Former Spokesman to former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Daniel Bwala has cautioned those planning to stage protests over prevailing economic hardship that it may not end peacefully in the long run.
Bwala who is perfecting a defection move to the ruling All Progressives Congress, said just like what transpired in Kenya, the government in power will continue to run while the people will end up being the victims of the mass protest.
“For those who are planning to go and protest. The issue with the protests is that everybody has the right, you know, to show his dissent right, to protest is constitutional.
“But if you look at the situation that we are facing today, and you look at the talking point, even in social media, you will understand that this protest is not built to end in peace. If you go to a protest that turns violent, you are likely to find that the people who claim to be fighting for you end up destroying and looting shops, and burning government infrastructure. At the end of the day, we will be taken aback and the government will start all over again.
“If you look at Kenya that is what is happening. Government will continue to run but then we have gone backwards because our people will continue to be in hunger and deprivation, I’m glad that the President is making all the effort to meet with the needs of the Nigerian people,” he stated on Wednesday.
Planned protest may not end in peace – Bwala warns
Planned protest may not end in peace – Bwala warns
Abacha family drags FG to A’Court over revoked property
The family of the late military head of state, General Sani Abacha, on Tuesday approached the Court of Appeal, Abuja division, to void and set aside Justice Peter Lifu’s judgment dismissing a property suit the family brought before the lower court.
Justice Lifu dismissed the suit the family instituted against the Federal Government on Monday, July 22, 2024, challenging the propriety of revocation of the property of the former Military head of state.
In the judgment, Lifu predicated the dismissal on various grounds, among which were that the suit had become statute-barred when it was filed in 2015 and that those who initiated the case had no locus standi (legal power) to do so.
Abacha’s wife, Mariam Abacha, and son, Mohammed Abacha, dissatisfied with this judgment, approached the Appeal Court claiming that the federal government revoked their ownership of the property and sold it to a private company, Salamed Ventures Limited, without their knowledge or compensation.
The family, in the appeal, sued the President, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and two others for alleged unlawful revocation of the property located in the Maitama district in Abuja at the
The notice of appeal filed by Reuben Atabo (SAN) on behalf of the appellants (Mariam and son), predicated on 11 grounds and two major reliefs, prayed the Appeal Court to invoke section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act to take over the legal battle as a court of first instance and do justice to the matter.
The respondents in the appeal are the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Federal Capital Development Authority, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Salamed Ventures Limited.
The appellants in their notice of appeal against the judgment of the high court, contended that Justice Lifu erred in law in his findings and conclusions in their case on the property.
According to them, Mohammed Abacha, the 1st appellant disclosed his status as the eldest surviving son of the late General Sani Abacha while the 2nd appellant, Mariam Abacha also disclosed her capacity in the suit as the widow of the late General Sani Abacha.
They claimed that they have the locus standi to institute the action either with or without Letters of Administration to the property of the former head of state.
Among other things, they stated that Justice Lifu erred in law when he held that their claims at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in suit No: FCT/HC/CV/317/2006 and that of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/A/197/2010 were dismissed, whereas they were struck out for lack of jurisdiction.
The appellants said that the Judge also erred in law when he relied on Section 39 of the Land Use Act to hold that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction under the Land Use Act to recover land, contrary to the decision of the Court of Appeal, which held that the proper Court to handle such a case is the Federal High Court.
Other grounds are that Justice Lifu erred in law when the ‘suo motu’ held that they had no locus standing to file the suit on behalf of the Estate of the late General Abacha and decided the case without calling on parties to address the Court, contrary to the principles of fair hearing as enshrined in Section 36 of the 1999.
They argued that the Judge erred in law when he held that their case was statute-barred at the expense of the exceptions to the applicability of the Public Officers Protection Act.
According to them, the originating summons leading to this instant appeal was filed at the Federal High Court on May 25, 2015, after the Court of Appeal decision of May 18, 2015, adding that the judge failed to disclose in his judgment where their cause of action lapsed.
They also faulted the Judge for erring in law when he recognised Salamed Ventures Limited as 4th respondent who derived title to their property in dispute during the pendency of their case between the FCT Minister and the Federal Capital Development Administration.
“The Certificate of Occupancy upon which the 4th Respondent claims the title was issued to it by the 1st – 3rd Respondents on the 25th day of May 2011 during the pendency of Appellants’ appeal to the Court of Appeal with appeal No: CA/A/197/2010.
“By Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution, judicial powers are vested in our Courts, and it is the duty of Courts to determine disputes between individuals and government or government agencies. Where a party to a proceeding transfers title to the property in a dispute, such attitude is an affront to the authority of our Courts, and the same will not be condoned.
“The trial Judge of the lower court erred in Law when he held that the revocation of the Appellants title to plot 3119 Maitama, Abuja, was valid even when the purported revocation was not carried out in accordance with Section 28 of the Land.
