CJN Moves To Impose Chief Judge On Osun

| TONY AMOKEODO

The National Judicial Council (NJC) is enmeshed in another controversy: the propriety of its imposition of Justice Bola Ojo as the chief judge-designate of Osun State.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Aloma Mukhtar-led NJC is yet to resolve ongoing controversy over the CJN’s refusal to swear in Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo as a justice of the Court of Appeal (JCA) on the grounds of alleged mix-up in her state of origin status, despite the approval granted by President Goodluck Jonathan and the resolution of the Senate.
But the NJC’s decision to impose a CJ on Osun State is causing ripples in the state as its recommendation is contrary to the advice of the State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on the matter.
The state JSC  had, by virtue of Part 11 section 6 (a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), recommended two judges for the post of CJ –justices Joseph Oyewole and Bola Ojo  -- following the retirement of the former occupier of the post,  Justice Olaniyi Ojo, on Wednesday, November 7, 2012. At present, the state does not have any CJ or acting CJ.
Though the former CJ retired on Wednesday without any fanfare, he did not hand over to any successor while Governor Rauf Aregbesola was yet to make any pronouncement on the issue.
Part 11 Section 6(a) of the constitution states, “The State Judicial Service Commission shall have the power to advise the NJC on suitable persons for nomination to the office of the CJ of the state”.
Justice Ojo was the number-two judge to the outgone CJ while Justice Oyewole, an indigene of the state, is a judge of the Lagos High Court in Ikeja.
In the exercise of this power, the state JSC had, in its 52-page memo to the NJC on the matter, written “recommended” for Justice Oyewole and “recommendable” for Justice Ojo.
The state JSC had claimed that its recommendation was based on indigene, merit and without any scandal, saying that it also consulted prominent senior advocates of Nigeria (SANs) including Chief Afe Babalola, Chief Wole Olanipekun, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, Chief Akin Olujimi, and Mr. Dele Adesina who endorsed Oyewole.
The NJC had, however, in its last meeting on October 17 and 18, rejected the list of the CJ nominees for Osun State alongside that of Adamawa and Kwara states and asked the concerned states to submit another list on seniority basis.
But  in a curious twist and without the advice of Osun State JSC , the NJC had, in a letter received on November 1 and  signed by the CJN,   decided to recommend Justice Ojo as the  CJ for Osun State. The letter was addressed to Governor Rauf Aregbesola who subsequently forwarded it to the state House of Assembly for its necessary consideration.
LEADERSHIP further gathered that the CJN had also, in the letter under reference, directed Justice Oyewole to transfer his service from Lagos State to Osun and subsequently queued before the last judge in the state in order to attain seniority status.
Incidentally, the CJN’s directive on this seniority issue is contrary to section 24 of the State High Court Law which states that the order of precedence on seniority shall be determined by the state governor on the advice of the state JSC. The directive is also contrary to section 81 (3) and 291 of the 1999 Constitution.
It was further gathered that Justice Ojo and 12 other judges in the state had, before the state JSC forwarded its recommendation to the NJC, sent a petition to the CJN, alleging that Justice Oyewole should be advised to take a queue behind the last judge before he could be considered.
The effect of the development is that Justice Oyewole will lose 11 years seniority having been appointed as a judge in 2011 and called to the Bar in 1986.
The state Assembly is expected to meet on the recommendation on Tuesday.
Leadership

Edo Constituency Wants Immunity Clause Removed

 | PATRICK OCHOGA

In Edo State, the people of Oredo federal constituency yesterday endorsed 22 of the 38 items listed on the template for the public people’s public section on the review of the constitution.
Majority of the considerations were through voice vote while some was adopted through the raising of hands.
Top of the issues was the rejection of state/local government joint account and removal of immunity provision for the president, vice-president, governor, deputy governor except on matters of civil proceedings and rejection of state police
They also voted for the amendment of Section 315(5)(a) and (d) removing the NYSC Act, the Land Use Act, Public Complaints Commission Act and the National Security Agencies Act from the constitution, but voted for financial autonomy for state legislatures.
The public session which took place at Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre, Airport Road, Benin City voted for the provision of independent candidate during election.
On true federalism, where states control 50 percent of their resources and pay the balance to the federal government, the people of Oredo federal constituency were unanimous.
They also concurred that the derivation components of the revenue allocation be increased to at least 20 percent, but rejected a role for traditional rulers, especially having representatives in the National Council of State.
The facilitator and member, representing Oredo federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr.Razaq Bello-Osagie, said the 1999 constitution was a creation of the military and so there were certain areas that were not addressed.
Leadership

