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CJN Under Fire Over Comment On Anti-Atiku Governors

Published

1 year ago

November 26, 2022

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, has been dragged on social media over his support for Seyi Makinde’s membership of the G5, also known as the Integrity Group.

Five aggrieved governors are calling for leadership change in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). To press home their demand, the governors pulled out of the presidential campaign of the PDP and have been doing things on their own.

They are Nyesom Wike (Rivers) Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).

Speaking during a banquet held in his honour by Wike, in Port Harcourt, Thursday night, the CJN, who hails from Oyo, said his host (Governor Wike) was threatening to withdraw Makinde’s wife, who is from Rivers, expressing hope that Makinde would emulate Wike to replicate the good works in his state.

He said, “That is why we should not be scared to have these men of the integrity group. And I am happy that my own governor is among them because he would try to imitate his friend and in-law because we came here to marry for my governor.

“So, Governor Wike will always threaten that he will call back his sister if my governor fails to play ball. That is why you see him following his Excellency (Wike) because my governor is afraid of his wife being recalled.”

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Although the CJN made remarks on a lighter note, some Nigerians have accused him of bias.

Tweeting via @lordcharles01, a social media user said, “I have read the statements credited to my Lord, the CJN on the G5 Governors.
Even in the banter mood and the context of the banquet, His Lordship should have kept up his guard and not make such statements.”

@Graceyisaac wrote, “A judge should not be partisan. This is dangerous for democracy.”

@SamAmadi said, “A CJN making careless political statements in election season when his court will probably decide. Well, where are Nig. Lawyers trained?”

@DearestJessica_ wrote, “There is no right thinking & justice conscious Nigerians that are not happy with them. They are setting a record that injustice & unfairness should no longer be condoned”

@Elfoegbu: “This CJN must resign now!!! This is a danger signal.”

ARISE TV anchor, Rufai Oseni, described the development as a sad one for the judiciary.

“Must the Chief Justice of Nigeria delve into politics? Its sad for our judiciary,” he tweeted.

Contacted for reaction, Dr Festus Akande, Supreme Court Director of Information, said the CJN’s comments had been taken out of context.

“Well, this is the era of aggressive politics and politicking, so, there’s nothing that will not be heard or seen between now and the period of the 2023 general elections. People say whatever they choose to say just to please their interests and inordinate desires, most often.

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“I don’t really know where that is coming from; and I don’t also know at what point the CJN said he was happy that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State was a member of the now christened “Integrity Group” or G-5 Governors.

“You all know that the CJN, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, is a judicial officer and not a politician. He and other senior judicial officers were in Port Harcourt on Thursday and Friday being 24th and 25th November, 2022 to commission two buildings to accommodate the Federal Judicial Service Commissioner’s South-South Liaison Office and the Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili Judicial Institute, that were conceptualized and constructed by the Rivers State Government.

“Even at the State Banquet organised in honour of the CJN, he made it clear in his brief remarks that he (CJN) wasn’t in Port Harcourt for the State Banquet but simply to commission the two major Judiciary projects as a mark of honour for the Judiciary and Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili, CFR, JSC Rtd and go back to Abuja thereafter.

“Similarly, he said he was surprised to see the G-5 Governors (Integrity Group Governors ) which, incidentally, his own State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde is a member at the occasion.

“Anything said, assumed, presumed or reported outside this, is simply a mere figment of the imagination of such authors and don’t in anyway represent what the CJN said in Port Harcourt, as no one is ready to join issues with such purveyors of misinformation.”

Daily Trust

Related Topics:Atiku CJN Featured governors

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Anambra vigilantes torture man to death over water tank theft

Published

2 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Trends Admin

Anambra vigilantes torture man to death over water tank theft

A 60-year-old resident of Nza Ozubulu in the Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, identified only as Mr. Kenneth, was reportedly tortured to death by operatives of local vigilantes hired by his younger brother.

Activist Harrison Gwamnishu shared a video on X, showing the sexagenarian with his hands tied behind him, being repeatedly beaten with cutlasses and sticks by his assailants.

Mr. Kenneth had sold a water tank in his family house to address family issues, which his younger brother disagreed with. Consequently, the brother called for the local vigilante group, who arrested and tortured Mr. Kenneth until he succumbed to his injuries.

In the video of his torture posted by Gwamnishu, Mr. Kenneth could be heard shouting “They have killed me. It is death. I am dying! What did I do?”

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As his torturers took turns to beat him, voices could be heard in the background saying in Igbo language, “You stole. It is a general property,” amongst other unclear words.

Meanwhile, Gwamnishu noted that “Currently his wife and children are subjected to fear and intimidation as they have vowed to deal with them if they continue to seek justice for the death of Mr. Kenneth.”

Demanding justice for the deceased, the activist said, “Ndi Nza Ozubulu, Anambra State, stop shying away from this case and protect the deceased wife and children.”

When SaharaReporters contacted the Anambra State Police Command for confirmation of the incident and reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Toochukwu Ikenga, said he was not aware of the incident.

The police spokesperson who asked the family of the deceased to reach out to him said, “There is no report like that before me, please. Can the victim’s relatives see me please.”

Anambra vigilantes torture man to death over water tank theft

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Niger: Residents flee community as troops withdraw after deadly ambush

Published

2 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Trends Admin

Niger: Residents flee community as troops withdraw after deadly ambush

The Nigerian military has dismantled their tents and withdrawn their services from communities in Niger State following deadly attacks by bandits and terrorists.

