News
Buhari finally replaces ‘unqualified’ director-general of NAPTIP
After about five months in office, the director-general of the anti-trafficking agency, NAPTIP, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has been removed and transferred to another agency.
Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim’s initial appointment as the boss of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) violated the law of the agency.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in December 2020 appointed Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim as the director-general of NAPTIP, in clear violation of the law establishing the agency
Section 8 (1) of the NAPTIP Act 2015 stipulates that the director-general of the agency must be appointed from the directorate cadre in the civil service or from an equivalent cadre in any of the nation’s law enforcement agencies.
“There shall be for the agency a Director-General who shall be from the Directorate cadre in the public service of the Federation or its equivalent in any law enforcement service and shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Minister,” the legislation stipulates.
However, the credentials of Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim do not match this requirement.
Before her appointment, Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim was a politician and businesswoman. She was a political appointee whose tenure ended with her former principal.
She was appointed as the substantive head of NAPTIP after her predecessor, Julie Okah-Donli, was axed months before the end of her four-year tenure. The latter too, this medium found, was not qualified as she was not in public service prior to her appointment.
When his attention was called to the illegality in Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim’s appointment, the president would not budge.
It, however, appears the president has finally come to terms with his violation of the law as presidential aide, Garba Shehu, announced on Thursday that Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim has been transferred.
She is now to head the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), another agency under the ministry of humanitarian affairs, replacing Basheer Mohammed.
Mr Muhammad has now swapped position with Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim to head NAPTIP, the president’s office said in a statement on Thursday.
“This is in order to realize and sustain (the) government’s abiding desire for effective and efficient service delivery in the two organisations,” Mr Shehu’s statement read.
Mr Muhammad, 54, a former Kano central senator from 2011 to 2015, was appointed the federal commissioner of NCFRMI in 2019, an office which by rank is senior to a director but is not in the core public service.
Established in July 2003 under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, NAPTIP was the brainchild of a private member bill sponsored by the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF), a not-for-profit organisation founded by Titi Atiku, the wife of a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar.
It was established as the federal government’s response to tackle human trafficking in the country.
News
Supreme Court dismisses 16 govs suit challenging EFCC legality
Supreme Court dismisses 16 govs suit challenging EFCC legality
The Supreme Court has dismissed the suit by 16 states challenging the constitutionality of the acts establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and two others.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the other agencies are the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
In the lead judgment by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji delivered on Friday, the Supreme Court resolved the six issues raised for determination in the suit against the plaintiffs.
The court held that the laws establishing the anti-corruption agencies were validly enacted by the National Assembly within its legislative competence.
It faulted the claim by the plaintiffs that the EFCC Act, being a product of the United Nations convention on corruption, ought to be ratified by majority of the state houses of assembly.
Delivering judgement on Friday, Justice Abba-Aji ruled that “the EFCC Act, which was not established from a treaty but a convention, does not need the ratification of the houses of assembly.”
News
Executive Secretary FCDA Hadi Ahmad suspended indefinitely
Executive Secretary FCDA Hadi Ahmad suspended indefinitely
Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, has been suspended indefinitely.
His suspicion was on the order of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister, Lere Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday evening.
No reason was given for the suspension.
Ahmad was directed to hand over to the Director, Engineering Services in the FCDA.
The statement read: “The Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, has been suspended indefinitely.
“According to a statement on Thursday, by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, the suspension of Engr Hadi Ahmad is with immediate effect.
“The suspended Executive Secretary has consequently been directed to hand over to the Director of Engineering Services, Engr in the FCDA.”
News
Just in: Rivers, Anambra high court judges suspended for one year
Just in: Rivers, Anambra high court judges suspended for one year
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended two state high court for over acts of professional misconduct.
The NJC named the affected judges as Justice G. C Aguma of the High Court of Rivers State and Justice A.O Nwabunike of the Anambra State High Court.
They were both suspended for the period of one year without pay and thereafter placed on watch list for two years.
The decision was taken at the 107th Meeting of the NJC chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun on 13 and 14 November 2024.
A total of five serving judicial officers were sanctioned for various acts of misconduct.
The Council also recommended two Heads of Court for compulsory retirement over falsification of age.
The duo of the Chief Judge of Imo State, Hon. Justice T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka and the Grand Kadi of Yobe State, Hon. Kadi Babagana Mahdi, were recommended for compulsory retirement for falsification of their ages.
The Council considered the Report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee, which considered a total number of 30 petitions, empanelled six committees for further investigation.
Twenty-two cases were dismissed for lacking in merit, two were sub judice.
The Council also empanelled a committee to investigate all complaints and petitions against Hon. Justice O. A. Ojo, Chief Judge, Osun State.
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