Secession threats mere noise, says Abdusalami

by: Uja Emmanuel

Former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, said the country will not break up despite the security challenges and agitations by various regions for self-determination. He described the calls for secession as mere noise.
Speaking to reporters at the Government House, Makurdi, General Abdulsalami expressed hope that the country will overcome her present challenges. He noted that Nigerians have intermingled over a long period of time and lived with obvious developmental challenges which would make it difficult for any break up.
According to him, “This is not the first time I am saying this, all the secession threats here and there with the security challenges are mere noise because we have deeply intermingled; wherever you go you see Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Kanuris and others so, there is nothing that can break up this country because God has brought us together.”
He added, “What everyone needs to do is support the federal government effort. If you are talking about security then, who are the miscreants and where do they live. They live among us, so we must play our part by reporting them to the security agencies.”
He lauded the effort so far made by President Goodluck Jonathan in key sectors such as education, security and power and affirmed that these efforts will soon be made manifest and some of the problems solved.
He called on the elite to support President Jonathan through quality advise and suggestions on how to keep Nigeria one because it is the responsibility of every Nigerian to contribute to the development of the nation.
General Abdulsalami described Governor Gabriel Suswam’s contribution to nation building as unprecedented and expressed hope that with leaders like him, the country will be better.
He said, “I have followed your activities as a young legislator and now as governor and what you have done to your state and country in general. We the elders are proud that the country may never lack those who shall lead the people politically.”
Governor Suswam, on his part, described General Abdulsalami as the greatest Nigerian who had an opportunity to hold on to power for a long time but organised an election in nine months.
 TheNation

I’m ready to die for SEC– Oteh

by: Odogwu Emeka Odogwu

Ms. Arunma Oteh, Director General, Security and Exchange Commission, (SEC) who has been in the news over her leadership style was an award recipient in Anambra State recently. In this interview with Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, she speaks on development at the stock market and other sundry issues

Your award as the most historic woman of the year 2012 is coming at a time when you are receiving lots of attacks
I have received a lot of attack recently, but when I got the letter that the Anambra State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists wanted to honour me as the most historic woman of the year, I almost shed tears. This is because despite what people are doing to bring you down, there are people somewhere who are appreciative of the good work we do.
I am not afraid to say that I will always do the right thing as the Director-General of the Security and Exchange Commission. I am not moved by what people are doing trying to pull me down, so long as I know that I am doing the right thing. In the past, we had a capital market where people wear suits and sit down to steal money belonging to peasants, but when I came in I told myself that all these have got to stop. We must sanitise our capital market and build a trust that will let the poor man put his savings in it and be assured that it will not be stolen by people. What I am doing at the SEC, I am ready to die for. I’m not afraid to die so long as I am doing the right thing, and I’m very emboldened by the fact that people are watching, no matter the level of conspiracy against one, people are seeing your efforts and at the right time, one will be rewarded for every good work.
How best could you describe events happening at the SEC?
A lot is happening and we are trying to grow people’s investment, not by our words but by our actions, and today we have a market that is a world class market. That is why today our equities market, on daily basis, is flocked by values from international investors, which make up 80 percent.
We Nigerians must enjoy the fruit of our hard work, if market prices are low today, and we have some money to save, we should try and put that money in the market so that it will grow your finances and you will have more money.
Are there differences between the capital market you met and the capital market we have today?
