Kaduna labour crisis: NLC threatens general strike as El-Rufai declares Wabba wanted by Adelani Adepegba, Lesi Nwisagbo, Maritha Ebolosue, Godwin Isenyo and James Abraham

• SANs slam El-Rufai over order on Wabba, NLC president dares gov There was confusion in Kaduna, the Kaduna State capital, on Tuesday when thugs attacked workers at a rally organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress as the strike in the state entered the second day. The NLC, in a statement by its Acting General Secretary, Ismail Bello, condemned the attack and threatened to embark on a nationwide strike. Earlier, the state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, had declared the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, wanted for economic sabotage. The state workers had on Monday begun a five-day strike over the governor’s retrenchment of 45,000 workers and the alleged anti-labour policies of the government. The strike paralysed the state on Monday as civil servants, aviation and rail workers joined the industrial action. On Tuesday, the workers, as early as 7am converged on the state NLC secretariat along the Race Course Road, Ungwan-Rimi, Kaduna, from where they marched to NEPA Roundabout at 11am. It was learnt that the NLC planned to march to the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, along Sokoto road in the metropolis. But trouble started at 12pm when hoodlums in hundreds with dangerous weapons such as clubs, knives and stones attacked workers and labour leaders. Suspected thugs who came in two vehicles hauled stones at the workers, chasing them to the other side of the Ahmadu Bello Way before the NLC members, who were more in numbers retreated and chased them (thugs) away. But for the police Special Force that accompanied the NLC members, who swiftly moved to avert the crisis, it would have snowballed into a bloody clash. Other police operatives stationed by the side of the roundabout fired teargas canisters to disperse the hoodlums while the NLC mobilised its members to chase the thugs away. The attack lasted for less than an hour. Speaking at the rally shortly after the confusion, the NLC president alleged that the state government hired the hoodlums to attack the peaceful rally, saying that “we have dismantled them.” Wabba said, “I called the Department of State Services headquarters, I called the DIG Operation. I also called the State(Kaduna) Director of the DSS, I gave them the information. “While we are here (NEPA roundabout), they(thugs) came but we thank God that we have dismantled them. We have chased them away because we have the numbers. “We have no thugs and we are not using thugs but we have Nigerian workers. And we thank God that we will catch them alive and we are going to dismantle them.” El-Rufai had earlier on Tuesday declared the NLC president and other officials of the union wanted for sabotaging the economy of the state. The governor tweeted, “Ayuba Wabba & others of @NLCHeadquarters declared wanted for economic sabotage and attacks on public infrastructure under Miscellaneous Offences Act. Anyone that knows where he is hiding should send a message to @MOJKaduna KDSG. There will be a handsome reward!” But curiously, the NLC President was at the rally at the NEPA roundabout, which the thugs interrupted. I am here, Wabba fires back at El-Rufai When asked about the order of the governor declaring him wanted, Wabba laughed it off, saying he was not hiding as claimed by the governor. He said, “I am here sound and direct. Is he (El-Rufai) court?” No compromise with labour – El-Rufai insists Earlier at the launch of the Kaduna State Agricultural Policy held at the late General Hassan Katsina House, Kawo, Kaduna, the governor said he would not compromise with the labour leaders over the sacking of workers. El-Rufai claimed that the union had attacked facilities in the state as such risk being prosecuted. He said, “They have attacked facilities. They have engaged in economic sabotage. That’s an offence under the miscellaneous act and we want him (NLC President) . “We bring him to justice. We are looking for him. He should report to the nearest police station or report to us. He will be prosecuted for economic sabotage.” When asked if the two parties had reached compromise, El-Rufai said, “There are no grounds for compromise. They have used their last ultimate weapon. It will not change anything. It will not change our position and that’s it.” Meanwhile, as of the time of filing this report, the train station located at Rigasa in the Igabi Local Government Area of the State, was shut to passengers and the railway workers. Some schools both public and private complied with the directive to withdraw their services. This was just as banks and other financial institutions fully complied with the directives of the national body of the NLC. Kaduna dismisses nurses below Grade Level 14, says NLC like bandits Also on Tuesday, the state government dismissed all nurses below Grade Level 14 for their “illegal participation” in the strike. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, disclosed this in a statement titled, ‘Kaduna not tolerate criminal acts disguised as industrial action.’ The statement also likened the action of the NLC to those of bandits ravaging the state. It alleged that nurses disconnected oxygen from a two-day-old baby in an incubator on Monday at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, when they joined the strike. It added, “Apart from referring the nurses involved to the ministry of justice to initiate prosecution, the government also announced the dismissal of all nurses below Grade Level 14 for the illegal strike. “Ministry of Health has been directed to advertise vacancies for the immediate recruitment of new nurses to replace those dismissed’’ Besides, the statement directed all government’s ministries to submit their attendance registers to the head of service while the Kaduna State University should submit same to the Secretary to the State Government and the Commissioner of Education. The government noted that salaries that could have been paid to the dismissed nurses would be given as extraordinary