed the 15-count charge preferred against his client by the Federal Government and his discharge of all the allegations, contending that since the Federal Government has gone to the Supreme Court to set aside the judgment, and his client is also challenging the order that stayed the execution of the verdict, it was better for the matter to be adjourned indefinitely.

  Besides, he told the court that his client was not served with the amended charge, stating: “We have not even been served with this charge; we only read about it on the social media.

  “It was this morning that we discovered that it has been listed on the cause list and I thought that my learned friend will stand up and say that in view of the subsisting Appeal Court judgment, that he is withdrawing it.

  “We are surprised, because this is an abuse of court process.”

  Abubakar said he was not opposed to an adjournment to enable the Supreme Court to determine the appeals pending before it.   

  Consequently, Justice Nyako adjourned the case indefinitely.

NBC Fines Arise TV Over Report On Tinubu

THE National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has imposed a fine N2million on Arise Television for breaching the broadcasting code over a fake report about the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.

  The television station had aired a report that the Independent National Broadcasting Commission (INEC) was investigating Tinubu’s alleged crime bordering on narcotics and illicit drugs.

  A purported statement purportedly issued by the INEC had gone viral on social media, but the electoral body, on Saturday debunked the report, saying it was a handiwork of mischief-makers.

  Arise TV had on Sunday apologised to Tinubu and INEC for misleading the general public.

Call For Minister’s Sack Inappropriate, Says Presidency

THE Presidency, on Wednesday, November 9, said it was inappropriate at this time to call for the resignation of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq.

  Farouq has come under intense criticisms following her remarks that Bayelsa, one of the states adversely affected by flooding, was not among the 10 most devastated in the country, contrary to widely held perception in some quarters, even as Governor Diri Douye recently accused the Federal Government of neglecting the state, in terms of response to the floods, despite being the country’s cash cow.

  Many have also called for the sack of the minister, alleging insensitivity to the plight of the people impacted by the flood in Bayelsa and other states communities in the South.  

  However, the Presidency, in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Garba Shehu, while describing scenes of flooding from Bayelsa State as “deeply saddening” and commiserated with victims, quickly added that “almost every state in Nigeria has been affected.”

  The statement said the Presidency said the Federal Government was concerned about what has happened in Bayelsa, as it is with respect to the other states, saying no life lost is bigger or lesser than that of the others.

  It stated: “The challenge of bringing succour to the large number of the displaced people in Bayelsa and other states and the restoration of their damaged property and farmlands washed away have clearly overwhelmed disaster management efforts so far, but that is not to say no efforts are being made.

  “The huge need for everything, from foodstuff to tents, blankets and mosquito nets; anti-malarial and other drugs, clearly indicate that more resources are needed, not only by the disaster management agencies at the center, but also by those at the state and local council levels that are structurally the first responders.

  “The minister has been diligently working to target assistance where it’s most needed and plug the gaps in several state governments’ disaster responses.

  “The state of Bayelsa has done commendably well, but they certainly can do better with increased federal assistance, which is still being delivered batch by batch.

  “All these efforts are coming ahead of the report of the committee under the auspices of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), set up by the President “to fashion out solutions and then escalate their conclusions to the Federal Government, to alleviate the plight of people currently being ravaged by flood around the country.’

  “This is just as more is being expected by way of international response and how much difference can be made by support from businesses and nonprofits, as the country deals with its worst flooding in decades. We hope that everyone, the agencies of the federal government, the states and the local councils will increase the attention to pay to the challenges of climate change.”

  The statement added: “Clearly, this is not a time for public reproach. It will only weaken our collective response to the tragedy and ultimately hinder cooperation that saves lives and delivers emergency aid.

  “The government at the centre will continue to do more for Bayelsa and for all states so affected as more and more resources are made available to agencies dealing.”