“The learned trial judge erred in Law when he held that the Appellants’ action is not for the recovery of land and payment of compensation contrary to the endorsement of the Appellant’s claim before the Court.
“The Appellant’s action questioned the validity of the 1st – 3rd Respondent’s action to revoke the title to plot 3119 Maitama, Abuja, under a non-existent law and without payment of compensation.
“The learned trial Judge of the lower court erred in Law when he awarded a cost of N500,000.00 in favour of the 4th Respondent, who is neither a proper party nor necessary party before the Court.”
Delta: Tinubu didn’t cause hunger in Nigeria – APC Chieftain, Emami
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Delta State, Ayirimi Emami has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not cause the hunger ravaging the nation and its citizens.
Emami made the claims in a chat with newsmen during the Ologbotsere Day Celebration held in Ubeji, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The politician who agreed that people are suffering all over the country said hunger is part of the problems the president inherited when he took over the reins of power.
He stressed that hunger in the land is the result of the “wrong foundation” President Tinubu inherited in his government which he is struggling with.
While noting that protest is ideal in any democracy as Nigeria, Emami said the manner the organisers of the planned nationwide protest against hunger are going about it, is not ideal.
He advised them to be cautious in their actions and be peaceful with their planned protests.
He said, “Hunger is not caused by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is a problem he inherited.”
”They have to be cautious in their actions and be peaceful with their planned protests, anything contrary to that, makes your planned protest become stupid.”
He added that they should not allow anyone to hijack their protest pointing out that the president is working out modalities to tackle hunger headlong as well as ensure that the citizens have/get better welfare and live in satisfaction.
Delta: Tinubu didn’t cause hunger in Nigeria – APC Chieftain, Emami
Borno indigenes protest, seek Ndume’s reinstatement as Chief Whip
Indigenes of Borno State in their numbers on Wednesday stormed the Unity Fountain, Abuja protesting against the removal of Senator Ali Ndume (APC Borno South) as Senate Chief Whip by the Senate.
The aggrieved protesters carried placards with various inscriptions like, “We reject removal of Senator Ndume as Whip of the Senate; “Ndume’s utterances are for the good of the country; “Senate should correct injustice meted to Senator Ndume” amongst others.
The Senate had last week Tuesday on the strength of a request from the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress through a jointly signed letter by the National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, removed Ndume as Whip and replaced him with Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC Borno North).
Expressing their displeasure over the Senate’s action, the Borno group under the aegis of the Southern Borno Development Association led by one Muhammad Biu, said the injustice meted out to Ndume must be redress.
The leader of the group in a letter titled: “Appeal over the removal of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume as Senate Whip for expressing views on burning National Issues,” read to journalists, called for reversal of the decision.
The letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, reads in part, “On behalf of the good people of Southern Borno Senatorial District of Borno State, we humbly wish to appeal to the Distinguished Senate under your able leadership to passionately reconsider the APC Senate Caucus decision that removed Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume as the Senate Chief Whip and also Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation based on the letter written to the Senate by the National Chairman of All Progressive Congress.
“We wish to state with the deepest sense of responsibility that Senator Ndume’s comments on the food insecurity issue appear to have been misunderstood as they were not intended to disparage the administration of President Bola Tinubu. On the contrary, it should be understood in the context of our collective effort to find solutions to our current food insecurity which the Government is fully aware.”
It added, “It is a well-known fact that Nigeria is currently facing a severe food crisis, with widespread hunger threatening the well-being of Nigerians. Senator Ndume, driven by a sense of responsibility and patriotism only called the attention of government to these pressing issues, hoping that prompt and effective action would be taken to address them.
“It is also on record that other prominent APC Senators had expressed similar views on the floor of the Senate and equally called on President Tinubu to take urgent measures to avert the seeming imminent food crisis.
“It is also on record that Sen Ndume is a dedicated APC member who laboured tirelessly from its formative stage to its present position and has never done anything that undermined the success of the party or its leadership, but rather offered constructive advice on good governance for the wellbeing of Nigerians.”
The letter further noted, “The Senate could have done better by deploying its internal democratic mechanism of resolving issues affecting its members. We pray that the Senate will not throw away the bath water with the baby over an issue that could amicably be resolved.
“In light of these facts and the need to give our Senatorial District its due position in the leadership of the Senate, we humbly appeal to the Senate to reconsider its position on the measures taken against Senator Ndume in the interest of fairness, justice, and equity and reinstate him accordingly.
“Additionally, we urge President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR, the leader of our great party, a true democrat who upholds the tenets of democracy to passionately intervene.”
