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Appeal Court rejects Kanu’s move to challenge IPOB’s proscription
Appeal Court rejects Kanu’s move to challenge IPOB’s proscription
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has rejected an application by detained leader of the proscribed separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu seeking to be allowed to challenge the order proscribing the group.
In a judgment, the Court of Appeal upheld the argument by lawyer to the federal government, Oyin Koleosho, that the application filed for Kanu by his lawyer, Alloy Ejimakor, was inappropriate.
Kanu had, in the application, sought to be allowed to appeal, as an interested party, the January 18, 2018 ruling by Justice Abdu Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja (now late) affirming his earlier ex-parte order of September 20, 2017 proscribing IPOB and designating it a terrorist group.
It was part of Kanu’s contention that, since the Fed Govt allegedly capitalised on the IPOB proscription order to charge him with belonging to, and leading a terrorist group, he was qualified as an interested party, who should be allowed to part of a pending appeal filed by IPOB against the order proscribing it.
In the judgment delivered on May 30, a certified true copy (CTC) of which The Nation saw on June 12, a three member panel of the Court of Appeal held that it was inappropriate for Kanu to have filed his application directly at the appellate court.
Justice Hamma Barka, in the lead judgment, held that, as an applicant seeking leave to appeal as an interested party, Kanu ought to first file his application before the Federal High Court, Abuja, whose decision he sought to appeal.
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Justice Barka further held that Kanu’s failure to first file his application before the Federal High Court was a violation of Order 6 Rule 4 of the Court of Appeal Rules 2021.
He said: “In the instant case, it is apparent that no such leave was sought from the court below, thus, an affront to the provisions of Order 6 Rule 4 of the Court of Appeal Rules, 2021.
“This knocks off the present application as being incompetent, not capable of being granted.
“The consideration of all other issues canvased to my mind will amount to an academic exercise for which courts are enjoined not to embark upon, and for this singular reason, the application being incompetent is accordingly struck out.”
Upon an ex-parte motion by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), marked: FHC/AB)/CS/871/2017, Justice Kafarati had, in a ruling on September 20, 2017 ordered as follows:
*That an order declaring that the activities of the respondent (Indigenous People of Biafra) in any part of Nigeria, especially in the South east and South-South regions of Nigeria, either in groups or as individuals, amounts to acts of terrorism and illegality is granted.
*That an order proscribing the existence of the respondent (Indigenous People of Biafra) in any part of Nigeria, especially in the South east and South-South regions of Nigeria, either in groups or as individuals by whatever name they are called and publishing same in the official gazette and two national dailies, is granted.
*That an order restraining any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the respondent (Indigenous People of Biafra) under any other name or platform however called or described, is granted.
IPOB later applied to the court for it to set aside the orders, and in a ruling on January 18, 2018, Justice Kafarati dismissed IPOB’s application and affirmed his earlier orders proscribing the group and designating it a terrorist organisation.
IPOB subsequently lodged an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja against the January 18, 2018 ruling.
It is the appeal, marked: CA/A/214/2018 that Kanu applied to be given permission to join as an interested party.
Appeal Court rejects Kanu’s move to challenge IPOB’s proscription
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Tinubu’s economic reforms making Nigeria more investible — UK Envoy
Tinubu’s economic reforms making Nigeria more investible — UK Envoy
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms, describing them as “big and bold” initiatives that have transformed Nigeria into a more attractive destination for investors.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Montgomery acknowledged that the UK’s interest in Nigeria is growing, citing the positive impact of recent economic policies.
“I’ve been very public previously about commending the big and bold economic reforms being taken by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Montgomery stated.
Highlighting key policy changes, he pointed to the abolition of fuel subsidies and the unification of the exchange rate system as crucial steps toward economic stability.
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According to him, these measures are already yielding results, positioning Nigeria as a more “investible” nation.
“My headline this morning is that these economic reforms are paying off, and they are now making Nigeria more investible,” he added.