ASUU Ends NEC Meeting Without Declaring Strike

•Awaits Outcome Of Gbajabiamila’s Intervention

• ‘FG Attempting To Turn Lecturers To Casual Workers’

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) ended its Natural Executive Committee (NEC) meeting late Monday, November 7 resolving not to embark on another strike, following the payment of half salaries to members by the federal government.

  Instead, it resolved to await the outcome of the intervention of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, in its disagreement with the federal government over alleged non-implementation of the 2009 agreement by the latter.

  Members of the NEC, at the meeting held at the University of Abuja campus headquarters could not agree on the issue of embarking on another round of strike.

  While some members resolved not to explore the strike option in getting the government to address the contending issues against the push for declaration of total and comprehensive strike in public universities across the country by others.

  Those against the strike argued that it would be wrong to embark on another action, thereby compelling students who had already returned to their various schools, following earlier suspension of the action, to return home.

  Gbajabiamila’s statement that government would not pay members full salaries further deflated the argument by those who had pushed for strike as a last option, as some members felt since the suspension of the strike was at the Speaker’s instance, following his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, it would be wrong to resume action when he was still pushing to have the federal government rescind its decisions on ‘no-work, no-pay policy.’

  Meanwhile, ASUU has accused the federal government of attempt to turn lecturers to casual workers. A statement by its President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, condemned the ‘pro-rata’ payment to the union’s members.

  He said the union’s action was a display of manifest trust in the judiciary and other institutions and organs of government to always put national interest above all other considerations, adding: “This, we believe, as a union of thinkers, intellectuals and patriots, will not only aid the process of amicable resolution of the crisis, but also set the tone for smooth industrial relations between government and Nigerian workers at large.”

  He noted that government’s response, especially its ‘pro-rata’ payment of October salaries of academics, portrayed them as daily paid workers, adding: “This is not only an aberration, but also a contravention of all-known rules of engagement in any contract of employment for academics the world over.”

  Osodeke explained that ASUU’s NEC deliberated on the development and noted with dismay that “paying academics on pro-rata basis, like casual workers, is unprecedented in the history of university-oriented labour relations and, therefore, condemned this attempt to reduce Nigerian scholars to casual workers in its entirety.”

  The federal government has defended the pro-rata payment to ASUU members in October, saying they could not be paid for work not done.

  The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, through the ministry’s spokesman, Olajide Oshundun, also dismissed media reports that the government was biased in paying the university teachers, saying: “They were paid in pro-rata to the number of days that they worked in October.  Pro-rata was done because you cannot pay them for work not done. Everybody’s hands are tied.”

  Gbajabiamila later justified the government’s action, but added that the house was making arrangements for N170billion Fund for ASUU in next year’s budget, with an additional N300 billion in revitalisation funds to improve the infrastructure and operations of federal universities.

  He stated that the ‘no work no pay’ policy embarked on by the federal government during the period of strike is premised on the law based on the government’s legitimate interest in preventing moral hazard and discouraging disruptive industrial actions.

  “Nonetheless, interventions have been made to explore the possibility of partial payments to the lecturers. We look forward to a favourable consideration by President Muhammadu Buhari, who has manifested his desire to what is prudent and necessary to resolve all outstanding issues.

  “Implementing meaningful change takes time, especially when appropriations and modifications to systems, such as IPPIS are required. Therefore, I urge all parties to be patient and grant each other the presumption of goodwill to the extent necessary to achieve our shared objectives. This is not a time for political brinkmanship.”

Court Conviction Of EFCC Boss For Contempt: We’re Not Aware Of Any Court Order, Says Police

Bawa: We’ve Appealled

THE Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has disclosed that the commission has appealed the order of an Abuja High Court convicting him of contempt and ordering his remand at the Kuje Correctional centre in the Federal Capital territory (FCT) for contempt.

  Reacting to the order on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 by Justice Chizoba Orji, Bawa, in a chat with journalists shortly after he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption to defend his agency’s budget, Bawa said: “Well, we’ve appealed against it, so we’ll allow the natural course of law to take its effect.”

