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Kano Emirate tussle: Federal, Industrial courts lack jurisdiction on chieftaincy matters – Falana

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Human Rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, on Tuesday, said the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court have no jurisdiction to determine chieftaincy matters.

Falana, in a statement he personally signed, which was obtained by our correspondent in Abuja, accused both courts of separately conferring, “jurisdiction on themselves to determine chieftaincy matters.”

Falana described both decisions as, “highly erroneous” as they cannot be justified under sections 251 and 254(C) of the Constitution. Adding that both courts conveniently overruled the judgments of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal on the subject matter.

He said, “The intervention of the Federal High Court in the dispute arising from the deposition of Emir Ado Bayero & Co. as well as the restoration of Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is a brazen repudiation of the decision of the Supreme Court in the celebrated case of Tukur v Government of Gongola State (1987) 4 NWLR (117) 517 where it was held that “The question raised in this claim is not a fundamental right question.

“As in the first prayer, the right to be Emir is not guaranteed by the Fundamental Rights provisions of the Constitution and the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction whatever in the matter. The Court of Appeal was, therefore, not in error of law to hold that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction to grant the two reliefs.

“Since the apex court has said that the right to be an Emir is not a fundamental right under chapter four of the Constitution, the Federal High Court sitting in Kano ought to have declined jurisdiction to continue to entertain the dispute over the chieftaincy matter in Kano. In any case, the allegation of infringement of the fundamental rights of the Applicants is an ancillary claim to the substantive reliefs emanating from the deposition and reinstatement of the embattled emirs.”

In FCMB Plc v Nyama (2014) LPELR-23973 AT 19-20, the Court of Appeal held that: “Now it is settled that where an application is made under the fundamental Right (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, a condition precedent to the exercise of the court’s jurisdiction is that the enforcement of fundamental rights of the securing of enforcement thereof should be the main claim and not the accessory claim. Where the main or principal claim is not the enforcement of fundament right, the jurisdiction of the court cannot be properly exercised under Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules.”

A Federal High Court in Kano last week ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear the human rights violation case filed by the dethroned Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, and senior councillor, Aminu Dan’agundi, following the reinstatement of Emir Muhammad Sanusi II.

The court issued an ex-parte order preventing Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano from reinstating Sanusi until a substantive suit against the reinstatement is resolved.

The order also opposed the abolishment of four emirates—Bichi, Gaya, Karaye, and Rano—under a bill previously passed by the state House of Assembly.

Ending his submission, Falana said, “I submit, with profound respect, that section 254(C)(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended has not conferred jurisdiction on the National Industrial Court to hear and determine chieftaincy matters.

“However, a traditional ruler who was deposed by a state governor without fair hearing is not without a legal redress.”

 

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Politics

Governor UZODINMA has offered yet again free transportation buses from Lagos to *Owerri, Okigwe* and *Orlu* . The buses are free for Imolites from Lagos to Imo State on *24th December* and back to Lagos on *4th January* .

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December 22, 2024

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Press release

We are not fraudsters, evacuation of Imo residents in Lagos will go on – ISTDAL

Our attention had been drawn to a report where the Office of the Chief Press Secretary to the Imo State Government impersonated by unknown persons to issue a statement about a well intentioned gesture of the Governor to evacuate interested Imo indigenes resident in Lagos who wish to be home for the Christmas and New year celebrations.

In his magnanimity, Governor Uzodimma gave approval for the exercise to be carried out on December 24, 2024 for those returning from Lagos and those who would be returning to Lagos on January 5, 2025.

Unfortunately, unknown persons mischievously issued a Statement where
the name and designation of the Chief Press Secretary were impersonated as the author.

Based on that the Chief Press Secretary raised a strong statement where he called those behind the criminal and mischievous statement fraudsters, believing we were the ones behind it.

While we regret the criminal intentions of those behind the impersonation of the Office of the Governor’s spokesperson, we make bold to dissociate members of our association who are part of the evaluation exercise as fraudsters.

If anything, members of our association work in tandem with the Governor and his government for the wellbeing of our people for which this exercise is one of them.

Like the Governor, we mean well for our people resident in Lagos or any other part of the country and will not be part of moves to undermine the good intentions of His Excellency.

We put up this statement after conferring with the Chief Press Secretary and availing him with the facts regarding the exercise, and do hope that those who have already indicated interest in travelling through the channels we had earlier announced, and intending ones, should feel free to avail themselves of the opportunity.