occupational allowances to the health workers who were at their duty posts to fill the gap of those absconding from duty. The special adviser likened “The actions of the NLC to the actions of the bandits kidnapping and menacing our citizens. Bandits illegally use arms, but the NLC is deploying mob action for exactly the same ends. ‘’Efforts to dress up a criminal activity as industrial action do not change the reality of lawbreaking that has unfolded, including their persistently ignoring the prohibition against impeding essential services.” El-Rufai instigated attack on workers – Labour The NLC acting secretary, Bello, in his statement, vowed that the congress would continue its protests. In the statement titled, ‘Mr Nasir el-Rufai lives up to his name, cowardly instigates street violence against innocent protesting Nigerian workers,’ he explained that the street protest which was in response to the sacking of workers by the state government started peacefully on Monday and continued on Tuesday with Wabba and other labour leaders leading the workers’ march. He said, “Just towards the end of the address of Comrade Ayuba Wabba, a convoy of the Kaduna State Governor approached the NEPA Junction, at the heart of Kaduna metropolis where today’s protest was staged. “Immediately the governor’s convoy beat a retreat from the sea of human heads that had shown up in solidarity with Nigerian workers, busloads of thugs and hooligans drove into NEPA Roundabout from the axis where security operatives supposedly had cordoned off. What happened next can only be described with words apt for a war front. “The weed-smoking hoodlums disembarked from the buses that brought them, brandished all manner of weapons and surged towards the protesters who were by this time seated under any available shade and listening to the speeches made by their leaders. “To our greatest consternation, while the hired killer squad attacked the workers, the initial response of the security operatives who were there presumably to protect the protesting workers was “siddon-look”, and subsequently, entreaties with the criminal mob. “It was only when the workers began to defend themselves did the security operatives get into the fray – and their first action was to fire tear gas canisters at protesting workers.” The congress said it was consulting with its organs on the next line of action, noting that a declaration of nationwide strike was not excluded from their considerations. It noted, “We are already consulting with the organs of our movement on the next line of strategy in our struggle given Mr El-Rufai’s disdain for social dialogue and peaceful resolution of issues. An immediate declaration of national strike is not excluded from our immediate considerations. “Another attack by Mr El-Rufai will most likely automatically activate a nationwide solidarity action with Kaduna State workers.” But the Chairman of the Nothern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, in a statement on Tuesday by his Press and Public Affairs, Macham Makut, called for calm saying that only dialogue would resolve the issues between the two contending parties. “While calling for dialogue and negotiations which is a long standing dispute mechanism in labour relations, the Northern Governors called for restraint and de-escalation of the situation to enable for amicable settlement of the issues in question,” he stated. El-Rufai cannot arrest NLC leaders, say lawyers Meanwhile, some senior lawyers have described the threat by El-Rufai to arrest Wabba as dictatorial and unconstitutional. A human rights activist and lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, in an interview with The PUNCH, said El-Rufai’s action was dictatorial and despotic. He said, “El -Rufai should not dare arrest the NLC chairman or dismiss the nurses. He has suddenly become dictatorial and despotic, reminding us of Hitler and Mussolini. “The right to freedom of expression, movement, association, right to liberty and freedom from inhuman and degrading treatment, etc., are basic human rights guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution, and universally recognised under the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter On Human And People’s Rights, the European Charter on Human Rights, the American Convention on Human Rights, and other international instruments. “The right to protest without even seeking Police permission has been serially upheld by Nigerian appellate courts.” In a similar vein, legal practitioner, Remi Olatunbora, SAN, described the declaration as an empty threat. He said, “The right of the NLC to withdraw their services, which is what we call strike, is guaranteed under the Constitution of Nigeria and extant labour law. “The governor’s pronouncement is an empty threat. It is as empty as it was pronounced. “It has no legal basis and does not hold any water in law. No law enforcement agency can enforce that. “Such pronouncement has no place in a democratic regime. Only a dictatorial regime can make such pronouncement.” On his part, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) said the governor was misunderstanding the extent of his powers as “the Chief Executive of Kaduna State.” According to him, a protest is part of the rights that citizens enjoy in a democracy, so the people of Kaduna have the right to call for a strike if they believe that they are not being served well. He stated, “Declaring the leader of the Nigeria Labour Congress wanted is misappropriation of power as a governor. It is not one of the attributes of democratic governance. Declaring people wanted for embarking on a strike action is misconceived. “Therefore, I do not think that what the governor has done is right. The matter ought to be resolved in a court and luckily for us, El-Rufai will not be the judge.” The Federal government has asked the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Kaduna State Government to avoid escalating the crisis. Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige made the appeal in a statement by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations in the Ministry, Charles Akpan, on Tuesday. PUNCH.