Montgomery, however, acknowledged the economic strain on Nigerians due to rising inflation, currently hovering in the mid-20 percent range. He noted that while the reforms are transformative, their benefits might take time to materialize fully.
“I realise that some of these reforms for ordinary people are painful. Inflation is still high, it’s in the 20 percent territory, the mid-20s. And it’s going to take time to bring that rate down,” he remarked.
Despite the current economic challenges, the High Commissioner expressed optimism, predicting that inflation rates would begin to ease over the coming months and years, further solidifying Nigeria’s position as an attractive investment hub.
Tinubu’s economic reforms making Nigeria more investible — UK Envoy
News
Tinubu presents N1.78tn FCT budget to Senate, seeks speedy approval
Tinubu presents N1.78tn FCT budget to Senate, seeks speedy approval
President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a proposed N1.783 trillion budget for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the Senate, seeking speedy approval for the 2025 fiscal year.
In a formal message to the upper legislative chamber on Wednesday, the President called for urgent consideration of the bill, emphasizing its importance in delivering a functional and responsive administration for FCT residents.
To expedite the legislative process, the Senate activated Order 78, which allowed the appropriation bill to pass its second reading on the same day it was introduced.
Despite the swift movement, the procedure was met with resistance. Senator Abdul Ningi, a member of the opposition, objected under Order 77 (3 and 4), arguing that lawmakers had not received copies of the bill before the discussion commenced.
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The Senate subsequently proceeded with a debate on the bill’s general principles.
Presenting the proposal, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele stated that the bill aims to permit the release of ₦1,783,823,708,392.00 from the FCT Administration’s Statutory Revenue Fund. These funds are intended to cover personnel, overhead, and capital expenses from January 1 to December 31, 2025.
According to Bamidele, the budget allocates ₦150.35 billion for personnel expenses, ₦343.78 billion for overhead costs, and ₦1.29 trillion for capital development.
He stressed that the core goal of the budget is to sustain a results-driven administration with the continuation of existing projects in the FCT and the introduction of new ones deemed crucial.
Tinubu presents N1.78tn FCT budget to Senate, seeks speedy approval
News
Constitution: Reps reject proposal for rotational presidency
Constitution: Reps reject proposal for rotational presidency
The House of Representatives on Tuesday voted down a bill that proposed rotating the office of the president among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
During the session presided over by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, lawmakers also rejected six additional constitutional amendment bills. All seven proposals failed to pass the crucial second reading stage.
Among the bills was one seeking to transfer the authority to register and regulate political parties from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to a newly proposed Office of the Registrar General of Political Parties. This legislation was sponsored by Hon. Abbas Tajudeen and Hon. Francis E. Waive.
Another notable bill—tabled by Deputy Speaker Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu—sought to institutionalize rotational leadership at the federal level, specifically between the six zones: North Central, North East, North West, South East, South South, and South West.
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Also defeated was a proposal by Hon. Julius O. Ihonvbere aimed at establishing and empowering independent Offices of the Auditors-General at the local government level and in the Federal Capital Territory. According to the bill, the initiative was designed to enhance fiscal responsibility and governance at the grassroots.
Hon. Ihonvbere also fronted a bill advocating for the increase in the number of judges in the Federal High Court to a minimum of 100, a measure that did not survive the House vote.
In a related effort, lawmakers rejected a constitutional amendment expanding the Federal High Court’s jurisdiction to include admiralty matters such as shipping, inland waterways—including the River Niger and River Benue—and federal ports.
Additionally, the chamber turned down a bill granting the National Judicial Council (NJC) authority to determine and review, in collaboration with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the remuneration of judicial officers and judiciary staff.
Finally, a motion to create Ughelli East Local Government Area in Delta State, brought forward by Hon. Francis Ejiroghene Waive, also failed to gain the necessary support.
Initially, all seven proposals were bundled and voted on as a group but were rejected outright. Subsequent efforts to conduct separate votes also failed, despite intervention from the House Committee on Rules and Business, which suggested revisiting the motions on Wednesday.
Constitution: Reps reject proposal for rotational presidency
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