BREAKING: NJC SUSPENDS RIVERS, ANAMBRA HIGH COURT JUDGES, TAKES ACTION ON OTHERS

The National Judicial Council (NJC) led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun has suspended two High Court judges over allegations of misconduct.

Justice G.C. Aguma of the Rivers State High Court and Justice A.O. Nwabunike of the Anambra State High Court will face a one-year suspension without pay, followed by a two-year under watch list.

The Judicial Council recommended the compulsory retirement of the Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Chukwuemeka Chikeka, and the Grand Kadi of Yobe State, Kadi Babagana Mahdi, due to falsification of their ages. 

Meanwhile, the council cleared Justice Peter Lifu, stating that he neither demonstrated personal interest in the Rivers State case nor engaged in misconduct during the proceedings. Allegations of bribery against Justice Lifu were found to be unsubstantiated.

The decisions were taken at its 107th Meeting of 13 and 14 November 2024, a statement signed by Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, Esq., NJC Deputy Director (Information), on Friday said.

The statement said, “The Council equally considered the report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee, which considered a total number of 30 petitions, empanelled 6 Committees for further investigation. While 22 were dismissed for lacking in merit, two were sub judice.

“The Council also empanelled a Committee to investigate all complaints and petitions against Hon. Justice O. A. Ojo, Chief Judge, Osun State.

“The Council’s findings revealed that Hon. Justice G. C. Aguma, committed acts of misconduct by aiding a litigant who obtained a judgment at the FCT High Court, Abuja, and filed a garnishee against judgement debtors in Bori Division of the High Court, Rivers State.

“The Council finds that Justice Aguma failed to raise any query as to why the garnishee proceedings were brought to his Court in Bori for a money judgment that could effectively be enforced in Abuja.

“That the judgment was delivered on 15 July 2020, at the High Court of the FCT, while the certificate of judgment was registered at Bori Division of the High Court of Rivers State on 16 July 2020.

“The Council further finds that the speed with which the Hon. Justice Aguma took and granted the order absolute against the judgment debtors showed that he had an interest, especially as he failed to take into consideration the stay of execution of the judgment granted in favour of the judgement debtors by the Bwari High Court, which had been brought to his attention.

“On the part of Hon. Justice A. O. Nwabunike of Anambra State, the Council found him to have breached the provision of Rule 3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2016.

“He also failed to adhere to the principle of stare decisis from his different interpretation of the word “aspirant” and abused his judicial powers by granting ex parte orders without a Motion on Notice filed along with the Originating Summons.

“Hon. Justice T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka was recommended to the Governor of Imo State for compulsory retirement with effect from 27 October 2021, while all salaries and allowance received in excess by His Lordship from 27 October 2021 till date should be refunded to the Council.

“The recommendation was pursuant to the findings of the Council that His Lordship has two different dates of birth; 27 October 1956 and 27 October 1958. However, 27 October 1956, appeared to be the consistent date of birth, but in 2006, the Chief Judge swore to an affidavit changing the date of birth to 27 October 1958.

“Similarly, Council finds that Hon. Kadi Mahdi has 3 different dates of birth (10 December, 28 January and July) all in 1959, while his actual date of birth was 1952.

“The Council held that Grand Kadi Mahdi committed an act of misconduct in violation of Rule 02908 (i) and (ii) of the Public Service Rules, 2021 and ought to have retired from service 12 years ago.

“The Council, therefore, resolved to recommend Hon. Kadi Babagana Mahdi for compulsory retirement to the Governor of Yobe State and that he should refund all salaries and allowances received for the past 12 years.

“The Council at its meeting, also issued letter of caution to Hon. Justice I. A. Jamil of Kogi State to be more circumspect in handling sensitive matters in the future.”

FUEL PRICE HIKE: PDP BREAK SILENCE OVER FUEL PRICE HIKE BY TINUBU-LED GOVERNMENT

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the recent increase in fuel price to over N1,000 per litre, describing it as a “brutal assault” on Nigerians.

