Many of Nigeria’s former leaders, such as President Bola Tinubu, Muhammadu Buhari, Goodluck Jonathan, and Olusegun Obasanjo, came to power by accident, according to Bishop Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Archbishop of the Sokoto Diocese.

Kukah claims that these leaders lacked the necessary skills to meet the ever-changing needs of governance.
He said these things on Sunday while giving the keynote presentation at the 4th Amaka Ndoma-Egba Memorial Lecture in Abuja and the opening of the new Start-Rite School facility.

“You will discover that practically every leader who rose to power in Nigeria did so by accident if you look at their leadership journey,” he remarked.
Kukah claims that the change in leadership is a clear example of this phenomena.

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President Tinubu, for example, who stated that he was ready for the position, is still getting his bearings, he remarked.
“President Tinubu is obviously having difficulties, even though he claims to be ready for the position,” he said. We’re still getting our bearings. Buhari, who had already withdrawn from politics, was replaced by him.

Jonathan, who never saw himself as president but was forced into the position by circumstance, was followed by Buhari. Yar’Adua, who intended to return to teaching following his governorship, was replaced by Jonathan.

“Yar’Adua took over as president after Obasanjo was abruptly released from prison. Prior to that, Abacha, who was set to rule perpetually unless nature stepped in, was replaced by Obasanjo. Abacha came after Shonekan, a businessman who was suddenly called up to head the nation. The cycle is clear, and knowledge and preparedness are the missing pieces in all of this.

Despite adopting democratic ideals such as “one man, one vote,” Kukah contended that Nigeria’s democratic process has consistently fallen short of producing capable leadership. He underlined that having a thorough awareness of the changing landscape and obstacles is essential for contemporary leadership.

Speaking at the ceremony, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), emphasized the need of developing leadership skills at a young age. He said that poor leadership and accountability were to blame for a lot of Nigeria’s problems.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced that the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), or gasoline, has dropped. The former pricing of N990 per liter has been reduced to N970 each. Anthony Chiejina, the refinery’s Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, released the news in a statement on Sunday.

He described the price cut as a thank you to Nigerians for their unwavering support during the refinery’s transition to operational status. “This price reduction as the year comes to an end is a testament to our appreciation for the amazing Nigerian people, who have played a crucial role in making the refinery’s vision a reality,” Chiejina said.

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Additionally, he thanked the Nigerian government for its support, highlighting that the price cut is in line with government initiatives to support local businesses for the benefit of all.
Chiejina informed customers that the refinery is equally focused on environmental sustainability as it is on providing premium petroleum products.
In order to allay any worries about supply shortages, we are committed to raising production levels to not only meet but surpass domestic fuel needs,” he continued. This price change demonstrates Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s continued dedication to bolstering the Nigerian economy and improving public access to fuel.

Additional international schools have been approved by the National Examinations Council (NECO) to administer the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

Azeez Sani, the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations at NECO, made this announcement on Saturday in Abuja.

According to Mr. Sani, the goal of the initiative was to increase the Council’s global reach and horizons.
He claims that Equatorial Guinea and the Niger Republic are home to the recently approved schools.

In order to evaluate these schools’ preparedness for the SSCE and BECE, the NECO Accreditation Team paid them a visit.

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Classrooms, labs, libraries, computer labs, workshops, exam rooms, and sports facilities were among the amenities the crew examined.
“After a thorough evaluation, the schools were granted full SSCE and full BECE accreditation status.

“This accreditation is a testament to NECO’s commitment to providing quality education and assessment beyond Nigeria’s shores.”
According to Sani, NECO is well-positioned to emerge as a preeminent testing organization in Africa, providing chances for students all over the world to take advantage of its experience.

According to Sani, candidates will take part in the current NECO SSCE external test in Diffa, Niger Republic.

In Diffa, Niger Republic, the UNHCR School is the first NECO SSCE external center outside of Nigeria.

As you may remember, candidates from a number of nations, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Benin Republic, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger Republic, and Equatorial Guinea, are presently writing the NECO questions.

Aminu Inuwa, a well-liked Kano politician during the disastrous Third Republic, passed away on Friday at the age of 79.

During the failed Third Republic, Aminu Inuwa gained notoriety by running for governor on the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) ticket.

Despite losing the governorship ticket to Magaji Abdullahi, he ran for and was elected senator for Kano Central.

Aminu Inuwa was born on December 15, 1945, and attended Gidan Makama Primary School before going on to the esteemed Rumfa College in Kano and Barewa College in Zaria.

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After graduating from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria with a degree, he continued his studies at the esteemed Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC, where he earned an MBA in Public Administration, demonstrating his insatiable curiosity.
Before his political exploits, Aminu Inuwa was a respected public servant and businessman. He served as the Chief of Protocol to the Military Administrator of Kano State Col Sani Bello between 1975 and 1978.

He later became the Managing Director of Fiat Nigeria and Nigerian Telecommunications, NITEL, where his ingenuity earned him accolades for revitalising these critical institutions.

He also served on the National Cereals Research Institute’s (NCRI) Bida Governing Council, where he was instrumental in directing policies meant to advance agricultural innovation and research in Nigeria.

The deceased politician also broadened his business and administrative horizons by joining Sure-P as a director and serving as the CEO of Tiga Farms and Kandama Construction.

