Adeleke gets 10-day ultimatum to pay judges’ allowances

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September 21, 2023

Ibadan-based lawyer, Mutalubi Adebayo, SAN, has given Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, a 10-day ultimatum to pay arrears of allowances owed retired and serving judges in the state or face legal action.

Adebayo, in a statement dated Thursday, September 21, signed by himself, and obtained by our correspondent in Osogbo, said that should Adeleke refuse to yield to the request, by September 30, legal action to compel him to pay up would commence in a court of competent jurisdiction on October 3.

The lawyer, who confirmed being the author of the statement in a message to our correspondent, also noted that besides the arrears of outstanding allowances, he would also claim interest and aggravated damages in respect of the unpaid entitlements.

Adebayo’s statement further read in parts, “This serves as a notice to the Governor, the Government and the Judicial Service Commission of Osun State of Nigeria that if all the arrears of allowances being owed all the Judicial Officers in the state (both serving and retired) from the tenure of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola till date are not liquidated on or before the 30th day of September 2023, I, JCI Senator Mutalubi Ojo Adebayo, SAN, shall on the 3rd day of October 2023 commence legal action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover the full amount of the said unpaid allowances from the Government of Osun State and its Judicial Service Commission.

“Take further notice that I will also claim interest and aggravated damages in respect of those unpaid allowances because the acts of the Government of Osun State in refusing to pay same over the years amount to sheer callousness, recklessness, disregard for rule of law, indecent and unfair.”

However, the spokesperson to the governor, Olawale Rasheed, had yet to react to the statement as of the time of filing the report.

Curfew in Kano as tribunal sacks gov, fears grip other states

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Mana Balagbogbo

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September 21, 2023

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Uneasy calm has gripped the otherwise boisterous city of Kano State following the judgment of the Governorship Election Tribunal which upturned the victory of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), yesterday.

Following rising tension, the state government imposed a 24 hour curfew on the state. Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Usaini Gumel, who confirmed the development, said the curfew was communicated by government via letter with Reference No: K/SEC/H/435/T.1/153 dated September 20. The curfew took effect from 6pm.

The police boss warned that violators would be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law. He said combined security forces have already been dispatched to the nooks and crannies of the state, including the entry and exits of the state and assured that they had mapped out strategies to ensure safeguard the state.

In the judgment delivered electronically via Zoom, the tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued to him in respect of the election and reissue a fresh certificate of return to Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The tribunal led by Justice Oluyemi Osadebay Akintan held that the name of Yusuf was not on the official list of the party members submitted to INEC as at April 9, 2022. It equally declined to recognise 165,663 votes due to irregularities in their ballot papers.

According to the tribunal, having expunged the invalid votes from the total vote cast, the second runner up, Nasiru Gawuna, won.

In spite of the visible presence and assurances from the security agencies, hours after the judgment, shops, malls and offices across major markets and the axis of Kano were shut while everyone rushed home.

Some of the places where traders suspended activities were Sabon Gari, Kantin Kwari and Singer markets. The biggest shopping mall in the metropolis, Ado Bayero Mall (ShopRite), was shut.

In his reaction, NNPP chairman in the state, Hashim Suleiman described the judgment as unjust and vowed to appeal it.

But National Chairman of APC, Abdullahi Ganduje and Gawuna have hailed the verdict.

Speaking separately to newsmen in Abuja, Ganduje appealed to the people to remain peaceful.

In his own reactions, Gawuna, chronicled his political journey with the APC boss and promised to continue with the blueprint especially the campaign against drug abuse, insecurity, and criminality if he finally regains his mandate.

Tribunal affirms Mohammed’s election as Bauchi governor

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Mana Balagbogbo

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September 21, 2023

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The Bauchi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has affirmed the victory of Governor Bala Mohammed of PDP.

The tribunal dismissed the petition filed by APC and its governorship candidate, former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

The Justice P.T Kwahar-led three-man panel stated that there was no strong reason to nullify the election because it was conducted in compliance with the law.

Mohammed polled 525,280 votes to beat Abubakar who got 432,272 votes.

The governor hailed the verdict of the panel as a profound judgment that will continue to resonate within multiple circles as a demonstration of judicial rigour and commonsense and an affirmation of the sovereign will of the people over political brinkmanship and an entitlement mentality

“Our victory today is by the grace of Allah who gives power to whom he wishes and takes it without consulting the holder. We are once again reminded that all power is held in trust on behalf of God.”

He said despite the mischief of political merchants who arrogate to themselves kingmaker status and deceived some unsuspecting compatriots into believing that they can determine the destiny of others, the judgement indicated that God still reigns in the affairs of all his creations.

“In the nature of things, many of our supporters would expect me to jubilate over the verdict that has just confirmed the overwhelming mandate that they freely gave to me at the last governorship election in the state.

