FG Declares Amotekun Illegal [SUN]
The Federal Government has declared the paramilitary security outfit “Amotekun” in the South West region as illegal and unconstitutional.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami who made the declaration said the constitution has established the Army, Navy, Airforce, the Police and other paramilitary outfits for the purpose of defence of the country.
This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Public Relations to the AGF, Dr. Umar Gwandu, yesterday.
The statement read: “The Republic of Nigeria is a sovereign entity and is governed by laws meant to sustain its corporate existence as a constitutional democracy. It is a Federation of states, but with the Federal Government superintending over matters of national interests. The division of executive and legislative authority between the Federal and State Governments has been clearly defined by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
“It is against the same background that matters relating to the peace, order and good government of the Federation and in particular, the defence of the country, are enshrined in the Exclusive Legislative List. The Second Schedule in Item 17 deals with defence. This is a matter that is within the exclusive operational competence of the Federal of Government of Nigeria. No other authority at the state level, whether the executive or legislature has the legal authority over defence.
Mbaka Wins As Supreme Court Sacks Ihedioha, Declares Uzodinma Imo Gov [SUN]
The Supreme Court, yesterday, affirmed the controversial New Year prophecy of Catholic priest and Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN), Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka that Imo Governor, Chief Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would lose his seat.
The apex court, in a unanimous judgment by seven justices, declared Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as winner of the March 9, 2019 governorship election.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun who delivered the judgment ordered that the Certificate of Return issued to Ihedioha by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) be withdrawn.
The judge also ordered that a fresh certificate of return be issued to Senator Uzodinma should be immediately sworn-in as validly elected governor of Imo.
A contrary judgement would have dealt a deadly blow on the fiery priest and his ministry as he had received knocks even from the clergy because of the prophecy. While some called him a “political priest” others called for his prosecution for contempt of court.
Fr. Mbaka while addressing a large congregation at the crossover night at the Adoration Ground in Enugu, said he did not know how the power change in Imo was going to happen, but that Hope Uzodinma would become governor.
The priest, who in 2015 had rightly prophesied the defeat of then president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan by Muhammadu Buhari had boasted that “no prophecy has ever been declared on this prayer ground without coming to pass.”
Doctors Fume As Mob Strip Female Colleague Naked At Abuja Hospital [SUN]
Medical doctors under the umbrella of the Commonwealth Medical Association (CMA) said it would no longer accept physical or verbal assault on medical doctors by patients for whatever reason.
Their position followed a report of recent physical assault on a female medical doctor (name withheld) at the Maitama District Hospital, Abuja, by relatives of a patient who passed on while under the care of the hospital.
CMA President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, in a statement released in Abuja, yesterday, said the attack was one too many.
“This is the second case of assault of medical doctors in the same Maitama District hospital and indeed, a total of six assaulted health workers comprising four medical doctors and two nurses, across FCT hospitals within the last six months.
“It’s particularly annoying that the latest incident took place in the presence of security personnel attached to the hospital. It involved not only the senseless beating up of the medical doctor but also the stripping off of her clothes within the hospital’s premises while she was on duty.”
He said the assault greatly impinges on the autonomy of physicians, as the violent propensity of the patient’s relatives was said to had resulted from the relatives’ disagreement with the physician’s clinical decision not to transfuse the late patient said to have had a severe cardiac condition.
PDP, Obi Shocked, Buhari, APC, Senate President Hail Verdict [SUN]
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed surprised at the judgment.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, yesterday, the party said the declaration of Uzodimma as the duly elected governor of the state was “yet another very sad commentary on our nation’s democratic order.”
The opposition party said it fould it difficult to understand how Uzodimma, who came fourth with 96,458 votes will suddenly, by the judgment of the Supreme Court, defeat Ihedioha, who scored 276,404 votes.
“In fact, the PDP and indeed, most Nigerians are still at a loss as to understand the basis upon which the Supreme Court arrived at its decision. It is lamentable that the destiny of the people of Imo is being taken from the governor they chose and voted for and handed over to individuals and a political party that do not have their blessing and mandate and which they rejected at the election…
“Indeed, the mournful and despondent ambience that now pervades in Imo is a loud testimony that the judgment did not reflect the expectation of the people of Imo state as expressed at the polls.
“While recognising that the judgment of the Supreme Court is final, the PDP however urges all party stakeholders in the state to remain united and calm, and await further instruction from the national leadership on this very sad development,” PDP stated
But the APC, in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said despite losing some election cases at the same court, it never lost hope in the judiciary.
Electricity Consumers Back Reps Over Suspension Of Planned Tariff Hike [SUN]
…Political interference’ll destroy power sector –Don
Electricity consumers, yesterday, hailed the decision of the House of Representatives Committee on Power directing the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to suspend its planned electricity tariff increase.
In separate interviews with Daily Sun, the consumers urged Reps to take their directive a step further by insisting that no tariff should take effect until all consumers are metered. President of Consumer Advocacy Foundation, Mr. Adeolu Ogunbanjo, said the planned increase was a crime against consumers.
Ogunbanjo, while commending the House of Reps, said the legislators have been against the move by NERC since last year, saying their decision to listen to the yearnings of the citizenry is a demonstration that they have the interest of the masses at heart.
The consumer advocacy boss said it was wrong for NERC to mute the idea of tariff increase without consulting widely with consumers.
‘‘NERC had earlier denied that there was no form of increase. But increase or not, the House of Reps has now directed that it should be suspended forthwith.’’
In his reaction, Chairman of Magodo GRA Phase 1, Gateway Zone Community Development Association (CDA), Mr. Bode Ojomu, lauded the House of Reps for suspending the planned hike.