Morocco beat Argentina in dramatic Olympics match which lasted 4hrs
Morocco defeated Argentina 2-1 in a dramatic men’s football match which took four hours to reach conclusion at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The clash, a Group B opener, took place at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Wednesday from 2:00p.m local time and after a crowd trouble the game was resumed to finally end around 6:00p.m.
Fans appeared to throw missiles at players after Argentina’s leveller in 16th minute of injury time makes it 2-2, leaving Morocco flabbergasted.
Read Also: ‘Team Nigeria must surpass 1996 Olympics performance’
Players were then taken away from the field before the equaliser was ruled out by VAR almost two hours later as play resumed for final three minutes in empty stadium.
Cristian Medina’s late equaliser was ruled out as VAR showed the Argentina player was offside.
It was the late goal which sparked an angry reaction from some Morocco supporters, who threw bottles and flares onto the field with others invading the pitch.
With the eventual win, Morocco sit top of Group B, with Iraq and Ukraine – the other two nations in the pool – just under way in their match in Lyon.
The post Morocco beat Argentina in dramatic Olympics match which lasted 4hrs appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
Governors will develop region with South East Development Commission – Ohanaeze
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Wednesday, said Southeast governors will use the Southeast Development Commission, SEDC, to develop the region.
The SEDC bill which was co-sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, comprises Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States.
The SEDC is expected to manage funds allocated from the Federation Account for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, and other infrastructural deficits suffered by the Southeast region due to age-long neglect.
The SEDC will also tackle ecological problems and related environmental challenges that have devastated the Southeast for decades.
However, a statement by Ohanaeze’s National Publicity Secretary, Alex Ogbonnia, reads partly: “Furthermore, the South East governors led by the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, will leverage the opportunity created by the Commission to anchor programmes that will fully harness and promote the industrial, agricultural, tourism, energy, commercial and investment potentials in the zone. It will also help to create the much-desired centrally coordinated security architecture in the zone; and more.
“A few days ago, the Minister of Works, Senator David Nweze Umahi, in Abakaliki, announced plans by the Federal Government to construct a 477 kilometre – six-lane Super Highway, traversing five states to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
According to the minister, the super highway will, among others, pass through Abakiliki, Enugu, and Nsukka, leading to Abuja.
“The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Chief Engr. Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, MFR; OFR; CFR; FNICE; FNSE; FNIST; KSG (Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo) is highly elated and sends a warm gratitude to Mr. President over these developments.
“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has maintained that the cause of backpedalling by Nigeria is the Igbophobia-a pathological fear of the Igbo in a country they have sacrificed so much to uphold. As it stands, President Bola Tinubu has shown a major departure from the Buhari regime by signing the SEDC Bill into Law; appointing Sen. Dave Nweze Umahi, a brilliant and prudent engineer as the federal minister for Works, and Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla as the Chief of the Naval Staff.
“This is a quantum leap and a new beginning. An Awka man asked the wife, “ineme elee omanaese”?”
Governors will develop region with South East Development Commission – Ohanaeze
Give us more time, FG begs Nigerians
The Federal Government has assured that the issues prompting the proposed nationwide protest will be resolved to ensure peace and stability in the country.
Some groups and individuals had been mobilising for nationwide protests scheduled for August 1 in response to the economic hardship in the country.
In response to the proposed protest, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume on Wednesday held a closed-door meeting with ministers.
Speaking after the meeting, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said no one would go to sleep among them until the issues were resolved.
He said, “We have discussed issues of national interest and all of us are working for Nigeria and we hope and believe that Nigeria is going to be great again.
“The planned protest is a family matter. All issues will be resolved in a way to ensures the peace and stability of the country. No one is going to sleep. Those who are agitating and asking for protests are Nigerians, they are our brothers, they are our sisters, they are all Nigerians and those in positions of authority; the ministers, the President, everybody, we are all Nigerians too. So, this is a family matter. This is a Nigerian family issue and all of us are looking at this issue very well and we hope that peace will prevail at the end of the day.”
Idris said the government had been engaging with stakeholders and other organisers of the proposed nationwide protest.
He said, “This is not a peculiar situation. Engagement has been ongoing. The President has met severally with all key stakeholders. I have also been meeting with stakeholders, other government functionaries have also been meeting with other key stakeholders.”
Reacting to reports by top Nigerians, including constitutional lawyer and human rights activist Femi Falana, SAN, that the protests must hold, Idris said the senior lawyer was entitled to his opinion in a democracy.
“He (Falana) is an individual. This is a democracy, everyone is entitled to his opinion. The protesters are also Nigerians, this is a democratic situation. What I keep saying is that we are all Nigerians and we are all acting in the interest of Nigeria, but suffice to say that yesterday, Mr President said there is no need for any protest, let us calm down.