“Naturally, I am relieved and happy that this distraction has been put aside.

“However, how I wish that we got to this point devoid of the acrimony, the bitterness, the resource hemorrhage, the bickering, the time wasted.

“How I wish that rather than dissipate energy through avoidable litigation, we had all resolved what is a disagreement among brothers through discussion, consultation and unity of purpose.

“How I wish all of us had submitted to the Supreme will of Allah then succumbed to our ego and personal fantasies.

“As a constitutionalist who has stood with the law at critical moments in our country’s history, I will be the first to admit that the framers of our constitution did not err by co-opting judicial intervention as part and parcel of the electoral process.

“It is the epitome of our Doctrine of Separation of Powers that gives confidence to the aggrieved not to resort to self-help. It ensures constitutional and social harmony.”

Potential voters in Imo yet to collect 134,000 PVCs for guber poll –INEC

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Mana Balagbogbo

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September 21, 2023

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Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, disclosed that barely seven weeks to the November 11 governorship election in Imo State, registrants are yet to collect at least 134,000 permanent voter cards (PVCs).

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Sylvia Agu, told newsmen in Owerri that INEC resumed issuance of PVCs for the election on September 11 and that the exercise would continue until October 9.

“INEC still has about 134,000 uncollected PVCs in Imo in the 27 local government area secretariats of the state.

“I urge Imo residents to collect their PVCs at the INEC offices in their councils, while those in Orsu Local Government Area should collect theirs at the state office in Owerri. Apart from the 27 local government area offices, INEC has also created some centres for PVCs collection for registration areas that have more than 1,000 uncollected PVCs.

“Remember that PVCs cannot be collected by proxy and they must be exchanged with the temporary voter cards. INEC has gone a step further to gather the phone numbers of owners of uncollected PVCs in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi to send bulk SMS to them,’’ she said.

Off-cycle governorship elections will be held in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi on November 11.

Agu also told newsmen that INEC was prepared for the election in Imo and that all non-sensitive materials had been received and would be distributed to the various local government areas appropriately. “The Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security of which the police is the lead agency is on top of the security situation and shall draw up security architecture for the exercise. INEC is poised to, yet again, conduct a credible, free and fair election.”

LUTH denies late doctor worked 72-hour call duty

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Mana Balagbogbo

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September 21, 2023

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The management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, has denied allegations that one of its house officers, Dr Michael Umoh, died after a 72-hour call.

This is contained in a statement issued by LUTH management team in Lagos on Thursday.

“LUTH management understands the fact that the family of Dr Umoh is presently mourning the death of their beloved son and requested the foreclosure of any media engagement regarding the death of their son. It is important for us as a management to make clarifications regarding the circumstances surrounding his death.

“Dr Umoh died on Sept 17 while in church with his parents. The management was informed, and the death was later confirmed by one of the Consultants in his unit (Neurosurgery).

“The death of Dr Umoh is unfortunate but the narrative of a 72 hours non-stop shift is false.

“The record from Neurosurgery unit shows that the last time he was on call was 13th and 14th September, 2023.

“He was not on call on the 15th, 16th and 17th (the day he died), contrary to the insinuations on social media. He was at home with his parents on Sept. 16 and Sept. 17,” the management said.

Prior to this time, the management said, he was on call on the Sept. 7 and Sept. 8.

”This shows that Dr Umoh was on call for a total number of four days in September, 2023.

“A delegation from LUTH visited the family on Wednesday to commiserate with the family and to get more details of the circumstances surrounding his death.

“The parents gave the details of what they thought must have contributed to his death but pleaded that the wish of the family be respected and that the narrative is not for public consumption,” it said.

It said he will be sorely missed by his friends and colleagues.

“May his soul rest in peace, and may the Almighty give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss” LUTH said.

India suspends visa services for Canadian citizens amid diplomatic row

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Mana Balagbogbo

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September 21, 2023

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India has suspended visa services for Canadian citizens, the country’s visa service provider, BLS International, said on Thursday on its website.

The company cited a notice from the Indian mission.

The announcement came amid a diplomatic tussle between the two countries, where Ottawa accused New Delhi of involvement in the killing of a Sikh leader in Canada.

Tinubu to announce wage award next week —TUC

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Mana Balagbogbo

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September 21, 2023

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President Bola Tinubu will next week unveil wage awards to cushion the effects of removal of subsidy of petrol on workers. The labour movement, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, had repeatedly clamoured for payment of wage award to assuage the impact of the subsidy removal on workers, before negotiation on new minimum wage next year.

The President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Festus Osifo, disclosed this in an interview on ChannelsTelevision’s “Politics Today” programme on Tuesday night. TUC had given the federal government a two-week ultimatum to address its demands or risk industrial action from workers across the country.

