“The government wishes everyone journey mercies and reassures that security measures have been provided to ensure a free, fair and credible election.”
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National Anthem abuse, others: Speaker Abbas withdraws controversial bill (Updated)
National Anthem abuse, others: Speaker Abbas withdraws controversial bill (Updated)
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has faced a lot of bashing from members of the public on social media over a bill seeking at least 10-year jail term for those who fail to sing or deride the new National Anthem.
Following the scathing criticism, the Speaker has ordered the withdrawal of the Counter Subversion Bill sponsored by him.
Failure to sing the new anthem or mutilating/denigrating any of the national symbols is considered a subversive action and this gets harsh punitive measures with a long imprisonment.
Engaging or sending materials that can lead to regional separation or protest attracts 25 years imprisonment or a fine upto N15m or both for individuals and organizations found guilty.
The bill was presented to the House and gazetted as House Bill 1652 on July 23 alongside three bills sponsored by the Speaker and listed on the same day.
The others are counter sabotage bill 2024 (HB 1651), counter-insurgency bill 2024 (HB 1653) and Espionage (Prevention and Prohibition) bill 2024 (HB 1654).
After an initial statement explaining that the bill was not targeted at any individual or group, the Speaker issued another statement withdrawing the bill.
The statement titled: “Withdrawal of the Counter Subversion and Other Related Bills” signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, the Speaker said he was withdrawing the bill in response to the voices and concerns of the people.
The statement said, “This decision follows his extensive consultations with a broad range of stakeholders and a careful consideration of the nation’s current circumstances.
“Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, a champion of the people’s interests, has always prioritized listening to the citizens and fostering unity.
“His decision reflects his commitment to ensuring that the House remains truly the People’s House.
“He acknowledges the significance of the concerns raised and the attention the bill has garnered, reaffirming that he will never support any action that might disrupt the peace and unity of our nation.
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“The public is hereby notified of the withdrawal of the Counter Subversion Bill and other related ones introduced on July 23, 2024”.
According to the bill which has 24 clauses, any “person who engages in activities that result to mutual suspicion, mistrust, distrust or intolerance which degenerates into conflict and violence that threatens the corporate existence, peace and security of the Federation of Nigeria, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N5,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 10 years or both”.
The bill also states, “A person who engages in illegal road traffic function, illegal roadblock, imposition of illegal curfew, the conduct of illegal procession, checkpoint, and other similar acts, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N2,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of five years or both.
“From the commencement of this bill, all voluntary or volunteer services groups that seek to provide services under section 3 of this bill shall be registered with the appropriate authority before rendering the service.
“A person who forcefully takes over any place of worship, town hall, school, premises, public or private place, arena, or a similar place through duress, undue influence, subterfuge or other similar activities, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N5,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 10 years or both.
“A person who professes loyalty, pledges or agrees to belong to an organisation that disregards the sovereignty of Nigeria, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N3,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of four years or both.
“A person who makes a statement does something or directs or encourages another person or group to do something that will lead to separatist agitation or intergroup or sectional conflict, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N10,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 25 years or both.”
It said further, “A person who destroys national symbols; refuses to recite the national anthem and pledge, defaces or abuse a place of worship to cause violence and subvert the Government of Nigeria, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N5,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 10 years or both.”
Clause 9 stipulates that (1) A person who interacts, communicates liaises, associates with locally based cult groups, criminal gangs or proscribed organisations, commits an offence.
A person group or organisation that engages in aggressive, violent or intimidating conduct that results in the death of a person, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to death.
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Furthermore, the bill had planned to ensure that “a person who illegally constructs a structure or takes over a public place, road or fields without permission from the authority in charge of the place, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N1,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of three years or both.
“A person who castigates, instigates, persuades, denigrates, embarrasses or brings into disrepute the leadership of a community, religion, lawful group, local government, State or Federal Government of Nigeria, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N4,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of two years or both”.
Other acts that the law would have imposed punishment include conduct that displays loyalty, pledges allegiance to another country or denounces his loyalty to Nigeria as well as persons who inspire, instigate, encourage or direct defiance, mentor, fund or abet or conspire with any person group or organisation in opposition or destruction of an existing state institution, structures or values by illegal conduct or violent acts.
National Anthem abuse, others: Speaker Abbas withdraws controversial bill (Updated)
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Pension bill: Police retirees to embark on protest
Pension bill: Police retirees to embark on protest
The National Union of the Police Retirees, Kaduna State Branch has arranged for what it called a mother of all protest to remain at the National Assembly until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signs the Pension Exit Bill.