Family, friends, and fans gathered to pray for his soul’s rest as he was laid to rest at Kano’s Dandolo Cemetery.

Aminu Inuwa’s spouses, kids, and grandkids survive him.

The Senate’s attempt to remove the CCT Chairman was judged to be a basic mistake that stemmed from a faulty interpretation of the constitution. The Senate’s reliance on Section 157 of the Constitution, which relates to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) rather than the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), is at the core of the problem.

According to a thorough fact-check by PRNigeria, the misunderstanding has sparked questions about the Senate’s understanding of the functional and legal differences between the two chambers. In addition, the Senate’s activities have come under fire for compromising constitutional integrity and distorting the functions of appointees.

The Nigerian Senate, led by Senator Godswill Akpabio, recently passed a resolution to remove the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Danladi Umar, claiming reliance on Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The motion, titled “Invocation of the Provision of Section 157(1) for the Removal of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal,” was sponsored by Senate Leader Senator Bamidele Opeyemi (APC-Ekiti).

In addition to pointing out that President Bola Tinubu had sent Mr. Abdullahi Usman Bello’s name to the Senate for confirmation as the new CCT Chairman, Senator Opeyemi accused Mr. Umar of a number of corruption and misbehavior charges. Bello’s appointment was confirmed by the Senate on July 4, 2024, ostensibly requiring Umar’s dismissal.

Chief Whip Mohammed Tahir Monguno revealed that the resolution received support from 72 senators at plenary and 10 more during committee sessions, exceeding the two-thirds majority needed for such acts in the Senate’s 109 members.

Constitutional Misunderstanding

But a closer look at the Constitution shows that the Senate’s interpretation and actions have serious faults. Only certain executive agencies, such as the Federal Civil Service Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission, and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), are covered by Section 157(1) of the Constitution. The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), a court, is expressly exempt from it.

The Fifth Schedule to the Constitution’s Paragraph 17(3), which reads as follows: “A person holding the office of Chairman or member of the Code of Conduct Tribunal shall not be removed from his office or appointment by the President except upon an address supported by a two-thirds majority of each House of the National Assembly.” This clause instead governs the removal of the CCT Chairman.
PRNigeria reports that this provision requires a two-thirds majority from both the Senate and the House of Representatives, clearly distinguishing the CCT’s governance from that of the CCB.

Appointment Confusion
The Senate also made a mistake by recommending that Mr. Abdullahi Usman Bello take Mr. Danladi Umar’s place as CCT Chairman, according to PRNigeria Factcheck. Bello’s credentials as a forensic accountant led to his appointment as Chairman of the CCB rather than the CCT. Bello does not meet the Constitution’s requirement that the CCT Chairman be eligible to serve as a judge of a superior court of record.

Claims of Corruption and Their Resolution

Similarly, in letters dated March 5, 2015, and April 20, 2016, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) exonerated Mr. Umar of bribery charges, despite assertions of unresolved corruption allegations. Former EFCC chairmen Ibrahim Lamorde and Ibrahim Magu oversaw the issuance of the approvals.
In 2018, the Attorney-General of the Federation further criticized the EFCC for attempting to revive charges against Mr. Umar without justification.

Senate Investigation Misstep

The 9th Senate’s investigation into Mr. Umar stemmed from an alleged assault at Banex Plaza, not corruption allegations. According to Senator Patrick Ayo Akinyelure, the then Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, the investigation involved a complaint filed by a security guard, Clement Sargwak.

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Legal Expert Reactions

Prominent legal practitioners have criticized the Senate’s actions. Prof. Yemi Akinseye George, SAN, and Dr. Wahab Shittu, SAN, called the resolution unconstitutional, emphasizing that the Senate lacks authority to remove a judicial officer like the CCT Chairman. They urged the Attorney-General of the Federation to address the anomaly and advise the President accordingly.

Speaking to PRNigeria, legal expert Yunus AbdulSalam, SAN, described the Senate’s actions as deeply troubling: “The misinterpretation of Section 157(2) by lawmakers reflects poorly on our constitutional democracy. This lack of diligence and scrutiny in legislative activities is alarming. The purported removal of the CCT Chairman violates the Constitution’s spirit and intent, raising serious concerns about the damage such impudence inflicts on our democratic processes.”

Findings and Conclusion

The Senate’s reliance on Section 157 of the Constitution to justify the removal of the CCT Chairman is a fundamental error. Section 157 applies to the CCB, not the CCT. Furthermore, the Senate failed to recognize the legal and functional distinctions between the two bodies and misrepresented the roles of appointees.

PRNigeria concludes that the Senate’s actions, led by Senate Leader Bamidele Opeyemi, are based on a flawed understanding of constitutional provisions. These errors highlight a worrying lack of legal comprehension and due diligence within the legislative process.

The Senate’s actions undermine constitutional integrity and damage public confidence in governmental oversight. Legislative bodies must adhere strictly to the Constitution, ensuring that their decisions align with the principles of the rule of law and good governance.

Justice Umar has presided over several high-profile cases involving national assembly leadership, governors, top judicial officers, and other public officials. They included the then-opposition leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Senate President Bukola Saraki and Chief Justice of the Federation, Walter Onnoghen.