The party on Wednesday accused the Bola Tinubu-led federal government of being “anti-people” and “unconcerned” about the suffering of millions of Nigerians.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP lamented that the persistent increase in fuel price without regard for the people’s wellbeing is akin to “pushing Nigerians to the wall.”

The party noted that over 150 million Nigerians have sunk below the poverty line, businesses are collapsing daily, and the Naira is exchanging for over N1,600 to a Dollar, with high inflation and unemployment rates.

The party said, “There is practically no hope in sight under the current APC government policies as major multi-national companies continue to exit our country in droves in the face of ill-conceived and ill-implemented macro-economic policies.

“The admission by the APC-led Federal Government that it has handed the fate of Nigerians to oil racketeers in the name of free market economy further validates the position of the PDP that the Tinubu-led administration has abdicated the primary purpose of government; which is to provide for the welfare and security of the citizens.

“President Tinubu is the Minister of Petroleum Resources and cannot exonerate his government and officials from the secretive and fraudulent management of the petroleum sector which is fast pushing our nation’s economy to the precipice.”

It further said, “APC has now become an enabler of a cabal of corrupt APC rent-seekers who apparently derive pleasure in inflicting pains on Nigerians while hugely benefiting from the proceeds of incessant increase in fuel price to satisfy and fund their luxury appetite and consumption.

“With the hopeless state of affairs of our nation today, our Party wonders what President Tinubu, during his numerous trips abroad, says to his foreign counterparts in nations where leaders prioritize the welfare of their people!”

“With a deft, transparent and innovative management of resources, economic potentials, comparative advantage and national refining capacity, petrol should not sell more than N250 per litre in Nigeria.

“The PDP calls on President Tinubu to save the country from further socio-economic dislocation by immediately reversing the latest provocative increase in fuel price and revisit all life-discounting and suffocating policies of the APC government,” PDP added.

DANGOTE REFINERY: TIME TO DISMANTLE YOUR DEPOTS, SELL THEM AS SCRAPS – OTEDOLA TO OIL IMPORTERS

   Otedola

Billionaire business mogul, Femi Otedola, has told owners of oil depots in the country to dismantle their depots and sell them as scrap.

Otedola said this following the announcement earlier on Tuesday that Dangote Refinery is now fully ready to churn out petroleum products, including the Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol across the country.

News reports have it that the President of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, on Tuesday announced the rollout of Petrol from his 650,000 barrels per day.

He had in an earlier report said that the Petrol from the refinery will be available in the Nigerian market in 48 hours depending on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

Otedola, in a post on X, said the development has practically put an end to the business of fuel importers in the country.

“..You have not just built a refinery; you have liberated us from the chains of economic dependence that have held this nation back for far too long,” he wrote.

“Now, with your refinery in full swing…the depot owners should take heed—it’s time to dismantle those depots and sell them as scrap while the market is still high.

“The world has changed, and those who do not adapt will be left behind.”

UFC STAR ISRAEL ADESANYA ARRIVES IN LAGOS TO A HEROIC WELCOME

Nigerian-born UFC star Israel Adesanya, on Wednesday, arrived in Lagos to a warm reception after his loss to Dricus Du Plessis on Saturday.

This was made known by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission on their X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday.

Adesanya was accompanied by his parents and received by the staff of the NiDCOM at the airport.

Sharing videos from Adesanya’s arrival NiDCOM wrote, “Ealier today, Nigerian-born, New Zealand Professional Kickboxer, Israel Mobolaji Temitayo Odunayo Oluwafemi Owolabi Adesanya (#stylebender) arrived in Lagos today, accompanied by his parents and warmly received by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM staff.”

Recall that Adesanya had succumbed to a fourth-round submission loss to South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis in their middleweight title showdown at UFC 305 in Perth on Saturday night.