“A lot is happening, Nigeria is going to move and march on and we believe that whatever government comes out with will be in the interest of Nigeria. We don’t think that there is a need for any protest, we are appealing for calm; we are appealing for a peaceful resolution or peaceful approach to any issue.
“If you have anything that you want to put out there, you are free to put it out there, but the government is insisting that we are all Nigerians, we have to be calm, we have to be patient, and suffice it to say that let us give peace a chance. Mr President is working round the clock, his ministers are working, everyone is working, all hands are on deck.”
Idris said the President’s message to all citizens was to calm down and give him more time.
He said, “Like I said yesterday, everyone is listening; we are all listening, the President is listening and he has a message for all Nigerians, that message is that they should all calm down, they should please give the man more time. Everything they asked for, all their pleas will be answered,” Idris said.
Reps grill Keyamo over infrastructure decay at airports
The House Committee on Aviation on Wednesday quizzed the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, over the decay of infrastructures at the nation’s airports.
The chairman of the committee, Abdullah Garba, grilled the minister during a meeting with officials of the ministry in Abuja.
He said the state of infrastructures at the local and international airports was worrisome and needed an urgent government intervention.
The lawmaker stressed that the safety of personnel and stakeholders at the nation’s airports were important.
He added that the major assignment of the committee was to identify the equipment and other items needed to revitalise the aviation sector.
On his part, Keyamo said that the level of infrastructural decay at the nation’s airports was a serious issue of concern to the ministry.
He, however, assured the committee that the ministry was compiling a list of equipment for safety in the nation’s airports.
On the award of contracts by the ministry, he informed the committee that most of the contracts awarded by the ministry are still ongoing projects.
The chairman and other invited stakeholders later moved into an executive session to address the issues of concern to the lawmakers.
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Ex-Gov Matawalle mourns his late Director General, Protocol, Kabiru Yusuf
The immediate past governor of Zamfara State, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle has sent a condolence to the family of his former Director-General in charge of protocol, Kabiru Yusuf, who died on Monday after a brief illness.
Matawalle sent his condolences through a delegation led by the State’s chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Tukur Umar Danfulani.
He described the deceased, who was his DG Protocol as a humble gentleman who carried out his duties with diligence, passion, and trust.
The former Governor expressed shock over the news of the passing of the former protocol officer who died as a Permanent Secretary at the State Ministry of Youths and Sports.
According to him, the late Kabiru Yusuf will be missed and remembered for his good contributions in training all those he came across and also who lived a pious life guided by Islamic teachings which shaped his environment.
He prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased in Jannaatu Firdausi and the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Ex-Gov Matawalle mourns his late Director General, Protocol, Kabiru Yusuf
Gunman flew drone over Trump rally area before shooting, says FBI chief
The 20-year-old gunman who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump at a campaign rally flew a drone over the area about two hours before the former US president began to speak, the FBI director said Wednesday.
FBI chief Christopher Wray, testifying before a congressional committee, also said the investigation into the July 13 shooting had not yet revealed a motive for the gunman.
Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on Trump with an AR-style assault rifle shortly after 6:00 pm as the Republican White House candidate was addressing a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Crooks, who was perched on the roof of a nearby building, was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper less than 30 seconds after firing his first shots.
Trump was wounded in the ear, two rally attendees were seriously injured and a 50-year-old Pennsylvania firefighter was shot dead.
US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on Tuesday, a day after acknowledging that the agency had failed in its mission to prevent the assassination attempt.
Wray said Crooks flew a drone over the rally area for around 11 minutes — between around 3:50 pm and 4:00 pm — on the day of the shooting some 200 yards (meters) away from the stage where Trump was scheduled to speak.
The drone and its controller were recovered in the gunman’s car.
Two “relatively crude” explosive devices were also found in the car along with another at the gunman’s residence, Wray said.
The FBI director said the devices had the ability to be detonated remotely and the gunman had a transmitter with him when he was shot.
“It looks like, because of the on-off position on the receivers, that that if he had tried to detonate those devices from the roof, it would not have worked,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean the explosives weren’t dangerous.”
Asked how many shots Crooks fired, Wray said eight cartridges had been recovered on the roof.
– No clear motive –
Wray told members of the House Judiciary Committee that investigators “do not yet have a clear picture of his motive.”
“We’re not seeing that yet, but we are digging hard, because this is one of the central questions for us,” the FBI chief said.
He said the gunman “appears to have done a lot of searches of public figures, in general” but “there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of rhyme or reason to it so far.”
“Sarting somewhere around July 6 or so, he became very focused on former president Trump and this rally,” Wray said.
“On July 6, he did a Google search for quote, ‘How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?’” he said, a reference to the 1963 assassination of president John F. Kennedy by Lee Harvey Oswald.
There is no evidence at this time that Crooks had any accomplices or co-conspirators, the FBI chief said.
AFP