  Meanwhile, spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the Inspector General of Police (IGP) was not aware of the Order for the execution of the court ruling as at Tuesday evening, saying: “Honestly, IG is not aware. We’re not aware of any court order.”

  Justice Orji had on Tuesday convicted Bawa over the agency’s failure to comply with an earlier order of the court to return to a defendant and former director of Operations at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Vice Marshal Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, his Range Rover (Supercharged) SUV and N40million.

  The EFCC had arraigned Ojuawo on a two-count charge before Justice Muawiyah Baba Idris of the High Court of the FCT in Nyanya in 2016 for receiving N40million and the Range Rover from one Hima Aboubakar of Societe D’Equipment Internationaux Nigeria Limited.

  But in a judgment on November 21, 2018, Justice Idris discharged and acquitted Ojuawo on the grounds that the prosecution failed to prove its case.

  The Judge held that for the charge to succeed, the prosecution must prove that the defendant corruptly accepted the gift; that he accepted or obtained the gift for himself or for any other person, noting that the burden was on the prosecution to prove all ingredients of the charge preferred against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt, as required under Section 131(1) of the Evidence Act, 2011.

  “In conclusion, I hold that the prosecution has failed to prove the two counts charge of corrupt gratification under Section 17 (1)(a) and (c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

  “The defendant is discharged and acquitted on counts one and two of the charge.

  “Consequently, the complainant (EFCC) is ordered to refund the defendant his N40,000,000 wrongly paid into ONSA recovery account and to return to the defendant his Range Rover Sport (Supercharged) forthwith,” Justice Idris said.

  Following the failure of the anti-graft agency to comply with the Order, Ojuawo, in a suit filed by his lawyer, R.N. Ojabo, before Justice Orji, complained that the EFCC declined to comply with the Order for the release of his seized property made by the court in a judgment delivered on November 21, 2018.

  The Judge in the October 28 ruling, ordered the EFCC to release the property and sais sum of money forthwith.

  On Tuesday, while ruling on a motion on notice filed by Ojuawo, complaining that the EFCC declined to comply with the court Order of November 21, 2018 for the release of his seized property, the presiding Judge convicted Bawa for contempt.

  Justice Orji, in her ruling, rejected the arguments put forward by the lawyer to the EFCC, Francis Jirbo, to justify his client’s action, insisting Bawa was in contempt of the orders of the court directing the commission to return to the applicant, his Range Rover and N40million.

  According to Justice Orji: “Having continued willfully in disobedience to the Order of this court, he should be committed to prison at Kuje Correctional Centre for his disobedience and continued disobedience of the said Order of court made on November 21, 2018, until he purges himself of the contempt.

  “The Inspector General of Police shall ensure that the Order of this honourable court is executed forthwith.”

Reports Of US Plan To Reject Dollars Printed Before 2021 Fake

A VIRAL report that the United States (US) has concluded plans to stop the acceptance of dollars printed before 2021 has been discovered to be false.

  The report claimed that following the conclusion of an extraordinary meeting held in Washington DC (US) on November 2, 2022, involving the US Federal Reserve; Office of the Comptroller of Currency, International Monetary Fund (IMF); the World Bank and Governors of Africa’s Central Banks, the US Government had set date for restriction for the acceptable legal tender note of US Dollar, which will commence on January 31, next year.

  It further claimed that the restriction implies that any US Dollar note below 2021 printed date would no longer be accepted or be a legal tender anywhere in the world.

  Promoters of the fake news claimed that this was to curb billions of illegal monies in dollar bills warehoused around Africa emanating from drug related, terrorism, kidnapping and money from corrupt politicians, adding that as part of the enforcement of the strict action plan, African Central Banks would be assigned with a special agent from the Office of the Comptroller of Currency, Administrator of US National Bank to checkmate all inflows and outflows of dollar transactions.

  The report also said US President Joe Biden had written to the British Government and European Union (EU) to follow suit and redesign their currencies accordingly to frustrate those with ill-gotten money in US dollar, British Pound Sterling and Euros.

