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Buhari’s plan for review of grazing reserves unconstitutional – Ortorm
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to review grazing reserves across the country is not known to the law of the land.
The Benue governor said it was worrying that while most states had agreed that ranching was a better way to resolve insecurity, the president had maintained his position on open grazing.
This statement is coming after Buhari’s approval of the recommendations of a committee to review 368 grazing reserves across 25 states in the country — a development that has been met with criticism.
Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, had criticised Buhari for the decision, adding that open grazing is “obsolete”.
Speaking on the development when he featured on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Tuesday, Ortom described the President’s decision on grazing reserves as “disappointing”.
“I’m disappointed with the presidency. One would expect that we’re in a democratic governance and the presidency would have understood this,” the governor said.
“Some weeks ago, Mr. President challenged Nigerians on whether he is not ruling this country according to the rule of law. And I came out and I said ‘Mr. President, if some people are deceiving you, let me tell you the facts on ground. You’re not ruling this country according to the rule of law in some aspects’. And here we are.
“Does Mr. President not have an attorney-general to advise him on what the law says about land administration? There is a land use act enshrined in the Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria and it amazes me for Mr. President to say that he will revive obsolete grazing reserves and grazing routes.
“I have had personal conversations with Mr President and his handlers. I have said ‘Look, when we had grazing routes and grazing reserves, what was the total population? Less than 40 million. This was when it was initiated and then it was as a result of the laws governing northern Nigeria. Today, we are over 200 million people. How do you expect the same thing?’ The land hasn’t increased, and now, it’s even less because of the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon. Now, in 2021, you’re talking about open grazing.
“How are we going to achieve this? If Mr. President respects the law, the land use act gives governors the power to preside over land administration on behalf of the people. So, it is amazing and I am surprised to hear this coming from Mr President as if he doesn’t have an attorney-general or lawyers around him to advise him.
“I think Mr President was misquoted or he did it out of error. He should come out to apologise to Nigerians. There is no basis whatsoever for this to be going on when we have the Constitution.”
News
Late COAS Lagbaja gets CFR honour, buried amid tributes
Late COAS Lagbaja gets CFR honour, buried amid tributes
The late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, was on Friday laid to rest in Abuja, amid tears and tributes.
President Bola Tinubu conferred a posthumous award of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on the late Chief of Army Staff.
The burial took place at the National Cemetery in Abuja to end two days of funeral rites that began in Lagos earlier in the week.
His body was lowered into the grave at exactly 4:41pm after the ceremony that lasted over two hours.
Lagbaja’s casket, draped in Nigeria’s green and white colours, arrived at the cemetery around 3pm in a white funeral wagon after a funeral service at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.
Dignitaries were led to the event by President Bola Tinubu. Others are Vice President Kashim Shettima; the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa; Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, and other top government officials and military brass.
President Tinubu announced the conferment of the CFR on the late COAS during the interment at the National Cemetery in Abuja.
The President extolled the virtues of the late warrior, especially his contributions to national security.
According to him, the appointment of Lagbaja as the COAS was one of his finest made so far.
“As an eternal symbol of our appreciation, I have granted the late Chief of Army Staff, the posthumous national honour of the Commander of the Federal Republic of the Niger (CFR),” Tinubu declared.
He thereafter invited the wife of the late COAS, Mariya, to collect the award on behalf of the Lagbaja family amid applause from the congregation.
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.”
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