Nnamdi Kanu trial: Justice Nyako steps down as presiding judge – Newstrends
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Nnamdi Kanu trial: Justice Nyako steps down as presiding judge

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2 months ago

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Nnamdi Kanu

Nnamdi Kanu trial: Justice Nyako steps down as presiding judge

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has stepped down from overseeing the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

This decision follows Kanu’s formal request for her withdrawal, citing her failure to comply with a Supreme Court order, which eroded his confidence in the court’s impartiality.

During Tuesday’s court session, Kanu openly asked Justice Nyako to recuse herself from the proceedings. In response, the judge expressed no objections and confirmed that she would forward the case to the Chief Judge for reassignment.

The tension between Kanu and the court revolves around a Supreme Court ruling that raised questions about the jurisdiction over charges stemming from Kanu’s alleged broadcasts.

Despite the Federal Government’s readiness to continue with the trial, Kanu instructed his lawyer, Alloy Ejimakor, to stay seated while he personally addressed the judge.

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“Sit down! I say you should sit down!” Kanu had yelled at his lawyer.

Speaking further, he said, “My lord, I have no confidence in this court any more, and I ask you to recuse yourself because you did not abide by the decision of the Supreme Court.

“I can understand it if the DSS refuses to obey a court order, but for this court to refuse to obey an order of the Supreme Court is regrettable.

“I am asking you to recuse yourself from this case.”

He also read a part of the judgment of the Supreme Court, where alleged bias against Justice Nyako was raised.

The counsel for the Federal Government, Adegboyega Awomolo, had earlier told the court that he was ready for the commencement of trial, but that it could not hold under the present circumstance.

Awomolo, however, tried to urge Justice Nyako to proceed with the trial, but she responded that she had been minded to recuse herself from the case.

“I hereby recuse myself and remit the case file back to the Chief Judge,” she declared.

Kanu was re-arrested in Kenya in 2021 by the Federal Government and brought to the country for trial on terrorism charges.

Although he pleaded not guilty to the charges, Justice Nyako declined to admit him to bail on the ground that he jumped the earlier one in which Senator Abaribe was his surety.

Kanu has since been in the custody of the Department of State Services on the order of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

 

Nnamdi Kanu trial: Justice Nyako steps down as presiding judge

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Agbede urges Baruwa to congratulate MC Oluomo, in spirit of sportsmanship

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5 mins ago

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November 17, 2024

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Agbede urges Baruwa to congratulate MC Oluomo, in spirit of sportsmanship

 

Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede has advised Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa to demonstrate sportsmanship by congratulating Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo) on his election as president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

Agbede spoke from his personal experience, recalling how he graciously congratulated Baruwa when he won the union’s presidency in 2019, despite initially being unhappy with the outcome.

“In 2019, I congratulated you despite my disappointment, and even promised to work with you for the union’s sake and in all honesty I was working perfectly with you for the good of the union. But when you started exhibiting some anti-people tendencies, which I considered dangerous and harmful to our union, I had to re-evaluate my support and we parted ways.

“Now that the table has turned against you, I expect you to swallow your pride and congratulate MC Oluomo for the sake of peace in our union,” he said

Agbede lamented that Baruwa’s actions and activities in recent times are already creating tension in the polity, hence the need to mellow down.

“You see, I would want you look back and see how much you have benefitted from the union. The NURTW had been very good to you. You have achieved so much from the union.

“You are one of the previlledged few that have gained tremendously from the union. You have occupied nearly all the posts anybody can aspire for in the union.

“At various times, you have been unit, branch, state and zonal chairman. At the national level, you have been vice president, national treasurer and president. So what else are you looking for? It is not proper don’t bite the finger that is feeding you,” he advised

Agbede emphasized that leadership should not be a do-or-die affair, but rather a genuine desire to serve the people.

“If you truly want to serve our people, it shouldn’t be about winning at all costs,” he added.

This call for sportsmanship is coming amidst a complex leadership dispute within the NURTW with Baruwa fighting vigourously against the choice of the people of South-West.

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NDLEA foils drug smuggling attempts at Lagos, Abuja airports

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7 mins ago

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November 17, 2024

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NDLEA foils drug smuggling attempts at Lagos, Abuja airports

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have in a series of intelligence-led operations foiled attempts by drug syndicates to export large consignments of cocaine, methamphetamine and opioids through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja to the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey and Qatar.

The NDLEA apart from thwarting the syndicates, recovered the illicit drugs and arrested the masterminds.

Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi said, “A total of 13 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.40kg cocaine going to the United Kingdom via Frankfurt on a Lufthansa Airlines flight were intercepted by NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Lagos airport on 5th November 2024 while a businessman linked to the consignment, Ekeocha Anayo Nelson, was tracked and arrested on 8th November.