It, however, urged the legislators to take their action further by ensuring that no form of tariff increase is enforced by NERC until it puts an end to estimation billing.
Constitutional Amendment, PIB Take Priority Ahead Of Reps’ Resumption [LEADERSHIP]
As the National Assembly prepares to resume legislative activities for the year 2020, there is an indication that the House of Representatives will amongst other issues focus on the review of the 1999 constitution (as amended) and the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
Sources close to the leadership of the House revealed that the House would dedicate its attention to the review of the constitution in the New Year, in order to allow ample tie for conclusion of the process.
LEADERSHIP also gathered that speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, will in his opening speech task his colleagues on achieving remarkable progress in the year, particularly as regards the review.
A source privy to an already prepared speech by the speaker, hinted that the House was proud of the 9th Assembly’s achievement in returning the national budget to January -December cycle.
Gbajabiamila in the speech said; “In the interest of our constituents across the 360 federal constituencies in Nigeria, the National Assembly has returned the country to a January – December budget cycle, such economic discipline will increase economic activities, at best afford the executive opportunity to implement the budget containing nationwide for one full financial year, as against the limited implementation scope experienced in the past.”
The speaker added that, “In the year 2020, the House will work on constitutional amendments, Petroleum Industry Bill and increase the oversight activities of the relevant committees of the House.”
Afrexim Bank Commits $1bn To Ajaokuta Steel [LEADERSHIP]
The federal government’s bid to revive the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company has received a boost from the Cairo, Egypt-based African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim Bank), which has agreed to commit about $1 billion into the project.
It is backed by the state-owned development institution, Russian Export Center, to adequately fund the project.
The minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, disclosed in Lagos, yesterday, that the Russian engineering and construction group, Metprom, would undertake the necessary work to bring the steel complex into operation.
To set the stage for the deployment of the funds into the project, the federal government and Russia will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as part of the resuscitation programme of the Ajaokuta Steel Company, which has been moribund for over four decades.
Adegbite said that the ongoing arrangement would spark off a major industrial revolution in Nigeria in the next two years.
The construction of Ajaokuta Steel began in 1979 with assistance from the then Soviet Union, but it never started production and several attempts to revive it by transferring it to private investors failed forcing the government to terminate the concessions.
In an interactive session with the media in Lagos, yesterday, the minister confirmed the MoU would be signed before the end of January.
Adegbite said that the project would create employment for about 10,000 engineers and facilitate the industrial transformation agenda of the government.
South West Plans Legal Action As FG Declares Amotekun Illegal PUNCH]
The Federal Government has declared the South-West security outfit, Operation Amotekun, illegal.
The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), made the government’s position known in a statement on Tuesday by his spokesman, Dr Umar Gwandu.
But The PUNCH gathered that the South-West governors would in the next few days meet and might resort to legal action against the AGF’s pronouncement.
Following serial killings and kidnapping allegedly by the Fulani herdsmen last year, the South-West governors, at a summit convened by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria in June agreed to set up Operation Amotekun.
On Thursday, the governors inaugurated the security outfit, which would comprise the Oodua Peoples Congress, the vigilante groups and local hunters.
The Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, and groups, including the Ohanaeze Ndigbo; the Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, and Southern Kaduna Peoples Union, lauded the governors for setting up the security outfit.
Shagari Respected President’s Office, Always Stepped Out To Smoke – Utomi [PUNCH]
Prof. Pat Utomi has praised the leadership qualities of the late former President Shehu Shagari.
Utomi, who served in the Shagari administration Shagari, described the deceased “as a true nationalist.”
The political economist, who spoke on Monday at the ‘Never Again Conference’ to mark the 50th anniversary of Nigeria’s Civil War, said Shagari was highly disciplined.
He said, “I somehow got lucky, a young fellow coming back from graduate school, thinking he could change the world and then I got identified by the Vice-President (the late Alex Ekwueme) and one day he says to me, ‘President Shagari, yesterday, approved for you to replace Prof Odenigwe’. I said, ‘what does that mean?’ And I ended up in government. From my office at Dodan Barracks. Most of us don’t remember, but President Shagari was a chain smoker, but he never smoked in public and he respected the Office of the President so much that he never smoked inside that office.
“To smoke, President Shagari would come out – to smoke. And I would come out; and Aba Dabu and I would corner him and start chatting him up. And I saw a true nationalist in that man, that history and the newspapers probably will not capture enough.”
Presidency, Minister Differ On Finance Law Implementation [PUNCH]
- FG, bank CEOs to meet
The confusion over the implementation date of the finance law deepened on Tuesday as the Presidency and the Ministry of Finance expressed differing opinions.
The Presidency said the Finance Act which the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), signed into law on Monday had already taken effect and the implementation of its provisions was expected to be immediate.
The Ministry of Finance said that the take-off date for the implementation of the law would be announced in due course.
One of our correspondents also learnt that the Federal Government would meet with chief executive officers of Deposit Money Banks on the modalities for the implementation of the Finance Act.
The Presidency made the clarification amidst reports that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation would need to gazette the law, which heralds a new regime of Value Added Tax of 7.5 per cent, up from five per cent, before it could become effective.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in an interview with our correspondent, said the law had automatically become effective immediately the President signed it.
Shehu said although there were what he called “records and administrative processes” involved, the processes were not preconditions for the law to take effect.
The presidential spokesman said, “The Finance Act, having been signed into law by the President, has taken effect automatically.
“There is no other formal process needed. The law is in effect.