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...

  The President-elect of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Saturday, gave the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State, Usman Ododo, his blessings, ahead of the November 2023 elections in the state.  Ododo, who emerged the Kogi APC governorship candidate through a direct primary election on April 14 and was ratified through a special Congress of the party on April 15, was presented to Tinubu by Governor Yahaya Bello in Abuja.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Chairman, Kogi APC, Abdullahi Bello; were among the party stakeholders who interracted with Ododo, the party's flagbearer in Kogi State, during his visit to the President-elect.  Tinubu, while congratulating the candidate, lifted his hand up as a show of acceptance and affirmation of his candidacy and expressed absolute confidence in the capacity of APC to win the November governorship election, landslide, in Kogi State. Recall that Ododo had, on Friday,...

  The Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State, Usman Ododo, on Friday, received President Muhammadu Buhari's blessings as the party's flagbearer in the November election.  Ododo, while briefing State House Correspondents after he was presented to the President by Governor Yahaya Bello, said he was committed to building on the unparalleled developmental strides of the Governor, which were achieved through inclusive governance, if elected in the forthcoming polls.  He said, with his wealth of experience in the private and public financial sectors, as well as the opportunity of learning from Bello, who he described as a great leader to Kogites, he was well equipped to steer the ship of the confluence state in the desired direction.  The APC candidate said specifically that he was confident of APC's victory in the November governorship election.  Ododo emerged the Kogi APC governorship candidate through a direct primary election on Apri...

A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Wednesday, struck out an interim order of forfeiture obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, seeking to seize 14 properties allegedly linked to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.  Justice Nicholas Oweibo struck out the suit on the ground that Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution prevents the institution of any criminal or civil case against a sitting governor or the President.  The judge had, on February 22, granted the temporary forfeiture order, following an exparte motion filed by the anti-graft agency seeking to seize 14 properties located in Lagos, Abuja and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).  The Court also directed EFCC to make publication in two national dailies for any interested parties to show cause why the order should not be made absolute.  However, consequent upon the publication of the preservative order, Governor Bello had filed Notice of Intention to oppose, and an application seeking the vacat...

  Former Presidential candidate and Restructuring exponent,Rev Chris Okotie, has broken his silence after a brief hiatus following the general election. Speaking through his media adviser, Ladi Ayodeji in Lagos yesterday, Okotie said the fierce contests and contentions between politicians before, during and after the polls, justify his call for a new constitution. He is canvassing what he calls TOKO (The Okotie Option) as a template that could bring about the Nigerian Reformation.  The Reformation is anchored on four major components: Reconciliation, Reconstruction, Solidarity and a new foundation for development.  He explained this proposition in greater detail in a tweet:'It is time for Reconciliation;it is time for Reconstruction,it is time to join hands in solidarity,it is time to lay the foundation for posterity,it is time for TOKO. The Reformation of Nigeria is now!' Okotie insists that adhoc amendments of the constitution as being proposed by some would not lead to...

The candidature of Ahmed Usman Ododo as the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress in the Kogi State governorship election, scheduled for November 11, has been ratified by a special Congress of the party, as stipulated in the guidelines for the primary election, which held on Friday.  The special congress, presided over by the Chairman of the Kogi APC Primary Election Committee, Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, was held on Saturday at the Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre, in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.  The crowd at the centre was unprecedented as APC members vowed to mobilise for Ododo during the November election and ensure he succeeds Governor Yahaya Bello. The  congress follows the emergence of Ododo, a former Auditor-General for Local Governments, as the APC candidate at the party's governorship direct primaries held across all the 239 wards of the state.  Announcing the results for ratification, the Secretary to the committee, who represented t...

  The All Progressives Congress has adopted the direct mode of primaries for the conduct of the Governorship Primary Election in Kogi State.  The party informed the Independent National Electoral Commission as well as aspirants of its decision to adopt the direct mode, in a letter dated 6th April, 2023, and signed by the Acting National Chairman, Senator Abubakar Kyari.  The letter reads in part: "We refer to our earlier letter dated 25th January, 2023, with reference no: APC/NHDQ/INEC/19/023/191 wherein we notified the Commission of the mode of primary election for the conduct of the Gubernatorial Primary Election in Kogi State.  "However, our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reviewed the modalities for the conduct of the Gubernatorial Primary Election in Kogi State and has therefore resorted to adopt the DIRECT mode of primary election instead of the Indirect Mode as earlier communicated.  "The date for the conduct of the primary election s...

  A former Vice President (VP)  of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone D, Comrade Tims Ejigah, has described the lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Smart Adeyemi, as a politician with a character baggage who lacks capacity to win election for any political party.  Ejigah, one of Adeyemi's closest allies during his days as NUJ President and all through the time he began his journey into national politics, disclosed that the Senator had the habit of using and dumping those who assist him. The veteran journalist, who spoke to Kogi journalists at the NUJ secretariat in Lokoja, expressed surprise that Adeyemi had joined the Kogi Governorship race, stressing that if elections were to be conducted today, and only journalists were to vote, over 80 per cent would vote against the senator.  According to him, he will only be wasting the ticket of any political party that makes the mistake of making him their candidate....