We always say at the SEC that, let us learn from the horrible things that happened in the past; our people suffered in the past because there was a lot of misrepresentation.
Even up to 2010 it was still happening. People were told that their money will just double, and many of our people are crying because they sold their houses, they took their life savings and put them there. That is not what we are saying today. We are saying if you want to invest, you must ask questions. It is not enough for us to just tell the people that once you put your money, it will double. Ask questions, if you are told it is Lever Brothers or Nestle, you will know they have a distribution network everywhere and you will make enquiries to know about the market price.
And you must go to meet financial experts and ask them questions before you invest. It is your right to ask questions, but please don’t wait for people to come from other countries and invest today and when you are ready to invest, it would be that prices have gone to the top. Last year when we went to Rivers State, the deputy governor there told us a story. He said his father told him that if you have N10,000 and you cannot save, when you earn N100million you will still not be able to save.
What that means is that you do not have to wait until you have all the money before you begin to save money.
How much have you done to spread the gospel of savings to Nigerians?
Here at SEC, we value journalists a lot. I cannot talk enough about the importance of saving and investing, but those of you who write, who present programmes on TV and on radio probably do more in sending the message about saving and investing, about borrowing long term, listing your companies on the Nigeria Stock market.
For us it is very important that we partner with journalists. One of the new initiatives we have for journalists is that we will have a Journalists Academy this year.
This is because we feel that the more that you are familiar with the Nigerian capital market, the more that you can report back, so when we publicise about the Journalists Academy through the Anambra Council, we encourage journalists in Anambra to apply in your numbers. I think it is on 10th of December that we are going to have the Journalists Academy, but most importantly, next week, we will be publishing a new initiative which we call the SEC award for Journalists, it is an essay competition on the Nigerian capital market, and I encourage you to try and participate in this essay in your numbers.
Saving and investing is very critical to building a nation, and no nation can develop without a strong capital market, if you want medium to long-term money for businesses, it comes from the capital market. One, it creates wealth and helps you to train up your children, so that you can retire and still live well. Everything that is negative in the economy affects the capital market because capital market is about the state of the economy.
What effect do you think that the flood this year will have on the economy?
I feel that Nigeria as led by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a number of very senior private and public sector officials who have been constituted to scout for money to help these people, will do a good work and help save whatever negative impact it may have on the economy. We have Nigerians who have lost their homes and means of livelihood because of the flood, but I know that efforts are in place to see how they can be rehabilitated. This also has to do with agriculture in the country as most farmlands have been submerged and we are hopeful that the federal government will support agriculture. As you know, the federal government is very supportive of agriculture, as agriculture provides 42 percent of our GDP and also 70 percent of employment and, therefore, when something like flood happens, it is important that urgent steps be taken.
Most companies especially in the South East do not get quoted on the stock market, what is the reason for this?
Traditionally, Igbos are known for investing in their children, in real estate and in growing their businesses. I think there are areas where we can learn and do better. We must know that if we must only control our businesses, we will not grow as fast as we hope. We have a town like Nnewi that has some of the greatest businesses in Nigeria, and some of those businesses need to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, so that they can be like Honeywell, Dangote and the rest. We need to encourage our businessmen to move from the culture of controlling their businesses themselves and let others buy into them, so that they can grow. But Igbo people are known for enterprise, but we need to step our games up.
TheNation