Two officers and four soldiers lost their lives last Friday in the Allawa community in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state during an ambush by the bandits which left over eight persons dead.

The PUNCH learnt that following the withdrawal of the soldiers on Thursday, hundreds of residents, including women, children, and the elderly have started vacating their ancestral homes and, trekking several kilometres to safety.

A resident, who is privy to the development, said that they were shocked to find the soldiers dismantling their tents ahead of withdrawing their services to the communities and called on the Niger State Government to quickly intervene to avert any attack by the bandits.

According to one of the residents who spoke to the media under the condition of anonymity, the withdrawal of the soldiers came two days after a military vehicle stepped on a landmine along the Allawa-Pandogari road, resulting in the casualty of an unspecified number of soldiers.

“We woke up on Thursday morning to find the soldiers dismantling their tents in readiness to leave the community. I don’t know if you are aware that on Tuesday, a military vehicle carrying some personnel on their way to Allawa stepped on an IED. There was a heavy casualty as many soldiers lost their lives while some were injured. The injured are in the hospital. The incident happened on Allawa-pandogari road,” the resident said.

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It would be recalled that Tuesday’s incident occurred less than a week after the two officers, four soldiers, a vigilante, and a hunter lost their lives in an ambush at Roro when bandits ambushed them in Roro, Karaga, Rumace, and other farming communities.

Another resident, who gave his name as Yahuza Allawa, told the media that dozens of residents vacated their communities as early as 4 am trekking several kilometres heading towards Erena, Gwada, Kuta, or Zumba for safety.

“We are leaving our communities now and there are insufficient motorcycles and vehicles to take us out as quickly as possible. We are afraid. We left our belongings behind because we could not carry so many things. So many other people have left already

“We are moving to either Erena, Gwada, Kuta, or Zumba. And from Allawa to Erena which is the only exit road for us and it is at least 42km and we are trekking. We cannot wait to be killed by these heartless bandits and Boko Haram. This is a serious issue, please help us report this issue,” Allawa pleaded.

The residents lamented that with the withdrawal of the military personnel, they were now more vulnerable to attacks by bandits and called for immediate intervention from the state government.

Last year, no fewer than 30 officers and men lost their lives in attacks by the bandits and terrorists in Niger State. In August 2023, 20 soldiers lost their lives while others including vigilantes sustained injuries during an ambush along Zungeru-Tegina road while responding to distress calls in some communities in Wushishi LGA.

Less than 24 hours after that incident, an MI-171 NAF Helicopter was on a casualty evacuation mission when it crashed at about 1.00 pm near Chukuba Village, Shiroro. The crash was confirmed by the Nigeria Air Force authorities. An unconfirmed report, however, said that the helicopter was shot down by suspected bandits. The pilot died in the crash.

The PUNCH learnt from anonymous military sources that the military authorities complained that they could no longer bear the incessant killing of soldiers by bandits in the state.

In his reaction, the Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Bello Abdullahi, a retired Brigadier General, confirmed the withdrawal of the soldiers, saying it was part of the arrangements by the military to re-strategise on the best ways to tackle insecurity.

He said, “The whole thing is about administrative arrangements by the military to re-strategise to return in full strength”.

Niger: Residents flee community as troops withdraw after deadly ambush

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Police arrest abductors of Taraba varsity student

Published

3 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Trends Admin

Police arrest abductors of Taraba varsity student

The Taraba State police command has confirmed the arrest of 28 suspects for various crimes, including the abduction of varsity students in the state.

State Police Commissioner CP. David Iloyanomon disclosed this during a press briefing in Jalingo on Thursday. He also revealed that the command is searching for the former Chairman of Takum Local Government Area, Mr. Shiban Tikari, in connection with the 2017 murder of a member of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Hosea Ibi. Tikari is currently on the run.

Two suspects in Ibi’s murder were sentenced to life imprisonment last month for their involvement in the kidnapping and subsequent murder of the legislator. All suspects confessed that Tikari was the one who ordered the kidnapping and murder, prompting the judge to request his arrest.

Iloyanomon disclosed that the command has also recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition, as well as a tricycle, charms, 102 cows, a motorcycle, and other items.

He said, “There is no doubt that the Police Command, leveraging the support and cooperation of security agencies in the state and the good people of Taraba State, have worked assiduously to fight head-on all forms of criminality with remarkable achievements. Some of them are presented below.”

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The commissioner then proceeded to detail some of the arrests made, including:

Abdulkarim Ibrahim: Arrested in Perogal Tunga village, Sardauna LGA, for terrorizing villages in the local government. He confessed to involvement in several kidnappings.
Garba Yahaya and Abdullahi Usman Mohammed: Arrested in Gassol LGA for their involvement in a series of kidnappings and collecting ransom money.
Laulo Alhaji Adamu: A notorious kidnapper arrested in Bamanda Village, Lau LGA, for terrorizing Jimlari and Marraraban Kunini villages. He has confessed to several kidnappings.

Other criminal suspects were arrested for various crimes, including culpable homicide, armed robbery, illegal possession of arms, cyber crimes, banditry, criminal conspiracy, theft, and cattle rustling.

Iloyanomon also highlighted an incident where officers of the command turned down a bribe of ₦8,000,000 while on patrol. The Inspector General of Police commended these officers for their professionalism and urged others to emulate them.

The commissioner concluded by thanking the Governor of Taraba State for his commitment to combating crime and supporting security agencies in ensuring peace and security in the state. He reaffirmed the Taraba State Police Command’s commitment to upholding law and order.