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday fixed April 20, 2023, to rule on a Kogi State Application seeking to vacate an interim order of court freezing 14 properties linked to Kogi State governor.  Justice Nicholas Oweibo fixed the date after taking submissions from the Governor's counsel, Mr Abdulwahab Mohammed SAN and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedopo SAN.  The court had on February 22, made an interim forfeiture order following an exparte motion to confiscate 14 properties and firms in Lagos, Abuja, and the United Arab Emirates as well as N400m, recovered from one Aminu Falala.  When the matter came up on Tuesday, the Kogi state counsel told the court that he had an application dated March 9, 2023 seeking to vacate the order of the court made on February 22.  Mohammed, while moving the application stated that about the third quarter of 2021, EFCC approached the court to freeze Kogi State's N20bn salary bail out loan th...

  Nigerians across various sectors have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to, in the few days left for his administration, strive to leave a legacy of a functional system where there is respect for the rule of law and all actors act only in full compliance with the Constitution, Acts of the National Assembly and all other laws of the country.  Delegates from 158 Anti-Corruption Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organisations, faith-based groups, youth and community-based organisations, who gathered in Abuja at a one-day national conference on Sunday, said the anti-corruption efforts of the Buhari administration would eventually be assessed by the conduct of key officials, especially those saddled with the responsibility of taming corruption in Nigeria.  After exhaustive deliberations by the expanded gathering with keynote address by the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Prof. Wasiu Ademola Oyedokun-Alli,  and presentations from sp...

The All Progressives Congress, Kogi State chapter, has approved the suspension of a member of the National Working Committee of the party, Murtala Yakubu (Ajaka) by the executive members of Ajaka Ward 1 of the party.  Yakubu, who is the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, had been suspended by the entire executive members of APC, Ajaka Ward 1, Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State, in a letter dated March 20, over alleged anti-party activities, insubordination, gross misconduct, unguided statement, running parallel party structure and encouraging factionalism in the party.  Reacting to the action of the ward executives, the leadership of the party in the state, in a statement signed by the State Secretary, Hon. Joshua Emmanuel, affirmed Yakubu's suspension, saying that, consequently, he had been barred from participating in all party activities.  The statement, titled, "Approval and implication of the suspension of Hon. Muritala Yakubu (Ajaka) ...

. Say he can't enforce anti-corruption laws as a convict  . Urge aggrieved parties, candidates in 2023 polls to seek judicial redress, avoid sponsoring crises The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, may be in for fresh trouble as over 250 Constitutional and Human Rights lawyers have called on the National Judicial Council to direct all courts in Nigeria not to entertain cases brought before them by the EFCC.  The lawyers, who said this was part of the resolutions reached at the end of their Annual Conference, with the theme: "Democracy and the Rule of Law", held in Abuja between March 20 and 21, 2023, said it would only be appropriate for Nigerian courts to entertain EFCC cases when Bawa must have purged himself of contempt by obeying all subsisting Court orders binding on him.  They made the call during the presentation of their annual communique on Tuesday just as they called on political parties in Nigeria and their candidates t...

 .A llege 'Bawa's modus operandi causing serious concerns among Commission's officials'  . Ask President to direct IGP to effect his immediate arrest  . Uncover EFCC's plan to sponsor launch of 'attack organisation' against perceived enemies  Scores of Anti-corruption Organisations and constitutional lawyers in Nigeria, on Thursday, submitted a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, protesting what they described as brazen disobedience of court orders by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa; alleged reckless politicisation of the Commission under his watch and his continued stay in office, in spite of a court order committing him to prison for contempt.  In a press statement signed by Spokesperson for the over 130 CSOs, including more than 20 Constitutional lawyers, Olufemi Lawson, the activists disclosed that they had also submitted a copy of the petition to the Inspector-General of Police.  This, according to th...

  Frontline Anti-corruption Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) numbering over 130, have resumed their call for the sack of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, over alleged politicisation of the Commission, Disobedience of Court Orders and Infringement on Human Rights of Nigerians, among others.  The activists who were joined by over 20 Constitutional lawyers, led by Barr. Mogbojuri Kayode of the Citizens Rights Advocacy Group, noted that the desperation of Bawa to save his face after dishonourable acts in office had taken a laughable turn, insisting that no amount of "purchased CSOs' vote of confidence" would cover the truth about the abnormalities being condoned in EFCC under its current leadership.  They spoke at a joint press conference in Lagos on Tuesday.  According to them, the EFCC has become so desperate to launder what they called a rapidly diminishing image of Bawa, to the extent that the Commission's spokesman l...