Bayelsa, Rivers Oil Wells Row: Jonathan’s fresh peace move suffers setback

by: Yusuf Alli, Abuja

•Jonathan

• Amaechi’s absence forces President to shift peace meeting
• Rivers State gets N17.5b refund from two oil fields

A fresh move by President Goodluck Jonathan to resolve the row between Bayelsa and Rivers states over the Soku/Oluasiri oil wells suffered a setback Friday due to the absence of Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
The expanded peace session was expected to involve Amaechi, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and all relevant parties to the dispute.
While the two states bicker, a letter to the Accountant-General of the Federation by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has confirmed that about N17.5billion has been refunded to Rivers State being revenue due the state from Nda and Okwori oil fields from 2007 to date.
The oil fields are part of the Soku/Oluasiri oil wells in dispute.
The letter from RMAFC indicates that refund to any aggrieved state, including Bayelsa State, is a normal practice once a proper boundary demarcation has been established between disputing states by both the National Boundary Commission (NBC) and the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation(OSGF).
The Friday meeting was to be a follow-up to a similar audience which the President had with Kalabri leaders and the Rivers State Government penultimate Friday.
It was, however, gathered that Amaechi, who had officially travelled out of the country, delegated his deputy, Mr. Tele Ikuru, and other stakeholders to attend.
But the Presidency is insisting on the presence of Amaechi in order to ensure true reconciliation of the two parties
As at press time, Governor Seriake Dickson was still hanging around in Abuja for his colleague from Rivers State to arrive.
Reliable sources who spoke in confidence said the meeting was fixed for 6.00 pm on Friday with the President suspending some engagements to facilitate the peace talks.
When it became obvious that Amaechi would not make it, the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Ogiadhome, wrote a letter to the governor shifting the session.
A reliable Rivers State Government official said: “Governor Amaechi is interested in the resolution of the crisis. He actually travelled abroad for some engagements.
“Apparently aware that the Rivers State governor was not in town, the Presidency on November 8 postponed the peace meeting scheduled for November 9. The government wanted Amaechi and Dickson to sit and resolve the dispute.
“It is not true that Governor Amaechi avoided or shunned any meeting at the Villa. He has no basis to do so.
“As a matter of fact, the President through the Chief of Staff, Ogiadhome, wrote a letter which was submitted at the Rivers Liaison Office in Abuja on November 8 for onward transmission to the governor. He said the President mandated him to shift the peace meeting slated for November 9.”
“In the letter, the Chief of Staff also indicated that “a new date will be communicated.”
A letter RMC/O &G/34/VOL. II/263 from RMAFC to the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. J.O. Otunla, confirmed the refund to Rivers State by seven oil producing states.
Although the letter was dated January 17, 2012, it has thrown more insight into the crisis of confidence between the two states.
The letter reads: “I write to inform you that the Rivers State Government in a letter Ref. No. COM/FIN/T/01 of 3rd October 2011 requested for the payment of all the 13 per cent derivation revenue due to the state from Nda and Okwori oil fields from 2007 to date.
“The commission examined the request and confirmed that Okwori and Nda oil fields belong to Rivers State based on the Report of the Inter-Agency Committee on the attribution of offshore oilfields to Littoral states, 2008 and submissions by National Boundary Commission (NBC) and Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation(OSGF).
“Furthermore, the 13 per cent derivation proceed from the two oil fields were shared amongst all the oil producing states from April 2009 to June 2010, while Akwa Ibom State exclusively enjoyed the proceed from Okwori oil field from July to August, 2010 and from July 2010 to January 2011 in the case of Nda oil field.
“It is to be noted that the Rivers State Government has since September 2010 and February 2011 been receiving its due share of 13 per cent derivation proceed from Okwori and Nda fields respectively.
“Consequently, the commission after considering the request from the Rivers State Government and the submission from both the National Boundary Commission (NBC) and the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation(OSGF), approved that Rivers State should be refunded the sum of N17,566, 394,965.18b by all the oil producing states being accrued 13 per cent derivation fund from April 2009 to January 2011.
“The amount to be refunded by each state is as follows: Abia (N226,253,896.74); Akwa Ibom (N9, 567,732,283.95); Bayelsa (N2 071, 164,678.46); Delta (N4, 142, 271,632.95); Edo ( N305,693,768.40); Imo (N260,733,722.65); Ondo (N952,544,973.05).”
 TheNation

Boko Haram Denies Killing General, Reiterates Plan to Talk and Ceasefire

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NewsRescue- The notorious terrorist group operating out of Nigeria’s Kanuri North East has denied killing General Muhammadu Shuwa, who was shot to death in front of his house last Friday. Spokesman for the group, a certain AbdulAzeez personality denied the groups involvement and reiterated the groups proposal to talk with the government and ceasefire.
However Nigerians unambiguously hold the group responsible for the respected and loved General’s death. Since the Boko Haram terror group began its fury of terror, they have directly and indirectly destroyed the entire region. They have put guns and ammunition into the hands of all and sundry and it is due to them that the Nations security forces, the JTF have been operating in the state killing criminal and civilian alike.
“Boko Haram, can not deny responsibility for all violent deaths in the North,” Yinusa, speaking to NewsRescue on the phone from Borno said. “They did this, before Boko Haram, Maiduguri was one of the safest places in the world. Now no body can sleep. Allah will reward them.”

DailyTrust- A purported spokesman for the Boko Haram sect yesterday said they were not responsible for the killing of retired General Muhammadu Shuwa in Maiduguri on Friday, raising questions as to who might have done it.

 The late Shuwa was shot dead by gunmen who were thought to be his guests, and the Joint Task Force said in a statement that the killing was carried out by “terrorists.”

 Abu Muhammad Ibn AbdulAzeez, who claimed to be a spokesman for the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah Lidda’wati Wal Jihad, also known as Boko Haram, spoke to journalists in Maiduguri in a teleconference yesterday saying the sect did not kill the retired general.

He said the group had no reason to eliminate General Shuwa as he had never said anything wrong about them.

AbdulAzeez said they have great respect for the deceased and wondered why they should be accused of killing him.

When contacted on what Boko Haram said regarding the killing of General Shuwa, spokesman for the JTF Lt-Colonel Sagir Musa said last night: “The Boko Haram said what they wanted to say. As far as I am concerned, there is no comment.”

The killing of General Shuwa at his home in the volatile Gwange area has elicited questions, including whether his military guards were present or not when he was shot.

As a retired general, Shuwa was entitled to protection by military guards.

But security agencies in Borno State are yet to say anything specific on that.