Police beef up security in Lagos, Ogun over rumoured IPOB militants’ attack - by Deji Lambo

The Lagos and Ogun state police commands have beefed up security in different parts of the states to avert any possible attack by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and its Eastern Security Network. This followed a statement by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, during a security summit chaired by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, that the command was investigating threats by IPOB to attack soft targets in the state. READ ALSO: Hisbah arrests Kano ‘couple’ for allegedly buying baby for N900,000 While reacting to the CP’s revelation, the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, had refuted the claim in a tweet. The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, had also described the claim as a rumour aimed at causing division, crisis and conflict among Ndigbo and their host communities. Our correspondent, however, gathered that undercover police personnel had been deployed in places hosting critical infrastructure and institutions, as well as areas with high population of people from the eastern part of the country and motor parks in Lagos. Odumosu told our correspondent that the command had put in place measures to curtail any potential attack by IPOB because it could not disregard such a threat. He said, “I want to assure members of the public that inasmuch as we don’t work on rumours, at the same time we don’t disregard them. When we got the intelligence report, all the stakeholders in the security industry were sensitised. “Residents, including landlord associations, were also sensitised. Self-security consciousness is the best; if you observe something that is abnormal in a place, you take precaution. “We have enlightened residents and landlord associations about self-security consciousness. In conjunction with the state Ministry of Education, we also organised a series of lectures, where I had interactive sessions with all the proprietors of public and private schools with boarding facilities.” Odumosu stated that the command had also held a summit with relevant stakeholders to strengthen security around the borders and the riverside communities, adding that the command was also working with the Ogun State Police Command to secure border towns of the two states. The CP said, “During the summit, many contributions came up and we have empowered our marine police. It is only Ogun State that we share water and land boundaries with. We have moved round to all the borders of Lagos and Ogun states, and we have a synergy with the Ogun State Police Command.” The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, said although the state had yet to get any intelligence report suggesting any planned attack, the proximity of Lagos to Ogun State had prompted the command to expedite measures to fortify the security system. He said, “Generally, we have on the ground what I call adequate measures directed towards containing all forms of crimes, and our measures include surveillance in areas we think are vulnerable, including highways, public institutions, buildings and individuals, who are exposed to high risk of security like politicians, private businessmen, schools, farms, banking institutions and other financial institutions. “We have a security template that is directed towards ensuring adequate security of these areas. On the issue of IPOB, I won’t say I have not heard that information as it is flying around in the social media, it should suffice to say that we have our measures to curtail this kind of crime and we are watching very closely.” PUNCH.

