Appeal Court nullifies IGP’s 10,000 constables recruitment – Newstrends
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Appeal Court nullifies IGP’s 10,000 constables recruitment

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Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Wednesday nullified the recruitment of 10,000 constables carried out last year by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.

A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Olabisi Ige unanimously held that the IGP lacked the power to recruit constables for the police.

The court held that the power to carry out the recruitment was exclusively that of the Police Service Commission.

The judgment upturned the December 2, 2019 verdict of the Federal High Court in Abuja which had validated the power of the IGP to proceed with the recruitment of 10,000 he embarked upon in 2019.

The PSC, in a superiority battle with the IPG, had in September 2019, instituted the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1124/2019, in its bid to gain the exclusive right to conduct the recruitment process which the NPF and the IGP, had as of that time, almost concluded.

The commission asked the Federal High Court judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, to nullify the process already commenced by the NPF and the IGP.

It urged the court to declare it as the body with the exclusive powers to carry out the recruitment process.

But the judge in his judgment delivered on December 2, 2019, dismissed PSC’s case which he adjudged to be lacking in merit.

He ruled that the law guiding the enlistment of constables into the NPF was the Nigeria Police Regulations of 1968, issued by the Nigerian President in accordance with the provisions of Section 46 of the Police Act 1967 (No 41), providing for the organisation and administration of the police force.

He noted that section 71 of the said Nigeria Police Service Regulations, 1968, gave the power to enlist constables to the Police Council and the NPF under the control of the IGP, and not the PSC.

He ruled that PSC by its enabling law retained the exclusive powers to promote, demote, dismiss and discipline any police officer apart from the IGP, it could only appoint constables after the recruitment exercise carried out by the NPF.

The PSC had through its lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, appealed against the judgment, which he urged the Court of Appeal to set aside.

The Court of Appeal thus upheld the PSC’s case by resolving all the issues raised in favour of the appellant.
The court agreed with Agabi, represented in court by Edidiong Usungurua, that the word “appointment” used in the Constitution with respect to the powers conferred on the Police Service Commission included “the power of recruitment and or enlistment of recruit constables”.

The court held that the police regulation and or provisions of the Police Act which purportedly vested the IGP the power of recruiting constables “is null and void being in conflict with the Constitutional powers vested in the Police Service Commission”.

It therefore declared the recruitment carried out by the IGP as “null and void”.

It went ahead to grant all the prayers sought by the PSC in its amended suit filed at the Federal High Court.

The court had earlier dismissed the preliminary objection filed by the Nigeria Police Force, the IGP and the Minister of Police Affairs.

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Judge absent in Fayose N6.9bn fraud case, matter adjourned to July 1 

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Judge absent in Fayose N6.9bn fraud case, matter adjourned to July 1 

The money laundering trial of a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, could not proceed on Thursday due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

Justice Aneke was said to be away on an official assignment and the case was adjourned to July 1 for the continuation of trial.

Fayose is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an alleged N6.9bn fraud and money laundering.

He was first arraigned on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun, with his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on an 11 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering offences.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail on October 24, 2018, in the sum of N50m with sureties in like sum.

The defendant was re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on July 2, 2019, after the case was withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun, following a petition by the EFCC against the judge.

He also pleaded not guilty to the charge and was allowed to continue on the earlier bail granted, while the case was adjourned for trial.

Fayose was alleged to have received a cash payment of the sum of five million dollars, (about N1.8bn) from the then Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution.

He was also alleged to have retained the sum of N300m in his account, with a control of the aggregate sums of about N622m.

Fayose was also accused of procuring De Privateer Ltd and Still Earth Ltd to retain the aggregate sums of N851m.

He was alleged to have used the aggregate sums of about N1.6bn, to acquire properties in Lagos and Abuja.

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Updated: Unite against Israel for humanity, Fani-Kayode tells Christians, Muslims

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Femi Fani-Kayode

Updated: Unite against Israel for humanity, Fani-Kayode tells Christians, Muslims

Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has appealed to Christians and Muslims to unite against Israel, drawing parallels between its actions and those of Nazi Germany.

FFK’s message, shared on various platforms, urged Catholics, Protestants, Shia, and Sunni Muslims to set aside their differences and jointly oppose what he termed as the “evil and demonic agenda” of Zionists and the state of Israel.

In his statement, FFK condemned Israel’s alleged history of carnage, ethnic cleansing, genocide, and mass murder, as well as its purported perpetuation of racism, apartheid, religious intolerance, and injustice. He questioned the legitimacy of Israel’s claim to be God’s chosen people, particularly in light of its perceived disregard for human life and suffering, including the targeting of women, children, and babies.

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By likening Israel’s actions to those of Nazi Germany, FFK sought to underscore the severity of the situation, accusing the state of accumulating “much blood on its hands” comparable to the atrocities of the past. He distinguished between the historical Israel of King David, which he portrayed as reverent toward God, and the contemporary Israel under leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he accused of espousing hatred and aligning with evil forces.

FFK’s statement reflects a broader sentiment of discontent and condemnation toward Israel’s policies, particularly within certain segments of the international community. As a vocal figure in Nigerian politics, his call for interfaith solidarity against Israel highlights the transnational nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its resonance across religious divides.
Unite Against Israel To Better Humanity,  Fani-Kayode Task Christians, Muslims

Unite against Israel for humanity, Fani-Kayode tells Christians, Muslims

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BREAKING: Panic at Lagos airport after fire outbreak, flights diverted

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BREAKING: Panic at Lagos airport after fire outbreak, flights diverted

Following a fire at the facility, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has diverted flight operations from Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos to the D Wing.

The fire outbreak occured at the E54 Passenger Air Bridge at the domestic wing of the Airport.

The incident occurred at 5:29hrs on Thursday, according to a press release issued by Obiageli Orah, FAAN’s head of public affairs and consumer protection.

According to the statement, the fire, however, was brought under control by the Airport Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) at 06:41hrs while efforts to ventilate the smoke from the building were in progress.

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“At 05:29 hrs, smoke was detected billowing from the E54 Bridge, leading electrical engineers to immediately cut off power to the entire E Wing. The Airport Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) team was quick to respond, arriving at the scene by 05:30 hrs. Initial suspicions point to sparks from an electrical unit as the cause, but a thorough investigation is ongoing to ascertain the cause of the fire.

“The incident, which had escalated into a fire, was brought under control by 06:41 hrs. Efforts to ventilate the smoke from the building are in progress. In the meantime, all flight operations in Terminal 1 of MMA have been diverted to the D Wing. More details will follow shortly,” Orah stated.

BREAKING: Panic at Lagos airport after fire outbreak, flights diverted

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