The Bill to exit the Nigeria Police from the Contributory Pension Scheme and the bill for the establishment of the Nigeria Police Pension Board, as the police retirees are patiently waiting for, and there is the tendency that, the promise may not be fulfilled, as September is winding up.
This is contained in a press release signed by the chairman of the Police Retirees Kaduna State Chapter, CSP Mannir Lawal Zaria Rtd and the Vice Chairman ASP Danlami Maigamo Rtd and distributed to journalists in Kaduna.
CSP Mannir Lawal Zaria Rtd lamented that the police retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme are dying immensely due to poverty and hunger.
“The union is also pleading that, as the death toll is on the increase among the police retirees under the contributory Pension Scheme and the prices of commodity of any type is also on the increase.”
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He said: “Federal government should come to the aid of the police retirees under the contributory Pension Scheme before they all perish, by immediately paying the following allowances to the police retirees under the contributory Pension Scheme.
“Two point five percent differential, the Federal Government Palliative and three consecutive pension increases by the Federal Government as well as the minimum wage increase.
“During the Police Retirees, Kaduna State Branch monthly meeting held last Wednesday at Police Officers Mess Kaduna. Members became shocked and worried, as there is a sign of unfulfillment of a promise that began to manifest itself because it can be recalled that, on 22/09/24.
“The National Union of the Police Retirees under the contributory Pension Scheme carried out a nationwide peaceful protest to the National Assembly Abuja.
“During the protest, the Chairman of Senate Committee for Police Affairs, Senator Ahmed Abdulkadir Malamadori, addressed some of the retirees in his office, where he promised the retirees that, before September 24, they would be exited from the Contributory Pension Scheme to the Define Benefit Scheme (DBS) that the two Police Bills would be Harmonize.
“Sequel to this, the blood pressure of many concerned police retirees has risen above maximum. Therefore, the Kaduna Branch has unanimously agreed that, if by the end of this September, the Nigeria Police is not exempted from the contributory Pension Scheme,” he said.
Pension bill: Police retirees to embark on protest
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Edo poll: Court gives fresh order on APC candidate Okpebholo
Edo poll: Court gives fresh order on APC candidate Okpebholo
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has ordered a judicial review concerning the criminal summons issued against Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the upcoming Edo governorship election.
The court’s decision follows an application submitted by Okpebholo’s legal counsel, Adaze Emwanta.
The presiding judge, Justice O.C. Agbaza, delivered a ruling after hearing an ex-parte motion on Wednesday. He agreed to the reliefs sought by Okpebholo’s counsel, setting the next hearing for October 28.
The criminal summons was initially issued by Magistrate Abubakar Mukhtar of Wuse Zone 2, who had ordered Okpebholo to appear in court on September 20.
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The summons stemmed from allegations that the APC candidate provided false information regarding his date of birth on forms submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The case, which was filed by an Edo indigene, Honesty Aginbatse, accused Okpebholo of conflicting dates of birth in his nomination documents. In response, Okpebholo sought intervention from the FCT High Court to prevent the summons from proceeding. His legal team argued that the criminal charge was part of a plot to tarnish his image ahead of the election.
According to Okpebholo’s defense, the issue of his birthdate had already been addressed and resolved at the Supreme Court’s registry through a Deed of Regularisation, which was officially gazetted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in August. The APC candidate also alleged that the summons was not served to him directly but circulated on social media to damage his reputation on the eve of the election.
Meanwhile, in a separate but related case, the Federal High Court in Abuja is set to rule on a motion filed by the APC seeking to amend its summons in a lawsuit involving INEC, Asue Ighodalo, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Justice Peter Lifu has reserved his judgment on the case, with both the PDP and Ighodalo contesting the jurisdiction of the suit.
The legal battles surrounding Okpebholo continue as the Edo governorship election approaches, raising questions about their impact on the candidate’s campaign.
Edo poll: Court gives fresh order on APC candidate Okpebholo
News
JUST IN: Edo declares Friday work-free day for gov election
JUST IN: Edo declares Friday work-free day for gov election
The Edo government has declared September 20 as a work-free day to facilitate travel for workers and residents ahead of the state’s governorship election.
The election is scheduled for Saturday, September 21, across 18 LGAs in the state.
In a statement, Joseph Eboigbe, secretary to the state government (SSG), assured that adequate security arrangements are in place for a secure and democratic election process.
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“This is to enable workers and other electorates travel to their voting areas ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the State” he said.
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