INTRIGUING! National Assembly To Legalise Indian Hemp Use In Nigeria In Landmark Move

The House Of Representatives has announced that plans are under way to legalise Indian Hemp use in Nigeria citing its economic benefits to the country. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, spokesman for the House made this known while addressing a press conference about the subject in Akure, Ondo state capital. The legislator revealed that scientists, medical and pharmaceutical professionals, farmers, insurance companies, executives, and private sector investors have been invited to a stakeholder's forum that will hold on cannabis on June 7 and 8, explaining that several countries including South Africa are already taking advantage of the economic and health benefits of the plant. According to Vanguard, Kanu said, “Nigeria has been described as oil-dependent and not oil-rich. It is a worrying reality that we have not optimized the financial stability advantage that our oil reserves can provide us to diversify our collective investment and revenue sources. “The coronavirus pandemic exposed our weaknesses when global oil prices plummeted by as much as 15 per cent even falling below $0 a barrel on 20 “Indeed, our economy is still recovering from that shock. However, as the world increasingly shifts towards renewable energy and climate-friendly energy sources, global oil demand will further drop. “Agriculture has always been a major strength of Nigeria and cannabis provides interesting prospects. Industrial hemp is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for industrial use. I trust bandits more than politicians, Gumi tells Nigerians “Once harvested, the crop has a high yield of edible proteins and fibres with more than 50,000 product applications ranging from papermaking, textiles, biodegradable plastics, fuel, construction, healthy food, beverages, personal care products, and pharmaceuticals. “According to verified market research, the Global Industrial Hemp Market was valued at USD 5 Billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 36 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 34 per cent from 2019 to 2026. “According to the consultancy firm Prohibition Partners, by 2023, the value of Africa’s legal cannabis market could be worth over USD 7.1 billion.” He explained further that “for this to happen, a candid discourse must be held by all stakeholders on the modalities for legalization, licensing, and regulation of the industry. “I hope that the two-day stakeholder’s roundtable discussion on the benefits and opportunities of Cannabis Plant and CBD Oil in Nigeria, scheduled to hold on Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 June 2021 will achieve this. To enable this process of legalization, I have presented before the House of Representatives, the Dangerous Drugs Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which when passed, will usher in a new era of medicinal cannabis from production processing and distribution. “I expect that the exchanges that will ensue at the roundtable on June 7 and 8, 2021, will greatly optimize the deliberations of the National Assembly on the bill, as well as preparations by the executive arm of government to regulate the sector. “Nigerians must understand that we are not alone in this race to establish a lucrative medical and industrial hemp economy. Based on recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations (UN) voted to remove Cannabis from schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, and reclassified it as medicinal and therapeutic, on December 2, 2020. “Several countries have legalized medicinal and industrial hemp and other African countries are moving to do the same.” Recall how Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, had said Nigerians must also share in the blame for the worsening insecurity across the nation. This is as Femi Adesina, senior presidential spokesman, blamed evil forces sitting on President Muhammadu Buhari’s matter for the securty problems. Speaker Gbajabiamila said, “If truth be told, we all have equal shares in the blame for what’s happening today." Berating deep division among Nigerians, the Speaker added, “Whatever challenges we have, we must all come together to make sure that we resolve these issues we’re facing. “We must imbibe that spirit of oneness, togetherness, unity, and love that would take us through this.” But while apportioning blame to‘aiye’ for the precarious state of the country, Adesina stated, “When you are high-flying, the centrifugal forces will come against you, and it would only take the grace of God for you to attain. “Yoruba people call those forces Aiye. When Aiye is on your case, as it was against Man City, and it is against the Buhari government, you need God, and God alone.” Emphasising his point, the presidential continued, “Aiye (meaning ‘the world,’ if freely translated) is the negative part of mankind. The pernicious, baleful, sly, and scheming part of humanity. If Aiye gets on your matter, you need God and God alone.” Peoples Gazette reports that Adesina further stated that, just as some forces worked against Manchester City last season, some forces are working against Buhari regime’s success. “Recall what happened in the 2019/2020 season. Man City was eyeing a treble. Three back-to-back seasons as champions and a record in English football. But the adversaries knew the record that was to be set, so they arrayed themselves against the team,” Mr Adesina asserted. “Just as some forces knew the record that was to be achieved by Muhammadu Buhari as Nigerian president,” he claimed, “and which he had begun to show since 2015 when he got into office, and they (adversaries) positioned against the government.”