Please, refer to our earlier announcement where the Office of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor was not impersonated.

*Breaking news!! Breaking news!!!.*
*To all Imolites resident in Lagos.*

The Imo State Governor *Distinguished Sen. Hope Uzodimna (OON)* in line with 3Rs of His Excellency’s administration and in alleviating the stress, difficulties and hardship Imolites go through during Christmas journey, Governor UZODINMA has offered yet again free transportation buses from Lagos to *Owerri, Okigwe* and *Orlu* .

The buses are free for Imolites from Lagos to Imo State on *24th December* and back to Lagos on *4th January* .

Interested persons should please call *(ISTDAL)* *08033255565, 08092362966* or *07089303866* for seats reservation.

Please the buses are free and is on first come accreditation bases, once the seats are fully booked the registration closes, ( *_PLS DO NOT PAY ANYBODY ONE KOBO_)*

Please the buses are *NOT LUXURIES BUSES* , so only passengers with a small sizable bags will be allowed. (no big boxes or load is allowed)

The buses will leave on Tuesday 24th December at exactly *7.15am* to Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu.

The departure point will be made available after your registration, *(if you are not captured on accreditation, pls don’t bother coming as only accreditated passengers are allowed)* and please indicate your direction.

Call *Chima Davis* on the above numbers as soon as possible for accreditation ahead of time, you *must prove* you are from Imo State.

Note: the bus will not stop or drop any passenger until it passes Ihiala unto Imo State.

Thanks and best regards

*_C@davis 21.12.24_*

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Politics

FG Sets Aside ₦27bn For Obasanjo, Gowon, Buhari, Others In 2025

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13 hours ago

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December 22, 2024

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The Federal Government has allocated ₦27 billion for the entitlements of former presidents, vice presidents, heads of state, chiefs of staff, retired heads of service, and professors in the 2025 fiscal year.

The beneficiaries of this allocation include former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari, alongside ex-vice-presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo, and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. Other notable individuals expected to benefit from this allocation are ex-military Heads of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.) and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), as well as former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, and retired Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe.

It can be recalled that President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday presented the 2025 budget, titled ‘Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity,’ to a joint session of the National Assembly. The ₦49.70 trillion spending plan prioritizes defence, infrastructure, and human capital development, with a projected ₦13.39 trillion deficit to be financed through borrowing.

The Federal Government has allocated ₦1.4 trillion for pensions, gratuities, and retirees’ benefits. This allocation includes ₦2.3 billion for former presidents, heads of state, and vice presidents. Retired heads of service and permanent secretaries will receive ₦10.5 billion, while retired professors in universities will get ₦13.5 billion. Additionally, ₦1 billion has been allocated for retired heads of government agencies and parastatals. The total allocation for these groups amounts to ₦27 billion.

Furthermore, the budget allocates ₦46 billion for civilian pensions under the Office of the Head of Civil Service, while ₦383.9 billion is earmarked for military pensions and gratuities. An additional ₦66.8 billion is budgeted for expected retirees, with ₦434 million allocated for administrative charges, ₦596 million for pension running costs, and ₦870 million for medical retirees.

The Federal Government has also set aside funds for various social investment programs, including the student loan scheme, National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy programs, National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, and the Consumer Credit Fund initiatives. A total of ₦500 billion has been allocated for these programs, with ₦50 billion specifically earmarked for the student loan scheme.

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Tinubu Is Not Our Problem In North; We Ruled Nigeria For 40 Years But Nothing To Show – Ex-Speaker Yakubu Dogara

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14 hours ago

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December 22, 2024

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Tinubu Is Not Our Problem In North; We Ruled Nigeria For 40 Years But Nothing To Show – Ex-Speaker Yakubu Dogara

North Remains The Same, Impoverished Despite Ruling Nigeria For Over 40-Years, Says Dogara.

“We are all northerners, and it should be made clear that President Tinubu or the South is not our problem. They have not come to cheat the North. That is out of the question.

“Some are claiming that Yoruba people are getting appointments, but let’s reflect. We ruled this country for over 40-years when northerners were in power. What did we achieve? The North remains the same, impoverished by our own leaders.

“We have had so much, but what did our governors do with the resources? They squandered them instead of investing in meaningful development.” -Yakubu Dogara, At A Townhall Meeting In Kaduna On Tax Reforms

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