CODIFIER

  By Adeboye Ado  The Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Usman Ododo, on Sunday, paid a courtesy visit to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.  The Candidate and his entourage were in Lagos to meet the Kogi Community in Lagos as part of activities lined up for consultations ahead of the governorship election in the state.  Governor Sanwo-Olu held a private meeting with the candidate where their discussions centred around winning the November 11 Governorship poll.  After the meeting, the Governor addressed the entourage, assuring them that the entire APC family would ensure victory for the party in Kogi State.  He thanked them for the visit.  On the entourage of the APC Governorship Candidate were the State Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Bello; leader of the delegation, Deedat Ozigi; Bashir Gegu, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo; former Accountant-General of the state, Jibrin Momoh; former Commissioner fo...

  The Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division, has dismissed the appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, challenging the decision of the Kogi State High Court that it has jurisdiction to try the defamation suit instituted against the Commission by the State Government over the purported N20 Billion bailout fund.  The Court of Appeal in a ruling delivered on 18th May, 2023 in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/290/2022,  agreed with the Kogi State Government that the suit was properly commenced at the High Court of Kogi State, and therefore Ordered the EFCC to go back to the High Court of Kogi State to file their defence.  Contrary to a false narrative in some sections of the media, the appeal has nothing to do with Ali Bello, as he was neither a party to the appeal nor joined in the appeal.  The appeal is the defamation suit instituted by the Kogi State Government against the EFCC, Sterling Bank Plc and Central Bank of Nigeria in appeal No. CA/ ABJ/290/...

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has asked the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, to step aside and surrender himself for investigation.  Matawalle said he and some other eminent Nigerians "have evidence of corrupt practices, breach of public trust and abuse of office against him (Bawa) and the commission led by him."  He said this in a statement on Monday, in reaction to invitations reportedly sent by the EFCC boss to all outgoing Governors and Commissioners.  The governor said no one would stop the anti-graft agency from performing its duties but it must extend its searchlight to officers of the Presidency and members of the Federal Executive Council.  He argued that the investigation must be holistic and not selective, noting that Bawa would have to explain, among others, how seized assets by the EFCC were being sold without adherence to due process.  "He should explain, for instance, how he has assumed the r...

  Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday, refused to entertain an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, seeking a stay of execution of the ruling that lifted a forfeiture order on some assets linked to the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.  The judge adjourned the hearing of the application indefinitely because the matter is now before the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal.  Justice Oweibo had, on April 26, 2023, struck out a suit by the EFCC seeking the final forfeiture of the properties on the grounds of provisions of Section 308(1) of the Constitution.  The Judge had held that “given Section 308 of the Constitution, which provides immunity to a sitting governor from any civil/ criminal prosecution, the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter”, and the suit was struck out.  When the matter was called on Monday, the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), informed the court that he had filed ...

  Hon. Tajudeen Adefisoye, popularly known as Small Alhaji is the outgoing member representing Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency of Ondo State in the Nigerian House of Representatives. He opens up for the very first time on his shocking loss in the February 2023 National Assembly election. He also speaks on his expectations of Bola Tinubu’s government after his inauguration and on other national issues.   Did you see it coming that you would lose your bid to become a ranking member of the House of Representatives?  I didn’t see it coming. In fact, I never thought that I could lose the election. The result came as a surprise to so many people. I truly rated myself before the election based on my legislative performance, high level of dedication to my constituency and unprecedented projects that I brought to my constituency. Going by the judgment of people in my constituency, I am obviously the best MHR in the legislative history of the constituency.  I won my p...

.... commends Governor Bello over hitch-free primaries  The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has thrown her weight behind the candidature of the All Progressives Congress Governorship candidate in the State, Usman Ododo, saying his emergence was a reflection of the "excellent leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello".  The minister, who said this on Monday while receiving the Governorship candidate of the party and his entourage in Abuja, expressed confidence that the APC would win the November 11 governorship election "resoundingly".  She said, "Let me congratulate you on your emergence as the candidate of our party. Your success at the primary is a triumph of loyalty. Never stop being who you are.  "I was initially worried about the number of aspirants in the race. But the manner the Governor went about providing excellent leadership made the primary hitch-free and successful.  "For me, party is supreme and no ma...