Pantami Gives 14 Days Ultimatum To Banks, Telecoms, To Stop GSM Network Boosters By Ukpe Philip

The Nigerian Communications Commission has declared the sale and usage of mobile network boosters illegal and has given 14 days to telecoms, banks government agencies and other Nigerians to halt its usage. The commission which is under the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy said in a statement on Tuesday that the sale of network boosters in the country is criminal and punishable henceforth. A Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network booster is a bi-directional amplifier used to improve cell phone reception when signal is poor. The NCC had warned of the health hazards of GSM network boosters, adding that it should be avoided. “The Nigerian Communications Commision informs the general public, particularly banks and other Financial Institutions, Government Agencies, Telecommunications Service Providers, private/public companies and owners/occupiers of residential premises that the sale, installation and usage of GSM boosters is illegal,” the commission said. It said the directive was in exercise of the NCC mandate of ensuring the protection of consumers, ensuring good quality of service and maintenance of technical standards of communication equipment. This according to the regulator is in accordance with the provision of Section 131 (1) of the Nigerian Communications Act of 2003. The NCC added, “The Commission hereby warns the general public that it is a-criminal offence to sell, install or use any equipment which may hinder network operations or which has not been type-approved by the commission. “Such acts may lead to monetary sanction an/or imprisonment, or both (fine and imprisonment) as well as the confiscation of any equipment in the illegal enhancement of network coverage.” On its part, the NCC said it would continue to deepen efforts to work with telecoms operators to facilitate the provision of telecons infrastructure across the country. NCC said, “In view of the above, the commission hereby gives a 14-day pre- enforcement notice effective from the date of this publication to any person involved in the sale, installation of the device to forthwith desist from such act. It added that upon expiry of the deadline, the NCC will take appropriate action to which will not be limited to prosecution and paying of fines and confiscation of the equipment used to boost the network.

Bill to impeach president after 30 days without cabinet passes second reading - by Samuel Akpan

A bill seeking to set a 30-day time frame for the president to appoint ministers upon assumption of office has passed second reading in the house of representatives. Advertisement The bill, which scaled first reading in December 2020, seeks to create a committee that will oversee the transition of power from an outgoing president to the president-elect. Section 19(1) of the proposed bill stipulates that “the president shall on assumption of office, appoint ministers within 30 days from the date he took the oath of office.” Section 19(2) of the bill provides that “the president shall constitute and appoint all boards of government agencies and parastatal that are due for constitution and appointment within two months from the date of his assumption of office.” According to section 19(3), the president “shall be guilty of a misconduct as provided under section 143 (2) (b) of the Constitution” if he fails to comply with the provisions of the proposed bill. That section specifically states how the president can be impeached when he is guilty of “gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office”. Kpam Sokpo, lawmaker from Benue state and sponsor of the bill, said the bill will ensure smooth transition of power. “This bill seeks to provide for the procedure and ceremony for transition and assumption of the office of the president, and vice-president-elect by the president-elect and vice-president-elect, and to facilitate the handover process by the outgoing president and vice-president of the federal republic of Nigeria,” Sokpo said. Contributing to the debate on the bill, Toby Okechukwu, lawmaker from Enugu, cited the delay by President Muhammadu Buhari in constituting his cabinet, and said the proposed bill will “kill the mischief of discretion” and also save the country from unnecessary cost. “This is a very important bill. What mischief does it intend to cure? It will kill the mischief of discretion. The transition period is a period when a country is vulnerable,” he said. “It is the time for transition, not a time for the body language of anyone. In 2015, we lost about six months due to the fact that our cabinet was formed by the president. It happened again in 2019. “The opportunity cost is huge. The same thing is happening in states.”