Yesterday, the Boko Haram sect restated its readiness for dialogue.

Abu Abdulazeez said their choice of retired General Buhari, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim and Shettima Ali Monguno as mediators is only for them to serve as “witnesses” in the proposed dialogue. He said the sect needed them to play such role because they were still doubtful about the Federal Government’s commitment to dialogue.

NewsRescue

BBC: CAN Youth Chair Obaida Diji Fingers Western Civilization, Democracy For Nigeria Violence

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November 10th, 2012
NewsRescue- Western Civilization and Democracy may be to blame for the insecurity, instability and failure of Nigeria. This according to an article published by the BBC on November 1st, written by Obadiah Diji, a Christian from Kaduna in North Nigeria, a region under threat from radical terrorist Boko Haram sect which has directly and indirectly caused the deaths of thousands of Nigerians of all faiths and walks of life.
Related: NewsRescue-Democracy Fails Africa
In the BBC article, Diji the chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of the Youth Christian Association of Nigeria (Youth CAN) and leader of Christian/Muslim Youth Peace Initiative, says:

We need to ask: Was Nigeria right to adopt Western-styled democracy? …. Western civilisation has caused us more harm than good.

He expresses doubts in the products of the democratic dispensation in Nigeria. Nigeria has been ruled by military governments for a large part of its existence since independence. In the chairman’s views, even though he does not wish for military dictatorship, he sees that democracy, of the western style is not favorable for Africa’s populous nation, and he requests that Nigerians go back to the drawing board, tapping from traditional systems of governance to fashion out systems that foster peace, progress and development without creating the type of divisions, hate, violence and terror that the democratic eras have been known for.

Democracy Fails Africa

It is a public secret in Nigeria that political rivalries and parties directly led to the establishment and arming of various thugs, later to become sophisticated terrorists.
This happened in the South in the name of MEND (Movement for Emancipation of the  Niger Delta), a group that reigned terror on Nigeria and reduced its oil output, hence affecting global oil prices and leading to hardship across the world, till the Yaradua government in 2009 resolved the crises by instituting an amnesty program.
The Boko Haram terrorist group, which operates out of the Kanuri dominated North Eastern states has also been directly linked to political thuggery, armed and utilized by political administrations of the states in the region.
Nobel Laurette, Wole Soyinka has attributed terrorism, including the radical Boko Haram’s activities to the leading political party in the nation, the PDP, whom he described as a ‘nest of killers’. Indeed many of the possible sponsors, interrogated or arrested in connection with the terror group have been politicians, senators, governors and the like.
In support of Diji’s position, political rivalry and dirty ethnic, social  divides are seen even in western democracies, as in African nations. This was observed during the recent elections in the United States. The re-elected black president, Barrack Hussein Obama, according to records, only got 30% of white votes, as deep lines and race, ethnicity and social class divisions were emboldened. The election was filled with tensions and hateful comments, reactions and speeches. In one of re-elected president Obama’s last campaign speeches, he noteably asked his supporters to vote for him in ‘revenge’.
See: NewsRescue- The Big Loser of the US 2012 Presidential Election
The CAN youth chair, Obadiah Diji questions western-civilization as a whole for possibly being the fault and flaw in the organization and success of the nation.
Although, most certainly not subscribing to the Boko Haram cowardly and insane reign of mad terror, he appears to relate to the publicized ideology of their founder, murdered Mohammed Yusuf, as their name Boko Haram translates- ‘western civilization is bad’.
Kaduna has recently been victim to senseless carnage by the Boko Haram sect, killing innocent Christians in Church as well as indiscriminate ‘reprisal’ attacks against innocents who appear to be Muslims, by angry Christian mobs. The state has a robust population of Muslims and Christians. Obadiah Diji works with other Christian and Muslim youth leaders to foster peaceful coexistence, cooperation and tolerance in the volatile state under threat.
Here is what he says in the BBC article:

Christian life in northern Nigeria

Obadiah Diji

We need to ask: Was Nigeria right to adopt Western-styled democracy?

After all, we did not have such high levels of violence during military rule.

This is not to say that we must give power back to the generals. Instead, we must look at the traditional systems of governance that we had before we were colonised.

Can we learn from those systems and change the way we are governed so that there is less corruption, less poverty and, ultimately, less violence?

Western civilisation has caused us more harm than good.

And today, it is Western government and companies that are the “merchants of death”. They – more than anyone else – manufacture and sell the weapons used in conflicts in Nigeria, and elsewhere.  

NewsRescue