“The bid by another businessman, Adegbite Solomon (aka Obama) to export 7,800 pills of tramadol, 180 tablets of Rohypnol, and 60 bottles of codeine to Italy was also foiled at the departure hall of the Lagos airport on Monday 11th November.

“NDLEA operatives arrested him after recovering the opioids concealed in food and other items while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Italy.

“He claimed to have travelled to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea and earned a living as a street beggar before delving into logistics business.

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“Also related is the arrest of another businessman, Anoke Kingsley Roomy with 1,100 pills of tramadol 225mg hidden in his luggage while attempting to board his Ethiopian Airlines flight going to Istanbul, Turkey at the terminal 1 of the Lagos airport on Friday 15th November.

“Following credible intelligence, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, and their counterparts from the FCT Command of the Agency on Friday 15th November raided a hotel room at the Federal Housing Authority estate, Lugbe, Abuja, where they arrested two suspects: Omeh Uchenna Jude, 36, and Anene Valentine Chigozie, 34.

“Recovered from them was 1.8kg methamphetamine, which they were preparing to travel with to Qatar.

Another suspect, Akande Moruf Olasunkanmi, was arrested with 1.8kg methamphetamine by operatives of a Special Operations Unit in NDLEA at his 9 Durojaiye Street, Lawanson area of Surulere, Lagos home after weeks of intelligence and surveillance.

In another intelligence-led operation, officers of an NDLEA task force on Saturday 16th November foiled the attempt by a trans-border trafficker, Emmanuel Okechukwu Okeke to smuggle 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg from Ghana into Lagos.

The pills were concealed in the body compartments of a Toyota Hummer Bus belonging to GUO Transport Company, driven by the suspect. The vehicle was intercepted at Ijanikin area of the Lagos-Badagry expressway while coming from Ghana.

In Edo state, not less than 997kg cannabis was recovered during raids in parts of the state. While 680kg cannabis and a Sienna bus marked FST-320 AE were seized at a bush path to Oghada forest in Oghada, Orhionmwan LGA, 180.5kg of same substance was recovered from a suspect, Cecilia Ibe, 31, at Ofosu forest, Ovia South West LGA and 136.5kg evacuated from a building in Otuo community, Owan East LGA on Thursday 14th November.

A suspect, Ifejimagha Chinonso was on Wednesday 13th November nabbed with 88.3kg cannabis by NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway while personnel of Kano Command of the Agency on Friday 15th November arrested Ahmed Goni, 30, at Gadar Tamburawa, Kano- Zaria road where they recovered from him 65,730 capsules of tramadol.

In Kwara state, NDLEA operatives arrested a suspect Adio Sulaiman with 120.8kg cannabis and some litres of codeine at Gaa Odota in Ilorin West LGA, while Kelechi Obichere, 42, was nabbed with 75kg cannabis at Eziobodo, Owerri West LGA, Imo state on Thursday 14th November.

A total of 563.74 kilograms of same psychoactive substance were recovered from a 60-year-old suspect Anthony Anakabi, following his arrest at Iyalode, Iyana church area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Government Day Secondary School, Bazza, Adamawa; Community Secondary School, Ogan-Ama, Rivers state; NKST Secondary School, Adikpo, Benue state; Government Secondary School, Tambuwal, Sokoto state; Government Girls Secondary School, Kunchi, Kano; Ebele Chu Group of Schools, Nkpor Onitsha, Anambra; and Army Cantonment Senior Boys High School, Ojo, Lagos state, among others.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd)
commended the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, DI, Oyo, Lagos, Imo, Kwara, Kano, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures

He stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

 

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Tinubu confers GCON on Indian PM, Modi

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31 mins ago

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November 17, 2024

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi

Tinubu confers GCON on Indian PM, Modi

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday, conferred the national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), on the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

President Tinubu bestowed the honour on the PM during the Nigeria/India Bilateral meeting held at the presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said that the award was bestowed on the Indian leader to signify Nigeria’s appreciation and commitment to the Nigerian Indian partnership.

The Nigerian Leader added that the invitation to the Indian PM was to rekindle and reclassify existing relationship between Nigeria and India.

He also stated that the high level engagement was intended to improve

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According to him, “Nigeria values its excellent relationship with India, and we work to deepen and broaden the same to the mutual benefit of our two friendly countries.

“You represent a very strong commitment in democratic values and norms, you have been doing a good job historically, winning three consecutive elections in a complex society is a feat that we respect so much.

“I will confer on you today, the Prime Minister of India, Nigeria’s National Honor, the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger. This to signify Nigerian appreciation and commitment to India as a partner.”

Commiserating with Nigeria over the recent floods that ravaged several cities across the country, including the Maiduguri major flood incident, the Indian Prime Minister promised to support Nigeria with 20 tons of relief materials.

Modi said this is to support the administration of President Tinubu on its ongoing humanitarian efforts.

 

Tinubu confers GCON on Indian PM, Modi

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