Asaba Accord: Reps northern caucus splits, minorities back southern Govs. by Leke Baiyewu,Peter Dada and Godwin Isenyo

A splinter northern caucus has emerged in the House of Representatives. The group is moving to push the interests of minorities in the North, The PUNCH has learnt. The group, which is dominated by lawmakers from the North-Central geopolitical zone, as well as Southern Kaduna and other parts of the North-West, is particularly seeking to challenge the Fulani hegemony, which has allegedly led to marginalisation of minority tribes in the North, as well as the Hausa. Our correspondent gathered that the group is made up of members of the Peoples Democratic Party and other opposition parties. While there are opposition voices from prominent groups and persons from the North, the northern lawmakers hailed the Southern Governors’ Forum over its recent meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital, where it passed a nine-point resolution. On Thursday, the group issued a statement signed by Messrs Amos Gwamna (Kaduna), Solomon Maren (Plateau), Rimande Shawulu (Taraba), Mark Gbillah (Benue), Tajudeen Yusuf (Kogi) and Usman Sokodabo (FCT), backing the southern governors on their recommendations on the affairs of the country. Gbillah later withdrew from the statement. When contacted on Monday, Yusuf also confirmed the move and the reason behind it. The lawmaker said, “We are a minority in the North and have always been oppressed. Let me tell you this: the most oppressed people in the North are the minorities. As of now, we are a minority party. Deep down in the North too, we also want the minority to have a voice. “Majority of us in the PDP are minorities (tribes) from the North. There are a few of us from Zamfara and Sokoto. Even those from Zamfara are Hausa and they are oppressed; they are not Fulani. Zamfara is 99 per cent Fulani. People don’t understand those dynamics.” Another prominent member of the group, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the lawmakers were considering selecting a leader from among themselves, while considering the ranks and experiences of the candidates. Yusuf, who is representing Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency in Kogi, also issued a statement on Monday to back the southern governors. The statement was titled, ‘Lawmaker Applauds Southern Governors for Rising Above Partisanship on Grazing Issue…Urges Northern Governors to Emulate Southern Counterparts…Condemns Over-Dependence on Federal Statutory Allocations.’ The lawmaker said in view of the “extreme cluelessness and bias of the APC Federal Government,” southern governors’ non-partisan objectivity deserved further applause. According to Yusuf, the 19 northern governors to take a similarly bold, pro-people stance. Meanwhile, a group, Oodua Youth Coalition, on Monday said it was in support of the resolutions taken by the southern governors in Asaba, Delta State, on the state of the country. This was contained in a statement issued by the group’s President, Oluyi Akintade, and Secretary, Ajogbonlo Oluwagbenga. “However, while waiting for these governors to stay true to their demands and see to its logical conclusion, we, at Oodua Youth Coalition, demand that the South-West governors implement these suggestions and positions in their respective states for equity and fairness,” the group added. FG must stop foreign herders from Nigeria – ACF In a related development, a pan-Northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, has reiterated its support for the ban slammed on open grazing by southern governors. The National Chairman of the ACF and former Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe, in a statement, said his group would not object to decisions taken in the best interest of Nigerians. But he argued that mere banning must not be the case. Ogbe said the Nigerian government should review Article 3 of the ECOWAS protocol, especially as regards the free movement of cattle and other livestock into the country without restriction. According to him, most of the violent herders are from neighbouring countries, adding that the “ Federal Government must stop them.” The former minister urged the Northern governors to emulate the southern governors in favour of the development of ranches across their states. PUNCH.

