Court of Appeal nullifies expulsion of Rivers assembly lawmakers

In a significant legal decision, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has nullified the expulsion of Martin Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers from the Rivers State House of Assembly.

This ruling overturns an earlier decision by the Rivers State High Court, which had ordered their expulsion.

The appellate court’s judgment emphasized that, according to Section 272(3) of the Nigerian Constitution, the Federal High Court holds the exclusive jurisdiction to determine if a House of Assembly member’s seat has become vacant. By specifically mentioning the Federal High Court, the Constitution excludes state high courts from having such authority.

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The court declared the ex parte order issued by the Rivers State High Court as null and void due to a lack of jurisdiction.

The lawmakers involved, who are loyal to the immediate former governor of the state and current Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) amid a conflict between Wike and the current Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

Court of Appeal nullifies expulsion of Rivers assembly lawmakers

(SaharaReporters)

Ganduje probe: Two Kano judges get 48-hour court order to resign

A Federal High Court in Kano, led by Justice Simon Amobeda, has mandated two judges, Justice Farouk Lawan Adamu and Justice Zuwaira Yusuf, to resign from their appointments as heads of two separate judicial commissions within 48 hours.

 This directive targets appointments made by Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf. Justice Adamu was appointed to lead the Judicial Commission of Inquiry for the Recovery of Misappropriated Public Properties and Assets, while Justice Yusuf was appointed to head the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Political Violence and Missing Persons.

Justice Amobeda’s ruling followed a case filed by former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who sought to prevent Governor Yusuf from investigating his administration.

The judge ruled that if the two judges fail to comply within the 48-hour timeframe, the National Judicial Council (NJC) will halt their salaries and benefits.

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The court highlighted that judges should not engage in executive functions assigned by the governor, as their primary role is to adjudicate disputes in court. Justice Amobeda emphasized that the governor’s action to appoint these judges to the commissions without appealing an earlier judgment by Justice A. Liman was an abuse of office.

Justice Liman had ruled that only the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) could investigate Ganduje.

Justice Amobeda underscored that the governor does not have the authority to appoint the judges to these commissions, stating that this move undermines the judicial arm of government and violates the doctrine of separation of powers. The judge ordered that the judges must step down from their commission roles and return to their judicial duties exclusively, or face the cessation of their judicial remuneration.

Respondents in this case include the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the Attorney-General of Kano State, and the two judges, Justice Farouk Lawan Adamu and Justice Zuwaira Yusuf.

Ganduje probe: Two Kano judges get 48-hour court order to resign

Electricity: Lagos gets 13 new Band A feeders (FULL LIST)

Lagos State has received an additional 13 Band A feeders following approval from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

NERC on Wednesday approved the upgrade of 13 more feeders from Band B to Band A for Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKDC), Lagos, confirmed the development in a statement on its X handle.

“Premised on our demonstrated ability to consistently provide a minimum of 20 hours of daily availability during a performance evaluation period monitored by the regulator, we are pleased to announce that we have obtained approval to add 13 Band A feeders to our network,” IKDC said.

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It added that the newly-upgraded Band A feeders are OgbalNJ-T3-Agege, AlimoshoINJ-T8-Okunola, OworolNJ-T3-Anthony, AdeniyiJonesINJ-T1-Anifowoshe, IsheriINJ-T1-Bankole and Adeniyi JonesINJ-T1-Ajao.