Osifo noted that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, told TUC he had met with President Tinubu and the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, on the matter.

Osifo said Lalong told the union that the issue of wage had been reviewed, adding that President Tinubu would speak on the matter in the coming days. “The minister of labour told us that he had an audience with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the minister of finance and had reviewed the issue of wage award but that the president asked them to fine-tune the issues before he makes the announcement.

“The minister told us all these issues would be streamlined but because the president has travelled, we should give him an extra two weeks. We said no; we don’t have an extra two weeks to give. After more discussions, he said the president would make a proper announcement next week.”

Osifo said the union had engaged the federal government on the palliatives released to states, adding that “we are going to monitor distribution of palliatives in states to make sure the scheme is implemented appropriately.

”We want to see the template of the implementation which is why we engaged the federal government on this issue. We also raised issues around taxation and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas).”

On NLC two-week warning strike, Osifo said the union did not back out of it, saying it didn’t agree to participate in the first place.

Kano Governorship: Yusuf rejects Tribunal judgement, heads to Appeal Court

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Mana Balagbogbo

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September 21, 2023

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Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State has rejected the ruling of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that voided his election and declared his opponent the winner.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tribunal on Wednesday declared Dr Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress as the rightful winner of the March 18 governorship election.

Yusuf, who contested on the banner of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), described the tribunal’s verdict as “unfair” and “a miscarriage of justice”.
“I call on our people to remain calm. We will appeal the judgement and we are sure justice will be done.

“Let our people be reassured that we will do everything possible to retain this widely acclaimed mandate”, he added.

‘We need you back home’ — Tinubu tells Nigerians in US

By

Mana Balagbogbo

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September 21, 2023

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President Bola Tinubu has encouraged Nigerians in the U.S. to rise above failure by having a change of mindset for success in all their endeavours in life. Tinubu gave the advice at the Presidential Townhall Meeting with Nigerians in the diaspora on Wednesday in New York. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Townhall Meeting was organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.

“I want to give you a measure that will resonate with you. I was once a diaspora. What you have been through, I have been through it. Change of mind set is necessary. “Take it this night that Nigeria is home for business opportunities. “Also, anywhere you stay, there is always going to be an opportunity in, and in everything you do, there is always going to be an opportunity, if you know how to search and put your mind into it,’’ he said.

The president, however, expressed delight in the conduct of Nigerians who have continued to excel in their chosen fields in their host country. “You are lucky to be among those who are celebrated for good manners and behavior and are operating in an acceptable manner.

“I’m very proud of you; I have also been beneficial of inspiration, determination, commitment and perseverance and that is all you need to get to pull through. “But, we need you back home, Nigeria has arrived; forget the frustration of the previous year’s leadership,’’ he said.

Tinubu, who commended the efforts on out-of-school children, the healthcare programme and the need to eradicate poverty, said Nigeria was a blessed country.

Anambra School Proprietors Decry Multiple Taxation

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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September 20, 2023

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The leadership of the Owners of Private Schools Association of Nigeria has called on the Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo to review the outrageous taxes and levies demanded by various government agencies from private school proprietors in the state.

The association said the state government viewed school proprietors as business ventures and as a result, has been giving them exorbitant taxes and levies while exonerating the public schools.

The National President, OPSAN, Prof. Uzochukwu Nwanonyuo, stated this in Onitsha during the transition and inauguration of the body’s new state executive led by Sir Earnest Iwuamadi.

Nwanonyuo called on Soludo to urgently intervene and bail the private schools from the challenges of multiple taxes, illegal levies and other unwarranted payments.

He said the association is hoping that over time the issue that boils down to multiple taxes will be addressed, that has been our major challenge.

The union said another challenge is the encroachment and harassment currently witnessed by the supposed group called ‘Anambra State Joint Enforcement Unit’.

They said the state government needs to make the regulatory unit understand that schools are not similar to commercial environments.

The newly inaugurated president of the body’s Anambra chapter, Earnest Iwuamadi, on his part, decried the marginalisation of private schools in several areas.

Iwuamadi lamented that the state government exempted public schools and government-mission schools from multiple levies and taxes.

He also criticised the government for showing favouritism towards public schools when providing assistance or making appointments.

Iwuamadi pointed out that this approach overlooks the fact that every government-approved school is co-owned by the government.

He assured that he would ensure that all OPSAN member schools yet to secure government approval were assisted to be approved within the shortest possible time.

A member of the Board of Trustees of the association, Mary Obiokoye, pleaded with the Anambra State government to consider giving more political appointments to proprietors from the private schools sector.

Obiokoye called on the government to include at least two or three OPSAN members in this administration and Incorporate the union into school boards, commissioners or Directors,

Efforts to get the reaction of the state government through the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, proved abortive as calls and enquiries sent to her phone in that regard, were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.