US court dismisses Olukoya’s suit against UK-based blogger by Friday Oloko

The United States District Court, Northern District of California, has dismissed the N500m damages registered in the United Kingdom on behalf of the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (Worldwide), Dr Daniel Olukoya, and the church against a UK-based blogger, Maureen Badejo. The court also declined personal jurisdiction over the defendants and denied plaintiffs’ motion for default judgment. Badejo was said to have published a libellous publications against Olukoya and MFM for which Justice Abiodun Akinyemi of an Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta, awarded a N500,000m damages. But the US Court District Judge 1, Haywood Gilliam Jr., in his judgment obtained on Monday, denied the motion for default judgment and dismissed the case “for lack of personal jurisdiction.” The document was titled, ‘Defendants. Case No. 20-cv-08001-HSG Order denying motion for default judgment and dismissing case’ “The case is dismissed. The Clerk is directed to terminate the case. It is so ordered,” Gilliam, said. He added, “For the following reasons, the court denies the motion for default judgment and dismisses the case for lack of personal jurisdiction. “Plaintiffs allege only that Ms Badejo is a Nigerian-born blogger who resides in the United Kingdom; that she operates an online news site, Defendant Gio TV, with an emphasis on Nigeria; and that this online news site is accessible on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. “The allegations are insufficient to establish general personal jurisdiction over defendants. Plaintiffs argue that the court has specific personal jurisdiction over defendants because the defendants’ minimum contacts with California satisfy the Ninth Circuit’s three-prong test. “This is a state law defamation case against defendant Maureen Badejo, a foreign national who appears to be a Nigerian citizen and resides in the United Kingdom. Plaintiffs filed a motion for entry of default on February 3, 2021, and entry of default was noticed by the Clerk on February 4, 2021. Dkt. Nos. 16, 17. “At the initial case management conference on February 16, 2021, the court expressed to plaintiffs’ counsel concern that the court lacked subject matter and personal jurisdiction over this matter. “Counsel responded that he would consult with his clients to either file a notice of dismissal or a motion for default judgment that set out the basis for the court to exercise jurisdiction.” The judge said in determining whether the exercise of personal jurisdiction over a non-resident defendant was proper, a district court must apply the law of the state in which it was sitting when there was no applicable federal statute governing personal jurisdiction. “District courts in California may exercise personal jurisdiction over a non-resident defendant to the extent permitted by the due process clause of the constitution,” he added. According to him, unless plaintiffs establish all three of the Calder elements, “their purposeful-direction showing fails. “The Court finds that the plaintiffs’ allegations are sufficient to satisfy the first element of the Calder effects test. “Plaintiffs allege that Ms. Badejo posted defamatory posts on Gio TV over Facebook, YouTube, and Snap Chat. This constitutes an intentional act. However, the court finds that plaintiffs have not established that defendants’ conduct meets the second element of the Calder effects test. “This analysis can be difficult when applied to material freely available on the internet. Notably absent is any allegation of conduct by Ms Badejo that has anything to do with California. “None of the allegedly defamatory statements quoted by plaintiffs in the complaint make any mention of California or show any attempt by Ms Badejo to directly target California. “Despite the lack of explicit connection between Ms Badejo’s statements and the forum state, plaintiffs argue that Ms Badejo expressly aimed her conduct at California because she made statements about the Maryland state court litigation. “Plaintiffs’ argument seems to be that because the Oakland branch of Mr Olukoya’s religious organisation was responsible for importing books into the United States, statements made by Ms. Badejo about the Maryland litigation, which involved allegations of tax fraud arising from that importation, constitute conduct deliberately targeting the Oakland branch.” PUNCH.