  It equally claimed that should this action be implemented from January 2023, as reported, Nigeria’s corrupt politicians would be worse hit.

  The report gained verve at a time the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is implementing a currency redesigning project aimed at mopping up over N3.2trillion cash (85 per cent of total amount in circulation) that is outside the country’s banking system.

  CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, had late in October announced, during an emergency meeting, that it will redesign N200, N500 and N1, 000 notes.

  He disclosed that the new currencies would begin circulation on December 15, this year, while the existing notes would cease to be legal tenders by January 31, next year.

  Expectedly, coming at a time when Nigeria is redesigning its currency, the information about the US plan to restrict the acceptance of dollars printed before 2021 will naturally gain traction.

However, unlike Nigeria’s currency which is the Naira, the US dollar is a global currency used in global trade and its acceptance cannot be easily stopped or restricted.

  According to the IMF, the US Dollar (USD) remains the world’s reserve currency today, with Central Banks holding around 59 per cent of their reserves in it.

  Many of the reserves are in cash or US Bonds, such as US Treasuries. Dollar-denominated debt outside the US continues to rise, with levels reaching $13.4tillion as of middle of this year.

  The Federal Reserve Board currently issues $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 notes.

  According to information obtained from the website of US Currency Education Programme, the first $1 Federal Reserve note was issued in 1963, featuring President George Washington and the Great Seal of the US, remains unchanged.

  The current design $100 note is the latest denomination of US currency to be redesigned, and it was issued on October 8, 2013. It features additional security features, including a 3-D Security Ribbon and colour-shifting Bell in the Inkwell.

  The $100 note also includes a portrait watermark of Benjamin Franklin that is visible from both sides of the note when held to light.

Each note includes security and design features unique to how the denomination is used in circulation.

  The US government periodically redesigns Federal Reserve notes to make them easier to use, but more difficult to counterfeit.

  It is US government policy that all designs of US currency remain legal tender, regardless of when they were issued. This policy includes all denominations of Federal Reserve notes from 1914 to date.

ASUU To Hold NEC Meeting Over Half-Salary

THERE were indications this weekend that the resumption of academic activities in the country’s universities could be truncated once again, as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is set to summon an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC), following the alleged payment of half salaries to the lecturers for the month of October this year by the Federal Government.

  ASUU recently suspended its eight months industrial action following a directive by Court of Appeal, which upheld an earlier order to that effect from the National Industrial Court.

  Although no date has been fixed for the NEC meeting, but it was gathered that the decision to convene a meet was a result of the surprise that greeted members when some of them got an alert of half salaries in their accounts for the month of October 2022.

  One of the academic staff members, who preferred anonymity, said: “I was shocked when I received an alert from my bank and noticed it was half payment; they didn’t even talk about the backlog of the eight months of the strike.”

  Also confirming the information, another source said: “It is true, I received half. We are waiting for the decision of the national body; we are very angry at the moment.”

  ASUU National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, had earlier confirmed the development, saying: “Half salaries were paid, no reasons were given whatsoever. We learnt that (Chris) Ngige (the Minister of Labour and Employment) wrote the office of the Accountant General of the Federation and Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and told them to only pay us for the period when we called off the strike.

“We heard there was a letter to that effect but we haven’t gotten it yet. We are going to summon a meeting.”

Salaries: UNIJOS ASUU Issues Stay-At-Home Order To Members

FOLLOWING the payment of half salaries for the month of October to lecturers, the University of Jos (UNIJOS) branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed its members not to resume teaching activities until further notice.

  The union stated: “For the avoidance of doubt, our members are back to work, willing and ready to work, but are unable to work. Based on the revised academic calendar for
the 2020/2021 session approved by the senate of the university, lectures should have started already, but the challenge of lack of payment of salaries has constrained our members from going to the classroom to teach.

  “What this implies is that the students who have resumed already will have to wait indefinitely, while we wait for our withheld salaries to be paid to us.”